Home / Crime and Justice / Arizona Mother Hid Daughter's Body, Set Home Ablaze
Arizona Mother Hid Daughter's Body, Set Home Ablaze
28 Sep
Summary
- Mother hid daughter's body in attic for years after death.
- Abuse allegations surfaced when another child called 911.
- House fire revealed the hidden skeletal remains of the child.
An Arizona woman, Maribel Loera, 57, faces up to 32 years in prison after admitting guilt in the death of her adopted 9-year-old daughter, Ana Loera. Loera pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, concealment of a dead body, and child abuse on September 22.
The disturbing events began to unravel on January 20, 2020, when an 11-year-old child called 911 reporting abandonment and abuse. The child described physical violence inflicted by Loera. Child welfare services intervened, removing the girl and two other siblings from the home.
Shortly after, on January 28, the residence caught fire. Firefighters discovered Ana Loera's skeletal remains concealed in the attic. Court documents reveal her husband, Rafael Loera, admitted to knowing about the abuse and assisting in setting the house ablaze.
One of Ana's surviving siblings shared harrowing accounts of violence, including an attempted murder with a knife, emphasizing the lasting trauma and the unfairness of the perpetrator potentially being released while their sister is gone. Loera's sentencing is scheduled for October 19, with the case against Rafael Loera still pending.
