California Mother Charged with Murder for Allegedly Drowning Disabled Daughter

A California mother has been charged with murder after allegedly drowning her wheelchair-bound, non-verbal 9-year-old daughter in a bathtub.

Khadiyjah Aliyyah Pendergraph, 32, was arrested in a grocery store parking lot on Friday, the same day her daughter's body was discovered decomposing in their Westminster apartment.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday that Pendergraph is facing one felony count of murder.

The victim, Victoria, was confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak.

According to authorities, the girl's father raised the alarm when he received concerning messages from Pendergraph.

On Thanksgiving Day, he went to pick up his daughter as scheduled but found the apartment locked and no one answering the door.

Police conducted a welfare check and found Victoria's body with signs of trauma.

In the days following her daughter's death, Pendergraph allegedly attempted suicide.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed deep sorrow for the tragic incident, calling it an unnecessary and heart-wrenching act.

If convicted, Pendergraph could face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.