A mother indicted by a grand jury for the stabbing deaths of her three daughters pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on Monday.
Carol Coronado, a South Bay resident, faces three counts of capital murder in the May 20 triple killing. Relatives identified her children as 2-year-old Sophia, 1-year-old Yazmine and 2-month-old Xenia.
The children's bloodied bodies were found laid out on a bed with Coronado, barely clothed and suffering from self-inflicted wounds, next to them, according to authorities.
Coronado, 30, entered her plea after the indictment was unsealed Monday by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo. Coronado also faces an attempted murder count for allegedly trying to kill her mother, who discovered the bloody scene at the home on 223rd Street in the unincorporated West Carson area.
The indictment includes a special-circumstance allegation of multiple murders. As a result, prosecutors have the option of pursuing the death penalty
Coronado's attorney, Stephen Allen, had hinted at an insanity defense, telling The Times that "we want to draw attention to the issue of postpartum depression and psychosis. ... More needs to be done to diagnose this disorder."
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