Parents arrested in 4-year-old boy's death

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SAN BERNARDINO - A 4-year-old boy who died at a hospital Wednesday had a history of being beaten unconscious by his father while his mother stood by in silence, police said.

Both parents were arrested Wednesday and booked into West Valley Detention Center. Harby Burden, 27, was held on suspicion of murder and his wife, India Burden, 21, was suspected of felony child endangerment, San Bernardino police said.

San Bernardino police homicide investigators determined the child, Ausbon Burden, had been physically abused by his father and his mother knew about the abuse, but never reported it to the police or anyone else.

During the investigation it was learned that Mr. Burden became very angry when the victim urinated and/or defecated in his clothing, so he beat the child until he was unconscious, San Bernardino police Lt. Mark Garcia said in a police statement. Police received a call at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday that paramedics were en route to an apartment to help an unresponsive boy in the 2900 block of North Mountain Avenue.

Emergency personnel attempted to revive the boy, but he was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The boy's death follows what multiple neighbors said was a series of loud confrontations in the apartment the night before.

A 1-year-old child at the residence was taken into custody by Child Protective Services.