Police tape is shown at a crime scene in this undated image.
Benjamin Branch was just 16 months old when he died on Nov. 6, 2024.
Two and half months later, Benjamin's parents were arrested for his murder, accused of severely neglecting the child "over a lengthy period of time."
San Diego police said Wednesday that Jamar Branch, 39, and Helena Branch, 37, were taken into custody on Wednesday at 2851 Meadow Lark Drive in San Diego, which is the address of San Diego's Juvenile Court.
The couple have seven other children, San Diego police Lt. Jonathan Dungan confirmed to NBC 7 later in the day. He also said that "their safety is of upmost importance" and that they were safe. He also said he was unable to provide information at this time regarding why the couple were at or near juvenile court when they were arrested.
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Police first became aware of the situation late in the morning on Nov. 6, when 911 operators got a call from Helena, who reported that her son was unresponsive and not breathing at a home at 10936 Evening Creek Drive, in the Sabre Springs community of San Diego.
First responder brought Benjamin, who was severely underweight, to the Pomerado Hospital in Poway, but he was unable to recover and was pronounced dead a little after 12:30 that afternoon.
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Benjamin's grandmother, Karen Cole, spoke with NBC 7 Wednesday night.
She said she's still trying to process seeing her son, Jamar, and his wife, Helena arrested.
"So if if they did anything to their child, why would they call 911 immediately when they found to, if they was trying to hide anything or if they were doing something wrong to the child, why would they call for help?" said Cole.
Police determined that the toddler appeared malnourished and, suspecting criminal neglect, brought in detectives from the San Diego Police Department's Child Abuse Unit, whose investigators were able to confirm Benjamin had been severely neglected for quite some time, according to SDPD, and police said they ultimately determined his parents were responsible for his death.
Neighbor Daphne Youngblood says she never saw the toddlers, but heard crying from time to time. "Just praying. You know, that he's in a better place. But yeah it broke our hear," said Youngblood.
Meanwhile, the grandmother wanted the world to know, "they are not guilty as charged because they're cuz they they they they took care of their kids. They protected. They can, you know, and I just don't understand how, they don't understand that the boy was sick," said Cole.
The couple is expected to be arraigned on Friday.
Anybody with information about the case is being urged to call San Diego police at (619) 531-2293. Tips can also be called in anonymously to Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
