Dad charged with murder in death of 2-year-old son (Westland, Michigan)

Dad ANTONIO PEPALONIA BRANDON has been charged with 1st-degree felony murder in the death of his 2-month-old son. Mom has also been nailed on failure to protect charges--charges that are virtually reserved for mothers only. Fathers are almost NEVER charged with this--even if they knowingly abandon an infant to the care of a mentally ill, incompetent mother.

http://www.freep.com/article/20111208/NEWS02/111208028/Westland-father-charged-murder-death-2-month-old-son?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

Westland father charged with murder in death of 2-month-old son
2:09 PM, Dec. 8, 2011


By Cecil Angel

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer


The father of a 2-month old Westland boy was charged this afternoon with first degree felony murder in the death of his son.

Antonio Pepalonia Brandon, 22, of Inkster, also has been charged with two counts of first degree child abuse related to the death of Kayden Brandon and injuries to the infant’s twin brother. The infant was pronounced dead on Monday at a hospital and an autopsy revealed he died from asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the chest.

If convicted of the murder, Brandon faces mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole and up to 15 years for the child abuse charge.

The child’s mother, Nicole Susanne Roberts, 18, of Westland, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter - failure to perform legal duty, a 15 year felony. She also was charged with two counts of second degree child abuse related to both infants.

Both parents are being arraigned this afternoon in 18th District Court in Westland.