Homicide Charges Filed in Death Investigation

January 8, 2026 6:00 PM

Santa Monica, California - On January 6, 2026, at approximately 11:54 a.m., the Santa Monica Police Department was notified by UCLA Police that an adult female had been detained on the UCLA campus after making statements indicating she had harmed her 15-month-old child and left the child inside an apartment in the 2200 block of Broadway.

Santa Monica police officers responded to the residence, where a female toddler was located with significant injuries. Santa Monica Fire Department personnel responded and transported the child to a local hospital, where the child was later pronounced deceased.

The adult female, identified as 24-year-old Carmen Degregg, was taken into custody in connection with this incident and transported to the Santa Monica Jail.

Degregg has been charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office with one count of murder and one count of willful cruelty to a child resulting in great bodily injury or death. She remains in police custody, with bail set at $2,000,000.

The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Detectives from the Santa Monica Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division are actively investigating this case. Based on preliminary information, this appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Isaac Reyes at [email protected] or the Watch Commander, available 24 hours a day, at 310-458-8427.

Media Contact

Myesha Morrison
Public Information Coordinator
[email protected]

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