California Mom Arrested for Drowning Daughter, 3

(Patterson, California) A 23-year-old local woman, Jennifer Bigham, was arrested last Friday for allegedly abusing and killing her 3-year-old daughter, Alexandrea. Bigham faces charges of child abuse and murder.

Deputies were dispatched to a home on the 400 block of Thrush Drive in Patterson, 20 miles southwest of Modesto, at about 6 p.m. Thursday on a report of a bathtub drowning, sheriff's officials said.

They found Alexandrea unresponsive. She was flown by helicopter to a Modesto hospital, where she clung to life for several hours before dying at 9:50 p.m., sheriff's officials said.

Statements from family members and evidence at the house led investigators to conclude that Alexandrea's mother had drowned her, Deputy Andrew Winter said.

Bigham was booked into custody without bail.