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A 41-year-old barber from California allegedly brutally murdered a 6-year-old boy with a “large piece of raw lumber” after becoming furious after the child peed in his pants at the park while he was babysitting him.
In Placentia, approximately 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles, Ernest Lamar Love is facing charges of murder, torture, and child abuse in connection with the death of Chance Crawford.
The mother of Chance left him at Love’s barbershop at approximately 6:30 p.m. on August 29 before beginning her nightly shift as a nurse’s aide at St. Joseph’s Hospital, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Further information may be found in the following article: “Detectives were ‘immediately horrified upon seeing her'” after a couple abused a 5-year-old child by putting a dog shock collar and gagging on her.
Love allegedly transported a bruised and gasping Chance to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County over seven hours later.
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In a news release, prosecutors stated that doctors at CHOC found “raw, gaping wounds,” subdural hematoma, significant brain edema, and other injuries “consistent with violent shaking” after Chance’s buttocks were found to be lacking flesh.
Chance passed away on Tuesday while still in the hospital, where he was in a critical condition.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed the assault. According to authorities, it showed Love entering the barbershop while accompanied by a “large piece of raw lumber” and a reluctant Chance.
According to the news release, “Love is accused of beating the first grader with the piece of lumber, then pouring hydrogen peroxide on the open wounds” before making the youngster perform push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks.
After Chance collapsed, he drove him to the hospital’s emergency department rather than dialing 911. If found guilty, Love might spend the next 32–life years behind bars. He remains free on bond at the Orange County Jail.
Chance will get justice, according to a statement from Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
As he battled for his life in a hospital bed, Chance’s classroom seat remained unfilled as his new classmates celebrated the conclusion of the first week of first grade, he explained. “The sheer horror that this young boy went through cannot be adequately expressed in words — all because of an individual whose job it was to safeguard him, not to torture him to death.”
Chance was a “sweet little boy, with a beautiful smile” who loved watching Sesame Street and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, according to two GoFundMe accounts created by friends and relatives.
An exceptional artist, he was also bright and curious. According to the fundraiser, Chance began drawing Mickey Mouse, his beloved figure, and the results resembled artwork from a Disney film. There was still so much life in him; he was a talented kid. The death of our lovely, gentle, brilliant, and dazzling light has left us devastated. No one in our family will ever be the same after experiencing this tragedy. We lost a precious young son far too soon.
Love is denying any wrongdoing.
Juniper Calloway is a dedicated journalist with 3 years of experience in covering hard-hitting stories. Known for her commitment to delivering timely and accurate updates, she currently works with MikeandJon Podcast, where she focuses on reporting critical topics such as crime, local news, and national developments across the United States. Her ability to break down complex issues and keep audiences informed has established her as a trusted voice in journalism.
