Infant’s body found, mother charged and appears in court
Oct 1, 2023, 10:25 AM | Updated: Oct 4, 2023, 4:54 pm
UPDATE: Estrella Meza Ojeda appeared in court Wednesday, Oct. 4 and will return Oct. 25 for a waiver hearing.
SALT LAKE CITY — An infant’s body has been located after the mother was arrested for planning his death and disposing of his body
Estrella Meza Ojeda, 18, was arrested Sept. 23 for aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, abuse of a body and producing false information. Carrie Diggs with the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the body had been found.
Previously, according to an affidavit of probable cause, Heber City police interviewed Ojeda who led them to Interstate 80 in Parley’s Canyon at Exit 131 where there are some large crosses on a hill. In a brief search, the body was not located but a piece of fabric was.
Because it was dark, investigators said they left the area that night to establish a search plan. Unified Police Department assisted in the search and the body was found.
In court documents, police said Ojeda deprived her son of supplemental oxygen that he needed to survive and planned his death “by researching and even attempting to take his life before ultimately causing his death.”
“Estrella was overwhelmed with caring for a premature baby that needed extra care to survive and wished to go back to a single, nonmother, lifestyle and begin a new life with (her new boyfriend). She also took care not only to dispose of D.O.’s body, but also attempted to erase any and all traces of his birth, life and death,” the affidavit states.
Utah woman planned death of premature baby, then disposed body off I-80, police say
If you or anyone you know is struggling to care for an infant or child, there are resources to help. Utah’s Safe Haven Law offers resources and a place for parents to surrender children they may be unable to care for.
