Ventura Mom Accused Of Drowning Daughter Had Won Custody

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — A mentally ill Ventura woman charged with drowning her 8-year-old daughter in a bathtub won legal custody of the girl less than a year before her death.

Court records cited by the Ventura County Star say Blair Stockdill had been living with her daughter, Alaina, since 2007 and petitioned a court for custody last October. Two months later, the court removed Stockdill's father as the girl's guardian.

Police say Stockdill was arrested Monday after her ex-boyfriend was slashed with a knife when he confronted the woman about the child's whereabouts. Officers then found the body of the girl, who had been dead for several days.

Stockdill is charged with murder and child abuse and remains jailed Thursday.

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