California Family Mourns ‘Sweet’ 6-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Beaten to Death by Babysitter
Brooklynn Holley/GoFundMe
A California family is grieving the loss of 6-year-old Chance Crawford, who was allegedly beaten to death by his babysitter just days after starting first grade. The suspect, 41-year-old Ernest Lamar Love, faces charges of murder, torture, and child abuse resulting in death, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Love has pleaded not guilty.
Chance’s father, Vance Crawford, expressed his heartbreak, telling ABC 7 “Why would this happen to him? He didn’t get to live the rest of his life. He’s 6 years old. I wanted to see my son graduate.”
Prosecutors say Love, a barber, was babysitting Chance last Thursday while the boy’s mother worked a night shift at the hospital. Love is accused of beating the boy with a piece of lumber, pouring hydrogen peroxide on his open wounds, and forcing him to perform physical exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the horrific crime, saying, “Words do not exist to describe the absolute terror this little boy was forced to endure – all at the hands of someone who was supposed to be protecting him, not torturing him to death.”
Around 1:30 a.m. last Friday, Love allegedly brought an unconscious Chance to a children’s hospital. Doctors found raw wounds, missing skin from the boy’s buttocks, and signs of brain swelling and bleeding, consistent with violent shaking, according to prosecutors. Despite medical efforts, Chance tragically died from his injuries on Tuesday.
Vance Crawford spoke of the devastating loss, telling KTLA, “Seeing my son like that, in critical condition from the time he was brought in, it’s just devastating. He didn’t even die peacefully. He died a tragic death, and it’s not fair.”
Prosecutors revealed that the beating began after Chance peed his pants at the park. The boy’s family held a vigil in his memory, describing him as “sweet,” “always smiling,” and “a great kid.” Chance’s cousin, Aisha Herrell, shared, “This is killing us slowly because no child deserves to get treated like this.”
Chance’s mother reportedly met the suspect at church. The family is now urging parents to be cautious about who watches their children. “He lived a happy life,” Vance Crawford said. “I love my son. I miss him so much. He didn’t deserve that.”
Love is being held without bail and could face up to 32 years to life plus five additional years if convicted. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs.
