ARIZONA NEWS

Valley mother charged with murder in suffocation death of child

Apr 26, 2013, 2:15 PM

PHOENIX — A Valley mother was arrested Thursday on suspicion of suffocating her 6-day-old daughter.

According to court documents, police were called to a residence at 5309 E. Hearn Rd. on April 8 on a report of a baby who had ceased breathing.

The child was found on a bed with her mother, Nina Koistinen, by her father, Bradley Koistinen. The child, Maya, was taken to Paradise Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

During the autopsy, signs of suffocation were discovered. According to Child Protective Services, Nina had made references to smothering her children and wanting some of them to die in a car accident that could have been intentional.

On April 25, Nina allegedly told police and her husband that she suffocated their daughter because she felt she had too many children and was jealous of the attention the baby received.

Nina was booked on one count of first-degree murder.

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Valley mother charged with murder in suffocation death of child