A Torrance mother charged with murder for allegedly stabbing her three young girls to death and trying to kill her own mother pleaded not guilty in court Thursday as her husband wept inside the Compton courtroom.
Carol Coronado, 30, was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair as she recovered from a self-inflicted stab wound.
Coronado tried to commit suicide and was hospitalized after she allegedly killed 2-year-old Sophia, 1-year-old Yazmine and 2-month-old Xenia, and tried to kill her own mother, at the family's home in unincorporated Torrance on May 20.
The girls' maternal grandmother called police, saying Coronado had killed the girls.
A witness told NBC4 that the woman was naked, covered in blood and "zoned out" when she was escorted out of the home.
Coronado's court appearance was the first time her husband, Rudy, had seen her since their daughters' deaths.
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"I just want to thank everybody for their support," he said, wearing dark sunglasses. "Everybody."
The district attorney could decide to pursue the death penalty in this case, but that decision may not be made until after the preliminary hearing, scheduled for July 3.
Carol showed signs of postpartum depression, but a family spokesperson said the family did not know how to recognize the signs or how to help at the time.
"We wanted to draw attention to the issue of postpartum depression and psychosis," said Stephen Allen, the family attorney. "I think that more needs to be done to diagnose this type of disorder.
Memorial services for the three Coronado girls will take place at the Green Hills Mortuary and Cemetery in Rancho Palos Verdes on June 2. Green Hills has agreed to pay for the family's burial costs, a spokesperson said.
The family has set up the Coronado Angel Fund to help with other costs and for bringing awareness to postpartum depression.
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Anyone who wants to contribute can donate to the Coronado Angel Fund with Wells Fargo account number 3842930731.
