BALTIMORE, MD – Jalesia Offer, 34, and her fiancé, Brandon Wheatley, 34, were arrested on Thursday in Baltimore in connection to the tragic death of Offer’s 6-year-old son, Brian Graham. They face charges of child abuse and assault.
Local authorities revealed that Graham’s 8-year-old brother, who also suffered trauma, has been hospitalized. Residents in a Northwest Baltimore apartment complex expressed alarm and sadness upon learning about the fatal incident.
Tye Martin, a neighbor, recounted witnessing the commotion as paramedics arrived on Wednesday and rushed a child to the hospital.
Investigation reports detailed disturbing physical abuse inflicted on the child. According to court documents, both Offer and Wheatley acknowledged physically harming Graham.
Furthermore, documents revealed that Offer discovered an unresponsive Graham in a tub of hot water with Wheatley slumped over in the bathroom. After waking Wheatley, the couple reportedly removed the boy from the water, applied burn cream to the injury, and contacted 911.
Suffering from a medical condition that induces spontaneous sleep, Wheatley confessed to the authorities that he occasionally “play fights” with the kids, attributing some bruises to these sessions. Tellingly, the subsequent medical examination revealed horrific injuries sustained by Graham, including multiple fractured ribs, a lacerated liver, and internal bleeding in the head and torso.
Baltimore City Police found Graham’s brother with facial bruises and a non-functioning left arm. The boy was subsequently hospitalized.