Police found the suspect with her unharmed 1-year-old son at a nearby park about an hour after discovering the victim.
MERCED, Calif. — A 28-year-old woman was arrested after her mother was found fatally stabbed inside a Merced apartment during a welfare check, police said.
Officers responded to the Brookdale North Apartments at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday after neighbors reported hearing a loud argument during the night, according to Merced police Detective Levi Crain. No one answered when officers knocked, prompting them to force their way into the apartment. Inside, they found a woman dead with several stab wounds.
Family members identified the victim as Michelle Vazquez. Authorities identified her daughter, Selena Bass Vazquez, as the primary suspect in the killing. Police have not released information explaining what led to the violence, and investigators said the motive remained unknown.
Officers located Bass Vazquez about an hour later at Rahilly Park, near the apartment complex, police said. Her 1-year-old son was with her and was found unharmed inside a vehicle. Crain said Bass Vazquez was peaceful when officers approached but appeared distraught by the situation.
“But our main priority was a child,” Crain said. Police took Bass Vazquez into custody without a reported struggle. The child was later placed in the care of Child Protective Services, where he remained as authorities continued investigating the death.
Police said doorbell camera video showed Bass Vazquez leaving the apartment after the incident. Investigators described her as walking normally and not appearing to be in a rush. Authorities have not said whether the recording captured any other person entering or leaving the home.
Crain said Bass Vazquez and her son lived at the apartment, though investigators did not believe they had been there for long. Police were working to establish a detailed timeline, including when Vazquez died and what happened inside the residence before officers arrived.
“There’s no explanation as to what caused the situation or what happened during it,” Crain said. Police had not disclosed whether a weapon was recovered, whether Bass Vazquez had been formally charged or when she might make her first court appearance.
Investigators continued gathering video, physical evidence and witness accounts. Bass Vazquez remained in custody, while police said the child was safe and the circumstances surrounding Vazquez’s death remained under investigation.
Author note: Last updated July 16, 2026.