Location: 18900 Block of Avenue 184, Porterville CA

Incident Date: 06-29-19

Incident Time: 0524hrs

Case Number: 19-07929

City: Strathmore

Posted by: Media Relations

UPDATE 7/9/19:

An autopsy was performed this morning on the 7 year old boy. The cause of death is ruled as fresh water drowning.

On Saturday, June 29th, 2019 around 5:25 a.m., Deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 18900 block of Avenue 184 in Porterville regarding a suspicious circumstance. The caller advised a known female, identified as 45-year-old Sherri Telnas, was acting strangely and had taken her two male children, ages seven and twelve, to a field across the street. 

While Deputies were en-route to the crime scene they were notified the two children were located in a full irrigation ditch near a corn field and were not responsive. Deputies arrived and rendered medical aid. Both juveniles were taken to a local hospital where the 12-year-old died. The female was taken into custody at the scene without incident.

On July 7th, 2019, around 2:30 a.m., the 7-year-old died at a local hospital as a result of injuries sustained on June 29th.
 

UPDATE 7/1/19:

An autopsy was performed this afternoon on the 12-year-old boy. The cause of death is ruled as fresh water drowning.

The 7-year-old boy is still in critical condition at Valley Children's Hospital.

Original release:

Around 5:25 a.m on Saturday, June 29, 2019, Deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 18900 block of Avenue 184 in Porterville regarding a suspicious circumstance. 

The caller said a woman, identified as 45-year-old Sherri Telnas, was acting strangely and had taken her two male children (ages 7 and 12) to a field across the street. While Deputies were en-route to the scene they were notified the two children were found in a full irrigation ditch near a corn field and were not responsive. 

Deputies arrived and rendered medical aid. Both boys were taken to a local hospital where the 12-year-old died from his injuries. Telnas was on scene when deputies arrived, but was trying to run away into an orchard. Deputies detained her and she was taken into custody without incident. She faces murder charges. The cause of death is pending an autopsy. The second boy is listed in critical condition.

Telnas has no criminal history in Tulare County. The Sheriff's Office is aware of the Montana incident and is working with multiple agencies to confirm the details.

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office is in contact with the Strathmore School District, where both boys attended school. 
 
This case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Violent Crimes Investigations Unit.  Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit Det. Miguel Franco or Sergeant Gary Marks at (559) 802-9563 or (800) 808-0488.  Anonymous information about this crime can be reported via Tipnow email tcso@tipnow.net, text or voicemail at 559-725-4194, or download the Tipnow app for Android or Apple phones.