Father Of Toddler Swept Away In SoCal Floods Charged In His Death: Police

BARSTOW, CA — A SoCal father whose son was swept away by floodwaters during a storm in September has been charged in connection with his death, police said.

Brandon Padilla-Aguilera is facing one count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and child abuse under circumstances of a condition likely to cause great bodily injury, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Police did not say what evidence they found that led them to believe Padilla-Aguillera was responsible for the death of his son, two-year-old son, Xavier Padilla-Aguilera.

The Barstow Police Department only said it handed the investigation to detectives, who spoke with witnesses and gathered evidence related to the incident. Eventually, the detectives secured a warrant for Padilla-Aguillera's arrest, police said, adding that he was taken into custody on suspicion of murder at his home on Friday.

Xavier and Padilla-Aguilera were in the area of Main Street and Lenwood Road around 7:14 p.m. when the car they were in was swept off the roadway by floodwaters, according to the Barstow Police Department.

They left the vehicle at some point and were separated by the floodwaters, police said. Aguilera-Padilla-Aguillera was found by authorities later that day. The toddler, meanwhile, was found dead the next day, police said.

At the time, the Barstow Police Department called Xavier's death a "tragedy" and offered condolences to his family.

The Barstow Police Department asks that anyone with more information related to the case contact Detective Bryce Carson at 760-255-5183.