Santa Monica mother, 24, charged with murder of 15-month-old daughter; bail $2 million
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A 24-year-old woman faces murder charges and is being held on $2 million bail after her 15-month-old daughter was found with fatal injuries in a Santa Monica apartment earlier this week.
Carmen Degregg was arrested on Jan. 6 after UCLA Police detained her on the university campus at approximately 11:54 a.m. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, Degregg made statements to officers indicating she had harmed her child and left her at a residence in the 2200 block of Broadway.
Santa Monica police officers responded to the apartment and discovered the toddler suffering from severe injuries. Fire department personnel transported the girl to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged Degregg with one count of murder and one count of willful cruelty to a child causing great bodily injury or death. She remains in custody at the Santa Monica jail.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to determine the official cause and manner of death.
Police described the killing as an isolated incident and stated there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Saigon Sentinel Analysis
Editorial: The Santa Monica Tragedy and the Limits of Social Safety Nets
The tragic events unfolding in Santa Monica serve as a harrowing reminder of the volatility that can exist beneath the surface of even the most tranquil communities. While local law enforcement has moved quickly to reassure the public that this remains an "isolated incident" with no broader threat to communal safety, the nature of the crime—a mother accused of the murder of her young child—has sent profound shockwaves through the region.
The early judicial proceedings underscore the gravity with which the state is approaching the case. By setting bail at $2 million, the court has signaled that the defendant is perceived as either a significant flight risk or a continued danger to the public. Furthermore, the decision by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office to pursue dual charges of murder and child cruelty reveals a calculated prosecutorial strategy. By attacking the case from multiple legal angles, the state is positioning itself to ensure a conviction that reflects the severe nature of the allegations.
The investigation also highlights a complex jurisdictional nexus, involving the initial arrest by UCLA Police, subsequent handling by the Santa Monica Police Department, and final prosecution by the District Attorney. While this multi-layered response demonstrates effective inter-agency coordination, the legal weight of the case will ultimately shift to the findings of the Medical Examiner. Forensic evidence regarding the exact cause of death will be the lynchpin of the prosecution, either cementing the state’s narrative or introducing complexities into the trial’s trajectory.
Beyond the immediate legal mechanics, this case forces a difficult conversation regarding the invisible pressures facing young parents. It raises urgent, yet-unanswered questions about the adequacy of mental health infrastructure and the efficacy of social support systems. As the facts are adjudicated in court, the community is left to grapple with an incomprehensible tragedy—one that stands in stark opposition to the fundamental human instinct to protect the vulnerable.