An Arizona mother was arrested Sunday morning after police discovered the body of her 17-month-old son hidden inside a hotel room freezer in Flagstaff, according to police records.
Ochra Manakaja, 31, faces charges of first-degree murder, child abuse, and concealment of a dead body. She is currently being held at the Coconino County Jail on a $1 million bond.
The arrest occurred at the La Quinta Inn & Suites after Manakaja called 911 to report that the boy was dead. According to court documents obtained by AZ Family, Manakaja told dispatchers, “I killed him,” before hanging up the phone.
When officers arrived at the hotel room, they found the toddler’s body bundled in a blanket, wrapped in plastic, taped, and placed inside a clear box in the freezer. Authorities estimate the body had been inside the freezer for approximately two weeks. Two other children, ages 7 and 9, were also present in the room but were unharmed.
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Investigators report that Manakaja admitted to becoming frustrated with the crying child on April 29, at which point she threw him into his crib. Over the following days, she noted that the boy began vomiting, refused food, grew weak and pale, and developed a fever.
Court records indicate Manakaja chose not to seek medical attention or contact family members out of fear of getting into trouble. When she later found the boy unresponsive, she attempted to revive him with a cold rag. After realizing he was dead, she placed his body in the freezer.
During her interview with detectives, Manakaja allegedly stated that she “f–ked up” and that her son didn’t deserve to die. Police noted that Manakaja has a prior criminal history, including convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence.
The official cause of the toddler’s death has not yet been determined, pending an autopsy.
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