On or around May 7-8, 2022 (Mother's Day weekend), three children — Natalie Flores (12), Kevin Yanez (10), and Nathan Yanez (8) — were killed inside their West Hills, Los Angeles home by their mother, Angela Flores (38), with the assistance of her 16-year-old son. Flores believed the children were possessed by demons and reportedly repeatedly jumped on them to drive the demons out. On Saturday night, neighbors observed Flores acting erratically — screaming, carrying a Bible, and lighting candles — and called police. Paramedics transported Flores to a hospital for mental health reasons around midnight, but no welfare check was conducted on the children remaining in the home. Approximately seven hours later, the 16-year-old son went to a neighbor's house and reported his siblings were unresponsive. Police responded and found the three children dead inside the home. Flores was charged with three counts of murder and held on $6 million bail; the 16-year-old was charged with one count of murder and held without bail in juvenile hall.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The LA Times article states that Angela Flores "repeatedly jumped on them because she thought she could drive the demons out." The CBS article notes "The victims suffered signs of trauma." These descriptions clearly indicate inflicted physical injury on the children.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
All four documents identify Angela Flores as the biological mother of the three children. The NBC article states: "Angela Flores, 38, was charged with three counts of murder after her three children were found dead." The LA Times article states she "admitted that she killed the children with the help of a 16-year-old boy."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Multiple documents state that Flores's 16-year-old son was involved in the killings. The NBC article says: "Angela Flores admitted to killing her children with the assistance of the 16-year-old subject." The teen "is believed to be Flores's son" and "faces one murder count and is being held in juvenile hall." The LA Times identifies the teen as "Flores' son" and notes that LAPD Deputy Chief Hamilton described "the role of another child in the killings as 'very rare.'"
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
All four documents confirm that Angela Flores, 38, was charged with three counts of murder and arrested. The NBC article states: "Angela Flores, 38, was charged with three counts of murder after her three children were found dead inside their West Hills home on Sunday." She is being held on $6 million bail.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Multiple documents reference the mother's mental health. The ABC7 article states Flores "believed they were possessed by demons." The LA Times reports she "claimed to believe the children were possessed by demons and repeatedly jumped on them because she thought she could drive the demons out." The CBS article reports "Flores was taken to the hospital for mental health reasons." Her ex-husband Jacob Corona said she called him a week before and "was talking about death. I told her, 'What's going on?'" and "She didn't sound right." A forensic psychologist quoted in the LA Times discussed how "A mother may develop psychosis" and "a son may buy into it."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable systemic and contextual details emerge from the sources. First, a significant potential policy failure: police and paramedics responded to the home Saturday night due to Flores's erratic behavior and took her to a hospital for mental health reasons around midnight, but no welfare check was conducted on the children remaining in the home. As the ABC7 article reports, neighbor Blanca Hernandez said "police didn't know where she came from and didn't do a welfare check until the next morning when the 16-year-old called for help." The LA Times confirms "the bodies of the three children were not found inside the home until the next morning, seven hours later." Second, the L.A. County DCFS "said it was unable to comment on whether it had previously been involved with the family" (LA Times), raising questions about whether there were prior warnings. Third, the mother's ex-husband, Jacob Corona, said she called him nearly a week before and "was talking about death" but "I didn't think anything of it" (LA Times). Fourth, the LAPD described the involvement of a child co-perpetrator (the 16-year-old sibling) as "very rare," and a forensic psychologist at Case Western Reserve University noted the unusual phenomenon of a child participating in filicide, stating "A mother may develop psychosis and a son may buy into it." These details highlight failures in the system's response to the mother's mental health crisis and missed warning signs before the children's deaths.
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