Navy sailor, girlfriend charged with torture, child abuse of 5-year-old boy

MURRIETA, Calif. — U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Benjamin Whitten, 33, and his live-in girlfriend Jeryn Johnson, 25, are charged with torture and child abuse after authorities said Whitten's 5-year-old son was discovered with severe injuries and living in filth among 15 animals, reports KGTV.

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The police and fire departments in Murrieta, California, reportedly discovered the boy when they responded to a call for medical aid. The boy was airlifted to a San Diego County hospital, where he currently remains in “grave condition.” The injuries, which police said were caused by Whitten and Johnson, were unspecified beyond this.

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KGTV reported that the home was said to be in "extremely unsanitary" conditions. Animal control removed "11 dogs, four cats and two fish."

"I didn't even know there was a child who lived in the house," neighbor Kristine Hendrickson told KCAL. "Did not know. We've lived here for 21 years."

The boy reportedly hadn’t been seen since Christmas of last year.

Cox Media Group