Mr. Fleming stated Ms. Fleming’s mom had been planning to take the youngsters for some time to alleviate Ms. Fleming of a number of the strain. Not too long ago, Mr. Fleming stated, his daughter had began a job as a U.P.S. driver. She had additionally, he stated, develop into obsessive about faith.
On Saturday night time, a household pal, Michelle Rivera, 23, stated she got here from Queens when she heard what had occurred to youngsters she had “watched develop up.” Describing herself as “avenue household,” she stated she had been near Mr. Canada. Ms. Rivera was visibly upset as she described the mom’s habits.
“She at all times had an issue together with her important different,” Ms. Rivera stated. She stated the mom exhibited a brief mood round her youngsters, as an illustration changing into offended after they would cry for a bottle.
“She by no means had endurance,” Ms. Rivera stated. “All people provided their assist.”
Charlotte Obiri, 47, a neighbor, stated that she knew Ms. Fleming from the neighborhood and regularly noticed her together with her youngsters and their father on the road, within the retailer and at close by Echo Park. Ms. Obiri was visibly in shock as she described seeing the 2 boys being introduced down.
“They introduced the child out, and so they was engaged on him — after which the little boy, they introduced him out on a gurney, and he regarded lifeless,” she stated. “He was bare, and he regarded lifeless. I nonetheless see the picture in my head.”
Ms. Obiri and different neighbors struggled to course of the grotesque scene and the truth that the youngsters’s mom was in custody.
“I really feel sick,” Ms. Obiri stated. “I’ve been throwing up.”
Liset Cruz and Vimal Patel contributed reporting. Susan C. Beachy contributed analysis.