Investigation continuing into Lancaster boy’s death

LANCASTER – Authorities have identified the 3-year-old boy whose neck was slashed in Lancaster last week, and the investigation is continuing into his death.

Deputies responded just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, to the 43400 block of 57th Street West, south of Avenue K, on a medical rescue call, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. When they arrived, deputies found a victim described only as a “male juvenile” suffering from a “laceration to the neck.”

David Jacques Hernandez of Lancaster died at a hospital, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner reported. Sheriff’s officials are investigating the death as a homicide. The Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed sources, said the boy was found in a bathtub with his throat cut. The body was found by a family friend who went to the home at the behest of one of the boy’s relatives, The LA Times reported.

According to the sheriff’s department, deputies who responded to the home also found Rena Naulls, 39, at the home suffering from a “medical emergency.” Naulls, the live-in boyfriend of the child’s mother, tried “to take his own life” at the home, sheriff’s officials said. Naulls was taken to a hospital, where he is considered to be in stable condition, according to the sheriff’s department.

“Mr. Naulls has been identified as a person of interest in this matter,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement. They stressed that no arrests have been made.

According to the sheriff’s department, there where three other children in home. All were unharmed and were placed in the custody of the county Department of Children and Family Services. The LA Times reported those children are ages 9, 11 and 14.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Tipsters may also use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

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