Barstow couple arrested on suspicion of killing their 1-year old son, driving body to Pomona

A pair was arrested on suspicion of abusing and killing their 1-year-old son in Barstow then driving his lifeless physique to Pomona.

Ricardo Mendez, 27, and Antanita Miller, 24, each of Barstow, remained on the West Valley Detention Middle in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officers reported.

The couple are being held with out bail and are scheduled to seem on Thursday in Victorville Superior Courtroom. Mendez was additionally booked for a parole violation, reserving information present.

The Barstow Police Division reported that at roughly 11 p.m. on Monday, the Pomona Police Division notified them of a suspicious dying that occurred in Barstow.

Earlier that night, Pomona Police responded to the Pomona Valley Hospital to research a suspicious dying of a 1-year-old boy, who arrived unresponsive and was pronounced useless by medical personnel upon arrival.

Pomona Detectives noticed that the kid had sustained accidents in line with ongoing abuse. In addition they noticed seen indicators of trauma to the boy’s physique reminiscent of lesions, bruising, and burn marks. A few of the accidents seemed to be in several levels of the therapeutic course of.

Pomona detectives additionally revealed that the abuse probably occurred within the youngster’s house the place he lived together with his mother and father in Barstow.

Detectives additionally acknowledged that the boy died of these accidents in Barstow earlier than his mother and father drove him to Pomona.

After Pomona Police notified the BPD of the standing of their investigation, Barstow Police assigned murder detectives and crime scene investigators, who responded to the kid’s house within the 700 Block of East Virginia Method in Barstow and to Pomona Valley Hospital.

The couple’s house is positioned simply south of Barstow Neighborhood Hospital and close to the Division of Motor Autos workplace.

Barstow detectives Mathew Helms and Monty Franklin responded to Pomona the place they interviewed witnesses and contacted the sufferer’s mother and father, Mendez and Miller.

Detectives discovered that at roughly 7 p.m. on Monday, Mendez and Miller arrived unexpectedly at Mendez’s household’s house in Pomona, almost 90 miles away from Barstow.

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Members of the family discovered the kid’s lifeless physique behind the couple’s car.

A few of Mendez’s relations instantly drove the boy’s physique to the PVH for therapy whereas Mendez and Miller stayed on the household house.

Someday later, Miller arrived on the hospital the place officers detained her. Mendez left the household house and was discovered and detained within the 2100 block of Spencer Road by Pomona Police.

Barstow Police Detectives served search warrants on the couple’s residence and car, the place they positioned gadgets of proof believed to have been used in the course of the assault on the kid.

The couple had 4 youngsters beneath their care, together with two which can be with Baby Protecting Companies and located with no accidents. One other youngster was already beneath the care of a member of the family, Barstow Police Chief Andrew Espinoza informed the Each day Press.

Espinoza stated the burns on the kid weren’t small. He additionally added that the kid “had accidents throughout his physique, not only one space.”

Anybody with info concerning this investigation is requested by Barstow Police to contact Detective Matthew Helms at 760-255-5132 or at mhelms@barstowca.org.

These wishing to stay nameless may present info by calling the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-79-CRIME (27469) or by going to wetip.com.

This story is creating and shall be up to date as extra info turns into obtainable.

Each day Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz could also be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Comply with him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This text initially appeared on Victorville Each day Press: Barstow couple arrested on suspicion of killing their 1-year outdated son