Riverside Mom Arrested In Connection To Toddler's Death

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- A Riverside County mother was arrested Friday in connection to the death of her 3-year-old daughter. Sheriff's deputies said they arrested Susan Rank after discovering her daughter died at 6:44 a.m. Friday in the 3000 block of Cannes Avenue in the unincorporated community of High Grove.

Deputies said the child had obvious signs of trauma and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Several people were detained as deputies investigated the incident, which ultimately resulted in the arrest of 30-year-old Rank, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Rank was immediately taken into custody and later transported to the Robert Presley Detention Center, where she was booked for murder.

Authorities did not identify the toddler but a GoFundMe campaign created by her aunt, Tracylyn Sharrit of Crestline, identifies her as Zayla.

Sharrit alleged that Zayla's mother was "mentally ill" and took the girl's life, but didn't say how.

"My sister is in deep mourning over the loss of her grandbaby, and the fact that it was at the hands of her mentally ill daughter weighs heavy on her heart," Sharrit alleged in a description on the GoFundMe page."Please pray for us to find peace in this tragic happening. Mental illness took the life our beautiful baby at the hand of a very mentally sick mother. If you can't give funds, your prayers mean so much to our family."

Sharrit said the family has no means to pay for funeral costs. They're seeking $10,000 in donations.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact Investigator Ted Gonzalez with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777, or Jurupa Valley Investigator Mike Barros at 951-955-2600.

--City News Service contributed to this report/Booking photo via Riverside County Sheriff's Department

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Aunt Blames Death Of Riverside County Toddler On Mom