Pair Accused of Sexually Assaulting Dead Girl, 4

Two employees of a private firm that transports bodies for the San Bernardino County coroner’s office are under arrest, accused of sexually assaulting the body of a 4-year-old Adelanto girl who died at a hospital emergency room.

Donald Luis Cooper Jr., 32, and Chaunee Marie Helm, 30, both of Hesperia, were taken into custody Friday at a Victorville motel by San Bernardino County sheriff’s investigators. They had transported the girl’s body Wednesday from Victor Valley Community Hospital in Victorville to the county morgue.

When an employee from the Inland Eye and Tissue Bank arrived about 8 p.m. Wednesday at the morgue to harvest the child’s corneas, he saw signs of trauma and sexual assault on the body and immediately notified the on-duty deputy coroner, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said.

“The allegations ... are horrendous and tragic,” Coroner Brian McCormick said in a statement. “What has been described constitutes the grossest violation of trust and decency imaginable.”

The county suspended operations with All County Transportation, is investigating the practices of the firm and is reviewing its contract with the company, McCormick said.

Officials at All County Transportation, which has business offices in Riverside, could not be reached for comment Saturday.

The girl, whose identity was not released, had a high fever and experienced trouble breathing Wednesday morning. Emergency workers received a 911 call from her home about 8:40 a.m. and took her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead in the emergency room.

Hospital personnel did not detect any signs of foul play on the body, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Cindy Beavers. The child’s family and coroner’s employees were ruled out as suspects.

Investigators determined that the injury had occurred within the county morgue facility and identified the transportation workers as suspects.

The transportation employees “have access to the morgue to bring the body inside,” Beavers said. She said no coroner employees were apparently in the vicinity.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested the two suspects, who surrendered without resistance, at the Budget Inn Motel in Victorville. Their last known address is in Hesperia, Beavers said. The girl’s parents were immediately notified about the arrests.

“Our hearts go out to the family, and we share their anger,” McCormick said.