An Arizona mother confessed to killing her 15-month-old son and concealing his body in a hotel room freezer for two weeks before calling 911 to admit what she had done.

The Fatal Incident

Ochra Manakaja, 32, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree murder after allegedly throwing her toddler into his crib in frustration on April 29. The child cried louder throughout the day before developing a fever, refusing food, and vomiting until he died two days later on May 1. Manakaja told investigators she believed the boy choked on his own vomit and found him unconscious on the couch, unresponsive even when she placed a cold washcloth on his face.

The mother of three other sons, ages seven and nine, made her confession during a May 17 call from her room at La Quinta Inn and Suites in Flagstaff. According to court records, she told dispatchers directly that she had killed her child. Police described finding the toddler’s body as very stiff, cold to the touch, and obviously frozen.

Cover-Up Details

After the child died, Manakaja left his body on the couch while she drove to a hospital to drop off a urine sample, required because she was already on probation for a DUI conviction. When she returned to the hotel, she wrapped the toddler’s lifeless body in plastic, placed him inside the freezer, and sealed the gaps with duct tape to prevent odors from escaping. The body remained hidden for 14 days until her confession call.

During police questioning, the former teacher’s aide reportedly told investigators she hated herself for her actions and acknowledged she had made a terrible mistake. She admitted her son did not deserve to die but explained she feared the consequences of immediately reporting what happened.

Prior Child Welfare Involvement

Arizona Child Protective Services had removed the toddler from Manakaja’s custody in December 2024, shortly after his birth. However, because Manakaja belongs to the Havasupai tribe, the case was transferred to tribal court jurisdiction under the Indian Welfare Act, and she eventually regained custody. Court documents show she had a criminal history including a December 2020 incident where she stole a family member’s vehicle and crashed it into another person’s truck, injuring a bystander. Investigators believe CPS initially determined her home was unsafe for the newborn due to this criminal background. Manakaja told police she killed the child soon after he was returned to her care.