In re A.P. CA4/3

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

I.

THE MINORS’ DETENTION

In late January 2021, Mother attempted to choke herself with a towel in the presence of her then eight-year-old daughter, A.P., at the home they shared with the presumed father and E.P., then 18 months old.2 E.P. was present in the home when the incident occurred but was sleeping. The presumed father called the police, who placed Mother on an involuntary mental health hospital stay. Law enforcement referred the case to the Orange County Social Services Agency (the Agency), which assigned a social worker to investigate. The presumed father reported Mother had tried to hurt herself before, had hit him previously, and was angry, acting erratic, and screaming just prior to the incident. Both the presumed father and A.P. reported that before attempting to

1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code. 2 The presumed father, who had been married to Mother for over 10 years as of the date of the incident, is not a party to this appeal. We therefore limit our factual summary and analysis to what is relevant to the relationship between Mother and the minors.

2 strangle herself, Mother made a comment to…