Fairfax Grandmother Charged With Murder

Woman Hurls Granddaughter From Mall Walkway

In a hearing in a Fairfax County court, 50-year old Carmela Dela Rosa was denied bond by the district juvenile court on the 20^th of December. Originally charged with aggravated malicious wounding, her charge was escalated to  murder after the two-year old granddaughter died from her wounds the day following the incident. The alleged attack occurred on the evening of November 29 ^th, as Del Rosa was leaving the local Tyson's mall accompanied by her husband, their daughter and granddaughter. She reportedly picked the child up and dropped her from the fifth floor walkway connecting the mall with the parking lot. The girl survived the 50-foot fall, only to die several hours later in the hospital.

Attorneys Argue Over Jurisdiction Issues

Del Rosa, who moved to the United States from the Philippines 32 years previously, has reportedly been treated with several anti-depressants and psychotropic drugs in jail, including Prozac and Klonapin, which have stabilized her condition.

She appeared "well-groomed" and "alert" in her courtroom appearance. Members of her family appeared in court to show their support during her hearing, including her husband and sister. According to her defense attorney Dawn M. Butorac, several parishioners in the church Del Rosa attends offered their support as well. Butorac argues that Del Rosa is clearly suffering from mental illness and that she should be released on bond to live with her sister on the south side of Washington, D.C.

This change in jurisdiction was troublesome for the prosecution, however, who said that the Fairfax court would have no power to compel her to return once she had moved to DC. Emphasizing the seriousness of the offense, Attorney Casey Lingan argued that releasing her to another jurisdiction would be too dangerous for the community. The judge agreed with the prosecution, denying Del Rosa bond.

A Dedicated Defense

Have you been accused of murder or aggravated assault charges? It is imperative that you seek the service of a Fairfax criminal defense attorney without delay. The penalties for a murder or  assault conviction are some of the most severe you can face. For nearly a decade, attorney Scott C. Nolan has been aggressively defending the rights of his clients against a wide variety of criminal charges. If you need help, don't wait until it's too late!

Contact a Fairfax criminal defense attorney and receive a free consultation!