7th February at about 4 p.m., about an hour after his daughter was pronounced dead. In Spanish, he wrote, “I’m going crazy. I’m here until God gives a miracle. I don’t know what to do.”
The New York Post was in the courtroom when Espinal was arraigned on the charges against her, to which she pleaded not guilty. During that appearance, prosecutors stated that Espinal told police, “I was baptizing my daughter” when they found the little girl unresponsive in the bathtub. Espinal was put on suicide watch while in custody and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Sources reportedly told the Post that it was likely that the girl was submerged for about 20 minutes and struggled, pointing to the evidence of the blood clots in her eyes that were visible at the scene. An exact cause of death was not provided, but an autopsy is planned.
Espinal may face additional charges based on the autopsy’s findings. She is next due in court on Feb. 1R4.