A mother in Argentina has confessed to giving anti-anxiety medication to her daughter and asphyxiating her.
Nine-year-old Diana Gómez Russo was found lifeless in her bed on October 30 by her grandfather.
Her mother, María de los Ángeles Russo, was sitting on the floor beside her, holding her hand.
Néstor Russo, María’s father and Diana’s grandfather, described the mother as being in a complete trance-like state.
Image credits: Noticiero 7 Santiago del Estero
Trigger warning: This article includes content related to violence against a child.
According to local outlet Info del Estero, the grandfather repeatedly asked his daughter what had happened, and when he tried to wake the girl, he noticed her body was very stiff.
After he let out a heartbreaking scream, his daughter reportedly mumbled, “I gave her four clonazepam pills and I suffocated her with this stuffed animal.”
The grandfather noticed white fibers were coming out of the child’s nostrils and mouth.
Image credits: Noticiero 7 Santiago del Estero
Forensic investigators seized the stuffed animal for analysis as part of the investigation. The girl’s body showed no visible signs of external violence.
Following the confession and an evaluation conducted by two forensic psychiatrists, prosecutor Mariano Gómez ordered that mother be admitted to the El Polear Mental Health Center, where she will remain in custody as the investigation continues.
The mother has been placed in custody at a mental health facility
Image credits: Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Forensic examiners determined that Diana had been lifeless for approximately 12 hours when her body was found. According to preliminary hypotheses, her mother is believed to have administered the pills to the child during the night prior to her grandfather calling the police.
Judicial sources have revealed that the 9-year-old girl lost her life from “suffocation,” as per La Nación.
The toxicology report is still pending to determine whether she was given multiple doses of clonazepam.
Image credits: Diario Panorama
“Clonazepam is most commonly prescribed as a medication treatment for anxiety disorders, where it is effective in many patients,” Dr. John Krystal, Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Psychology at Yale School of Medicine, explained to Bored Panda.
“The dose of clonazepam is reduced for children. Thus, there is a risk for overd*se if a small child ingests a dose intended for a large adult.”
The expert in psychiatric treatment noted that taking too much clonazepam can result in excessive sedation, impaired judgement, and confusion. Serious overd*ses of clonazepam can be lethal.
The child, Diana Gómez Russo, was found lifeless in her bed by her grandfather
Image credits: Noticiero 7 Santiago del Estero
According to Dr. Babak Abadi, a clinician teacher at the University of Toronto, clonazepam may also be used as an adjunct mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder.
“It is not recommended for long-term use, since it may result in physical dependence, increased risk of falls, and cognitive impairment, which occur usually at higher doses,” he said.
When questioned by police, María de los Ángeles Russo reportedly confessed that she had given the medication to Diana the night before.
Image credits: Noticiero 7 Santiago del Estero
The case of the 9-year-old has shaken La Banda, a community in Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina.
According to the preliminary forensic evaluations, the 28-year-old mother exhibited “severe mental disorders” and is in a state of “absolute vulnerability.”
Family members stated that, though María had experienced psychiatric episodes, they had never seen her act violently toward her daughter.
Family members reported that the mother, María, had a history of psychiatric issues
Image credits: Noticiero 7 Santiago del Estero
They also confirmed that she had already been admitted to mental health facilities in the past and began experiencing psychiatric symptoms at age 10. She reportedly told her parents that someone was chasing her and trying to harm her, and would walk around the house alone at night.
However, in recent years, the woman reportedly stopped attending her mental health appointments and discontinued her medication on her own.
According to judicial sources cited by Diario Panorama, María will be formally charged with aggravated homicide due to familial relationship, a charge that carries a sentence of life imprisonment for those found guilty.
Image credits: Noticiero 7 Santiago del Estero
Social media in Diana’s community filled with messages of grief, and the girl’s school, the Santiago Apóstol, decided to suspend its activities following the tragedy.
After forensic examinations were completed, Diana’s body was released by court order to her father, who traveled from Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost province in the country, after receiving the devastating news.
Preliminary findings indicate that Diana lost her life from suffocation
Image credits: Noticiero 7 Santiago del Estero
Luciana, one of Diana’s teachers, mourned her loss in a heartfelt social media post, writing that “there are no words” to describe her grief.
She remembered her student for her “tenderness, dedication, and immense passion for dance.”
“For us, dance was never just technique: it was refuge, comfort, laughter during rehearsals, and strength when everything felt difficult,” she wrote on Facebook, along with a video of the two of them together.
Image credits: Diario Panorama
She concluded, “She taught me so much. She taught me to take care of her, to laugh with her, and to understand that art can be a home.
“I say goodbye with gratitude for having been her teacher and for every minute we shared. I will carry her light in every choreography, in every rehearsal, in every performance. May her memory inspire us to embrace more love and more care.”
Many stressed the importance of seeking timely intervention for individuals experiencing severe mental health issues
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