A 7-year-old California boy is fighting for his after a brutal attack, allegedly by the hands of his own mother and stepfather.
The Modesto Bee reports that officers arrived at an apartment of off Oakdale Road, at the Live Oak Apartments in Modesto on Sunday, to find first responders treating a young boy who had “serious injuries.”According to Modesto Police spokesperson, Sharon Bear, the child’s mother, identified as Jovonna Cruz, 35, placed the initial 911 call.
Bear, who said the child had “multiple injuries on multiple parts of his body,” didn’t elaborate further and wouldn’t specify if any weapons were used. Police arrested Cruz and her boyfriend, Eyvar Rivera, 41, on suspicion of child abuse charges.
“They cannot officially pronounce it yet, but they don’t think he’s going to make it,” the boy’s aunt, Brandy Blackwell, told CBS Sacramento.
Blackwell said she called social services in March, after her sister, who had only recently gotten custody of the boy around a year ago, allegedly said she would never let him see family again if they didn’t stop trying to interfere.
On Sunday, September 13, 2020 at approximately 1PM, MPD responded to a medical aid call at an apartment in the 1900…
Posted by MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT on Tuesday, September 15, 2020
“My mom ( before my sister went MIA ) was taking care of him from the day he was born until a year ago when she left my moms home,” Blackwell wrote on GoFundMe. “She tried to get my sister to sign over custody to her, but my sister refused and threatened that if my mom took her to court she would never see either one of the kids again.”
Blackwell added that the boy’s biological father lives in Texas and that doctors are keeping the child on life support, but he’s not expected to make it until Friday, when his father is scheduled to arrive and see him.
“The doctors say his body is too weak to fight, his body went too long without oxygen and now has no brain activity.”
Meanwhile, both suspects were given bail of $150,000 each. Cruz remains in custody but Rivera has since bailed out.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
