Netflix's new documentary "A Child of My Own," released on August 13, 2026, tells the true story of Eleonor Alejandra Marin Mendoza, who faked her pregnancy and kidnapped a newborn baby from a hospital.
According to Us Weekly, Mendoza married her husband, Arturo Calderon Gamino, when she was just 17 years old in 2000. She believed she needed to have a child to be accepted by her in-laws.
Mendoza who is known as Ale, was 25 in 2008 and faced pressure from her family to become a mother after several miscarriages. After her third miscarriage she kept it secret and continued to pretend she was pregnant.
She gained weight on purpose, lied to her family and husband for months and even created fake medical reports.
Mendoza claimed that she met Mayra Navarro at a hospital and that Navarro agreed to give her the baby. However, Navarro denied this, saying she had never met Mendoza or agreed to give her child away.
After the baby was born in June 2009, Mendoza took the child and went to a hotel in Mexico City with Gamino. Police later arrested the couple.
As per The Sun, Mendoza was found guilty of kidnapping on November 9, 2011, and sentenced to more than 13 years in prison. And Gamino was initially considered an accomplice and spent two and a half years in jail before he was acquitted.
In the documentary, Mendoza said, “I was drawn into problems that got bigger and bigger... until there was no way out. No turning back.”
Mendoza was released from prison in 2022, as per US Weekly. However, The Sun reported she was released in 2023.
Mendoza now lives as a free woman in Mexico. She said, “During my thirteen years in prison, I have focused on accepting not being a mum.”
She added, “Before, I think my desire to be a mum was more about pleasing others. What else is out there beyond being a mum? But I finally realised there's so much more to live for.”
Gamino and Mendoza separated for a while because he wanted children, and he eventually had a child with another woman. However, the couple later rekindled their romance and are still together today, raising Gamino's young son together.
“A Child of My Own” is directed by two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Maite Alberdi and was released on Netflix on August 13, 2026, after premiering at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival in February. The film runs just over an hour and a half.
Director Alberdi said about meeting her that, “Alejandra wasn't someone I would have imagined ending up in prison. I was struck by how extraordinary everything she told me was,” as per The Sun.
Khushi Arora is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she writes for the US Desk, covering everything happening in the United States, while maintaining quality and delivering impactful stories across all beats. She previously worked at Zee News for over a year where she explored multiple beats including News Desk, Education and Lifestyle. With a background in English Literature, Khushi blends sharp research with thoughtful storytelling, shaping stories that go beyond headlines and bring clarity and credibility to every piece she writes. Beyond the newsroom, she enjoys reading, watching cinema and loves having long conversations about books, films and everything in between.Read More
