California child who died was allegedly subject to exorcism

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A 3-year-old girl whose death last fall has been ruled a homicide was the subject of an alleged exorcism last year at a Northern California church. The San Jose Mercury News reports the child died last September after a ceremony that church officials called an attempt to “liberate her of her evil spirits.” The death was ruled a homicide and the girl’s mother, Claudia Hernandez, is charged with assault on a child resulting in death. The Associated Press could not immediately determine whether Hernandez has an attorney.