Texas mom hid daughter's death for a year, charged with injuring child and tampering with evidence, police say

(CBS/AP) HOUSTON - The death of 3-year-old Lee'onna Ramirez remained hidden for a year as Houston authorities say her mother kept them at bay with conflicting stories on the child's whereabouts.

Investigators allege Lee'onna's mother, Sabrina Maria Deleon, failed to get her daughter medical help when the child suffered a seizure and died in their Houston-area home sometime last year.

They say Deleon then wrapped the girl's body in a blanket and threw her away with the trash.

Deleon, who's 26, remained jailed Monday on bonds totaling $300,000 on charges of injury to a child and evidence tampering.

One story she allegedly told investigators is that the child was living with her father in Mexico.

According to CBS affiliate KHOU, Deleon was already being held in the Harris County jail on a child endangerment charge from a recent incident of driving while intoxicated with her 6-year-old in the vehicle.

The station reports an investigation started in April when a Child Protective Services investigator was assigned to Deleon's case after the alleged drunk-driving incident. The CPS investigator started asking about the whereabouts of her 3-year-old and discovered the girl was missing, reports KHOU.

The 6-year-old was reportedly then removed from the mother's custody.

Deleon's attorney, Rudy Duarte, didn't return calls seeking comment Monday.

Authorities are unsure they will be able to locate Lee'onna's body.