An investigation into the death of a 16-month-old baby last fall in Sabre Springs led to the arrest Wednesday of both of his parents.
San Diego police took the father, Jamar Branch, 39, and the mother, Helena Branch, 37, into custody on suspicion of murder in the death of their son, Benjamin. They were located at San Diego County Juvenile Court in Serra Mesa on Meadow Lark Drive.
Homicide detectives and the Child Abuse Unit from the San Diego Police Department worked with the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office and doctors at Rady Children’s Hospital, officials said in a news release, and determined that the baby “had been the victim of severe neglect over a lengthy period of time, ultimately leading to his death.”
On Nov. 6, 2024, at 11:40 a.m., police received a call from the mother of the child, reporting that her son was unresponsive and not breathing at a home in the 10900 block of Evening Creek Drive.
Officers from Northeastern Division responded and met with fire and paramedic crews. Benjamin was transported to Palomar Medical Center in Poway, but doctors pronounced him dead at 12:32 p.m.
Detectives from the Child Abuse Unit began an investigation to determine who was responsible for the care and custody of the boy. Based on the initial findings and what police called “the severity of the apparent neglect to the child,” the Homicide Unit joined the investigation.
Benjamin was found to be both malnourished and “severely underweight,” authorities said.
The Branches have seven other children and their “safety is the priority” for law enforcement officials, according to SDPD.
Jamar Branch is being held at San Diego Central Jail. Helena Branch is at Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility. Both face a count of first-degree murder. Their arraignment is set for Friday.
Anyone with information regarding the boy’s death is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Updated 6 p.m. Feb. 19 , 2025
