Barstow couple of color(s) arrested on suspicion of killing their 1-year old son, driving body to Pomona

A couple was arrested on suspicion of abusing and killing their 1-year-old 
son in Barstow then driving his lifeless body to Pomona.

Ricardo Mendez, 27, and Antanita Miller, 24, both of Barstow, remained at 
the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, San 
Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials reported.

The couple are being held without bail and are scheduled to appear on 
Thursday in Victorville Superior Court. Mendez was also booked for a 
parole violation, booking records show.

The Barstow Police Department reported that at approximately 11 p.m. on 
Monday, the Pomona Police Department notified them of a suspicious death 
that occurred in Barstow.

Earlier that evening, Pomona Police responded to the Pomona Valley 
Hospital to investigate a suspicious death of a 1-year-old boy, who 
arrived unresponsive and was pronounced dead by medical personnel upon 
arrival.

Pomona Detectives observed that the child had sustained injuries 
consistent with ongoing abuse. They also observed visible signs of trauma 
to the boy’s body such as lesions, bruising, and burn marks. Some of the 
injuries appeared to be in different stages of the healing process.

Pomona detectives also revealed that the abuse likely occurred in the 
child’s home where he lived with his parents in Barstow.

Detectives also stated that the boy died of those injuries in Barstow 
before his parents drove him to Pomona.

After Pomona Police notified the BPD of the status of their investigation, 
Barstow Police assigned homicide detectives and crime scene investigators, 
who responded to the child’s home in the 700 Block of East Virginia Way in 
Barstow and to Pomona Valley Hospital.

Barstow detectives Mathew Helms and Monty Franklin responded to Pomona 
where they interviewed witnesses and contacted the victim’s parents, 
Mendez and Miller.

Detectives learned that at approximately 7 p.m. on Monday, Mendez and 
Miller arrived unexpectedly at Mendez’s family’s home in Pomona, nearly 90 
miles away from Barstow.

Family members found the child’s lifeless body in the back of the couple’s 
vehicle.

Some of Mendez’s family members immediately drove the boy’s body to the 
PVH for treatment while Mendez and Miller stayed at the family home.

Sometime later, Miller arrived at the hospital where officers detained 
her. Mendez left the family home and was found and detained in the 2100 
block of Spencer Street by Pomona Police.

Barstow Police Detectives served search warrants at the couple’s residence 
and vehicle, where they located items of evidence believed to have been 
used during the assault on the child.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked by Barstow 
Police to contact Detective Matthew Helms at 760-255-5132 or at 
[email protected].

Those wishing to remain anonymous may also provide information by calling 
the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-79-CRIME (27469) or by going to wetip.com.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes 
available.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or 
[email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow 
couple arrested on suspicion of killing their 1-year old son

https://news.yahoo.com/barstow-couple-arrested-suspicion-killing-
025517895.html