Parents arrested in death of their ‘severely underweight’ 16-month-old, CA cops say
A mother and father have been arrested months after the death of their “severely underweight” toddler, California police say.
Helena Branch, 37, and Jamar Branch, 39, were arrested Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the death of their 16-month-old son, Benjamin Branch, the San Diego Police Department said in a news release.
Helena Branch called 911 just before noon Nov. 6 and said “her son was unresponsive and not breathing” at a San Diego home, police said.
After officers and paramedics arrived, first responders took him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 50 minutes after his mother’s 911 call, police said.
Through investigation, police said its detectives believed the child, “who was severely underweight, appeared malnourished,” may have suffered “criminal neglect” before he died.
Police said its child abuse unit began to look into the boy’s case, and, given the severity of the child’s neglect, homicide detectives also took up the investigation.
The months-long investigation led officials to determine the boy’s “severe neglect over a lengthy period of time” under his parents’ care led to his death, police said.
Both parents were each arrested on a first-degree murder charge and are being held without bail, jail records show.
McClatchy News reached out to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and is awaiting a response on formal charges.
The pair are scheduled to appear in court Feb. 21, jail records show.
This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Parents arrested in death of their ‘severely underweight’ 16-month-old, CA cops say."
