Westchester Mom Arraigned on Murder Charge in 4-Year-Old Son's Death

Police believe Manuela Maria Morgado may have suffocated her son

A Westchester mother has been arraigned on a second-degree murder charge in the death of her 4-year-old son, prosecutors said.

Manuela Maria Morgado arrested Monday after police found her with the body of her son, Jason Reish, in their condo. Morgado was taken to the hospital after she allegedly tried to commit suicide and arrested after an investigation.

Morgado was remanded to the Westchester County Jail and is next due in court Oct. 11. She's being represented by a Legal Aid attorney.

The investigation is ongoing and autopsy results on the boy are pending, prosecutors said. No cause of death has been issued yet, but police believe he may have been suffocated. The child is the subject of a custody dispute.

A judge issued orders of protection against Morgado after a prosecutor said that the boy's father and his wife had received threatening letters. She did not specify who made the threats.     

Morgado is now prohibited from calling, texting or using any other method to contact the couple. The judge said she'll rule later on the jail's request for a mental health evaluation.       

If convicted of the second-degree murder charge, Morgado faces 25 years to life in state prison.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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