Mother of toddler found dead inside Flagstaff hotel room arrested, police say

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The mother of a toddler who was found dead inside a Flagstaff hotel room over the weekend has been arrested.

The backstory:

On May 17, Flagstaff police responded to reports of a possible dead infant at the La Quinta Inn, located at 1000 N. Bronco Way, just after 9:30 a.m.

When officers got to the hotel, they found the child dead inside one of the hotel rooms. Two other children, ages 7 and 9, were also found inside the room, but they were not hurt.

Dig deeper:

On Monday, police said the toddler's mother, 31-year-old Ochra Manakaja, had been arrested on charges including first-degree murder, child abuse and concealment of a dead body.

Manakaja appeared in court on May 18, where she was booked into the Coconino County Jail on a $1 million bond. Records show she has a lengthy criminal history, including aggravated assault and drug possession.

Police say no other suspects are being sought in the case.

What they're saying:

"How can you leave a child in harm’s way, or put a child in harm’s way, is just beyond me," Flagstaff resident Tony Pierce said. "Something like this just doesn’t happen everyday in this kind of mountain town you know? Definitely a world shaker."

"Makes me want to go home and hug my kids right now," Page resident Leeandra Slim added.

Why you should care:

Meghan Krein with the non-profit Childhelp says she sees cases all too often where parents in crisis feel like they have no way out.

It's very common, especially in these situations where you have people living in hotels or temporary housing. I think sometimes it can point to broader issues in the family, like financial hardship, lack of support, domestic violence," said Krein, who is the Director of Communications and PR with the nonprofit. 

Krein calls the incident devastating for the entire community, and wants parents to know that resources, like Childhelp’s hotline and counselors, are available.

"Parenting is so hard," she said. "And so it's important for us, I think, as a community to look out for one another and to notice those things and to speak up and say something, should we feel something's off."

What DCS Is Saying:

In a statement to FOX 10, DCS said the following: 

The Department extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the tragic death of a one-year-old child. Our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones and community during this difficult time.

 The Department received one prior report involving this family in December 2024. Following an investigation, the Department determined the child was unsafe and obtained court authorization to take custody. However, after we removed the child, the mother’s tribe asserted jurisdiction and assumed custody of the child.

 If the Department receives a report on a child who is enrolled in or eligible for enrollment in a tribe, the Department and the tribe share concurrent jurisdiction under the Indian Child Welfare Act to investigate and take custody of the child. The tribe may request that the matter be transferred to tribal court at any time, as occurred in this case. Once the matter is transferred, DCS is no longer involved, and all decisions regarding the child’s case, including case plan, placement, and permanency decisions, are handled by the tribal court and tribal social services.

What we don't know:

The toddler's cause and manner of death are unknown. The child's identity wasn't released.

What you can do:

Police ask anyone with information on the case to call them at 928-774-1414. You can also call Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

Map of the area where the hotel is located:

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