UCPD detains woman in relation to her child’s death, says no UCLA affiliation
The outside of Murphy Hall is pictured. A woman was detained on UCLA’s campus Tuesday after she approached UCPD officers near Murphy Hall and made statements that indicated she had harmed her child. (Andrew Ramiro Diaz/Photo editor)
By Maggie Konecky
Jan. 7, 2026 12:13 p.m.
A woman was arrested on UCLA’s campus Tuesday in relation to the death of her young child.
She was originally detained around 12 p.m. after approaching UCPD officers near Murphy Hall, said Jeffrey Chobanian, the captain of UCPD’s operations bureau. The Santa Monica Police Department said in a press release that UCPD contacted them after the woman made statements “indicating she had harmed her child” and left the baby inside a Santa Monica apartment building.
According to the release, SMPD officers found the child “with significant injuries” at the apartment. The child was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Chobanian added that the incident had no affiliation with UCLA and will be investigated by outside law enforcement agencies.
“UCLA police officers conducted an initial investigation after an individual approached them within our department’s jurisdiction,” he said. “At no time did this incident pose any threat to UCLA or our community.”
