A Phoenix-area mother will spend decades in prison after pleading guilty to killing her 9-year-old adopted daughter, hiding the child’s skeletal remains in the family’s attic for years, and setting fire to their home to conceal the evidence. Maribel Loera, 57, accepted a plea agreement on Sept. 22 for second-degree murder, concealment of a body, and multiple counts of child abuse related to the death of Ana Loera.
Background
The investigation began on Jan. 20, 2020, when police responded to a 911 call from an 11-year-old girl who reported being hungry, abandoned, and abused at the Loera residence. The child told officers that Loera had struck her with knotted extension cords and slammed her head into walls. Authorities from the Department of Child Safety removed the 11-year-old from the home that day and subsequently took two younger children into protective custody.
Eight days after the initial police response, the Loera home caught fire on Jan. 28, 2020. Firefighters battling the blaze discovered Ana Loera’s skeletal remains hidden in the attic on Jan. 29, 2020. While early reports estimated Ana’s age at 13, subsequent forensic estimates revised her age down to 9 at the time of her death.
The Charges
Under the terms of the negotiated plea agreement, Loera faces up to 32 years in state prison. This sentence includes 22 years of "flat time" that cannot be reduced by credit or parole, followed by lifetime supervision upon release, according to KSAZ. The charges stem from a fatality report and court records indicating that Loera abused Ana, who fell ill in the summer of 2017. Loera’s husband, Rafael Loera, admitted to authorities that he returned home with Ana’s body after she died en route to the hospital and hid it in the attic to prevent other children from being removed from the home.
Key Takeaways
- Maribel Loera pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, concealment of a body, and child abuse.
- Ana Loera’s skeletal remains were found in the attic of a burned home in Phoenix, Arizona.
- The plea deal includes up to 32 years in prison with 22 years of non-reducible flat time.
- Rafael Loera, the father, admitted to hiding the body and setting the house on fire; his case remains ongoing.
- Ana’s age was revised from 13 to 9 following forensic analysis of the remains.
What's Next
Loera is scheduled to be formally sentenced on Oct. 19. The criminal case against Rafael Loera, who admitted to knowing about the abuse and concealing the death, is still active. During the plea hearing, Ana’s surviving siblings testified about the abuse they suffered, with one sibling stating, "I don't think it should be fair that she'll be let out, and I can't even have my sister."