YOLO COUNTY, CA (KCRA/CNN) – A California man was arrested on murder and sexual assault charges after his 4-year-old daughter was found unresponsive in a creek.
Yolo County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a creek in Winters, CA, Sunday evening for a reported drowning of a 4-year-old girl.
Witness Joana Mora was the one who called for help. She was home when a man suddenly pounded on her door.
"He said his niece had drowned. I told my brother run with him if he needs help or anything,” Mora said.
While Mora called 911, she says her brother helped pull the little girl up to a nearby soccer field.
"She was drenched. My brother said she had white stuff coming out of her mouth,” Mora said.
The girl’s father – Markeese Carter, 26 – began doing CPR, Mora says, telling Mora and her family that he was CPR-certified.
"A firefighter actually ran over there and tried to take over, but he pushed him away,” Mora said.
The 4-year-old died.
Witnesses say it was Carter’s bizarre behavior that tipped off authorities that something wasn’t right.
"She supposedly slipped, but I'm not sure what they were doing down there at the time,” Mora said.
Sheriff’s deputies announced Monday they arrested Carter on charges of murder, sexual assault, child endangerment and assault on a police officer.
An autopsy on the girl was completed, but a cause of death has not yet been determined.
"That was his daughter. Why would he do something like that? I'm not sure how to react,” Mora said.
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