Mom and Boyfriend Charged with Toddler Abuse and Murder

Brandee Danielle Wright, a 22-year-old mother from Warren, and her boyfriend have been charged with the abuse and murder of Wright’s 18-month-old son. Both of them are currently being held in the Macomb County Jail, facing charges of abuse and murder.

 
Apparently Wright returned home to discover her son, Amere Carver, unresponsive. He had been in the care of her boyfriend, William Mark Warren III while she was out. The couple took the toddler to McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mt. Clemens. After his condition was stabilized, Amere was transported to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit where he passed away just two days later.

 
Medical staff say that the little boy had suffered a number of very serious injuries, including severe head trauma and a very bad burn on one finger. Apparently, two weeks prior to his hospitalization, Amere was at a doctor’s appointment where a pediatrician noted bruising on his arms, face, and genital area as well.

 
The pair were arrested without incident in Detroit by the FBI in Macomb County, the Detroit Violent Crimes task force and Detroit police working together with local township police. They were arraigned via video conference in Clinton Township’s 41B District Court.

 
According to police, Wright attempted to cover up the abuse by asking a roommate to lie to investigators about who had been caring for the child at the time. She has been charged with manslaughter, second-degree child abuse and lying to a police officer in a violent crime investigation.

 
Under Michigan law, manslaughter is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, while second-degree child abuse is a 10 year felony. Because in this case the crime being investigated is a murder, lying to a police officer in a violent crime investigation is also a felony punishable by up to four years behind bars.

 
Warren, who is not the baby’s father, has been charged with felony murder, and first-degree child abuse. Under Michigan law, both felony murder and first degree child abuse are punishable by up to life in prison.

 
Wright is being held on a 1 million dollar bond. Warren, on the other hand, wasn’t granted bail. The Judge told his attorney that they would reassess that situation at the next hearing.