Authorities in Los Angeles County have charged a mother, father and grandmother in connection with the death of a young boy found inside a cooler filled with ice at a Lynwood apartment complex. The victim, identified as 8-year-old Isaiah H., was discovered on Oct. 28 following a welfare check requested by a concerned resident. Prosecutors allege that Isaiah had been subjected to prolonged abuse before his death, which occurred several days earlier.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that Isaiah’s mother, Destiny Luckie Harrison, 25; father Daniel Alberto Monzon, 25; and paternal grandmother Ana Carcamo Zarceno, 45, each face felony charges of murder, torture and child abuse resulting in death, with special allegations that they caused willful harm leading to Isaiah’s death. Monzon and Zarceno are additionally charged as accessories after the fact.
Officials said the boy’s death followed months of alleged mistreatment at the hands of his family members. According to the criminal complaint, the abuse began as early as April 2025 and continued until Isaiah “succumbed to his injuries” on Oct. 24. His body was found four days later inside a cooler packed with ice, located in the family’s apartment on Euclid Avenue. Paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department pronounced him dead at the scene.
Harrison, Monzon and Zarceno were arrested on Oct. 29 and formally charged two days later. Their bail was set at $2 million each. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation, with prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Family Violence Division handling the case. If convicted on all counts, the defendants face potential sentences of 32 years to life in state prison.
During the trio’s first court appearance in Compton on Oct. 31, only Harrison appeared before the judge. Her attorney shielded her face from the press with manila folders. Monzon declined to appear, while Zarceno cited illness, according to officials. The arraignment was rescheduled for Nov. 20.
The investigation revealed that Isaiah’s case has been complicated by the lack of official records documenting his existence. Authorities said they could find no evidence that the child had ever attended school, and because both parents are charged in his death, verifying his identity has been difficult.
After Isaiah’s body was discovered, three other children — two teenagers and a toddler — were removed from the same apartment and placed under the care of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Prosecutors indicated that at least one of them is considered a witness in the ongoing criminal case.
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman described Isaiah’s death as a case of “horrific abuse,” adding that it was made more tragic because the alleged perpetrators were those responsible for his safety and care. The office stated that it intends to seek full accountability for all defendants.
Sources: People, Los Angeles County District Attorney Office, NBC Los Angeles
