Man Denies Murder Charges in Death of Girlfriend’s Toddler

A house painter pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 22-month-old son.

Brian Laudenback, 32, of Newport Beach was arrested after Tyler Jaeger died March 25 at Hoag Hospital. A preliminary autopsy showed that the child, who Laudenback was baby-sitting, had suffered severe blows to his liver and pancreas caused by a blunt instrument.

A preliminary hearing was set for July 21 in Municipal Court in Newport Beach.

Laudenback pleaded not guilty to felony child abuse last month. Authorities upgraded the charges to murder a week later and raised his bail to $250,000. He remains in custody, officials said.

One week before Tyler’s death, Laudenback brought the child to Hoag Hospital for treatment of a fractured skull, authorities said. He said at the time that Tyler, the son of 22-year-old Karey Jaeger, had fallen accidentally and bumped his head.

Laudenback often baby-sat Tyler while Karey Jaeger went to work in the San Gabriel Valley. He was arrested March 25, the day Tyler died, after police said they learned of suspicious bruising on Tyler’s body and the earlier head injury.