Pamela Teresa Cabrera, 32, led police in a 30-mile pursuit through North Jacksonville on Thursday night, reaching speeds of 90 mph, before her vehicle crashed into a lake as she tried to cross the interstate. Police pulled Cabrera out of the water but were unable to locate her daughter, Vanity, WJAX reported. A diving team finally found the five-year-old dead at the bottom of the lake. Canberra was arrested on several charges, including the escape or attempted escape of a law enforcement officer, homicide with a vehicle and multiple battery charges. He lost custody of Vanity in 2020 as he battled schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He was expected to appear in court on Friday, but did not appear due to “subversive behavior”. Officials say he is currently undergoing a mental health assessment at Jacksonville Jail and is expected to appear in court on April 21.
Cabrera (photo in a mug) was expected in court on Friday, but did not appear due to “subversive behavior”. Officials say he is currently undergoing a mental health assessment at Jacksonville Jail and is expected to stand trial on April 21. Pamela Canbrera (right) was arrested Thursday night after leading police in a 30-mile chase, reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour via North Jacksonville. Her daughter, Vanity (left), was killed when Cabrera crashed her vehicle into a pond Jacksonville’s sheriff’s officers began pursuing Canberra after receiving a call for an ongoing abduction. The chase started when a police officer tried to approach the Cabrera vehicle at a traffic light, as a result of which he fled.
Police chased Cabrera, who was allegedly armed with a knife, along Interstate 95 for about 30 miles until he left the exit ramp and the lake. The police officers got out of their vehicles and rushed to the water, where Cabrera was arrested. Despite their best efforts, police were unable to locate Vanity until it was too late. The cause of death of the little girl is not known. Police pulled Canberra, who suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, out of the water, but were unable to locate Vanity. A diving team finally found the five-year-old dead at the bottom of the lake Cabrera’s family told police there was an altercation at their home on the Shore Rush Trail before the abduction. Her cousin, who has served as Vanity’s guardian for the past two years, said Cabrera had been suffering from mental health problems for some time. “Pamela was not a bad person. He just needed help and did not get the help he needed from the government. “He was not a bad person,” Solange Slaquer told the news agency. “We tried to seek help many times and we called the police many times to help them, we took her to a psychologist and Pamela just needed help.” Slaquer claims that despite Cabrera’s efforts, her cousin’s mental health battle was like a train with many ups and downs. She claimed that Cabrera’s struggles had recently deteriorated since she became pregnant and had stopped her devotion. “Even when she was admitted to a mental health hospital and was taking medication, everything got worse now that she was pregnant again and was not taking the medication,” she said.
Cabrera was arrested on several charges, including fleeing or attempting to escape a police officer, manslaughter with a vehicle and many battery charges. Cabrera’s family told police there was an altercation at their home on the Shore Rush Trail before the abduction. Her cousin, who has served as Vanity’s guardian for the past two years, said Cabrera had been suffering from mental health problems for some time. According to an affidavit obtained by First Coast News, when Cabrera was taking her medication it was “normal and working”, with relatives claiming that she would behave like herself and was “able to think clearly”. However, when she was not taking her medication, she often lost track of time and was left without sleep. He lost custody of Vanity after Slaquer took care of the child, then 4 years old, for a whole month, while Cabrera was not well. DCFS had asked Cabrera to complete behavioral classes to take care of her child. It is not clear if he ever enrolled or completed the course. The mother of 32-year-old Maria Ortiz claims that Cabrera was “lost” without Vanity. Ortiz actively sought help for her daughter and was in the process of obtaining authorization for her so she could help Cabrera make decisions when she was “not in the right mood.” The family asked the public not to judge and, according to Slaquer, could “pray for us”.