Takiyah Rochelle Babers faces murder charges after her four-month-old daughter, Luna, was discovered dead in a South Los Angeles dumpster. The infant was found on Monday night near the 5200 block of Alba Street by a neighbor searching for recyclables.
The Monday Night Discovery on Alba Street
As reported by the Los Angeles Police Department, the investigation began around 10:30 p.m. on Monday when the Newton Division responded to a death investigation on the 5200 block of Alba Street.. A neighbor,who was searching a dumpster for recyclable materials, stumbled upon the unresponsive infant. The baby, identified as four-month-old Luna, was found wrapped in a blanket inside the container.
Emergency responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department and local paramedics rushed the child to a nearby hospital , but she was ultimately pronounced dead. the discovery has sent shockwaves through the local neighborhood as authorities began their search for answers regarding the child's final moments.
A $2 Million Bail for Takiyah Rochelle Babers
Following the discovery, investigators identified Takiyah Rochelle Babers as a suspect, leading to her arrest on Tuesday. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Babers has been charged with one count of murder and one felony count of assault on a child causing death.
A judge has set Babers' bail at $2 million. While her arraignment was postponed this past Thursday, her next scheduled court appearance is set for October 30, where she is expected to address the formal charges against her.
The Foster Family Connection at Puebla del Rio
The tragedy is compounded by the complex relationship between the suspect and the child's caregivers. Laura Lacy and her partner, Herman Johnson, had been the primary caregivers for Luna and had recently dropped the infant off at the Puebla del Rio houusing complex. Lacy, who is Babers' foster mother, stated that she had allowed Babers to visit the baby on Monday evening.
The family's grief turned to horror when they realized Luna was missing and subsequently learned of her death. Lacy has publicly alleged that the act was intentional, telling reporters she believes the killing was premeditated.
What the autopsy will reveal about Luna's death
Despite the charges filed, the Los Angeles Police Department has not yet released a definitive cause of death for the infant. The central question remains whether the death was the result of physical trauma, suffocation, or another mechanism that the current investigation has yet to confirm.
As the investigation continues, several details remain unverified, including the exact timeline of events between the Monday evening drop-off and the 10:30 p.m. discovery. Furthermore, the defense has not yet provided a statement regarding the specific allegations made by the Lacy family.
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