Authorities have arrested Cheryl L. Busch on suspicion of murder for the shooting death of an 18-month-old girl this morning at a house on Shore Road, according to jail records released by the sheriff's office.
San Benito County Sheriff's officials also recommended to charge Busch, 39, on suspicion of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, also a felony, according to jail records. She had resided at the house in the 2300 block of Shore Road where authorities this morning found the young girl dead and a .357 Magnum outside the home, Undersheriff Pat Turturici said at the scene.
While a press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday when authorities plan to disclose more details, prosecutors have not filed criminal charges against Busch, District Attorney Candice Hooper confirmed when reached by phone this evening.
"It usually takes a good 24 hours to get the police report over to us," she said. "It's still in the investigation stage."
Regarding the recommended charge of inflicting corporal injury - defined by state law as causing a traumatic condition - Hooper said she had not seen enough information yet to comment.
"I really don't know that much," she said.
Authorities booked Busch into the San Benito County Jail at 2:31 p.m. today while recommending the two charges, records show. That came hours after sheriff's officials first reported that the department had taken two suspects into custody for questioning.
Sheriff Curtis Hill noted earlier today that details would follow Thursday morning.
"Two suspects are in custody, the crime scene is being processed and the victim in Salinas will undergo an autopsy. And we'll have information at the press conference tomorrow at 11," Hill said.
One major potential piece of evidence is the gun found on the property, but authorities earlier in the day hadn't verified if it was the weapon used against the child, Turturici said.
"This is terrible. This is heartbreaking," said Turturici, who declined to comment further.
Many sheriff's officers responded this morning, and Hooper also arrived on the scene.
The property includes a house, two barns and poultry-like pens. Cheryl's Chateau, a pet-grooming and boarding business, was run by Busch out of the residence and outbuildings.
A woman on the property shortly after authorities arrived was crying and visibly upset and, at one point, had to be examined by paramedics.
Kollin Kosmicki Kollin Kosmicki is editor of the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 337 or editor@freelancenews.com.
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