Moorhead Mom Charged With Murder After Toddler’s Death

May 28

A Moorhead woman has been charged with second-degree murder after her 20-month-old son died earlier this month.

Authorities allege the child died due to complications of blunt force injuries combined with delayed medical care.

Valerie Connie Zamora, 32, is accused of failing to seek timely help for her son despite repeated signs that the child was in medical distress throughout the day on May 15. According to the charging document, Zamora told detectives she didn’t bring her son in for care earlier because she feared Child Protective Services would take her children away.

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Just before 11:30 p.m., a Cass County Coroner in North Dakota notified law enforcement that a toddler had died at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo and had visible injuries. Investigators learned the boy had been brought to the hospital by Zamora and her partner and was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m. after resuscitation efforts failed.

Police met with Zamora at the hospital, where she initially said the boy had woken up vomiting and that she gave him Tylenol and Gatorade before running errands. She claimed the child slept much of the day, but by evening, he wasn’t acting like himself and was breathing differently. She said she mentioned to her partner several times that they should take the boy to the doctor, but they first went to Walmart in Dilworth to buy Pedialyte.

Zamora told officers she went into the store while her partner stayed in the car with the child. Surveillance video later confirmed the couple arrived at Walmart around 10:12 p.m. and showed Zamora entering the store alone. Moments later, her partner came inside to say the boy was vomiting blood, and the two then drove to the hospital.

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Detectives who examined the child’s body observed extensive bruising across the head, face, chest, abdomen, arms, back and legs. The child’s stomach appeared distended. An autopsy later determined the cause of death was complications from blunt force injuries, including a perforated bowel, hemorrhages to the liver and pancreas, and healing rib fractures. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Zamora said she was aware of the bruising and claimed the boy bruised easily. She said she was the only one who cared for him. But investigators spoke with neighbors, friends and Zamora’s other two children, who said they had urged her to get the boy medical help after they returned home from school. One of the children told police she got home from school around 4:30 or 5 p.m. and immediately noticed the toddler was cold, struggling to breathe and looked close to dying. She said she begged her mother to call for help, but Zamora insisted on waiting until her partner returned home.

During a second interview on May 19, Zamora continued to deny causing the injuries but admitted she knew the child needed care much earlier. She said she didn’t act because it was “obviously neglect” and she was scared of losing custody of her kids.

Hospital staff documented that the boy arrived pale, clammy, cold and without a pulse. His condition was described as consistent with prolonged suffering and a lack of medical intervention.

Zamora is charged with second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Zamora was arrested in Fargo and remains in custody. A warrant was issued for her arrest as she awaits extradition back to Minnesota.

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