A California mother and her boyfriend are facing first-degree murder charges after the woman’s 2-year-old son was found dead in a remote area late last month.
Bakersfield.com reported that Ayled Chavez, 19, originally told police that she was walking on Union Avenue with Ramon Angel Reyes-Chavez in her arms when a Hispanic man jumped out of a black SUV, grabbed the toddler, and got back into the vehicle.
Police said she changed her story, but it was also a lie. Chavez reportedly claimed that her boyfriend, Kaleb Kessinger, 20, had gotten into an argument in the car and had left her son behind. However, she later told officers that Kessinger had kidnapped her baby and threatened to kill her if she told, according to the news outlet.
Documents stated that the teen mother ultimately confessed that she found Reyes-Chavez injured after returning from dinner with a friend. She claimed that Kessinger was watching her son at the time.
She reportedly said her son had injuries to his head and face. Kessinger allegedly said the injuries occurred when he accidentally shut the boy’s head in his car door. He refused to take him to the hospital because he was afraid to go to prison but ended up changing his mind, she said.
Chavez claimed her son died while en route to the hospital. She said they ultimately returned to Kessinger’s house and fell asleep—leaving the child’s body in the car. They allegedly dumped the body in the canyon the following morning but returned that afternoon so Kessinger could bury him.
Bakersfield police Sgt. Brian Holcombe claimed Chavez led police to the slain child’s body a day after her arrest in connection with his disappearance. As CrimeOnline previously reported, the toddler’s body was located April 26 off a trail near the Democrat Hot Springs in the Kern River Canyon.
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Court documents obtained by The Californian stated that he was found in a blue long-sleeve sweatshirt, black sweatpants, white socks, and a diaper. An autopsy confirmed that the 2-year-old died from blunt force trauma, according to People.
Furthermore, the newspaper reported that investigators discovered a “dark red or brown stain” on the couch and wall in Kessinger’s living room. Possible blood stains were also found on the floor and door of a child’s bedroom, according to documents.
The Bakersfield Californian previously reported that Kessinger was arrested shortly after leading police on a car chase and taking off on foot after crashing his vehicle. An arrest warrant for first-degree murder and felony child abuse was issued for Kessinger while he was on the run.
Chavez remains jailed on charges of first-degree murder, child abuse, and conspiracy.
[Featured Image: Ramon Reyes-Chavez/Bakersfield Police Department]
