A father whose three young children were drowned by their mother is urging a California judge to compel a psychologist to release records that might clarify the woman’s mental health before the tragic event.
Eric Denton, whose children — Joanna, Terry, and Sierra — were killed by Liliana Carrillo in April 2021, filed a request on Friday for an order demanding the psychologist provide documents linked to Carrillo’s evaluations.
This action comes as Denton is also pursuing a civil lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department, claiming that authorities overlooked significant warning signs regarding Carrillo’s deteriorating mental state and failed to relay crucial information to social workers.
Carrillo was found to be legally insane in October 2024 concerning the deaths of her children. In early 2025, she was admitted to a state hospital where she was sentenced to 75 years to live.
According to court documents filed by Denton’s lawyers, psychiatrist David S. Ladd conducted further tests on Carrillo and referenced findings from psychologist Nicole M. Wien.
Ladd noted that Wien had determined Carrillo displayed signs of mental illness, including racing thoughts and delusions, and suggested she did not comprehend the wrongness of her actions.
Denton’s legal team argues that Wien should release her records since her conclusions were already disclosed during criminal proceedings and presented in court. They contend that the documents should not remain confidential, despite the City of Vienna arguing that they contain protected information.
The community in Southern California was deeply shocked by the killings, and Carrillo confessed during a prison interview that she drowned her children amid a custody dispute with her estranged husband. “I drowned them,” she stated. “I did it gently… I was apologizing the whole time. I love my kids.”
Carrillo claimed that she felt her children would be subjected to abuse if they lived. “I had no intention of handing over my children to be subjected to further abuse,” she expressed.
When asked about regrets, she said, “I wish my children were alive, yes. Do I wish it hadn’t happened? Yes, but I wish my children weren’t regularly tortured and abused for the rest of their lives.”
Although she asserted she was not under the influence of substances when the fatalities occurred, court records indicate she often self-medicated with marijuana. She admitted having battled anxiety, depression, and PTSD for much of her life and had sought counseling before.
In a heartfelt message to her children, Carrillo simply stated, “I love you and I’m sorry.”
