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A disturbing case has emerged from Arizona, where a mother stands accused of a horrific crime against her own child. Ochra Manakaja, 31, allegedly killed her 17-month-old son and then hid the tragic evidence in a hotel freezer, as reported.
The shocking incident unfolded when Manakaja called 911 from the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Flagstaff, admitting to the dispatcher, “I killed him,” before ending the call abruptly, according to court documents obtained by AZ Family.
Upon investigation, authorities discovered the young boy’s body inside a freezer in Manakaja’s hotel room. The child was found wrapped in a blanket, encased in plastic, taped, and placed in a clear container. Police believe the body had been hidden there for approximately two weeks.
In a chilling turn of events, officers also came across Manakaja’s two other children, aged 9 and 7, within the same hotel room. Thankfully, both were unharmed, according to the authorities.
The twisted mom’s 9- and 7-year-old children were also found inside the room, but both were unharmed, authorities said.
Manakaja allegedly told police she was fed up on April 29 and threw the fussy, crying child into his crib. She said he later wasn’t “acting like himself,” began vomiting, stopped eating and appeared weak and pale, according to the court documents.
The boy spiked a fever the next day, but the heartless mom, who has a lengthy criminal record, allegedly refused to take him to the hospital or notify any family members, fearing she would get in trouble.
When she checked on him next, Manakaja found the victim unresponsive, lying face up with his eyes closed. She frantically used a cold rag to wake him up, but when he didn’t, she wrapped him up and stashed him in the freezer, court docs show.
The warped mom – previously convicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and DUI – allegedly told cops she “f–ked up” and that her son didn’t deserve to die.
The child’s cause of death is unknown.
She was hit with first-degree murder, child abuse and concealment of a dead body charges.
Manakaja is being held on a $1 million bond at Coconino County Jail.