Mom says LA toddler found dead not kidnap victim

Story here. Excerpt:

'PALMDALE, Calif. (Map, News) - A woman who reported her 18-month-old daughter missing now says the child died accidentally and that she dumped the body near a freeway, authorities said Friday.

Stacey Barker, 24, told detectives that when her daughter Emma Leigh died, she panicked and believed she would be blamed, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Diane Hecht said.

A body found Thursday in Sylmar, a few blocks from Interstate 5, was identified by coroner's officials as Emma. The cause of death was not immediately determined.

Barker initially told investigators that she was knocked unconscious by someone while putting Emma into her car in Lancaster on Wednesday. She said Emma was gone when she awoke partially clad hours later in another city.'