BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE

BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

MEDIA RELEASE

JERRY W. SMITH

SHERIFF-CORONER

DATE : July 18, 2012

RELEASED BY : Sgt. Jason Hail, Felony Investigations Unit

CONTACT # : 530-538-7671

On April 18, 2012 at approximately 1800 hours Edelyn Magakat Yhip, age 43, placed a 911 call from the residence at 4532 Gardenbrook Drive, Chico, California to report that her son, Benjamin Yhip (age 2) was unresponsive. Medical personnel responded to the scene and transported Benjamin to Enloe Hospital in Chico. The child was stabilized in the Emergency Room and then taken to Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, California via air ambulance. Benjamin’s condition continued to deteriorate and he was pronounced deceased on April 19, 2012 in the afternoon hours.

After a lengthy investigation conducted by the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and Butte County District Attorney Investigators, the parents of the Benjamin Yhip were arrested

and booked into the Butte County Jail, Oroville. Specific details regarding the investigation are not being released at this time; however, the cause of death has been

determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.

Dr. James Peter Yhip, age 46, was arrested by detectives from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office on July 18, 2012 and charged with one count of Murder and one count of felony Child Endangerment. His bail was set at $1,050,000.

Edelyn Yhip, DOB: 7/14/69 was arrested by detectives from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office on July 18, 2012 and charged with one count of Abuse of a Child Under 8 Years Old Causing Death, Murder, and felony Child Endangerment. Her bail was set at $2,050,000.

Benjamin was the adopted son of James and Edelyn Yhip. His twin brother and adopted sister have been placed with Children’s Services since Benjamin’s death.