KAIDEN JOHNSTON - 2 yo (2010) - Norco (S of Rancho Cucamonga) CA

Norco CA ---- A California woman has been arrested on suspicion of
drowning her 2-year-old son in a bathtub, authorities said Wednesday.Brianne
Luna, 22, of Norco, was arrested Tuesday night for investigation of
murder, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said.She
remained jailed Wednesday on $1 million bail. It wasn't immediately
clear whether she had a lawyer.Deputies were called to Luna's
home at about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday after a family member called 911. They
found firefighters trying to revive her son, Kaiden Johnston, who
apparently had drowned in the tub. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.Investigators
said Luna refused to say what happened to her son."We believe
this is a deliberate act and not a case of child neglect or child
endangerment," said Deputy Melissa Nieburger.There was no
immediate word on a motive.

Mom charged with drowning toddler
08:14 AM PDT on Tuesday, June 22, 2010

By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise



A Norco woman was charged Monday with one count of murder and assault on a child after police said she intentionally drowned her son in the bathtub.

Brianne Luna, 21, appeared in a Riverside courtroom wearing a blue jail uniform, with wrist and ankle chains. Several family members and friends attended the hearing but were not allowed to communicate with her.

Luna sat in the courtroom's jury box and did not enter a plea. Her arraignment is set for July 6.

Luna was arrested June 15 on suspicion of killing her 2-year-old son, Kaiden Johnston. Norco firefighters responded to her home in the 1200 block of Third Street where they found Luna standing outside the home and the child's grandfather inside giving CPR.

She refused to give an interview to detectives and was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center where bail was set at $1 million. Her attorney and cousin, Eduardo Luna, declined to comment.

Riverside County sheriff's homicide detectives wouldn't detail why they believe the child was intentionally drowned or what her motive was.

"We don't know exactly what occurred. That's just between her and the victim," said Riverside County sheriff's central homicide Lt. Terry Hudson.

Reach John Asbury at 951-763-3451 or jasbury@PE.com

http://www.pe.com/rss/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_wdrown22.242a044.html

NORCO: Mother admits drowning son, claims insanity
She has pleaded guilty to the 2010 crime, and prosecutors are prepared to agree she was criminally insane at the time

Published: Dec. 3, 2012 2:00 p.m.

A Norco woman pleaded guilty to first-degree murder last week for drowning her 2-year-old son in a bathtub, but may be declared criminally insane.
Brianne Leah Luna, 24, entered the guilty plea Friday, Nov. 30, in Riverside County Superior Court, according to court records.
She will face a hearing Dec. 14 to determine her sanity at the time of the crime on June 15, 2010.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Hestrin said the prosecution is prepared to declare her criminally insane.
“There are rare situations when someone is criminally insane, and they are rare,” Hestrin said. “We believe she was insane at the time of the crime.”
Doctors for both the prosecution and defense evaluated Luna and concluded she was likely insane when she drowned her toddler son, Kaiden Johnston, in a bathtub at her home in the 1200 block of Third Street in Norco.
When Norco firefighters arrived, Luna was outside the house and the child’s grandfather was inside attempting to perform CPR.
Authorities have not said what prompted her to drown her son.
“There was never any issue to her guilt,” Hestrin said. “She admitted it and gave several bizarre reasons for why she committed the act.”
During the Dec. 14 hearing, prosecutors said they will submit the doctor’s reports describing Luna’s mental state. A judge will determine the sentence â€" whether she will spend time in a mental facility or prison. For the guilty plea to the murder charge, she could face 25 years to life in prison.
Follow John Asbury on Twitter @johnasbury and online at blog.pe.com/crime-blotter

http://www.pe.com/articles/insane-663469-luna-criminally.html