A local family is raising money to pay for funeral expenses for the 18-month old girl who was killed in Robstown.
On Friday morning, the paternal grandmother of Arabella Sanchez held a barbecue fundraiser at the Texas Roundup Bar at 3207 Ayers Street to help pay for burial costs for 18-month old Arabella Sanchez.
Sanchez’s family sold brisket sandwiches, chips and a soda for $6. Family members plan to sell plates until they run out of food.
Meanwhile, Robstown Police arrested Arabella’s mother, Chasity Herrera Thursday afternoon at her grandmother’s home on Washington Street. Police have charged her with murder and injury to a child by omission. She’s being held at the Nueces County Jail on a $1 million bond.
Investigators say on December 15th, paramedics responded to a call at Herrera’s apartment at 515 Pat Shutter Road. When officers arrived, medics had rushed Arabella to Northwest Regional in Calallen where she was pronounced dead.
Arabella’s paternal grandmother, Brenda Sanchez, described Arabella as a beautiful girl. Sanchez told KRIS 6 News the last time she saw Arabella was when she was just 17 days old. Sanchez claims Herrera kept the baby from them because she got involved in another relationship.
Sanchez says the entire family is devastated. She said, "We’re trying to all stick together. Also, we’re trying to stay strong for our son who isn’t able to be here to mourn with us. Little did he know that this was happening to his daughter as well but he loved his daughter very, very much."
Meanwhile, the family is inviting the public to take part in a candlelight vigil in honor of Arabella tonight outside her apartment at 515 Pat Shutter Road. It begins at 6pm.
