BALTIMORE (TCN) — A woman and her boyfriend, both 34, were arrested last week after her son was found deceased in a hot bathtub with apparent blunt force injuries.
According to the Baltimore City Police Department, on Aug. 21 at around 11:30 p.m., officers were called to a home on the 6300 block of Greenspring Avenue regarding an unresponsive child. When they arrived, they found paramedics attempting lifesaving measures on 6-year-old Brian Graham. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.
Two days later, Baltimore City Police announced Graham’s mother, Jalesia Offer, and her boyfriend, Brandon Wheatley, were arrested for child abuse resulting in death. The medical examiner ruled his cause of death blunt force trauma and his manner of death was homicide.
WMAR-TV reports Graham had fractured ribs, internal bleeding in his head and torso, a lacerated liver, and bruises all over his body.
On the night of Aug. 21, Wheatley brought Graham into the bathroom to shower. Offer reportedly went into the bathroom a few minutes later and found her son in the bath and Wheatley on the bathroom floor. Wheatley reportedly said he has a condition that causes him to fall asleep when he sits down.
Offer woke Wheatley up and got her son out of the tub. The water temperature reportedly reached 128 degrees, which left burns on Graham’s body.
Offer allegedly told investigators she hit Graham because he took money out of her purse, and Wheatley “physically disciplined” him afterward. WJZ-TV reports Wheatley said he and Graham also engaged in “play fights.”
Another 8-year-old boy in the home reportedly had bruises on his face as well and could not lift his arm. He was taken into custody of Child Protective Services.
According to WJZ, Graham’s father filed for custody in January, and his next court date was Aug. 27.
Records show Offer is facing several counts of child abuse and assault.