Murrieta, CA – On Wednesday at about 10:00AM, Courtney Lynn Stewart, 24 of Murrieta, was arrested by detectives from the Murrieta Police Department for 273a(a) PC- Willful Harm or Injury to a Child and 273d(a) PC- Corporal Punishment or Injury to a Child. The victims in this case were Stewart’s three year old twin boys. Stewart was later booked at the Southwest Detection Center on the above charges.
The investigation began on 11/7/14, when Murrieta Police were dispatched to Rancho Springs Hospital regarding a three year old male who was brought into the ER and was determined to be in critical condition. The hospital staff noted several suspicious bruises on the child as well as a severe case of malnutrition. The three year old child weighed less than 15 pounds. Due to the child’s condition, he was immediately transported to Rady Children’s Hospital, in San Diego where he was admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. He currently remains hospitalized.
Later, on 11/7/14, Murrieta Police Detectives responded to the child’s home and began their investigation. At the home in Murrieta, detectives discovered another three year old male (twin brother) who appeared to be suffering from the same malnutrition as the child in the hospital. Riverside County Child Protective Services arrived at the home and assisted with the investigation. The twin brother was transported to the hospital for treatment and examination. The examination revealed a severe case of nutritional and medical neglect as well as a fractured jaw.
Murrieta Police Department is asking anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact Detective Jeremy Durrant at (951)461-6354, or Detective Sergeant Phil Gomez at (951)461-6356. You can also provide information anonymously through “We Tip” at 1-800-78-CRIME.
