Ariz. Mom Admits She Drowned Twin Sons: Cops

Family stopped her from drowning 3rd child
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 31, 2015 9:00 AM CDT
Ariz. Mom Admits She Drowned Twin Sons: Cops
Mireya Lopez admitted to cops she drowned the twin toddlers.   (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, via KTVK)

First responders found twin toddlers lying motionless on a bed when they responded yesterday afternoon to a 911 call in Avondale, Ariz., and despite their resuscitation efforts, both boys died, the AP reports. Adding an even more tragic element was the confession of the boys' 22-year-old mother, Mireya Lopez, who told police she intentionally drowned the 2-year-olds in a bathtub and had attempted to drown a third child before being stopped by family members, the Arizona Republic reports; police say the third child wasn't injured. "Any time you lose two small children, it's tough," Avondale Police Sgt. Brandon Busse tells the paper.

The 911 call was placed by the boys' grandmother around noon, KTVK reports, adding that no other details were provided about what happened in the home before the call. The boys' dad tells the station he has joint custody and was scheduled to pick them up on Friday. He adds that while Lopez had depression and anxiety issues, he never saw her threaten anyone or display any violent traits. Lopez was charged with homicide and attempted homicide, the AP reports. "Those people are beautiful," one neighbor, who says he's known them for about three years, tells the Republic. "There are tears and pain in my heart today. They're like family." (Ohio officials failed to save a baby after his mom had already "lost" two other children.)

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