Murrieta Torture Victim, 5, Is (Slowly) Recovering, Police Say

MURRIETA, CA — A young Murrieta boy who was tortured and hospitalized with critical injuries is improving in health, albeit slowly, police tell Patch. The boy was found Aug. 15 inside his Murrieta home, where he had allegedly been abused to the point that he became comatose. His dad and the dad's girlfriend remain jailed in lieu of $1 million bail each.

Until now, the 5-year-old boy was hospitalized with critical injuries and police had indicated that there was a "poor prognosis for recovery" and referred to his condition as "grave" and "dire."

However, after more than two months in the hospital, the child is making small strides in recovery, officials say.

"He's still in serious condition but it's not as dire as it once was," Murrieta Police Lt. Ron Driscoll told Patch by telephone this week.

The lieutenant could not go into specifics about the boy's health due to privacy laws, but said the youth's condition is gradually improving, rather than declining. It's not clear if doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

Police said they were called to the boy's Verdun Lane home on Aug. 15, near Mountain Pride Park, regarding a child in medical distress. There, they found the child suffering from "severe injuries" and his condition "required immediate medical attention."

After the child was examined at a Temecula Valley trauma center, doctors decided to airlift him to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego for specialized care. He had been in grave condition, according to police. The nature of his impairment was not disclosed.

After questioning Benjamin Matthew Whitten, 33, and Jeryn Christine Johnson, 25, investigators arrested the defendants. The duo pleaded not guilty to charges of torture and cruelty to a child resulting in great bodily injury on Aug. 24 and remain jailed.

Driscoll said Murrieta police investigators handed their case over to the Riverside District Attorney's office a few weeks ago.

The boy's father is in the U.S. Navy and stationed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Detachment-San Diego.

According to Johnson's public Facebook profile, she ran an animal rescue organization out of her home. She regularly shared photos and videos of the animals inside the house.

When the pair was arrested, police described the living conditions as "extremely unsanitary." They said 11 dogs, four cats and two fish were impounded by animal control officers.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Couple Accused Of Severely Abusing Boy, 5, Plead Not Guilty
• 'Poor Prognosis For Recovery' Of Murrieta Boy, 5, Who Was Tortured: Police
• Police Reveal Disturbing Details In Murrieta 'Torture' Case Of 5-Year-Old Boy
• 'Severe Neglect' Of Juvenile In Murrieta Under Investigation: Police

Crime scene photo credit: Murrieta Patch / Booking photos courtesy Murrieta Police Department