Baltimore police charge mother and fiancé in death of six-year-old

Baltimore police have arrested the mother of a six-year-old boy whose death a day ago was ruled a homicide, as well as the woman's fiancé.

Police responded to a home at 6300 Greenspring Avenue on Wednesday evening for a report of an unresponsive child. Six-year-old Brian Graham was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died, according to police.

The following day, investigators arrested the boy's mother, 34-year-old Jalesia Offer, and her partner, 34-year-old Brandon Wheatley. Offer and Wheatley were taken to the Central Booking Intake Facility, where they were both charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death and further assault.

The charging documents against Wheatley say the boy's body had numerous bruises and severe burns. Offer allegedly told officers that her fiancé had taken the boy to the bathroom to shower. As she passed by the bathroom, she noticed Wheatley slumped over and Brian unresponsive in the tub.

Wheatley suffers from a medical condition that causes him to fall asleep while sitting up, he told police. He said Brian played with the water jets before falling asleep.

The medical examiner's office ruled the boy's death a homicide on Thursday, listing the cause of death as blunt force trauma. The indictment against Wheatley states that Brian suffered several broken ribs, a ruptured liver and internal bleeding in his head and upper body.

Authorities executed a search warrant for the family's home on Thursday and found a large quantity of over-the-counter first aid supplies. A three-minute test of the hot water in the bathroom recorded a temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Investigators also said an 8-year-old boy in the home had bruising on his face and was unable to move his left arm.

According to police, Offer told investigators she physically punished Brian on Monday for taking money from her purse. She allegedly slapped and punched the boy multiple times and told officers Wheatley continued to punish Brian after her. She believed the bruises were caused by play fighting with the 8-year-old. Wheatley said he was play fighting with the children, but Brian bruises easily because of his light skin color.

Authorities have launched a separate investigation into the eight-year-old's injuries.

This is an evolving story.