Apple Valley mother charged in deaths of two babies 3 years apart
An Apple Valley woman has pleaded not guilty to smothering her infant daughter in March and causing the death of her other baby girl three years ago.
Kristin Ann Brandon, 28, entered pleas Aug. 6 to a murder charge in the March death and to charges with regard to both babies of assault on a child causing death, the Daily Press of Victorville reported Thursday.
She was being held on $1.5 million bail.
Brandon’s 2-month-old daughter, Natalie Brandon, was found dead March 3 at a mobile home park in Apple Valley, near Victorville.
“During the last five months, detectives have gathered information and evidence that determined Kristin Brandon was under the influence [and] therefore negligent in her care of Natalie and ultimately smothered her,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement Thursday.
During that investigation, detectives learned that Brandon’s 2-month-old daughter, Aryana Harper, died in 2017.
Investigators located a witness who provided information that “determined Aryana’s death was also a result of negligence while Kristin was under the influence,” the statement said.
The statement didn’t identify what substances investigators believe Brandon was using at the times of the deaths.
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