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Thursday, September 24, 2009

A Salisbury Mother Is In Custody For The Murder Of Her 8-Month Old Baby Girl


On September 16, 2009, 29-year-old Debra Sanches left her 8-month-old baby unattended in the bathtub for an extended period of time. When Sanches returned, she found her 8-month-old baby floating unresponsive in the bathtub.

On Monday, September 21, 2009, a Wicomico County Grand Jury indicted Sanches of 2nd Degree Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, and 2 Counts of Reckless Endangerment. Assistant State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes says Sanches’s 18-month-old toddler was left in the tub with his 8-month-old sister. The 18-month-old was unharmed.

“These are among the most difficult cases due to the age and vulnerability of an 8-month-old baby,” says State’s Attorney Davis R. Ruark. “Cases of this nature should serve as a strong message to all parents that children are our greatest gifts and we all have a responsibility to love, nourish, and protect them.”

Earlier today, Sanches was taken into custody by Sgt. Mark Wagner and Det. Ryan Mitchell, both assigned to the Wicomico Child Advocacy Center. Substantial assistance was rendered by Sgt. Scott Cook of the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit. Sanches is being held in the Wicomico County Detention Center without bond.

Sanches’s other five children, ranging in age up to 12, are with family members.

If you know of a specific instance of child abuse or neglect, we strongly urge you to notify the proper authorities as soon as possible.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

How many children? No husband or job I'm sure. How much will this woman and her irresposiblity cost the taxpayers? These parasites need to be sterilized after their first welfare baby.

10001110101 said...

Unbelievable. Remove her ovaries.

Anonymous said...

wtf!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank God she has been charged. This woman and her kind should not be allowed to breed. God bless that poor child.

cass said...

How sad for all involved. Innocent children!

Anonymous said...

SHe needs to be put thrown out into the ocean and get caught in a rip tide - and everyone standing by watching her take her last breath!

Sandy said...

Yes, there is a husband. And there was a job until the last baby was born... who do you people think you are? Parasite? And her kind? What about your kind? Your kind are the kind that post ignorance on sites like this...

Anonymous said...

What kind of mother up and leaves her children in a tub of water unsupervised? I mean with cell phones there is no excuse to talk on the phone if that is what she was doing and not be right there. And how many kids? Where was her "husband"? She obviously does not have any common sense!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

just goes to show that you should have to be licensed to be a parent!!!

Anonymous said...

Sandy since you know so much is she a U.S. citizen or is she just another foreigner glumming off the U.S. tax dollar. There is no sense in have that many children to begin with in this day and age. Throw her in jail and she still is going to be a burden on society.

Anonymous said...

You know what, for all those people that CANNOT have kids & must attempt adoption, and this woman has no regard for her own childs life, what kinda of woman are you to not care for the child enough to give it up for adoption, to someone who will actually care for the way she probably never did. i hope one day she drowns also, there is no reason to leave an 8 month old unattended!! some people are just sick!

Anonymous said...

Sandy, your a fatty arnt you? Sound like 1. Bet you collect welfare. Obama supporter and have 4 or 5 kids. Maybe 2 or 3 different fathers.

Anonymous said...

where was she that she did NOT hear those two children in the tub SCREAM?

Anonymous said...

9:45

you wouldn't believe it if someone told you. Just wait till all the info comes out, it's unbelievable!! She will surely be convicted of murder, hands down.

Anonymous said...

It's so easy to sit and demand justice.....Have you ever offered to help those in obvious need. This family was completely invisible? No neighbor, teacher, social worker noticed......Ever have 24/7 with 6 kids....We can all sit in judgement here....and some can feel a little guilty too. Children die every day...accidentially.......the degree of actual malice or negligence is a variable. Pray for the mother and siblings. Don't pass judgement.

Anonymous said...

Thats so sad. I will hold back judgement until all the facts come out. Joe please keep us updated on this story. Until then..My thoughts & prayers go out to the family & children! RIP Baby Girl!

Anonymous said...

11:07

The facts are gonna make you sick to your stomach, trust me.

Anonymous said...

9:45 SCREAM????? At that age they can barely talk and why would they think anything was wrong? Children that age trust that they are safe and their care giver is not going to put them in danger, as far as they were concerned they were delighted to be playing in water. Parenting 101: Never leave a child unattended in ANY water. Hard way to learn a commons sense lesson.

Anonymous said...

I would like to commend the C.A.C. What a great unit. Kudos to the men and women.

I guess one question I have is why does the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit keep getting called into the couty for investigations. You have some of the best if not the best investigators "On the Shore" that know the area and the players assigned to these cases.

S.I.S.U. does a great job, awesome job. I would like to know how many actual "who done its" in Wicomico they have actually solved and how many they have left open and moved onto other areas of the STATE to work. What happens to the cases they do not solve ?? Are these cases then given back to the origanal investigator or do they stay at S.I.S.U.

There is a county investigative unit. Why not use them. If you dont have faith in your resources fix it !!!

The C.A.C. and W.B.I. have awesome investigators. That work hand in hand with D.S.S. daily.

The final outcome is what is most important I do understand this. I just think it overshadows the great work or local men and women do. If the cases are kicked back after S.I.S.U. can not solve it in fives day and has to move onto other areas of the state it fragments the investigation.

Anonymous said...

If they are not legal ship them all out, babies and all.

Chimera said...

OMG this is so sad.Accidental or not I cant help but be angry at the carelessness of the mother.Someone with 5 children should know better-and I hope the other kids are safe.With the youngest children being a mere 10 months apart,I have a suspicion the mother was biting off more than she could chew.

Anonymous said...

I heard it was over 20 minutes.

Chimera said...

On the news there was a woman named Christy Freeman talking about the incident-please tell me she is not the same Christy Freeman that runs the taxi in OC and buried babies in the yard!!!

Anonymous said...

To Anon 12:01 PM. Yes the CAC and WBI have some great investigators. The MSP Homicide Unit operates in a support capacity when requested. It's clear that they provided "substantial assistance" not the lead in this case. This was a homicide, and the Homicide Unit was set up to investigate Homicide cases. It's no slight to any local agencies or investigators to ask for their assistance and support. They're there to help, nothing more and nothing less. WBI functions as a great unit. So does the CAC. MSP Homicide functions as a great unit with vast experience in murders. They work together, not at odds with one another. As you so aptly noted, it's the result that counts.

Anonymous said...

For those of you who are not aware, we have some of the best investigators on the shore in this county. And our CAC is probably one of the best in the entire state. Their conviction rate is in the high 90% range and they have some exceptional investigators. We should all be very fortunate to have that unit in our county, protecting our children. I assure you that other counties in this are turn a blind eye to child abuse and think nothing else about it---out of sight out of mind.