Sheriff’s Deputy Checked on Baby Three Months Before he Died of Severe Burns in Suspected Murder

A sheriff's deputy in California checked on a 10-month-old baby for signs of abuse just a few months before he died of severe burns, prompting murder charges against his mother and her boyfriend.

A San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy visited the house of Henry Wheatley Brown's babysitter in Sugarloaf, after their mother requested a welfare check, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.

So far, the outlet reported, no details of what the officer saw or heard have been made public and there was no official announcement that a case had been opened.

Three months after the visit, on October 2, Henry died. He had suffered severe burns and investigators determined then that he had suffered from abuse because of additional injuries which were discovered. An official cause of death has not been announced yet.

The Messenger approached the Sheriff's Department for further comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Samantha Victoria Garver, 33, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and willful child cruelty, while Sergio Vincent Mena, 32, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, assault on a child causing death and willful child cruelty. 

Henry would often visit the home of his 14-year-old babysitter, whose mother had called the sheriff's office. In an interview with Southern California News Group, mom Stephanie Duncan said they just want justice for the little boy.

“We all noticed neglect,” Duncan said. “He would come over with no toys, hardly any clothes or diapers, disgustingly filthy bottles.

"On multiple occasions, I purchased those things for him myself. It was noted by us all that he was always dirty and so, so skinny. He often had small bruises on his torso and arms but nothing that merited calling the authorities.”

Duncan said she initially put these signs down to a family just struggling to get by. Later on, however, Henry showed up with bruising, including a handprint on his left arm in June.

That was when Duncan called authorities and requested the welfare check at her home. The deputy came, saw the injuries and asked questions before stating he would go and interview the parents. The progress of the check after that is unclear.

Garver and Mena's landlady Eveline Cook told the Los Angeles Daily News that she rented the first floor of her home to the family.

"That baby looked very pale, and I thought it looked a little sickly, but I wouldn’t have considered it abused. I thought when I get home, I might become friends with them and fatten the little booger up," Cook said.

Cook told the outlet she cried for over a week after learning Henry had died.