Lancaster County Couple Charged In Connection To Infant’s Death In 2018
LANCASTER, SC — The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office has charged a man and woman in connection to a 14-month-old child who they say died of non-accidental blunt force trauma.
De’Yontae Miller, Sr., 25, and his girlfriend, Ramesha Brantley, 23, were arrested on Tuesday in connection to the child’s death on November 6, 2018.
Deputies say they were called to a home on 14th Street around 5:30 p.m. on November 6th in regards to an unresponsive child. De’Yontae Miller, Jr. was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead about an hour later.
The infant was reportedly living with his father, De’Yontae Sr., and Brantley, who deputies say was not the child’s mother. Miller’s other child, a now 3-year-old daughter, and a one-year-old son belonging to Miller and Brantley also lived in the house at the time.
While investigating the infant’s death, authorities say they found no running water and very little food inside the home. Over-the-counter and prescription medications, hard candies and rodent poisons were also found within the children’s reach, officials say, as well as two grams of crack cocaine, 2.8 grams of marijuana and two sets of digital scales.
An autopsy of the child determined his death was caused by non-accidental blunt force trauma to the head, neck, torso and extremities. Investigators say he also had a fractured leg and fractured ribs.
Some injuries were recent, according to the report, but some were weeks old.
As part of the ongoing investigation, LCSO deputies recently executed search warrants on Miller and Brantley’s current home and say they found 14 grams of marijuana and scales.
“This has been a long but thorough investigation,” said Sheriff Barry Faile. “Multiple agencies have been working on the case for several months. Many interviews have been conducted. The backgrounds of these adults and children have been examined. Forensic evidence has been tested. When we were satisfied we knew what happened to this child, we sought warrants from the magistrate and made the arrests. This has been a difficult investigation for all those involved and certainly a sad and tragic end to the life of this child.”
Brantley is charged with Homicide by Child Abuse, three counts of Unlawful Neglect of a Child or Helpless Person, Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, and two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana.
Miller is charged with three counts of Unlawful Neglect of a Child or Helpless Person, Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, and two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana.
