REMEMBERING BRAYDEN

Brayden Joseph Whalen was five months old. He had not even reached his first birthday. At five months, Brayden depended completely upon the adults around him to recognize when he was hungry, comfort him when he cried and protect him when he was hurt. Instead, Brayden suffered devastating injuries inside his own home.

Then he was left without medical treatment for days. His injuries were visible. His mother knew something was seriously wrong. Photographs were even taken of his injuries. Still, Brayden was not taken to a hospital. By the time emergency help finally came, his tiny body had been struggling for days. Brayden fought for his life in the hospital before dying on January 5, 2013.

BRAYDEN’S STORY

On December 29, 2012, Brayden was assaulted inside his home in Hampton, Virginia. He was in the care of his mother’s boyfriend, Daniel Lunsford. Investigators determined that Brayden suffered serious injuries during that assault. Daniel initially offered explanations intended to make Brayden’s injuries appear accidental.

One explanation involved the family cat. He later claimed that he had been carrying Brayden, tripped over the cat and accidentally injured him. But investigators continued questioning him because they did not believe they had been told the truth. Daniel eventually admitted becoming frustrated while Brayden was crying and would not take a bottle. He acknowledged striking the baby. Brayden’s injuries were far more severe than a simple slap. He suffered severe trauma to his head and chest. His skull was fractured. His ribs were broken. He suffered significant brain trauma. There was severe bruising around his head, cheek, lips and ears. Brayden needed immediate medical treatment. He did not receive it. Brittany Whalen, Brayden’s mother, later acknowledged that she did not truly believe Daniel’s explanation for her son’s injuries. She recognized that the injuries were significant. Brittany was also a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Yet Brayden was not taken for medical care. According to statements preserved from the investigation, Brittany feared that authorities would take Brayden away from her if she sought treatment. So Brayden remained inside the home. One day passed. Then another. Then another. Photographs of Brayden’s injuries and messages concerning what was happening were later recovered from cell phones during the police investigation. It was not until January 1, 2013, after Brayden appeared to have stopped breathing, that emergency help was finally called. At 12:28 p.m., Hampton Fire and Rescue responded. Brayden was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. His condition was so serious that he was ultimately transferred for specialized pediatric care. Doctors placed him on life support. As Brayden fought to survive, police opened a child abuse investigation. Daniel and Brittany were arrested. Brayden continued fighting for four more days. At 12:15 p.m. on January 5, 2013, Brayden Joseph Whalen was pronounced dead. He was five months old.

WARNING SIGNS

Brayden’s case involved more than the violent assault itself. There was time after the assault when his life threatening condition was visible and medical intervention could have been sought. His injuries were significant enough that his mother recognized something was seriously wrong. She did not believe the explanation she had been given. Brayden had visible bruising and injuries to his face and head. Photographs were taken. Yet instead of being taken immediately to a hospital, Brayden remained untreated for approximately three days. Brittany later acknowledged that fear of losing custody influenced her decision not to seek medical attention.

Brayden was an infant. He could not tell someone that his head hurt. He could not explain that he had been struck. He could not call an ambulance. He depended upon the adults who could see his injuries to make that call for him.

JUSTICE FOR BRAYDEN

Daniel Lunsford and Brittany Whalen were both arrested as Brayden lay critically injured. Both were initially charged with felony child abuse and failure to secure medical attention. After Brayden died, Daniel was additionally charged with homicide. The criminal case against Daniel ultimately resulted in convictions for homicide and child abuse or neglect. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Brittany also faced criminal charges because of her failure to obtain medical treatment for Brayden after recognizing that he had suffered serious injuries.

 

Daniel James Lunsford

Relationship to Brayden: Mother’s boyfriend

Convictions: Homicide and child abuse or neglect

Sentence: 20 years in prison

 

Brittany Whalen

Relationship to Brayden: Mother

Original charges: Felony child abuse and failure to secure medical attention

Final outcome: Not sufficiently verified

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Brayden lived for less than six months. He should have had so much more time. Soon there should have been sitting up on his own. Crawling. First words. First steps.

A first birthday. Instead, Brayden spent the final days of his life suffering from catastrophic injuries that he could not explain and could not escape. There were adults around him who could see that something was wrong. There was time to call for help. Brayden could not make that call himself. That is one of the most painful truths of his story. He was completely dependent upon other people to protect him. They failed him. But Brayden’s memory is larger than the violence inflicted upon him.

He was a baby boy. He had a name. He had a life that had barely begun. He deserved gentle hands when he cried. He deserved immediate care when he was hurt. He deserved to wake up safe. He deserved to grow up. Brayden Joseph Whalen should have had far more than five months. Abuse Angels remembers Brayden Joseph Whalen. Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.