In a devastating turn of events, Khadiyjah Pendergraph, the mother of a 9-year-old girl, has been taken into custody by the Westminster Police after the child was discovered lifeless in their home.
Westminster police officers responded to a concerning call from a family member, prompting a welfare check at the residence located on the 14100 Block of Goldenwest Street on Friday at approximately 12:04 p.m. Forced entry was required, and upon entering, officers encountered the young girl’s lifeless body, bearing what was described as “obvious signs of trauma.”
No one else was present inside the residence at the time of the welfare check.
Following an intensive investigation, police identified the victim’s mother, 32-year-old Pendergraph, as a person of interest in the tragic incident. Pendergraph was located and apprehended at a shopping center in Aliso Viejo, subsequently booked at the Orange County Jail on charges of murder.
Authorities currently believe there are no additional suspects, and the case is being treated as an “isolated incident.”
Westminster Chief of Police, Darin Lenyi, expressed the deep sorrow felt by the police department, stating, “While police officers are exposed to tragedies on a daily basis, this murder is particularly disturbing, due to the senseless loss of a child allegedly at the hands of her own mother. The members of the WPD grieve with the victim’s family and extend our deepest condolences.”
As the investigation unfolds, police detectives are actively seeking more evidence and interviewing additional witnesses to piece together the events leading to this heartbreaking incident.
The Westminster Police Department urges anyone with information to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation. Those with relevant details can contact Detective Marcela Lopez at 714-548-3773. In the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy, the community comes together to support the grieving family during this difficult time.
