16-Year-Old Pasadena Father Charged with the Murder of His Infant Son

Pasadena police on Thursday afternoon arrested the 16-year-old father of an infant boy who was found dead in a Pasadena home on February 4 of this year when Pasadena Fire paramedics responded to a 911 call for help.

The paramedics had pronounced Brandon Blackburn deceased when police arrived about 8:30 a.m. at the home in the 1600 block of Kenneth Way. The boy was 21 months old, authorities said.

Officers immediately contained the area and started preliminary interviews of those present at the scene.

Pasadena detectives were called and began the official investigation. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office responded to the scene and took custody of the body.

The investigation revealed the toddler was free of medical issues, according to authorities. The autopsy results confirmed the cause of Blackburn’s death was due to blunt force trauma to his abdomen area.

Police said today that on Tuesday, July 10, as detectives conducted follow up interviews with the victim’s 16-year-old father, the juvenile allegedly confessed to striking the infant victim several times with his fist.

The suspect was consequently arrested and is currently being held at Eastlake Central Juvenile Detention Center.

Police said the case against the father was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office for review Thursday and that thereafter, the District Attorney filed one count of homicide (CA Penal Code 187(a)) and one count of assault resulting in death of child under eight years of age (CA Penal Code 273ab) against the suspect.

The suspect is held without bail.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Pasadena Police at (626)744-4241, or you may report information anonymously by calling “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), using your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.