Carson Mother Convicted Despite Postpartum Psychosis Defense
Case summary
On May 20, 2014, Coronado killed her three daughters, ages 2 years, 16 months, and 2 months, at her home near Carson, and was found injured at the scene. At a 2015 bench trial she was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder, and in a separate sanity phase the judge found she was legally sane, rejecting the postpartum psychosis insanity defense. She was sentenced in 2016 to three consecutive life terms. Her state appeals were unsuccessful, the California Supreme Court declined review, and a federal habeas petition was denied on the merits. Her case is often contrasted with insanity acquittals in similar cases and is cited by advocates for maternal mental health legislation in California.
Mental-health context
Coronado's defense and a jail psychiatrist who treated her said she suffered postpartum psychosis with a sudden psychotic break; the trial judge nonetheless found her sane at the time of the offense.
Status / outcome
Convicted of first-degree murder; found sane; three consecutive life terms; appeals and federal habeas denied
Sources
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/carol-ann-coronado-california-mother-convicted-of-killing-3-daughters/
- https://www.kqed.org/news/11797827/postpartum
- https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7443032/carol-ann-coronado-v-warden/
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