Westminster Mother Arrested in Alleged Killing of 9-Year-Old Daughter on Black Friday

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Westminster Mother Arrested for Allegedly Killing Nine-Year-Old Daughter on Black Friday

WESTMINSTER, CA — A shocking and tragic incident unfolded on Black Friday as a Westminster mother was apprehended at a shopping center on suspicion of killing her nine-year-old daughter, according to reports from local authorities.

The Westminster Police Department received a distressing call from a concerned family member, prompting officers to conduct a welfare check at a residence in the 14100 block of Goldenwest Street around noon. Faced with an alarming situation, officers made the difficult decision to force entry into the home, where they discovered the lifeless body of the young girl. Sgt. Edward Esqueda from the Westminster Police Department revealed to ABC 7 that the child exhibited unmistakable signs of trauma.

Subsequently, Khadiyjah Pendergraph, a 32-year-old woman, was identified as a person of interest in the case. Collaborating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, police detectives managed to locate and apprehend Pendergraph at a shopping center in Aliso Viejo, as reported by the outlet.

Pendergraph was arrested on suspicion of murder, as detailed by NBC 4. The motive behind the crime and the reason for her presence at the shopping center remain unclear, leaving investigators with perplexing questions.

In response to this heart-wrenching incident, Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi expressed deep sorrow and disbelief. “While police officers are exposed to tragedies on a daily basis, this murder is particularly disturbing, due to the senseless loss of a child allegedly at the hands of her own mother. The members of the WPD grieve with the victim’s family and extend our deepest condolences,” Chief Lenyi stated to ABC.

Authorities are urging anyone with information related to this tragic event to come forward and assist in the investigation. Individuals can contact the Westminster Police Department at (714) 548-3773 or Orange County Crime Stoppers, a confidential police hotline, at (855) 847-6287. Alternatively, information can be provided via email through the official Orange County Crime Stoppers website at www.occrimestoppers.org.

This devastating incident has left the community in shock and mourning, as the loss of a young life under such circumstances is truly harrowing. The investigation will continue as law enforcement officials strive to unravel the details surrounding this horrific event..