Sheriff: Woman Who Killed Bell Grandmother Simply 'Snapped'

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 24-year-old woman charged with the murder of her grandmother in Bell told investigators she simply "snapped," sheriff's officials said Monday.

Sarah Montoya was arrested Wednesday and appeared in a Downey courtroom Friday in connection with the death of her grandmother, Paula Montoya, whose body was discovered July 21 in her home in the 6600 block of Pine Avenue.

She remains jailed on $2 million bail and she is scheduled to make her next court appearance Aug. 18.

The 64-year-old woman was last seen alive at her home three days before her body was found by deputies conducting a welfare check. Paula Montoya was an active member of her local church, a grandmother and great-grandmother, sheriff's officials said.

She was found strangled in a bathroom wrapped in plastic and a blanket, sheriff's officials said at a news conference Monday. She also had broken ribs and a bruise on her head.

A motive for the attack is unclear, but according to sheriff's officials, Sarah Montoya told investigators she simply "snapped."

Detectives said last week that Sarah Montoya and her four children, ranging in age from 1 to 9, were the last people to see Paula Montoya alive. They also said she was believed to have fled to Mexico, and that's where she was found with her children, Elijah, Yosu, Joshua and Abagail. The children were recovered unharmed.

"We got information from public sources that confirmed that Sarah Montoya was in Mexico," sheriff's Lt. Mike Rosson said. "The Mexican authorities detained Sarah and the four children at the Otay Mesa crossing. After some paperwork, she was actually turned over to the U.S. Marshals Office with the children."