Murder charges reveal horrific injuries as mother is accused in death of toddler son
A Moorhead mother has been charged with murder following the death of her 20-month-old child earlier this month.
Valerie Zamora, 32, has been charged with 2nd-degree murder after her son, Jose, died at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo on May 15, having been brought to the hospital by Zamora.
Warning: The following contains upsetting details.
Police had been called shortly after Jose died as his body showed signs of bruising. Detectives who arrived at the hospital "noted various bruising all over the victim and that the [boy's] belly was distended."
An autopsy later revealed the boy's death was the result of "complications of blunt force injuries due to assault," with Jose suffering a number of bruises to his abdomen, head , face, jaw/neck, chest, arm, back, and legs. He had a perforated bowel, hemorrhages to the liver and pancreas, and healing rib fractures.
Interviewing Zamora at the scene, she said her son woke up on the morning of May 15 and was vomiting. After she gave him Tylenol and Gatorade, the boy "basically" slept all day, but said she noticed he was breathing different and "not acting like himself," according to the charges. She explained the bruising by claiming he bruises easily.
Zamora said she lives at a home with Jose, her two other children, and an individual referred to in the complaint as DEP. She said on the evening of May 15, she drove to Walmart in Dilworth with DEP to get her son Pedialyte, but while she was in the store, DEP came in to tell her Jose was vomiting blood, at which point she "sped" to the hospital.
But the complaint says Zamora's story began to change regarding how sick he had been leading up to his arrival at the hospital, saying that the vomiting had actually started a day earlier and got progressively worse, to the point he was vomiting "a black or dark substance."
She claims she told DEP they should take the boy to the hospital, but she didn't seek medical care until at the Walmart.
Police spoke with several neighbors, friends, and Zamora's two other children, who said they had seen the boy during the day of May 15 and said they told Zamora she needed to take him to the hospital, and later told her to call an ambulance.
One of her children told police she got home from school and "immediately noticed" her younger brother needed medical care, and told Zamora to take him to the hospital, saying he was "struggling to breathe and cold."
The girl told police she was worried her brother was going to die in her arms.
When she came to be interviewed four days after her son's death, Zamora's "timeline of the events leading up the death continued to change," the complaint claims.
"Defendant was adamant that she did not hurt the victim however she admitted that she did not take him for medical care initially because she said it was 'obviously neglect' and was afraid social services would take her children away," it continues.
"Notes from medical personnel at the hospital indicate when the victim was brought into the lobby, the victim was pale, clammy, cold and pulseless."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Moorhead mother charged with murder for death of 20-month-old boy
The Brief Murder charges have been filed against a woman for the May 15 death of her 20-month-old son. Valerie Connue Zamora, 32, of Moorhead, is charged with second-degree murder without intent after police found bruises all over the boy's body. An autopsy lists the manner of death as a homicide caused by blunt force injuries. MOORHEAD, Minn. (FOX 9) - A woman is charged with the death of her son after authorities found injuries and signs of neglect on the boy's body. Valerie Connue Zamora, 32, of Moorhead, is charged with second-degree murder without intent after the child died at a hospital on May 15. Big picture view Law enforcement responded to the Sanford Medical Center just after 11:20 p.m. on May 15 after the Cass County Coroner informed them that a child who died there had bruising after being brought to the hospital by his mother. The child was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m. after hospital staff failed to save the child, according to the criminal complaint. Charging documents say detectives then examined the boy's body and noticed "various bruising all over the victim" and that "the victim's belly was distended." When Zamora spoke to investigators, she reportedly told them her son woke up and started vomiting that morning, so she gave him some Tylenol and Gatorade before running errands. The complaint states she added the child "basically" slept all day. She went on to explain that when the child appeared not to act normal and began to breathe differently, she went to a Walmart in Dilworth to get Pedialyte. It was at that point that the child began vomiting blood, and the child was rushed to the hospital. Zamora reportedly told investigators that she was aware of her boy's bruising, adding that he bruises easily and that she didn't let anyone else near the child. The complaint states that when questioned further, Zamora's story began to change regarding how sick the child was leading up to the arrival at the hospital. She then said he had been vomiting the day before, but that the vomit looked normal. Zamora said the color of the vomit changed over time to a black or dark substance and that the boy couldn't keep any liquids down. Zamora then spoke with detectives again on May 19, during which she changed her timeline of events leading up to the child's death. Although Zamora was "adamant" she didn't hurt her child, the complaint states she didn't take him in for medical care because the situation was "obviously neglect" and she was scared social services "would take her children away." Dig deeper Investigators then spoke to friends, neighbors and Zamora's other two children. The complaint states that multiple witnesses told Zamora that the sick child needed to go to the hospital multiple times throughout the day. One of Zamora's other children told investigators that she was worried her brother was going to die in her arms because he was cold and struggling to breathe. What they're saying An autopsy revealed the official cause of death as a "complications of blunt force injuries due to assault" with the manner of death listed as homicide, according to the criminal complaint. Other injuries included contusions to the abdomen, head, face, jaw, neck, chest, arm, and legs, as well as a perforated bowel and hemorrhages to the liver and pancreas. The Source This story uses information from a criminal complaint filed in Clay County Court.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cause of Death Revealed for 9-Year-Old Who Was Placed Under Anesthesia for Dental Procedure
Silvanna Moreno, a Southern California third-grader, died on March 18, hours after surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista Her cause of death was listed as methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration Methemoglobinemia occurs when excessive amounts of nitrous oxide get into someone's hemoglobin and tissues don't receive enough oxygenThe cause of death has been revealed for a 9-year-old girl who underwent anesthesia for a dental procedure earlier this year. Silvanna Moreno, a Southern California third-grader, died on March 18 hours after surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, Calif., according to a new San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (SDCME) autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE. Silvanna's cause of death was listed as methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration. Methemoglobinemia occurs when excessive amounts of nitrous oxide get into someone's hemoglobin (the protein contained in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to the tissues) and cause hypoxia, so tissues do not receive enough oxygen. Nitrous oxide was among the anesthetics Silvanna was administered during her procedure, according to the autopsy report. Silvanna's autopsy states she had surgery after she complained of tooth pain in October 2024, She was referred to Dreamtime Dentistry, which booked her for a Tuesday, March 18, procedure. The day before, she had a fever but her symptoms resolved after being given children's Tylenol, according to the autopsy report. The day of her surgery, she complained of a headache 'without appearing distressed,' according to the report. She was administered anesthesia at 10 a.m. for a three-hour procedure. Once she woke up, she was moved to a recovery room and then discharged, the autopsy states. On the way home, she was described as being 'out of it' and later was snoring heavily but was also initially able to open her eyes and stand. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Once Silvanna arrived home, she was carried inside and remained asleep for around 90 minutes before her snoring got noticeably quieter and slower, according to the autopsy. Her grandmother then administered two separate readings of her heart rate. After the second reading, she remained unresponsive and 911 was called at 4:46 p.m. local time — about six hours after her getting anesthesia. A dispatcher instructed the grandmother to administer chest compressions while they waited for emergency personnel to arrive. She was taken to Rady Children's Hospital Emergency Department, where she was in asystole — a condition in which the heart's electrical system fails, causing the heart to stop pumping, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Silvanna was administered several life-saving tactics but was pronounced dead at 5:44 p.m. Dreamtime did not immediately respond to a call and email seeking comment on the autopsy. In a previous statement, a representative for Dreamtime's Dr. Ryan Watkins told PEOPLE, in part, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our young patient, which occurred several hours after her completed dental procedure." "Throughout the procedure, she was continuously monitored by our dentist anesthesiologist, who ... has over 20 years of experience successfully administering general anesthesia on children, with no complications observed," the statement continued. "Following the procedure, [Silvanna] was discharged in stable condition—awake, with stable vital signs and protective reflexes intact—into her mother's care, following our standard post-anesthesia protocols," according to Dreamtime's previous statement. "The safety and well-being of our patients have always been and remain our highest priority," Watkins said, adding, "Our hearts break for the family during this unimaginable time of grief, and we extend our deepest condolences as we maintain our focus on supporting the family and cooperating fully with the medical investigation." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who Was the Tylenol Serial Killer? Revisiting the Terrifying True Story of Netflix's' Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders'
In 1982, seven people died in Chicago after ingesting cyanide-laced Tylenol James Lewis, who died in 2023, was considered a primary suspect for decades, though he was never charged in connection with the crime In May 2025, Netflix released a docuseries titled Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, featuring LewisIt's been over 40 years since the Tylenol serial killer triggered a nationwide panic after seven people in the Chicago area ingested poisoned pain medication and were left dead. Over the course of just over 48 hours, victims between the ages of 12 and 35 suffered cardiac arrest immediately after taking Tylenol capsules that had unknowingly been laced with lethal doses of cyanide. As each victim was hospitalized, medical professionals worked around the clock to uncover what had caused their sudden deaths. It was the joint effort of a fire lieutenant, a public health official and an ICU doctor who connected that all the patients had taken the pain killer just before their death. Given their symptoms, the doctor concluded that the victims had exhibited signs of cyanide poisoning, and lab tests quickly proved his theory correct, per the Chicago Tribune. The swift thinking of emergency personnel helped expedite the process to inform the public and save the lives of many other potential victims. But just who was behind the murders was a mystery — and the case remains unsolved to this day. While James Lewis, a man who sent a ransom letter to Tylenol manufacturer Johnson & Johnson shortly after the murders, has been a primary suspect for the past 40 years, he was never charged with the crime. Although he did spend time behind bars for extortion, he maintained his innocence until the day he died in 2023. Now, the Tylenol murders are being revisited in the Netflix documentary Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, which is currently streaming and features interviews with Lewis. So what happened during the Tylenol murders? Here's everything to know about the crimes and decades-long investigation. In September 1982, numerous people in the Chicago area died under mysterious circumstances over the span of just a few days — and their deaths were eventually linked to Tylenol capsules that had been contaminated with cyanide. The incident led to mass panic from the public surrounding over-the-counter medication. Within hours of contaminated medication being discovered, news spread around the Chicago area. News publications and radio stations extensively covered the poisonings to spread the word before more people could be impacted. Police officers drove through neighborhoods and used bullhorns to tell the public to throw out their Tylenol. Public health officials went door-to-door with flyers. Tylenol was quickly pulled from shelves around Chicago, per the Chicago Tribune, eventually leading to a nationwide recall of Tylenol products. In total, seven people were killed by ingesting contaminated Tylenol, although there may have been other unknown victims. The casualties included a child as well as three members of the same family: Mary Kellerman, 12, Adam Janus, 27, Stanley Janus, 25, Theresa 'Terri' Janus, 20, Mary McFarland, 31, Paula Prince, 35, and Mary Reiner, 27. The first death linked to the Tylenol poisonings was 12-year-old Mary Kellerman, who collapsed at home and was pronounced dead just hours after ingesting a laced capsule, per the Chicago Tribune. Later that day, Adam Janus, a 27-year-old mailman, also died shortly after being hospitalized. His death was initially ruled a heart attack, according to CBS News, but what happened in the days that followed alerted medical professionals that foul play may have been involved. Just hours after Adam was pronounced dead, his brother Stanley and his wife Terri visited his home to begin making funeral plans. Not feeling well, they each took Tylenol capsules from the bottle that had unknowingly caused Adam's death. They both immediately began experiencing chest pains and collapsed. It was Fire Lt. Chuck Kramer who recognized that just that morning, authorities had responded to a similar emergency at the same address. Believing the incidents were linked and could have affected other members of the family, he ordered everyone else in the house to be quarantined at the hospital. He then contacted Arlington Heights' only public health official, Helen Jensen, to begin an investigation into the deaths, per the Chicago Tribune. After interviewing family members, Jensen concluded that all three people had taken Tylenol shortly before their deaths. She later went to the Janus family home and picked up the bottle of Tylenol, realizing that it was a new bottle that had only been used by the three family members. She brought it back to the Cook County medical examiner's office and declared that there must be something wrong with the pills. She was initially ignored. Meanwhile, others were coming to the same conclusion. Dr. Thomas Kim, who was treating the Janus family, told Lt. Kramer that he believed the deaths were caused by something they had all ingested. Later that night, when Lt. Kramer spoke to a firefighter on the scene of Kellerman's death, he learned that the little girl had also taken Tylenol — and they began putting things together. When Dr. Kim learned of the connection, he began brainstorming what could have caused such a sudden onset of symptoms. After consulting with poison experts, he concluded that the effects of cyanide matched up with the victims' sudden cardiac arrest. Unable to run tests at his hospital, he sent two vials of blood from Stanley and Terri to a 24-hour lab via a taxi cab. With the information from Dr. Kim, the medical examiner's office began to look into the Tylenol bottles from the Janus and Kellerman households. With just a smell test, an investigator could tell there was cyanide inside. The county's chief toxicologist began to run tests on the Tylenol capsules and quickly realized that some of the pills contained nearly three times the amount needed to kill someone. Shortly after, lab results confirmed that Stanley and Terri — as well as several other victims — had died from acute cyanide poisoning. No one has ever been charged for the deaths resulting from the tainted medication, and the identity of the Tylenol serial killer remains unknown. However, Lewis has long been considered the primary suspect. In the midst of the investigation surrounding the contaminated Tylenol bottles, authorities uncovered that Lewis had sent a ransom letter to Tylenol's parent company, Johnson & Johnson, demanding $1 million in order to 'stop the killing,' according to the Associated Press. He immediately became a suspect in the case. At the time, Lewis was described by police as a 'chameleon,' living across several states and using at least 20 aliases. He worked numerous different jobs, including computer specialist, tax accountant, importer of Indian tapestries and salesman of jewelry, pharmaceutical machinery and real estate, per AP. He also had a history of trouble with the law. Several years prior to the poisonings, he had been accused of murdering and dismembering Raymond West, who had been one of his accounting clients. The charges were ultimately dropped because West's cause of death was not determined and some evidence had been illegally obtained. Then, in 1981, Lewis was convicted of mail fraud as part of a credit card scheme, using the name of a former tax client to illegally obtain 13 credit cards. Around that time, he also sent a letter to then-President Ronald Reagan, threatening to kill him with a remote-controlled plane, per UPI. Given his troubled past and his letter to Johnson & Johnson, authorities began an intensive investigation into Lewis's involvement in the crime. Lewis was never convicted of murdering the seven people who died after ingesting the contaminated medication, but remained a primary suspect for the majority of his life. During early interviews with Lewis, he denied involvement in the poisonings but confessed to writing the extortion letter to Johnson & Johnson. The letter referenced how 'easy' it could be to contaminate medication and said it could take him 'less than 10 minutes per bottle.' While he did not admit to contaminating the Tylenol, he did offer an explanation as to how he believed the crime took place. He told authorities that the culprit was likely to have bought the Tylenol and then later added the cyanide and returned the bottles to store shelves. In the years that followed, he said he offered the explanation because he was treating the investigation as he would a business situation. 'I was doing like I would have done for a corporate client, making a list of possible scenarios,' he told AP in 1992. He called the killer 'a heinous, cold-blooded killer, a cruel monster.' Lewis was not able to be linked to the tainted bottles through forensic testing, and he could not be placed in Chicago at the time of the crime. Despite the suspicion surrounding him, there was not enough evidence to convict Lewis. He was never charged with murder but did go to trial on charges of extortion stemming from the ransom letter he wrote to Johnson & Johnson. In June 1984, he was convicted of extortion and sentenced to 10 years in prison, per The New York Times. Over the past four decades, authorities have continued to investigate the Tylenol serial killer case. On several occasions, they have come up with leads, with many seemingly pointing back to Lewis. Around 2007, further investigation was prompted by authorities who wanted a 'complete review of all evidence developed in connection' with the poisonings with the benefit of advances in forensic technology. During an undercover sting operation, Lewis confessed that it had taken him three days to write the extortion letter, per the Chicago Tribune. Using advanced technology, investigators were able to uncover that the letter had an Oct. 1, 1982, postmark — meaning that Lewis began writing the letter before news of the poisoned Tylenol was made public. When Lewis was presented with the information, he recanted his statement, claiming to have a 'faulty memory.' In the years that followed, the FBI met with or had phone conversations with Lewis at least 34 times, according to CBS News. The FBI also obtained fresh samples of his DNA and fingerprints, but they did not match any of the DNA recovered on the contaminated bottles. Authorities also raided Lewis' suburban Boston condo and storage locker, seizing a laptop among other items. They also collected a poison handbook that Lewis had in his home prior to moving to Chicago in 1981, per the Chicago Tribune. Investigators even found Lewis' fingerprints on pages that discussed how much cyanide would be needed to kill someone. Lewis continued to deny his involvement in the crime, and authorities were unable to charge Lewis with murder. In July 2023, Lewis died at the age of 76. Police in Cambridge, Mass., told PEOPLE that Lewis was found unresponsive in his home and was pronounced dead shortly after. 'Following an investigation, Lewis' death was determined to be not suspicious,' police added. After the news was made public, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Margolis, who had prosecuted Lewis for extortion, told the Chicago Tribune and CBS News Chicago that he 'was saddened to learn of James Lewis' death' — not because of the death itself but because Lewis 'didn't die in prison.' However, before his death, Lewis was interviewed for the 2025 Netflix docuseries about the case. He continued to deny his involvement in the poisonings, saying, "They make it look like I'm the world's most horrible, dangerous person ever ... and I wouldn't hurt anybody." Read the original article on People
