A Placentia, California barber has been charged with the brutal murder and torture of 6-year-old Chance Crawford.
Ernest Lamar Love, 41, faces multiple charges, including murder, torture, and child abuse causing death, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced. Love has pleaded not guilty and is currently being held without bail.
According to prosecutors, Chance was dropped off at Love’s barbershop after his third day of first grade. Love, who had been entrusted with babysitting the boy, is accused of subjecting him to extreme abuse.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows Love leading the reluctant child into the barbershop with a piece of raw lumber.
Prosecutors allege that Love beat Chance with the wood after the boy wet his pants, then forced him to perform exercises until he collapsed.
The child was later rushed to Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where doctors found severe injuries, including missing flesh from his buttocks, brain swelling, and other trauma.
Chance was declared brain-dead and removed from life support days later.
His grieving family now demands justice. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family.
“No child deserves to be treated like this,” said Chance’s father, Vance Crawford, during a family vigil.
