2-Month-Old Infant Found Dead With 'Trauma To Her Body'; Mother Arrested

A 35-year-old mother was arrested after officers found her "obviously deceased" 2-month-old baby with traumatic injuries while responding to a welfare check at an apartment in San Diego, California.

SDPD officers conducted a welfare check just after 11:30 a.m. Sunday at the IMT Apartments, a luxury housing complex in Mission Valley, after a family friend informed the police about the mother and infant, according to 10News.

When the officers arrived at the scene, they located the deceased child, identified as Sophia Piper Rose Mendoza.

"During the welfare check at the apartment, officers discovered an obviously deceased 2-month-old female infant in the residence," cops said, according to the outlet.

The infant's mother, identified as Christine Mendoza, is facing a murder charge, San Diego Police Department confirmed Monday.

Officers believed the child was the victim of a violent domestic incident.

"The infant was suffering from trauma to her body that indicated she was the victim of a violent crime. Officers detained the female adult and determined she was the mother of the infant," officials added.

Lt. Steven Shebloski, with the San Diego Police department, said the infant had wounds to her upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Any loss of life is tragic, but certainly, the death of an infant hits everybody at home. So we're going to put as much effort as possible to find out what happened, get closure to the family, and do right by this particular baby," Lt. Shebloski said, as quoted by CBS 8.

The motive behind the infant's death was unclear.

"At this time this appears to a tragic domestic-related incident where the infant's mother killed her child for unknown reasons," SDPD Lt. Adam Sharki said, according to NBC 7 San Diego.

One neighbor told the outlet that Christine had recently moved into the apartment complex. She further recalled waking up from her sleep Sunday after hearing loud noises around 2 a.m.

"I was sleeping and I heard noises and I had no idea like what was happening," the neighbor said. "It woke me up out of my sleep and I only heard it for like 5 minutes. I heard screaming and banging all over the place. I just was really disturbed."

Meanwhile, Christine was booked into San Diego County jail and is due to be arraigned on Oct. 19.