Mother accused of murdering toddler and hiding his body in hotel freezer

26 May 2026 • 2:19 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Mother accused of murdering toddler and hiding his body in hotel freezer

  • An Arizona mother, Ochra Manakaja, 32, has been accused of murdering her 16-month-old son, Zion, and concealing his body in a freezer for two weeks to mask the smell.
  • Police discovered the toddler's body, wrapped in a blanket, plastic, and tape, inside a clear box within a hotel room freezer at the La Quinta Inn and Suites in Flagstaff, where Manakaja had been residing.
  • Manakaja reportedly told police she threw her son into his crib on 29 April out of frustration, leading to his death two days later on 1 May, after which she hid his body.
  • She was indicted on charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, alongside 18 counts of child abuse against Zion, following her alleged confessions to 911 dispatchers, in a note to her sister, and on Facebook.
  • Manakaja, who has previous convictions for aggravated assault and DUI, is currently held at Coconino County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond.

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