DALLAS -- Police Monday charged a Plano woman with capital murder in the gruesome death of her 11-month-old daughter.
Police said Dena Schlosser, 35, amputated her infant's arms inside the family residence at The Fairways Apartments in the 1700 block of Coit Road.
Slideshow: Schlosser's 911 Call Slideshow: Police Arrive At Schlosser's Apartment
The baby's father called a day-care center, where workers called 911 and an operator then called Schlosser, according to reports.
Police said that Schlosser was quietly sitting in her living room when they arrived at the scene just before noon, while her daughter was bleeding to death in a back bedroom.
"[Schlosser] was sitting inside the apartment. She had blood on her clothing," Officer Carl Duke. "There was no indication from my officers about her being hysterical."
The baby was taken to a Plano hospital, where she died.
Officials said Schlosser admitted to cutting off her baby's arms.
"There were some statements made by the mother ... that indicate she was responsible for the injuries to this child," he said.
Schlosser's husband and two other children, ages 6 and 9, were not at home at the time of the incident.
Neighbors said they were shocked to hear of the incident.
Michael Lujan, who lives next door to the family, said there were no signs of trouble.
"They seemed like a sweet family, go out there and have a picnic under the trees. Just, I don't know, they seemed like a nice little family," he said.
Despite outward appearances, police and child welfare investigators said they had been to the home before.
In fact, Child Protective Services opened a case on the family soon after the birth of the 11-month-old, NBC 5 reported.
NBC 5 also reported that Schlosser was suffering from post-partum depression and was receiving mental health care.
Schlosser was hospitalized for a few days when her husband told authorities she had been acting strangely since the birth of the third child.
Once she was released from the hospital, Schlosser agreed to seek counseling and saw a psychiatrist, said Marissa Gonzales, a CPS spokeswoman.
"When we investigated her case and opened the case up for intensive family based safety services, we referred Mom to services that she fully participated in," said Geoff Wool, Department of Family and Protective Services spokesman.
Wool said the state agency conducted extensive monitoring of the case and accompanied Schlosser and her family on some visits to mental health services.
Wool and Gonzales said they could not say whether Schlosser was on medication.
The case was closed in August.
"At the time we closed the case, we had been assured that Mom was stabilized and that she was not a risk to herself or her children," Wool told The Associated Press.
Copyright 2004 by nbc5i.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Police: Mom Severs Baby's Arms
