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The nightmare starts
Police say the nightmare started Thursday, April 8 as Dominick Calhoun ate breakfast. He had an accident and wet himself on a sofa. Investigators allege 24-year-old Brandon Joshua Frederick Hayes flew into a rage and beat his girlfriend’s child. When his girlfriend Corrine Baker arrived home Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell says the man then beat her. “As he beat her he was yelling, ‘Who is going to pay for this?’ referring to the sofa,” says Pickell. -
Hayes: Dominick deserved to die
Investigators say Hayes was still angry the next day, and wanted to teach the little boy a lesson. He hit and kicked the 4-year-old in the head and genitalia to punish him for the accident. “He said he was tired of raising a little crack addict, and that Dominick deserved to die,” says Sheriff Pickell. Investigators say Baker tried to protect her son, and covered his body with her own. She then was also beaten. -
Hayes continues beating unconscious boy
Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell says Hayes dragged an unresponsive Dominick out of bed by his arm. Investigators believe the boy was unconscious as Hayes continued to beat him throughout the day. “He even took his fingers, and pushed in on the boy’s eyes,” says Pickell. Dominick now had suffered injuries to his entire body. -
Police called; Dominick put on life support
Baker’s underage sister came to the apartment to buy drugs in the morning, and saw the battered 4-year-old and his mother. She called Dominick’s paternal grandfather for help. Dominick’s grandfather contacted police who responded to the scene. When police arrived Dominick was lying in bed unconscious and moaning, wearing only a pull-up and a t-shirt. He appeared near death. A paramedic rushed the child to Hurley Medical Center. He was pronounced dead, but was put on life support. -
Two jailed after 4-year-old Argentine Twp boy's death
A mother and her boyfriend are in the Genesee County Jail as police investigate the death of a 4-year-old boy. -
Dominick taken off life support
Family members took 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun off life support. Doctors pronounced him dead at 11:02 a.m. -
Corrine Baker, murdered child's mother, speaks to NBC25
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Stepping in before families get violent
The disturbing story of a 4-year-old boy beaten to death makes people wonder how this could have been prevented and what could have been done. -
Dominick Calhoun's grandmother speaks out
"A monster did this, a person that he should have been able to trust. We trusted. We thought he was a nice guy." -
Mother of 4-year-old killed speaks of torture they endured
Corriene Baker speaks to NBC25 “My baby is gone and I wish it was me,” she says through tears. -
Mother of 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun asks for justice
Corrine Baker asks for justice Monday morning at 5:00 a.m. Corrine Baker says she woke up screaming for her baby. She looked around and realized she was in jail. -
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Nine counts brought against Brandon Hayes
Nine counts
Count 1: Torture
Count 2: Felony murder by torture
Count 3: First-degree child abuse
Count 4. Felony murder by child abuse
Count 5: First-degree premeditated murder
Count 6. Assault with intent to do great bodily harm
Count 7. Delivery of marijuana to a minor
Count 8. Possession of marijuana with intent to deliver
Count 9. Possession of hydrocodone -
Hundreds gather to remember Dominick
Some call for a law in the little boy's honor As the sunset in Linden Saturday evening, hundreds paid tribute to a boy whose life ended too soon. -
Defense asks, "Is Brandon Hayes competent for trial?"
Petition asking for competency exam was submitted at pre-trial hearing. “He has a history of mental problems and we need an evaluation to see if he's competent to stand in the proceedings,” said defense attorney James Piazza. -
Corrine Baker arrested in Livingston County
An arrest warrant was issued yesterday for Baker for violating her probation for a previous conviction of delivery of a controlled substance. -
Charges filed against Corrine Baker
Corrine Baker charged with 2nd-degree murder, 2nd-degree child abuse Officials allege Baker refused to give her son, Dominick, medical attention. -
Dominick's brother, an all but forgotten victim
4-year-old Dominick Calhoun is not the only innocent victim of the nightmarish violence that took place two weeks ago in an Argentine Township apartment. -
Security increased for arraignment of Dominick's mom
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Dominick’s alleged killer has disturbing mental health history
The defense attorney for the man accused of killing 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun in Argentine Township earlier this month shared chilling details of 24-year-old Brandon Hayes' mental health history in court. -
Out of suffering comes drive for a difference
The story of the brutal beating death of 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun shocked many, angered thousands, and broke uncountable hearts. Now some are hoping it has awakened the collective conscience of society, and somehow made the world a better place. -
Corrine Baker to undergo psychiatric evaluation
Corrine Baker stood tearfully before Genesee County District Judge Conover Tuesday as her Defense Attorney, Erwin Meiers III, stated she suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. -
'Dominick's Law' could prevent future abuse
The family is working to pass a bill called Dominick's Law. State Representative Paul Scott is working to put it together. Dominick’s Grandfather, Richard Calhoun, hopes the bill will increase sentences for abusers, require more training for social workers- so abuse can be better detected, and make failing to report child abuse a misdemeanor.
