https://kstp.com/news/man-charged-with-murder-in-death-of-3-year-old-in-foster-care/5188144/On Friday, a man was charged with seven counts of murder in the death of a 3-year-old boy at an Eagan foster home.
Charles Wayne Homich, 28, has been indicted by the Dakota County Grand Jury with four counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder.
These charges stem from the death of 3-year-old Zayden Lawson, a foster child in the care of Homich's girlfriend, Zeporia Fortenberry, 31, in June of 2017.
Fortenberry was charged on April 16 with one count of manslaughter in the second degree (child neglect; knowingly permits continuing physical abuse) and manslaughter in the second degree (child neglect or endangerment). The case against her is still pending, according to court documents.
According to the criminal complaint, on June 7, 2017, around 3 p.m., Eagan police officers and paramedics responded to a call that a 3-year-old was not breathing. The child was found to be cold to the touch and without a pulse. He was transported to Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An investigation in the case revealed that on June 6, while Fortenberry was working the night shift and left her two children, Lawson and his younger brother in the care of Homich, her live-in boyfriend.
An autopsy revealed his death was due to multiple blunt force injuries.
https://kstp.com/news/charles-wayne...year-old-zayden-lawson-dakota-county/4867769/April 16, 2018
The friend of the foster mom reportedly said she had been watching Lawson overnight about four times a week because of an incident in which Homich had "whooped" the boy. The complaint alleges she said she heard Lawson tell his foster mom that Homich had hit him in the head because of a dirty diaper.
She reportedly alleged Homich would "loose his cool" if he had to change one of Lawson's dirty diapers.
The complaint goes on to allege investigators found a text message from Homich to his mother on June 12 in which Homich reportedly said "Mom I'm about to go to prison." The complaint also alleges there are texts in which investigators claim it appears he is asking his mother to take the blame for Lawson's death.
One of Homich's co-workers also is alleged to have told investigators that prior to Lawson's death he had been on break with Homich who told him he had punched Lawson in his stomach.
Homich also reportedly told a coworker that he had punched Zayden in the stomach and that Zayden became, "really sick and his vomit was black," according to the complaint.
When the coworker told Homich to bring Zayden to a doctor, charging documents say Homich feared, "the doctor would see his bruises and Lawson is old enough to tell him who gave him the bruises."