Parents establish a certain level of trust before leaving their children with caregivers. Unfortunately, babysitters sometimes turn around and abuse or neglect the very kids they were supposed to protect. A parent's worst nightmare may even come true.
Parents in California are in mourning after leaving their young son in the care of a man named Ernest Lamar Love. The barber, 41, from Placentia allegedly beat the 6-year-old after he had an accident in his pants. Sadly, the little boy died as a result of the attack — and the description of his injuries is beyond disturbing.
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Love babysat Chance at his barbershop on August 29.
Six-year-old Chance Crawford's mother dropped him off at Love's barbershop at roughly 6:30 p.m. August 29, according to prosecutors, ABC 7 reported, after the boy finished his third day of first grade. The mother worked a night shift at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Love agreed to babysit the boy, per People. Chance, however, would never see his fourth day of school.
Allegedly, Love beat the boy with lumber after Chance peed his pants.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Love entering the barbershop at one point with a "large piece of raw lumber with a reluctant Chance following behind him," per ABC 7. According to prosecutors, Love beat Chance with the piece of lumber before pouring hydrogen peroxide on his open wounds after the boy wet his pants at a park. Love also allegedly made the first-grader do sit-ups, push-ups, and jumping jacks until he collapsed.
At roughly 1:30 a.m. August 30, Love allegedly carried an unconscious Chance into the emergency department of Children's Hospital of Orange County, claiming the boy had received the injuries after a fall. Hospital staff called authorities, ABC 7 reported.
The extent of Chance's injuries was horrific.
A news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office detailed that “doctors at CHOC discovered that much of Chance’s flesh was missing from his buttocks, leaving raw, gaping wounds, along with subdural hematoma, extreme brain swelling, and other injuries consistent with violent shaking.” Additionally, Chance had a "healing fracture on his shoulder blade."
On September 3, Chance was declared brain dead and removed from life support, ABC 7 reported.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the release, “Words do not exist to describe the absolute terror this little boy was forced to endure – all at the hands of someone who was supposed to be protecting him, not torturing him to death."
Love faces charges of murder, torture, and child abuse following the death of the 6-year-old.
On September 4, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against Love. He was charged with one felony count of murder, one felony count of torture, and one felony count of child abuse causing death. If convicted on all charges, Love faces up to 32 years to life plus five years. He has put in a plea of not guilty.
A GoFundMe campaign was organized to benefit the boy's family.
A GoFundMe campaign was begun in the wake of Chance's death.
"Chance was a loving, sweet little boy, with a beautiful smile," the description reads. "He was always happy, always kind, and always polite…He loved watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Sesame Street. He was smart, inquisitive, and a great artist."
Thus far, more than $13,000 has been raised, surpassing the $12,000 goal.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
