Marine pleads not guilty to baby son’s death
A Twentynine Palms Marine has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 5-week-old son.
KCDZ radio reports Thursday that 26-year-old Zachary Brendemuhl entered the plea in Joshua Tree Superior Court.
San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials say Brendemuhl told deputies he had been feeding his son on April 8 when the boy started choking, and he vomited when he removed the bottle and stopped breathing.
The baby was taken to a hospital at the base in Twentynine Palms, where doctors found numerous injuries and sent the baby to Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, where he died about two weeks later.
The coroner ruled the death a homicide and on April 25 Brendemuhl was arrested.
He’s being held without bail and is due back in court June 4.
