Mother accused of throwing kids out window needs psychiatric evaluation, attorney says

A Las Vegas woman accused of throwing two of her children out of a second-story window needs to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, her attorney said Monday.

Handcuffed in a wheelchair with an interpreter by her side, Luz Robledo Ibarra appeared before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace William Kephart on charges of attempted murder and child abuse with substantial bodily harm.

Authorities said the 34-year-old woman, who is being held without bail, jumped out of the window after tossing her 2-year-old daughter and 6-month old son on June 12.

Her attorney, Benson Lee, asked the judge to waive a 15-day preliminary hearing to allow time to have Ibarra evaluated.

Kephart said he could address Ibarra’s bail at a later date.

“I’m a little concerned with the nature of the offenses here and possible mental issues in this matter,” Kephart said.

Lee said family members reported Ibarra had “tremendous change” after the birth of her youngest child. Lee hoped a psychiatric evaluation would address the possibility of postpartum depression. She also has a 13-year-old son.

A woman who identified herself only as Ibarra’s sister said that the children who were thrown from the window were “doing fine” and staying with their father. Ibarra still has legal custody of her oldest child, Lee said.

Family members have not been able to speak with her since her arrest.

“We’re hoping she gets better,” her sister said.

Ibarra refused psychiatric treatment and stopped taking prescribed antidepressants before the attempted murder-suicide, according to Las Vegas police arrest records.

Ibarra told police she never thought about hurting herself or her children in the past, but she received treatment for insomnia, anxiety and being “overwhelmed with responsibilities” in March and April, the report said.

While hospitalized at University Medical Center, Ibarra told police she heard voices that told her to throw the children and herself out the window.

Ibarra’s 2-year-old girl suffered multiple facial fractures and cuts and exhibited an altered mental state from a concussion.

Her 6-month-old son was pulled from a crib and thrown out the window, the police report said. He suffered a depressed skull fracture, blood hemorrhaging on the brain and two fractures in his lower legs.

The children have since been released from the hospital.

Ibarra suffered a broken pelvis.

Her mother and older son found them lying on the ground, crying.

Ibarra repeated “What did I do?” and told her son she no longer wanted to live, according to the police report.

She is scheduled to appear in court August 27.

Contact reporter David Ferrara at 702-387-5290 or dferrara@reviewjournal.com. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker.