In re C.F. CA3

BACKGROUND

City of Stockton Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the home of three-year-old J.L. on the evening of January 14, 2022, in response to a 911 call by J.L.’s 17-year-old half-brother A.B. J.L. was blue around the face and had no pulse. There were various injuries on J.L.’s body and red-colored vomit in his playpen. J.L. was transported to the hospital. Hospital records show J.L. had an abrasion and hematoma on his forehead, signs of trauma to the extremities and head, minor old wounds and abrasions in various stages of healing, a rash around the groin and abdomen, and skin breakdown around the buttocks. There were clinical concerns J.L. was malnourished with signs of trauma and suspected neglect. J.L. was pronounced dead at 10:52 p.m. The San Joaquin County Office of the Medical Examiner subsequently identified hyponatremic dehydration due to probable unexplained chronic vomiting as the immediate cause of J.L.’s death. COVID infection was a contributing factor in the death. J.L. tested positive for a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) metabolite. The medical examiner also noted the presence of a number of injuries on J.L.’s body. Weighing only about 17 pounds, he was…