OC Mom Accused Of Allowing Baby To Suffocate After Halloween Drinking Binge

SANTA ANA (CBS) — A Garden Grove mother accused of killing her infant son by allowing him to suffocate in a pile of clothes after a Halloween drinking binge was arraigned in court on Tuesday.

KNX 1070's Mike Landa reports Corrina Atuatasi was arrested on Nov. 23 for leaving her baby alone to go on what prosecutors say was a Halloween drinking binge.

Atuatasi, 27, is charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter by lawful act in unlawful manner, one felony count of child abuse, and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury to a child under 5.

If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison.

On the night of Oct. 30, 2011, Atuatasi was allegedly the sole caretaker of her 2-month-old baby Aiden Galeai while her husband and 2-year-old daughter were out of town.

Atuatasi allegedly left the infant alone in her apartment and went outside into the courtyard to smoke a cigarette, where a male neighbor invited her to join him and some friends for drinks in his apartment, according to prosecutors.

She then allegedly left Aiden alone in her apartment while she consumed alcohol in the neighbor's unit.

The defendant allegedly returned to her apartment a short while later, placing the victim in a car seat, and returning with the baby to her neighbor's apartment to continue drinking for several hours, prosecutors said.

At approximately 4:00 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2011, Atuatasi is accused of returning home to her apartment with baby Aiden and neglecting to secure the infant while she slept.

"The baby basically suffocated as a result of being face-down in a pile of clothes," said Orange County prosecutor Susan Price. "[He] wasn't able to get enough oxygen."

The baby was either dropped on the pile as the defendant returned home or kicked off the bed by the defendant as Atuatasi slept, prosecutors said.

After contacting police, Atuatasi was allegedly found to have blood alcohol level on .23 percent at 8:00 a.m. that morning.

Atuatasi is being held on $100,000 bail.