2 Charged in Death of Son; ‘Filth’ Is Blamed

A North Hollywood couple were charged Wednesday with felony child endangering and involuntary manslaughter in the death of their 15-day-old son, who prosecutors said died from an infection caused by filth in the pair’s apartment.

The unmarried parents, Lori Ann Needham, 20, and Christopher Thomas Chacon, 22, were charged one month after the death of Steven Christopher Chacon, who died from infection three days after he was circumcised by a doctor, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth A. Loveman said.

The evidence indicates that “the baby died from exposure to filth,” which infected the unhealed circumcision, he said.

The parents called paramedics to their apartment in the 10700 block of Magnolia Boulevard the morning of Oct. 26 because the baby was not breathing, police said. Inside, the paramedics encountered flies and cockroaches, at least 70 soiled diapers, piles of clothes, beer cans, dirty dishes and trash, Loveman said. The infant could not be revived.

“The apartment was covered with filth--wall-to-wall garbage,” Loveman said.

Chacon and Needham were arrested on suspicion of felony child endangering and were later released on bail. The charges were filed Wednesday after additional investigation, Loveman said.

Loveman said he believes the evidence will show that health conditions in the apartment were such that the baby was in great danger even without the circumcision.

If convicted, Chacon and Needham each could receive up to six years in state prison, Loveman said.