The father of a 2-year-old boy who was swept away and ultimately died in floodwaters near Barstow last month has been arrested and charged with murder in the child’s death.
Brandon Padilla Aguilera, 26, was arrested Friday at his home in the 300 block of Chandler Street. The Barstow Police Department said on social media.
The arrest came nearly a month after 2-year-old Xavier Padilla Aguilera was separated from his father in floodwaters in the 24000 block of West Main Street on Sept. 18. Xavier’s body was found the next day.
“Over the course of the month-long investigation, investigators spoke with witnesses and collected evidence. Based on the evidence obtained, investigators issued an arrest warrant for him,” the police said, without going into details.
Padilla-Aguilera is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at High Desert Jail.
He was scheduled to appear in Victorville Superior Court on Tuesday morning.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office told KTLA that they “have received the investigation and it is currently awaiting review to decide whether to file.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Bryce Carson at 760-255-5183 or bcarson@barstowca.org.
To report information anonymously, call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or visit wetip.com.
Morgan Paul contributed to this report.