A Baltimore City mother and her fiancé face charges related to the tragic death of 6-year-old Brian Graham.
A couple in their thirties, Jalesia Offer and Brandon Wheatley, contacted emergency responders when they discovered their child unresponsive in a tub of hot water at their apartment on Greenspring Avenue. This incident occurred on August 21, as stated in the charges.
During an interview with police, Offer mentioned that she was in the kitchen cooking while her fiancé took Graham into the bathroom to shower.
Shortly after, Offer noticed Wheatley slumped over and Graham unresponsive in a tub of hot water as she walked past the bathroom.
According to the charging documents Wheatley shared with the authorities about a medical condition that results in him dozing off whenever he takes a seat.
Upon awakening Wheatley, Offer and his companion swiftly rescued Graham from the water. They promptly applied burn cream to his body and initiated CPR, diligently continuing until the arrival of paramedics.
Tragically, Graham passed away at Sinai Hospital despite all efforts to save his life.
The responding officer observed that the child had visible bruising and severe burns.
According to charging documents, the mother admitted to punching and slapping her child earlier in the week, and claimed that the burns were a result of a hot bath.
According to the police, Wheatley also confessed to engaging in physical altercations during what he referred to as “play fights.”
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined that the death of the 6-year-old was a homicide. The examination revealed several fractured ribs, a lacerated liver, and internal bleeding in the head and torso, according to records.
According to court records discovered by WJZ, the biological father of Graham filed for custody of the 6-year-old in January of this year.
The upcoming hearing in the petition case has been set for Tuesday, August 27.
As part of the ongoing police investigation, authorities discovered that an 8-year-old sibling exhibited indications of possible child abuse.
According to charging documents, investigators have discovered that the boy had bruises on his face and was experiencing difficulty lifting his left arm.
An ongoing investigation has resulted in the child being placed under the custody of Child Protective Services.
WJZ reached out to CPS to inquire about any previous interactions with Offer before Graham’s death, but did not receive an immediate response.
“If anyone comes across a child suspected of being a victim of child abuse, please call 911. If you wish to remain anonymous, call our Crime Stoppers network at 1-866-7LOCKUP,” Freddie Talbert with the Baltimore Police Department said.