Carol Coronado

Background

Carol Coronado, 30, lived in Torrance, California. She was the mother of Sophia, 3, Yazmine, 1, and two-month-old Xenia. Her husband, Rudy Coronado, defended her.

Rudy Coronado told NBC Los Angeles that he did not know anything about postpartum depression and said he was not a doctor but knew postpartum depression was “that disease, and it wasn’t my wife.” Rudy Coronado also said “There's the reason why we need to bring awareness to [postpartum depression] because I was never educated on nothing like this,” and “I didn't have a clue.” He said that if it were not for “the psychosis,” his wife would not have hurt anyone “in a million years.”

The family set up the Coronado Angel Fund to raise awarenss of the mental health issue affecting many new mothers.

The offence

Carol Coronado was accused of stabbing to death her three young daughters. The girls were identified by relatives and described as Sophia, 21/2, Yazmine, 16 months, and Xenia, 2 months. Another passage described the victims as Sophia, 3, Yazmine, 1, and two-month-old Xenia. Their grandmother discovered the children dead in a bed at the home, with their naked mother beside them clutching a knife.

Investigators said Carol Coronado also tried to kill her own mother after stabbing her daughters May 20. A felony complaint charged one count of attempted murder for allegedly trying to kill her mother.

Investigation

Investigators removed several knives from the home. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Coleman said: “The babies were on the bed,'And not in a haphazard fashion, they were placed on the bed, so how and where they were killed, we're going to have to figure that out.'” Coleman also said: “We still haven't established how they died exactly yet. But there were stab wounds.” Another statement by Coleman was: “We still haven't determined a reason,” and also: “Obviously, we're going to have to delve into her mental state.”

Investigators were trying to determine what prompted the slayings Tuesday evening at Carol Coronado's home in the 1000 block of West 223rd Street. Investigators said they looked into her medical history and mental health, including whether she might have suffered postpartum depression after the birth of her youngest daughter.

Autopsies were scheduled to be conducted Thursday. Investigators reviewed Coronado’s medical records and her service in the military.

Arrest

Carol Coronado was arrested on suspicion of murder May 20 at her home in Torrance, California. Her mother found the three girls dead and discovered Carol Coronado beside them. Carol Coronado was taken to a mental hospital after she tried to take her own life by stabbing herself in the chest before being booked into jail.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the home about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday and escorted Carol Coronado out of the house. She was handcuffed and cloaked in a blanket. Neighbors said that underneath the blanket, her arms, legs and face were smeared with blood.

Trial

Sentencing

Appeals

Outcome

Aftermath

A vigil was held. More than 80 family members, friends and neighbors prayed and sang at a vigil Wednesday night to honor the three girls killed Tuesday. Rudy Coronado collapsed in front of a memorial set up for his daughters on a wood pallet in his driveway, wept and rocked throughout the vigil, and kissed a photo of his daughters as flowers, stuffed animals, balloons and candles were placed in front of the memorial. A memorial was also assembled outside the home with flowers, candles and teddy bears. There were plans for a baptism this fall.

John Carrion described the girls as “the most beautiful babies in the world” and said: “Words can’t describe what’s happened.”

Eddie Larsen said: “I just can’t believe this kind of evil exists,” and said he felt terrible for what happened to the children and “equally as bad for the woman.”

Timeline

• May 20 — Carol Coronado was arrested on suspicion of murder after her mother found the three girls dead in a bed at the home in Torrance, California and Carol Coronado was discovered naked and holding a knife.
• May 21 — Neighbors and law enforcement described the chaotic scene as detectives continued to investigate and reviewed whether she might have postpartum depression.
• May 22 — A vigil was held for the three girls killed in the Torrance-area home.
• May 23 — Murder charges were filed and prosecutors said the case had a special allegation that could bring the death penalty.
• July 4, 2014 — Rudy Coronado defended his wife, saying undiagnosed postpartum depression was to blame for the tragedy.

Other details

People

• Carol Coronado, 30 — accused killer of her three daughters; accused of attempted murder against her mother.
• Rudy Coronado — husband of Carol Coronado; defended her and discussed postpartum depression.
• Julie Piercey — Carol Coronado’s mother; first discovered the children's bodies covered in blood.
• John Carrion — the girls’ godfather; said he loved her and expressed concern.
• Dave Coleman — Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt.; commented on the arrangement of the bodies and investigation.
• Ashley Madrid — neighbor who described events and said Coronado had dry blood smeared on her face and legs.
• Veronica Ruiz — neighbor who described hearing screams and quoting statements.
• Eddie Larsen — neighbor who attended the vigil and expressed views on the events.
• Madrid — referenced as reporting that deputies escorted Carol Coronado and that she was taken under a blanket and to an ambulance.

Victims and descriptions

• Sophia was described as 3 and as 21/2.
• Yazmine was described as 1 and as 16 months.
• Xenia was described as two-month-old and as 2 months.

Verbatim quotations

• Rudy Coronado told NBC Los Angeles Thursday: “I'm not a doctor but I know for a fact that was that disease, and it wasn't my wife.”
• Rudy Coronado: “That's the reason why we need to bring awareness to [postpartum depression] because I was never educated on nothing like this,”
• Rudy Coronado: “I didn't have a clue.”
• Rudy Coronado: “if it were not for the psychosis, his wife would not have hurt anyone 'in a million years.'”
• Rudy Coronado: ‘It doesn't get easier by the day, it gets a little more harder,’
• Rudy Coronado: ‘She doesn't deserve to be where she's at,’
• Rudy Coronado previously told MailOnline: “I don’t know why the hell this happened, she killed my babies man, she killed my babies,”
• Rudy Coronado: “It was like a demon possessed,”
• Rudy Coronado: 'She was a girl with a good career ahead of her, I just don’t know why it happened. If I knew why it happened, it would answer all my questions.'
• John Carrion told the Daily Breeze in May: “[Rudy] loved her. He is concerned for her. He understands what happened, but he is adamant whatever happened wasn’t her. She needs help.'
• Julie Piercey screamed “Oh my God!” before wrestling the knife from her daughter’s hands: “Oh my God!”
• Veronica Ruiz quoted the man: “Oh my God,”
• Veronica Ruiz quoted: “Oh my God.”
• The woman on the phone told police: “She killed the babies,”
• Dave Coleman: “The babies were on the bed,'And not in a haphazard fashion, they were placed on the bed, so how and where they were killed, we're going to have to figure that out.'
• A witness quoted by Latimes.com: “He kept saying, 'Oh my God, Oh my god,' ”
• Rudy Coronado’s relative John Carrion said: “Right now, he's giving her the benefit of the doubt,”
• John Carrion: “He just said he didn't believe he saw Carol — he saw a demon inside her. He said he doesn't blame Carol. He blames the … demon.”
• John Carrion: “I don’t know how I feel about the woman right now,”
• John Carrion: “I don't understand what was going on in that woman's head.”
• Ashley Madrid said: “She had a zoned-out look and was just looking down,”
• Ashley Madrid: “She had dry blood smeared on her face and legs.”
• Coleman: “There was evidence of stab wounds,”
• Coleman: “We still haven't established how they died exactly yet. But there were stab wounds.”
• Coleman: “We still haven't determined a reason,”
• Coleman: “Obviously, we're going to have to delve into her mental state.”
• But there were stab wounds.”
• John Carrion: “They were the most beautiful babies you had ever seen,”
• John Carrion: “They loved their daddy and he loved them. Pray for my babies, please, pray for my babies. Pray for Rudy. And even pray for that woman.”
• Eddie Larsen: “I just can’t believe this kind of evil exists,”
• Eddie Larsen: “I feel terrible for what happened to the children, and equally as bad for the woman.”
• Rudy Coronado told reporters as neighbors described him: “‘She killed my daughters.’”
• Rudy Coronado: “‘She’s crazy,’ he said, and ‘She killed the babies.’ ... He showed me the knife with blood,”

Military service

Carol Coronado joined the U.S. Army after high school and spent only a few months in the service before being released due to an injury. Another passage said she briefly served in the Army more than a decade ago before leaving for medical reasons.