Arraignment set in boy's death

San Diego Union-Tribune, The (CA)

Foster mother, 47, accused in killing

Author: Joe Hughes; STAFF WRITER

Dateline: SAN DIEGO

A 47-year-old foster mother will be arraigned tomorrow on suspicion of killing a 2-year-old boy in her care.

Linda Coleman surrendered to San Diego police Tuesday evening after autopsy results for Malachi Roberts-McBride revealed he died of blunt force trauma to the head, homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney said.

Coleman was being held without bail at the Vista Detention Facility yesterday.

Three other children had lived with Coleman in a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment on South 45th Street near Logan Avenue in the Mountain View neighborhood of San Diego. Rooney said the three children were taken to the Polinsky Children's Center. Two of the children, ages 9 and 11, are her grandchildren. The third is another 2-year-old foster child.

Coleman lives in a gated complex near the Willie Henderson Sports Complex and Recreation Center. Yesterday, her neighbors barbecued with their families and played softball. Several said they knew Malachi had been taken to the hospital, but were unaware he had died.

"I'm just shocked," said Sashi Davis, 43. "We all thought it was some kind of accident."

Coleman was the only adult home when Malachi was hurt last week, police said. Her grandchildren were not there.

Rooney said Coleman called 911 on June 27 to report that Malachi was having seizures and difficulty breathing and paramedics responded.

Malachi was taken to Children's Hospital and Health Center, where doctors determined he had a brain injury and bruising to his body. It also became clear the boy would not survive, Rooney said. Police were called.

Malachi died Friday about noon.

An autopsy Sunday confirmed detectives' belief that the boy died from blunt force trauma and a brain injury.

It also showed that Coleman's story to police didn't match up with the injuries on the boy's body, Rooney said.

At 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Coleman surrendered to detectives at police headquarters.

Malachi had been in Coleman's care for three months.