HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A woman accused of beating her 1-year-old son to death was released from prison on house arrest and electronic monitoring.
On Friday morning, Giltinan Ramangmou appeared before Magistrate Judge Benjamin Sison Jr. in the Superior Court of Guam.
Ramangmou has been confined at the Department of Corrections on $500,000 cash bail since being charged with murder in November.
After hearing arguments from both Ramangmou’s attorney, William Bischoff from the Public Defender Service Corp., and the prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Steven Coaty, Sison initially decided to reduce Ramangmou’s bail to $10,000.
However, Sison said he would reconsider releasing Ramangmou if she qualifies for electronic monitoring or if a third-party custodian could supervise her at all times.
Bischoff then asked if Ramangmou could be released on electronic monitoring if a cellphone can be tracked by probation, considering a landline is normally required to be eligible for electronic monitoring.
The probation officer present said a cellphone can make Ramangmou eligible for electronic monitoring.
Additionally, Coaty, who opposed Ramangmou’s release but initially suggested if she were to be released her bail be set at $10,000, admitted he misspoke.
“I misread the people’s recommendation for cash bail and it’s my understanding our office has a standing rule that in the event there’s a murder charge it’s between $500,000 and $1 million in cash bail,” Coaty said before confirming he wanted to revoke his recommendation.
As a result of the discussions Sison decided to release Ramangmou on a $500,000 personal recognizance bond.
“I’m setting some other conditions. Ms. Ramangmou, listen carefully, if you violate any of them you’re going to find yourself back at DOC. I’m setting a PR bond at $500,000, if you violate these conditions you’re also going to be owing $500,000,” Sison said before indicating Ramangmou will be on house arrest and monitored electronically.
Ramangmou also was ordered to stay away from her co-defendant, Paul Cruz, to report to probation, not to possess a firearm or deadly weapon and not to consume drugs or alcohol. Ramangmou will be able to leave her home only to report to the probation office, to attend court hearings, or for any emergency medical reasons.
Hearing
Ramangmou will appear in person on Thursday for a status hearing before Judge Vernon Perez.
In the hearing, parties will give updates on matters discussed earlier this week, such as Ramangmou undergoing a polygraph test and a minor witness in the case being interviewed. The matters are scheduled to be completed before the next hearing, Post files state.
Ramangmou’s trial is also scheduled to start sometime next month.
Charges
Ramangmou was charged with murder as a first-degree felony and other crimes. The charges stem from allegations that Ramangmou punched her 1-year-old son, who was later found by police to be pulseless, breathless and with multiple severe head injuries.
When officers met with Ramangmou, allegedly she was crying hysterically and yelling, “I should’ve taken him to the hospital. I’m so sorry, God!”
Ramangmou, according to court documents, told police the child was on the bed but that he had fallen on his face. She said she treated the child by putting ice on his head.
Officers saw the boy had multiple severe head injuries and that rigor mortis and livor mortis had set in, which suggested several hours had passed before the authorities were contacted. The magistrate’s complaint stated that GPD was contacted about three hours after Cruz told Ramangmou to call.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jeffrey Nine also conducted an initial assessment of the child’s injuries and found them to be consistent with “battered baby syndrome,” adding that the boy had injuries similar to that of a “child involved in a vehicle collision at a high rate of speed,” the complaint said.
Cruz faces charges of child abuse and failure to provide assistance. Both Cruz and Ramangmou pleaded not guilty to their respective charges.
Giltinan Ramangmou
