Mother who waded into ocean with baby in her arms charged with attempted murder

Police in California charged a woman with attempted murder after they say she was discovered wading into the Pacific Ocean with her infant, in an alleged attempt to kill herself and the baby on Tuesday afternoon.

The San Mateo Sheriff’s Office arrested 36-year-old Chisato Chiyoda, of Cupertino, after they responded to a report just after 3 p.m. of a possibly suicidal woman who was “acting strange” as she walked into the ocean at Poplar Beach with her infant in tow, the San Mateo Daily Journal reported, citing authorities. Poplar Beach is located in Half Moon Bay, about 40 minutes outside of San Francisco.

Upon arrival, officials said they found Chiyoda with her baby in her arms, both “soaking wet” after they were seen “entering the ocean waves.” The temperature at the time of the incident was 56 degrees, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.

Authorities said the mother and child were subsequently transported to a hospital, where they received medical attention for hypothermia.

According to a police news release, detectives interviewed the woman at the hospital. The San Mateo Daily Journal reports that authorities determined the mother intended to take the lives of both herself and the child in an attempted murder-suicide.

Following her release from the hospital, Chiyoda was charged with attempted murder. The infant was placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Authorities have not revealed a motive in the case.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Detective Velasquez at 650-363-4062.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

[Feature photo/San Mateo Sheriff’s Office]