An Alpine mother of two entered a not guilty plea to a child endangerment charge in connection with the death of her toddler whose broken bones went untreated, according to sheriff's investigators.
Lucas Orlando, died Jan. 13 of multiple skull fractures, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner.
His mother, Renee Fournier was arrested Jan. 26, accused of felony child endangerment, San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies said. She appeared in an El Cajon courtroom and entered a not guilty plea. Judge John M. Thompson denied video cameras access to record the arraignment.
When deputies were called to the Alpine Oaks condominium complex on Arnold Way on Jan. 11, they were told Lucas had been injured in a fall.
Deputies began CPR on the 19 month old before paramedics arrived and rushed him to the hospital. He died two days later. The medical examiner later determined Lucas’ cause of death to be blunt force trauma. His death was ruled a homicide.
The little boy had also suffered a broken arm and leg, which were mending on their own, investigators said.
Fournier was booked Tuesday into Las Colinas Detention Facility in San Diego’s East County on $100,000 bail.
Her boyfriend, U.S. Navy corpsman Brett Brown, was arrested Jan. 14 in connection with the boy’s death and is being held at San Diego Central Jail without bail.
Brown, 29, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and assault on a child with force likely causing death.
Brown is a corpsman attached to the Naval Medical Center San Diego. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 29.
Many neighbors of the couple want justice for Lucas and want this case to serve as a reminder to pay attention to potential signs of abuse.
“It's important that it gets a lot of attention so that people are aware of it happening and people can make sure it stops,” Jenny Ramsey said.
