Mother of accused teen says she didn’t know of pregnancy

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 | 1:56 p.m.

Carmela Camero court hearing (10-21-09)

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The mother of a 19-year-old Henderson woman accused of suffocating her newborn son testified this morning she didn't know her daughter was pregnant.

Angela Camero said she was home at the time but didn't know her daughter was giving birth to an 11-pound baby on Aug. 23. She said in Henderson Justice Court today that she neither saw nor heard a baby in the home.

When she arrived home the next evening on Aug. 24, she testified she saw police surrounding the family's house on Desert Pond Avenue in Henderson. It was at that time she learned her daughter had given birth to a boy, she said.

Her testimony came during a preliminary hearing for Carmela Camero, 19, of Henderson, who appeared in court today beside her attorney, public defender Andrea Luem.

During an interview with Henderson police investigators, Carmela Camero told authorities she thought she was pregnant in June and July. Her mother testified she also was suspicious in July, but believed her daughter when she said she wasn’t pregnant.

“She’s always big and I would ask if she was pregnant in July,” Angela Camero said.

Angela Camero said she hadn’t noticed a change in her daughter’s appearance and was stunned when police told her about the details of the case.

“I was shocked and disappointed,” Angela Camero said.

Prosecutor Michael Staudaher questioned Angela Camero about conversations she had with her daughter after Aug. 23. Angela Camero said she couldn’t recall most details.

“The only thing I recall is asking ‘why did you not tell me?’” Angela Camero said. “She said ‘I’m sorry.’”

Angela Camero said she doesn’t recall the amount of time her daughter spent in the bathroom that day but said Carmela Camero took a bath to soothe her back pains. She said she checked on her daughter several times but never saw any evidence of blood.

On Oct. 21, Henderson Police Detective Mark Hosaka testified during the first part of Carmela Camero’s preliminary hearing that she told him the baby never cried, but was breathing. Clark County Coroner Gary Telgenhoff said the baby “had taken many breaths.”

In other testimony today, neighbors said they heard crying coming from an upstairs bedroom of the home about 9 p.m. Amy and Jerry Farris live near the Cameros’ home and said they heard a baby crying while they were barbecuing in their backyard.

“It was loud, but we continued our conversation,” Amy Farris said. “There was concern on my part.”

She said the crying lasted about 30 minutes before stopping.

“It was pretty continuous, and it was definitely an infant,” Amy Farris said.

Jerry Farris said he thought it was odd that the crying stopped so abruptly.

Hosaka testified on Oct. 21 that Carmela Camero had told him during an interview that the baby had problems breathing from the time of birth.

“She didn’t indicate the baby was crying, but said he was making noises,” Hosaka said. “She said she was laying with the baby in the upright position and he stopped breathing.”

He also testified that Carmela Camero confessed to killing the infant during an interrogation, but Luem has argued that Hosaka didn't follow Nevada law when questioning Camero.

A status check is set for 9 a.m. on Nov. 24 in Henderson Justice Court for closing arguments.

Discussion: 19 comments so far…

By sheckyvegas

10/27/09 at 2:20 p.m.

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So either the daughter is that fat or the mother is that stupid. What a wonderful world...
By Planetearthcalling

10/27/09 at 3:05 p.m.

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When your five feet tall & 300 pounds, pregnancy would be the last thing she would think of as the reason why she put on few extra pounds.

And besides, abortion is legal in this country anyway, even do it yourself abortions. Based on that alone she should be set free.
By catchow

10/27/09 at 3:57 p.m.

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Jeesh, an 11 pound baby and she kept it a secret, even through the birth? What in the world!

I am sorry but you have to see what is so wrong with this story. The mother is oblivious. I feel sorry for the mom but really, you are that disconnected from your daughter? The girl, 19, is more than old enough to deal with these consequences. I could see if she was a victim of abuse and far younger then perhaps this would all make sense (still wrong) but this is just a bizarre story.
By ljsmith56

10/27/09 at 4:07 p.m.

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I am amazed at how some Attorneys still think they can give the Young Women a Virginal Makeover. Are you kidding me? I am sure that she did not look likE Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm in Real Life. She looks like a 10 year old child in this picture. The Baby HAS RIGHTS TOO! What did that child ever do to anyone in society? Did the Baby deserve a Death Sentence? There can be NO EXCUSES. She murdered her Baby, period, the end. She needs to go to Prison and Pay for Killing that Innocent Child. Why should she have an excuse for Killing a BAby???? There is NO EXCUSE.
By chriscross

10/27/09 at 6:11 p.m.

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Betcha the babys daddy is Moms hubby...both times the teen got pregnant! Her stepdad probably impregnated her! Lynch him!

In all seriousness, how could any mother not know? My wife knows when our daughter is menostrating. One would think a 19 year old living at home doesn't buy her own hygeine products. After 2 or 3 months,or sooner, the mother should have known. This is the 2nd time the teen has hid her pregnancy and killed her newborn.
By LasVegas2009

10/27/09 at 6:20 p.m.

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Come on she has killed two babies now! Put her and the mother in prison!
By sheckyvegas

10/28/09 at 2:55 p.m.

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Don't we have chemical castration available in this country? Why just reserve it for serial rapists or child molesters? Here is an excellent example to say "You are no longer allowed to breed. Your exreme lack of intelligence proves your genetic line needs to be eliminated from the genetic pool." Makes sense to me...
By mred

10/28/09 at 6:29 p.m.

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Infanticide was practiced by the founding fathers along with abortion. (see Stewart Winthrop, Historian) If a baby was born deformed in the 1800's, they wouldn't feed it. You think they needed another mouth to feed on the Prairie that couldn't pull their weight?

Historians know this was the case by diary records and birth and death records. There were very few deformed adults from birth, because their parents killed them when they were babies.

so get real. If this person was an upper class white, the cops would have never made a stink. I wish I was on this jury I'd send the bible thump er DA a message.
By Stevevegas

10/28/09 at 6:44 p.m.

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This is disgusting and shows a total disregard for life. I blame the mother for not instilling morals and ethics in the daughter. They both should be sterilized.
By Lenny_V

10/28/09 at 7:28 p.m.

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THE MOTHER IS A LIAR, her daughter is a murderer. Lock them both up.
By spock

10/28/09 at 7:29 p.m.

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mred,The 1800's ? Are you for real? So your saying until it's a white child that's murdered, All's fair! To compare this animal with our founding fathers makes your stock in intellectual prowess null and void. You also state that if this animal was in front of you in a jury you would send a message, Please tell us a$$ hole.
By DTJ

10/28/09 at 11:48 p.m.

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Just as I did a month ago when we first heard about this story, I say the mother is full of it. She is a failure of a mother. She has blood on her hands, too. Unfortunately, while I believe parents should be held partially accountable for the crimes of their children, this particular accused murderer is 19 years old. So except for public humiliation and ostracism, I don't know what else we can do about the parents, in this case. (BTW, I say "accused" only until the trial is over. In fact, since I don't sit on the jury, I'll go ahead and say right now that I want this two-time murderer locked away from society.)

And previously, I've also beat Shecky to the punch by positing that the 19 year-old murderer should have the equivalent of a male's chemical castration performed on her. Tie her tubes for at least a decade, or do something chemically, to prevent her from repeating this crime for a third time.
By Sassyfrolet

10/29/09 at 2:04 p.m.

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This mother raised her daughter, changed her diapers, fed and clothed her, took care of her for 19 years and she didn't know her daughter was pregnant?
By momafisher

10/30/09 at 7:38 a.m.

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The girl may be nineteen but her actions make her appear much younger and controlled by her mother. I wonder if a DNA test has been performed to determine if the mother's live-in boyfriend could be the father of the deceased children. The young woman seems to be terribly afraid of her mother. Based on the testimony of the neighbors how could the mother have not heard the crying of a baby? Nothing makes sense to me except a terrified young mother under the control of her mother and/or her mother's boyfriend.
By Vegasvampire

10/30/09 at 8:34 p.m.

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Plain and simple. Lock up the baby maker, since it's number #2. Life in prison without parole.
By Java-Lady

11/1/09 at 3:13 p.m.

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Many important info are missing from this, first, like cameonow said, where is the father? the girl may be rape victim, secondly, the mother may know what has been going on all along. Who would defend an innocent baby boy whose crime was being born? I hope justice will prevail.
By BarbL

11/2/09 at 3:43 p.m.

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she had a baby at 16.........why wasn't she put on birth control pills? What is up with this 'mother'? I think there is more to this story than we're getting. A DNA test sounds like a good idea. Those poor babies. And it may yet end up...........this poor girl. Hope the police are looking into this.
By JB4919

11/4/09 at 9:08 a.m.

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I also believe there is more to this story than has been released. Also, mother could not possibly have not known her daughter was pj with an 11# baby, obese or not! At the very least, she should have been taken to a doctor for a periodic pelvic exam (routine)when Mom first suspected. They would have found it. Since Mom knew what her daughter did with the first baby, she should also have been on a non-voluntary birth control system. If she was being violated by someone against her will, at least she wouldn't get pregnant.A girl that is extremely obese and has already had a "virgin birth" that she killed is obviously of low self-esteem and should have been in counseling. Has anyone checked the DNA of the baby and tried to match it to someone she has access to?