Dalton Mom Charged in 17-Month-Old's Death

DALTON, Ga. - The Dalton Police Department has charged a mother with second degree murder in connection with the death of her 17-month-old daughter.

Police said Catarina Castro Moran's child was found dead this morning in bed after an apparent severe illness.

Moran is also charged with cruelty to children in the first degree, identity fraud, and making false statements to law enforcement officers.

Police responded to a home at 526 Whitener Drive at approximately 6:00 a.m. Thursday to a report of a dead child.

When officers arrived they performed CPR on the child until paramedics arrived by the child had already passed away.

Moran told investigators that the child had become ill on Wednesday, but during the course of the investigation it was determined that the child was very ill with a high fever dating back to last week.

Investigators also determined that Moran took the child to the hospital on Monday, but left without the child being treated after doctors told her that the child needed to be treated.

The child's body has been sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy. At this time an exact cause of death has not been determined.

This case is still being investigated.