On September 27, 2021, 2-year-old Esperanza Isidro died of gunshot wounds inside a south Phoenix home. Phoenix Police found Esperanza and her 6-year-old brother critically injured; both were taken to a local hospital and Esperanza later died while her brother survived.

The children’s mother, 24-year-old Esther Callejas, was identified as the suspect and arrested. Police say Callejas called her husband and another family member and admitted to harming the children, told the children she wanted them to go to heaven before shooting them, and after the shooting tried to reload the gun and then to overdose on antidepressant medication. Court filings say police had done welfare checks on the family previously; the Arizona Department of Child Safety had no prior reports of abuse or neglect involving Callejas or the children. Callejas was booked and charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder; a judge set bond at $2 million, finding her a danger to the community and herself.

Did anyone in south Phoenix know the family or have additional information about the circumstances that night?