Calif. toddler died of scalding injuries after mom’s boyfriend left him in hot water to go smoke meth

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (TCN) -- A couple has been convicted and sentenced for the 2023 death of a 1-year-old boy who died after being left in scalding hot water.

On July 28, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing of Henry Wheatley-Brown’s mother, Samantha Garver, and Garver’s boyfriend, Sergio Mena.

According to the DA, Mena put Wheatley-Brown into a bathtub full of scalding hot water on Sept. 30, 2023, and left the child so he could smoke methamphetamine. Mena told Garver about the burns, and when she got home later that night, they treated the child with over-the-counter ointment instead of seeking medical treatment. 

On Oct. 1, 2023, they called 911 to report that Wheatley-Brown was breathing shallowly. When first responders arrived, they found he had no pulse and was cold to the touch.

It was determined that he died from a scalding injury and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. In addition to severe burning, the investigation into Wheatley-Brown’s death found that he had bruising, healing fractures, and petechiae in both eyes, and that his mother was aware of the injuries. Investigators determined Wheatley-Brown was the victim of longtime abuse, per the DA.

According to Law & Crime, Henry had three older siblings and the family had had multiple interactions with the Department of Children and Family Services. According to DCFS documents reported on by Law & Crime, Garver had reportedly made an internet search on whether was abusive to place duct tape over a child’s mouth, and reportedly told a doctor she wanted to put pillows over her children’s faces due to their crying.

LivesCutShort.org reports Garver has a history of child abuse accusations dating back to 2009. She was convicted of a misdemeanor charge of child abuse in 2013 for causing burns to another child.

A memorial post in Wheatley-Brown’s honor from the Big Bear Valley Seventh-Day Adventist Church reads, “He was dedicated to the Lord in October 2022 and regularly attended church with his brother, sisters, and grandparents. He played baby Jesus at our Christmas play last year. He will be greatly missed until we meet again in heaven.”

On July 28, Mena was sentenced to 21 years in prison for second-degree murder and child abuse causing great bodily injury and Garver was sentenced to 14 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and child abuse causing great bodily injury, according to the DA.

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