In re K.B. CA4/1

Filed 5/8/25 In re K.B. CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In re K.B., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. D085343 SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, (Super. Ct. No. NJ15919)

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

K.Z.,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Nadia J. Keilani, Judge. Affirmed. William D. Caldwell, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Claudia G. Silva, County Counsel, Lisa M. Maldonado, Chief Deputy County Counsel, and Natasha C. Edwards, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

INTRODUCTION Appellant K.Z. is the 17-year-old mother of two-and-a-half-year-old K.B. In March 2023, K.Z was in high school and K.B. was five months old. When K.Z. arrived at her high school on March 10, 2023, she left K.B. at the school’s daycare facility. There, workers noticed extensive bruising to K.B. The daycare employees called 911, after which an ambulance transported K.B. to Rady Children’s Hospital. There, doctors examined K.B. finding “extensive bruising to her face, legs, and body including . . . loop and linear marks to her legs” and “subconjunctival hemorrhage to both [of her] eyes.” Doctors concluded K.B.’s injuries were “diagnostic of physical abuse.” On March 14, 2023, social workers filed a petition in juvenile court to detain K.B. On March 15, 2023, the trial court asserted its jurisdiction over K.B. The court later ordered reunification services for K.Z., but those proved unsuccessful, resulting in their termination after a year. Social workers reported “[K.Z.] has a history of substance abuse, has engaged in criminal activities, and unsafe behaviors. Such factors have impacted her ability to parent and form a relationship with [K.B.].” Also undermining K.Z.’s relationship with K.B. “there were multiple occasions where [K.Z.] was incarcerated, hospitalized, or report[ed] missing and visitation did not occur.” On December 16, 2024, the trial court held a Welfare and Institutions