**UPDATE** Suspicious Death of 2-year-old: Mother Now Charged with Homicide

​VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Detectives with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), Homicide Unit, recently received autopsy findings from the Medical Examiner’s Office classifying the death as a homicide. After screening the facts of the case and autopsy results with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, a charge of Second-Degree Murder was approved. Ms. Andrade is still in the custody of the Virginia Beach City Jail where she was served with the new charge.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – On August 1, 2022, at approximately 3:32 am, officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) responded to the Cutty Sark Motel in the 3600 block of Atlantic Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered an adult female suffering from a medical emergency and a 2-year-old female, who was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene. The adult female, identified as Leandra Andrade, (F/38) of Washington DC, was transferred to a local hospital for treatment. Once released from the hospital, Leandra Andrade was arrested and charged with Abuse and Neglect of a Child, in relation to the incident in the motel room.

The cause of death for the child is unknown and the manner of death is not readily apparent. More information on the circumstances of the death will be provided when the autopsy report is received from the Medical Examiner's Office. This case is being actively investigated by the Detective Bureau with possible additional charges pending. If you have information about this case, please contact the Virginia Beach Police Department Detective Bureau at 757-385-4101 or anonymously through Crime Solvers at 1-888- LOCK-U-UP.