From left: Delicia Daniel, 29, and Kyle Christopher, 22 have been charged for the murder of 4-year-old Aaron Benjamin, Jr. Photo: VIPD

As previously reported by the Consortium, it was revealed during the advisement hearing that the father had been attempting to gain custody of his son fearing that the boy was being abused by his mother and her boyfriend. Yet even after numerous attempts and after registering a number of complaints with the Dept. of Human Services, he was not granted custody. During the Tuesday advisement hearing, it was further revealed that the deceased boy’s sister, who is also the child of the father, Aaron Benjamin Sr., also experienced a pattern of abuse by the mother and her boyfriend.

According to a person with intimate knowledge of the matter, Mr. Benjamin’s experience with the Dept. of Human Services while attempting to alert the department of the abuse of his children was disheartening. “They even hung up the phone on him a number of times,” this person said. Following the death of Mr. Benjamin’s 4-year-old son, D.H.S. has been reaching out to the father, and has also offered to pay for funeral costs — an offer the father, according to this person, did not accept.

Ms. Daniel and Mr. Christopher — the latter who admitted to beating the child causing him to fall and hit his head against a chair — were also charged with aggravated assault and battery, aggravated child abuse and neglect, and third-degree assault. Bail was set at $1 million, and both suspects were remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending their advisement hearing.

D.H.S. Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez has not returned a request for comment, although the Consortium attempted to reach her and left a message since Saturday.

Black & blue eye, bite marks, more abuse

According to the affidavit, the deceased child, who was examined by Dr. Leslie Burton at the Juan F. Luis Hospital, was dead on arrival. He also had a black and blue left eye, bite marks and fresh and old abrasions.

Officers said the girl child told police that “Daddy Kyle beats her and her brother with a black stick.”

Father speaks out

Mr. Benjamin told police that a court order prevented him from having his children, and that the mother had kept them away from him since June. He told police that both his children had told him they were being beaten by Mr. Christopher, and that since April, he noticed his daughter had a black eye. The children had also expressed to their father that they did not want to go back to their mother’s Lorraine Village apartment. And as relayed to the Consortium by a source, Mr. Benjamin told police that he made several reports to the Dept. of Human Services concerning the abuse.

Young Aaron Benjamin, Jr. dies

Mr. Christoper told police that on Oct. 10 at about 7:00 a.m., he slapped Aaron in the face for stealing his sister’s Caprisun drink. The boy stumbled and fell, hitting his head against a chair. Thereafter, Aaron started to vomit, according to Mr. Christopher, who also told police that the boy continued vomiting and stumbling throughout the day.

The following day, Oct. 11, Aaron’s condition hadn’t improved. Mr. Christopher told police that at about noon that day, Aaron asked to use the bathroom but couldn’t stand on his own, so he had to be assisted. The boy then stopped breathing, Mr. Christopher told detectives, according to the affidavit.

Initially, Ms. Daniel told detectives that Mr. Christopher did not strike the children and that she was the only one to do so. Ms. Daniel later changed her statement to concede that Mr. Christopher did hit the children, although she said it wasn’t in her presence.

Backstory

Mr. Dratte told the Consortium Friday that the 911 emergency call center had received notification of the incident at about 12:59 p.m. Officers and EMS personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene, and upon arrival, emergency personnel administered CPR on the boy to no avail.

In the initial V.I.P.D. release, police said the boy was found badly abused and was malnourished. Additionally, the VIPD’s preliminary investigation with medical personnel into the incident found that the boy had varying stages of lacerations, which suggested he was badly beaten.

Police Commissioner Velinor said, “The circumstances of this tragedy is being investigated. I will assure the community that our officers will investigate this matter thoroughly and hold those involved accountable for their actions. We have a responsibility to protect our children from danger.”

See previous article on October 13, 2019

4-yr-old boy beaten to death in USVI; Mother & boyfriend arrested

The mother of a 4-year-old boy who was found dead on Friday afternoon, October 11, 2019 in a Lorraine Village housing community apartment in St Croix, US Virgin Islands (USVI), along with her boyfriend, was arrested in connection with the boy’s death, [US] Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) Public Information Officer Glen Dratte confirmed to the Consortium.

Mr Dratte told the Consortium Friday that the 911 emergency call center had received notification of the incident at about 12:59pm. Officers and EMS personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene, and upon arrival, emergency personnel administered CPR on the boy to no avail.

Police said the boy was found badly abused and was malnourished. Additionally, the VIPD’s preliminary investigation with medical personnel into the incident found that the boy had varying stages of lacerations, which suggested he was badly beaten.

A person familiar with the matter said the boy’s father had been trying for months to gain custody of his son — through the judicial system and through the Dept. of Human Services — but was denied. The father’s contention, according to this person, was that he feared his son was being abused.

Incident shocks community

The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, and local leaders have shared their dismay at what happened.

“It is with great sadness that I offer my condolences to the family of young Aaron Benjamin. The loss of any child is heartbreaking under any circumstances,” said Senator Novelle E. Francis. “I’ve had the opportunity to speak to Police Commissioner [Trevor] Velinor and Carol Burke, Public Information Officer of the VI Department of Human Services regarding this tragic incident, which remains under investigation. I urge anyone having information that can assist police to contact 911. May young Aaron rest with the angels.”

Mr Velinor said, “The circumstances of this tragedy is being investigated. I will assure the community that our officers will investigate this matter thoroughly and hold those involved accountable for their actions. We have a responsibility to protect our children from danger.”

The child, who was identified by his grandmother, was named Aaron Benjamin, Jr.

The suspects were remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending their advisement hearing.