Aunt, uncle charged with murder of 15-year-old Hezekiah Pettiford

A man and a woman have been charged with murder and manslaughter after their 15-year-old nephew was discovered dead during a suspected child abuse investigation.

According to Baltimore police, officers responded to a hospital on Jan. 26 for a complaint of suspected child abuse. Hezekiah Pettiford, 15, was discovered unconscious by cops, according to police.

Due to the victim’s condition, officers notified Homicide and Child Abuse detectives.

Hezekiah died of his injuries on January 28.

On March 17, the victim’s remains were transferred to the medical examiner’s office, where the cause of death was determined to be homicide by blunt force trauma.

On August 30, an arrest warrant was issued for the victim’s aunt and uncle, Stefanie Colon, 32, and Dion Ball Sr., 44.

On Friday, detectives apprehended Ball and Colon and brought them to Central Booking, where they were charged with murder and manslaughter.