VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The mother of a toddler found dead in a Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel room appeared in court Wednesday morning, officials with the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney in Virginia Beach confirmed.
In court, the judge arraigned Leandra Andrade with a Class 4 felony. The charge's code reads: "...cause or permit serious injury to the life or health of such child by a willful act, omission, or refusal to provide necessary care."
Class 4 felonies require a sentence between two to 10 years in prison.
Appearing virtually at her arraignment hearing, Andrade indicated that she will look to hire her own legal representation, with the possibility of financial assistance from her family, but indicated that she might have to use a public defender for her bond hearing scheduled for Thursday.
13News Now reached out to the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office requesting an interview with Andrade, but she declined.
Around 3:30 a.m. Monday morning, the Virginia Beach Police Department responded to the 3600 block of Atlantic Avenue. There, officers found the body of a 2-year-old girl, and Andrade, who was having a medical emergency.
13News Now's sister station, WUSA9, confirmed through the Metropolitan D.C. Police Department that Andrade fled with her 2-year-old daughter late last week after losing a custody battle for the child. She hadn't been seen since Friday.
WUSA9 also confirmed with DC Police officials that the two investigations in Virginia Beach and D.C. are connected and that the deceased 2-year-old is Andrade’s daughter.
While neither VBPD nor DC police have not officially released the name of the victim, the father of the victim released a public statement through his legal representation.
Fabio Andrade Jr. went on to say that he had been "fighting tirelessly since March of this year for full physical and legal custody in order to provide my daughter the life she deserved."
The cause of the girl's death is unknown and how it happened isn't apparent, but the police department is investigating it as a "suspicious" death.
The Virginia Department of Health medical examiner is conducting an autopsy of the girl and will provide a report to investigators once it's done.
DC authorities became involved in the case after a friend of Andrade’s contacted the department about concerning posts Andrade had made on social media.
Shortly after, MPD determined Andrade had traveled south to Virginia Beach. MPD said it then alerted police officers in Virginia Beach to Andrade’s whereabouts.