PRESS RELEASE from the Rancho Cordova PD: ARRESTS MADE IN RANCHO CORDOVA, AR, CHILD DEATH:
On June 28, 2017, Sheriff’s Child Abuse Bureau detectives arrested Angela Phakhin, 27, and Untwan Smith, 46, of Arkansas for child endangerment charges which may have led to the death of a 3-year-old girl in Rancho Cordova.
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At approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 28, 2017, a Rancho Cordova Police Department motor officer located a white Toyota Rav-4 parked the wrong way on Rod Beaudry Drive in Rancho Cordova. The motor officer noticed two subjects around the car, later identified as Phakhin and Smith.
The officer contacted the suspects, and after further investigation determined they were the registered owners of the car. A records check revealed Smith had an outstanding warrant out of the state of Arkansas. Officers began searching the car, and located the unresponsive toddler underneath some blankets in the back seat. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no obvious signs of trauma.
Officers secured the scene and called detectives of the Sheriff’s Child Abuse Bureau and the Sacramento County Coroner to begin their investigation. The exact cause of death of the child is unknown at this time. The cause of death will be determined by the Sacramento Coroner’s office after a complete autopsy.
Angela Phakhin is the biological mother of the victim. Smith is the boyfriend of Phakhin. Detectives believe Phakhin and Smith arrived in California in February of this year, and have been living out of their vehicle with the child throughout the city and county. The case will be submitted to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. A determination of further charges will be made once the Coroner’s Office determines the cause and manner of death.
Phakhin and Smith were arrested for child endangerment and conspiracy, and booked at the Sacramento County Main Jail. Both of the suspects are being held in-custody in lieu of $1,000,000 bail, and are scheduled to be arraigned in Sacramento Superior Court on June 30, 2017.
Detectives are asking anyone with information relating to this incident, to please contact the Sheriff’s Department at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP. Tip information may also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).