New details emerge in Delhi infant homicide case

The mother of a 2-year-old girl who died in April told investigators she was “convinced” the child was killed by her boyfriend, who was upset the toddler would not fall asleep, according to court records obtained by the Merced Sun-Star.

The child, Hennessy Fagin, was found dead April 21 at home in the 9600 block of Hillside Drive in Delhi. Investigators said she was suffocated and believe 24-year-old Sergio A. Zamora was responsible for the death, according to a report filed by the Merced County Sheriff’s Department.

Zamora was the boyfriend of Kalena M. Olson, 22, the girl’s mother, investigators said.

“Olson acknowledged that she too has responsibility in the death of the victim and knows that she will face jail time for her actions, or lack there of,” according to the report filed in Merced Superior Court.

Zamora’s attorney, Sean Howard, on Tuesday declined to comment on the case but stressed his client has not been convicted of any crime and is still presumed innocent. “I do hope the public keeps that in mind,” Howard said.

Olson’s attorney, Tom Pfeiff, and Steve Slocum, the deputy district attorney prosecuting the case, also declined to comment on the case.

Zamora and Olson have pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in connection with the toddler’s death. Zamora is charged with murder and assaulting a child, causing death. Olson has been charged with two counts of child endangerment. Her other child, a 3-year-old girl, was placed in the custody of Child Protective Services in April, officials said.

If convicted, Zamora could face a lifetime prison sentence. Olson faces up to eight years in prison, if convicted, authorities have said.

The Merced County Coroner’s Office said Hennessy appeared to have suffered repeated abuse over an extended period, the report says.

A four-month investigation led to the arrests of both suspects Aug. 16 by Turlock police.

When first questioned, both Olson and Zamora denied knowing how the child died, saying she wasn’t breathing when they found her. Zamora said he performed CPR, according to the report.

Olson in August changed her story, telling deputies she “was convinced Zamora had killed her daughter and initially lied about not knowing what happened to her because she was ‘scared,’ ” the report says.

Members of the infant’s family described an alleged pattern of abuse they said included Zamora striking the child and, on at least one occasion, biting the child’s left arm, the report says.

Olson told deputies she saw Zamora allegedly abusing the child the night she died. Olson “remembered Zamora telling the victim that he wanted her to be a ‘good girl’ and that he didn’t understand why she was messing around pretending she was sleeping,” the report says.

Olson said she was afraid and didn’t believe she could stop the alleged abuse, the report says.

Detectives said Zamora did not answer questions when interviewed in August. Zamora accused deputies of doing “something to Olson to get her to tell us what had happened to the (victim),” the report says.

“Ultimately Zamora would not provide any response as to how (the victim) was murdered or how the injuries came to be present on both the (victims),” the report says. “I asked Zamora several times how the marks and injuries came to be on the (victims) several times. At one point, Zamora stated, ‘I feel like you guys are trying to turn some markings into a murder,’ ” the report says.

The report goes on to say detectives asked Zamora if “he was willing to bet the rest of his life” telling a jury that he did not know why the toddler died. The report says Zamora responded, “It’s a gamble. It’s a 50-50 gamble.”

Zamora and Olson are due back in court Sept. 29. Both remain in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility in Merced County.

This story was originally published September 9, 2014 at 8:11 PM with the headline "New details emerge in Delhi infant homicide case."