Parole Denied in 1997 Infant Death

At a hearing on August 22, 2025, a California parole board issued a 3-year denial of parole for Patricia Leal, age 48, in the 1997 murder of her newborn baby. Leal is currently serving her sentence at the California Institution for Women in Corona.

On October 7, 1997, Leal gave birth to a baby in the bathroom of her Dinuba residence and sought medical attention for herself. After presenting multiple stories about her condition to medical personnel at two different hospitals, Leal eventually admitted to giving birth, but told doctors the baby was not viable and had been flushed down the toilet. Medical evidence discovered by a nurse during an examination resulted in law enforcement visiting Leal’s home. There, law enforcement found the baby with plastic from a toilet paper package wrapped tightly over its face and hidden under the sink vanity. Additionally, the baby was wrapped in blood covered towels and other fabrics used to clean the bathroom floor.

An autopsy revealed that the baby appeared to be a normal, healthy infant at birth and that the baby’s lungs were fully expanded, consistent with breathing for several minutes after birth. The cause of death was asphyxiation by suffocation. Leal admitted to detectives that she was trying to hide the birth and knew her actions would cause the baby to stop breathing.

In 1998, a jury convicted Leal of second-degree murder and assault on a child causing death. The court sentenced her to 25 years-to-life in prison. While in custody, Leal has committed numerous rules violations, including possession of a cell phone, and has long term substance abuse issues. At her first hearing in 2020, commissioners denied her parole for 5-years.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494