ORLANDO, Fla. – Winnie Palmer Hospital was put on lockdown Sunday morning when a woman who had driven a dead person there became combative and brandished a knife, according to the Orlando Police Department.
Police said the woman drove up to the valet area on the east side of the hospital around 10:50 a.m. and demanded medical attention for a female passenger, who hospital staff determined was dead.
The female passenger was 11-year-old Aleyda Rivera, and the driver, 28-year-old Rosa Alcides Rivera, was her mom, police said. Police have identified Rivera as the suspect and she is in custody.
Rivera became argumentative and produced a knife before officers and security staff detained her without incident, a news release said.
News 6 reporter Jerry Askin said Rivera's face was covered in tears and grief outside of the hospital.
For hours, forensic and medical examiners walked around Rivera’s car gathering evidence while a large blue covering made sure guests at the hospital didn’t see anything too graphic.
The hospital for women and babies was placed on a brief lockdown that was lifted before noon, but the main entrance remained closed while the investigation continues.
Police have not released information pertaining to how Rivera killed her daughter.
Authorities said Aleyda Rivera attended West Ridge Middle School, where grief counselors will be on hand Monday to talk to her classmates.
Check back for more updates on this developing story.