PALMDALE, CA (TCD) — A 24-year-old father has been charged in connection with the death of his missing young son, whose body has not yet been found.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, investigators allege Youssef Deuce killed his son, Barky Deuce, sometime between May 2 and 3. Authorities said the victim was less than a year old at the time of death.
KABC-TV reported that the baby's grandmother first reported him missing on May 3, and that investigators searched the Antelope Valley landfill for Barky Deuce's body.
However, investigators briefly halted their search. The victim's mother was reportedly already in custody on unrelated charges before her son went missing. She is not a suspect in this case.
The baby, who was born in Utah in April, was reportedly last seen with his father. Authorities arrested Yusef Dewees in Ogden, Utah. On June 5, the Los Angeles County Antelope Valley Court issued an extradition arrest warrant for the father on one count of murder, one count of assault on a child, and one count of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to result in bodily harm. injury or death. If convicted, Dewees faces up to life in state prison.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said: “Child abuse has no place in our society and such acts of violence cannot be tolerated. Children are among the most vulnerable in our society and every child deserves safety and protection as a child and human right. We stand with victims and their loved ones. “We are committed to actively seeking justice for our people.”
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