8-year-old Fresno boy dies from blunt force trauma. His guardians have been arrested

Fresno police Wednesday reported that a man and a woman are in custody in connection with the death of an 8-year-old boy.

Patrick Johnson, 49, was booked on murder charges, and Crystal Johnson, 47, arrested on felony child abuse charges. The husband and wife were guardians of the child.

The boy died Saturday in the 4600 block of East Belgravia Avenue, where police went about 4 a.m. to check on a child who was not breathing, according to a police spokesman. Emergency workers were unable to revive the boy and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office identified the boy as Jaeluv Smith of Fresno.

Homicide detectives arrived and determined that the death was suspicious and the Fresno County Coroner’s Office reported that the boy died of blunt force trauma.

It was the 26th homicide of the year in Fresno.

Anyone with additional information about the death is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.

This story was originally published April 21, 2021 at 11:46 AM.