Dad charged in death of 4-year-old daughter pulled from creek
WINTERS, California -- A California girl was found unresponsive Monday night after being pulled from a creek. The 4-year-old's father is accused of killing her. Witnesses say the father's bizarre behavior tipped authorities off that something wasn't right.
Yolo County sheriff's deputies responded to an area of Putah Creek for a reported drowning of a 4-year-old girl.
"She supposedly slipped, but I'm not sure what they were doing down there at the time," witness Joana Mora told KCRA-TV.
Mora was the one who called for help. She was home when a man suddenly pounded on her door.
"He said his niece had drowned. I told my brother run with him if he needs help or anything," Mora said.
While Mora called 911, she says her brother helped pull the little girl up to a soccer field.
"She was drenched," Mora recalled. "My brother said she had like white stuff coming out of her mouth."
She says that's when the girl's father started doing CPR on the girl, telling Mora and her family that he was CPR certified.
"A firefighter actually ran over there and tried to take over but he pushed him away," Mora said.
The girl died and sheriff's deputies announced they arrested the girl's father, Markeese Carter, 26, of Winters, on charges of murder, sexual assault, child endangerment and assault on a peace officer. They have not yet released his photo.
Mora said, "I was scared. I was so, like, in shock, nervous."
Other neighbors are equally shocked and hope more answers come to light in the coming days.
"I feel bad," said neighbor Antonio Carmeno. "It's a little girl maybe going to school with my son."
"That was his daughter, why would he do something like that, I'm not sure how to react," Mora said.
An autopsy on the girl was completed Tuesday morning, but a cause of death has not yet been determined.
Sheriff's deputies are not releasing any other information about the girl's father or the investigation.
