BALTIMORE (Gray News) – Baltimore police have charged a mother and her boyfriend in the death of their 6-year-old son after he was reportedly found unconscious and suffering from burns and bruises in a tub of hot water.

Baltimore Police investigators arrested Jalesia Offer and her boyfriend Brandon Wheatley, both 34, in connection with the death of Offer’s son, 6-year-old Brian Graham. Police say they were both charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death.

The charges were filed after the medical examiner ruled Brian’s death a blunt force homicide on Thursday. According to WJZ, the six-year-old suffered a lacerated liver, several broken ribs and internal bleeding in his head and torso.

Police said they were called to a Baltimore home around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday because an unresponsive child was found. Brian was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to the hospital, where he later died.

“This is just an extremely tragic and sad story,”​ Baltimore Police Detective Nikki Fennoy told WMAR:

Offer told police in an interview that she was cooking when Wheatley took Brian into the bathroom to shower, according to charging documents obtained by WJZ. A short time later, she found Wheatley asleep and Brian unconscious in a tub of hot water.

Wheatley later told police that he suffered from a medical condition that caused him to fall asleep when he sat down.

Tests revealed that the water temperature in the tub reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit and Brian suffered burns, WMAR reports.

According to the indictment, Brian also had bruises. Offer allegedly admitted to hitting and slapping her son and accused him of taking money from her purse, while Wheatley told police the bruises could have been from “playful fighting,” according to WJZ.

According to police, Brian’s 8-year-old brother also showed signs of child abuse. He has been taken into the custody of Child Protective Services while the investigation continues.

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