CLAYDEN URBANEK - 1 yo - Salina KS

(SALINA, Kan.)—

Family members try to make sense of the death of a one-year-old boy. Salina police say
Clayden Urbanek died as a result of child abuse. They found him covered
in bruises and suffering from internal injuries Tuesday. He died at the hospital.

Police arrived at the Salina home because the boy's mother called 911. Her
boyfriend called her at work and told her to come home because Clayden
was acting strange. When they arrived, he was lifeless and cold to the
touch. Captain Mike Sweeney says it was obvious he had been abused.

Police later arrested the mother's 27-year-old boyfriend and booked him
into jail for child abuse and felony murder. He was also wanted on a
warrant by the Department of Corrections. He was out on parole for drug
and burglary convictions.

"He deserves justice. He's 15 months old, he didn't need this and he didn't
deserve this," said Rosina Hoffman. She's the great aunt of Clayden on
his dad's side. Hoffman says they didn't get to see Clayden very
often, but he was adored by the family. "He was a go getter and he was
picky, if he didn't like you he wasn't going to you," she said.

Hoffman says his dad tried to spend as much time as possible with him. She
doesn't know the mother or her boyfriend very well. She's now putting
her faith in the justice system and hopes the suspect gets life in
prison for what she calls a tragedy.

Captain Sweeney says based on Clayden's injuries, this was not a one time abuse
situation. However he says they had never been called to the house
before. He says it's up to the community to keep watch of young kids.
Sweeney says if you suspect any kind of abuse or are concerned about a
child to call police or SRS. He says you can remain anonymous. If they
receive a call, he says they check it out immediately to try and
prevent situations like this.
http://www.kansascw.com/kscw/news/kwch-news-redm-salina-child-death-20111005,0,5022177.story

Salina police are investigating the murder of a 14-month-old boy and have arrested one man in the case.

The victim is Clayden Urbanek. The child's mother first called authorities
to the home in the 600 block of west Prescott Tuesday morning. She said
her 27-year-old boyfriend had been with the child and called the mother
at work to say the child was not acting right.

When officers arrived, they found the child without a pulse, not breathing and cold to
the touch. They say they also found bruising on the child's arms, torso and legs.

The boy was taken to the Salina Regional Health Center
where he was resuscitated and then transferred to Wesley Medical Center
in Wichita where he died Tuesday afternoon. Officers say the boy had a
broken rib, a tear to his intestines and a perforated bowel which caused internal bleeding.

Investigators say it's one of the worst cases of child abuse they've ever seen.

"We do investigate several child abuse cases, but not many to this
extreme," said Captain Mike Sweeney, Salina Police Department.
Clayden's family says he was a wonderful little boy.
"If he didn't like you, he didn't go to you," said Rosina Hoffman, a family
member. "If he didn't know you, he didn't go to you. He was a
go-getter, he was a babe."
Those in the neighborhood say its tough to see an energetic child's life cut so short.
"It's just traumatic for the entire community that a defenseless child can be
subject to this type of torture, in my opinion," said Capt. Sweeney.
The suspect was not at the home when officers arrived there to investigate.
The man was later arrested Tuesday evening in Salina. He is now jailed
pending formal felony murder charges.
http://www.ksn.com/content/news/bureaus/story/Man-arrested-for-murder-in-death-of-Salina-toddler/hnKJPAWwWEWnOF7gi274BA.cspx

SALINA — A Salina man is jailed on $1 million bond after being charged in the death of his girlfriend’s 14-month-old son.

Antonio M. Brown Sr. was charged Thursday with first-degree murder, child abuse and interference with a law enforcement officer.

Brown is accused in the Tuesday beating death of Clayden Lee Urbanek.
Brown was dating the boy’s mother, who hasn’t been publicly identified.

Brown is scheduled to appear in court Friday after an attorney is appointed for him.

Police say the mother notified 911 after Brown called her home from
work because the boy was having trouble breathing. He died at a Wichita
hospital.
http://cjonline.com/news/2011-10-06/bond-set-suspect-salina-babys-death#.To3_THK3N2I

I wonder if they will be charging the mother too as it sounds like there has been ongoing abuse. Poor baby. He's adorable.

Brittney Betzold, 19, 612 W. Prescott, the mother of a toddler who
Salina police say was murdered, was arrested Tuesday on charges of
felony murder, aggravated child endangerment and felony obstructing the
legal process, according to a news release from the Salina Police
Department.

On Oct. 4, officers and EMS responded to Betzold's home in reference to a
14-month-old, Clayden Urbanek, who was not breathing and was cold to
the touch. Clayden was treated at the Salina Regional Health Center and
transferred to a Wichita hospital, where he died.

Police previously had arrested Antonio Brown, 27, 612 W. Prescott, for
felony murder and child abuse in connection with Clayden's death.
http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/mom10-18-11

A 19-year-old Salina mother accused of murdering her toddler made a
first appearance Thursday morning in Saline County District Court via
closed circuit television.
Brittney Betzold was ordered to appear in court again at 10 a.m. Monday with her attorney. Bond was set at $500,000.
Judge Patrick Thompson read for Betzold the four counts against her,
which if proved could send her to prison for the rest of her life.
Saline County Attorney Ellen Mitchell said three alternative counts of
felony murder are being brought against Betzold, but if she were to be
found guilty she would be found guilty of only one of the three.
Felony murder is first-degree murder committed during commission of an
inherently dangerous felony. The first alternative count alleges that
felony was aggravated endangerment of a child.
The second and third alternatives allege the felony was two different
theories of child abuse: inflicting cruel and inhumane corporal
punishment or aiding and abetting in torturing or cruelly beating a
child.
Officials allege the acts occurred between Sept. 26 and Oct. 4.
The sentencing range for felony murder is life in prison with a minimum
mandatory sentence of not less than 20 years and a possible fine of
$500,000.
The second count is aggravated endangerment of a child, a felony charge with a possible sentence of 17 months in prison.
In the third count, Betzold is accused of aiding or abetting another
person in torturing or cruelly beating a child. The possible sentence
range is 31 to 136 months in prison.
The final count is interference with a law enforcement officer and
obstructing performance of official duty. That charge carries a sentence
of up to 17 months.
Antonio “Tony” M. Brown Sr., 27, Betzold’s boyfriend, also faces felony
murder charges in connection with the Oct. 4 death of 14-month-old
Clayden Lee Urbanek.
http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/momcourt10-20-11

The mother of a murdered 14-month-old toddler, along with her boyfriend,
were in a Saline County Courtroom Monday morning.Brittney
Betzold, 19, and her boyfriend Antonio Brown, 27, are both charged with
first-degree murder in the death of Clayden Urbanek.
Betzold sobbed throughout the court proceedings, in which Judge Young determined
both suspects would appear in court on December 12, for their
preliminary hearings. That's when prosecutors will lay out the case
against the two and a judge will determine if there is enough evidence
to send the case to trial.
Prosecutors are not releasing many
details about the case. Betzold was charged October 20 with murder,
interference with law enforcement and endangering a child.
"This whole thing should have gone differently, she should not have been
charged with this," said Hannah Clary, family friend.
"She was a great mom, she was young, a young mom. She did good,
she did great," said Tami Lewis, Betzold's mother.
Officers initially said that Brown was caring for the child October 4 while
Betzold was at work. They say he called her at work when the child
wasn't acting right. Betzold came home and called police. Paramedics
said they found the child without a pulse and not breathing and cold to
the touch. He was covered with bruises, and had multiple internal
injuries. Urbanek was revived and taken to a Wichita hospital where he
died. Brown was arrested within hours of the child's death. Betzold was
arrested about 2 weeks later.

http://www.ksn.com/news/local/story/Mother-boyfriend-appear-in-court-in-Salina/2azqRF0MNEi-feuv5QOVIw.cspx

Hearing set for pair accused in child's death

12/12/2011
ERIN MATHEWS


A preliminary hearing for two people accused of causing the death of a 14-month-old boy has been scheduled in January.
The hearing is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 11 in Saline County District Court for Brittney N. Betzold and co-defendant Antonio “Tony” M. Brown Sr., but it may be rescheduled if an autopsy report has not been received by that date.
Betzold, 19, and Brown, 27, both appeared in court Monday with their attorneys so the preliminary hearing could be scheduled.
They are accused of felony murder and other charges in connection with the Oct. 4 death of Betzold‘s son, Clayden Lee Urbanek. According to police, Brown had been home alone with Clayden on the day he died and called Betzold at work to tell her something was wrong with the toddler. Brown was arrested for child abuse and felony murder that day, and Betzold was arrested later.
Police said Clayden had bruises all over his body, in various stages of healing, and internal injuries. According to the charges filed against Brown, the beatings that resulted in Clayden’s death occurred between Sept. 26 and Oct. 4.

http://www.salina.com/news/story/Betzold-Brown-hearing-12-12-11