Counts Against Couple in Son’s Death Reduced
Sheriff’s deputies, who earlier had arrested a Lancaster couple on murder charges in the death of their 21-month-old son, reduced the booking against them Friday to child abuse, after an autopsy revealed that the boy died of spinal meningitis.
Jennifer Humphreys, 20, and Donald Humphreys II, 21, however, remained in custody, Deputy Dave Hogan said. She is in Sybil Brand Institute for Women, and he is in Los Angeles County Jail.
According to Hogan, a coroner’s autopsy revealed that Donald Humphreys III died of spinal meningitis.
The child also reportedly had a skull fracture and other injuries, Deputy Lynda Edmonds said. He died Thursday afternoon at Antelope Valley Medical Center.
Deputies were notified by the parents that their son had stopped breathing after falling off a toilet seat, Edmonds said.
Doctors concluded that the boy’s injuries were not from an accidental fall, Edmonds said.
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