Samantha Garver, 26, and Sergio Mena, 34, have each been sentenced to over a decade in prison for the murder of Garver's 1-year-old son, Henry Wheatley-Brown. The couple pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in serious bodily harm.
Incident Details
The fatal incident occurred on September 30, 2023, at the couple's home on the 700 block of Santa Barbara Avenue in Sugarloaf, California, about a mile from Big Bear City. Mena placed the toddler in a scalding hot bath and left him, allegedly to obtain methamphetamine. Henry suffered second- and third-degree burns, along with bruising and several healing fractures in both arms.
According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, when Mena returned and found the boy screaming in agony, he made no effort to alleviate his suffering. The couple did not seek medical care, instead attempting to treat the burns with over-the-counter ointment. They only contacted authorities the following day when Henry was found to have shallow breathing.
Prosecution and Sentencing
Paramedics found Henry without a pulse, ice-cold to the touch, and severely dehydrated. The district attorney's office stated, 'Although nothing can bring back baby Henry or erase the suffering he endured, today's sentences deliver justice and ensure these defendants will never again harm a child.' Mena was sentenced to 21 years in prison, while Garver received a 14-year sentence.
An investigation revealed that Henry and his three older siblings had a history of abuse, with prior involvement from the San Bernardino County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Garver allegedly told DCFS staff she 'felt like putting a pillow over' one of her children to stop crying and asked on Facebook if 'duct taping a child's mouth is abusive.'
Family Response
Child services determined the cause of death as abuse or neglect. Henry's grandmother, Sierra Rivers, downplayed the abuse, telling the Los Angeles Times, 'I got abused as a kid, and I got hit as a baby, and I turned out fine.'
