JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A woman who kidnapped her daughter and fled from officers that later led to a crash and the death of her five-year-old daughter pleaded guilty on two charges that could carry a sentence between 10-to-30 years.
Pamela Cabrera's sentencing will be scheduled the week of March 4. She pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child, and aggravated felony fleeing or attempting to elude causing a death.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded a north Jacksonville home in reference to Cabrera kidnapping her daughter with a knife on March 31, 2022. Police records said she did not have custody of her daughter.
An officer later saw Cabrera at the intersection of Biscayne Boulevard and Dunn Avenue and followed her on a chase running every red light from Biscayne Boulevard to Interstate-95 South. Nearly hitting other vehicles, Cabrera attempted to take the exit for 9B West, but went straight toward 9B East, driving into a retention pond.
While Cabrera escaped the submerged vehicle and held onto a tire to stay afloat as the vehicle sank in the pond, police said, five-year-old Vanity Cabrera was trapped in the front seat of the vehicle. The vehicle sank to the bottom of the pond, and officers were unable to save the child.
Vanity's body was recovered by a dive team.
Vanity had been living with family members due to her mother's persistent mental health issues. A court filing indicated her attorneys intended to rely on an insanity defense, citing "Chronic Severe Bipolar Disorder, Type 1 with Psychotic Features" and "Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type."
Cabrera was deemed competent by a judge in December 2022.