Atwater parents charged, mother makes first court appearance in death of baby

ATWATER, Calif. (KFSN) -- The parents of an Atwater babe who was recovered dormant successful their flat are present some down bars, each facing maltreatment of a kid and execution charges.

The infant's mother, Jasmine Polk, made her archetypal quality successful tribunal Tuesday aft her apprehension aboriginal Monday.

Polk's household was successful the courtroom connected Tuesday and spoke to Action News earlier her arraignment. They identified the precocious babe arsenic 4-month-old Devonte.

"He was a cute small baby. Everytime I would spot him, helium would marque maine grin with his small smiles... I'm precise heartbroken," said Rebacca Aguilar, Polk's aunt, done tears.

Devonte's father, Maleek Ali McIntyre, was antecedently arrested successful transportation to the death. County officials said his arraignment proceeding was extended to adjacent week.

"It's precise tragic to the community. We've seen it covered - and anytime determination is simply a kid unfortunate involved, it evidently requires a definite magnitude of attention," said Merced County District Attorney Nicole Sylveira.

Action News went backmost to the vicinity wherever McIntyre and Polk lived with Devonte Tuesday. A azygous expanse covered the model of the flat wherever the babe was recovered dormant connected January 23rd, and the vicinity was quiet, and gloomy, matching the temper of neighbors inactive successful daze from the tragedy.

"It's beauteous bittersweet - we person the presumption from the dumpster, and we conscionable seen each the babe worldly successful the dumpster. And not due to the fact that helium outgrew it - but due to the fact that of what happened," said 1 young parent surviving successful the aforesaid flat complex, who asked to stay anonymous.

Devonte's relatives spoke done tears astir the guiltless kid Tuesday.

"He was a cute small baby. Every clip I would spot him, helium would marque maine grin with his small smiles... I'm precise heartbroken," said Aguilar.

The heartbreak doesn't extremity determination for Polk's household - they accidental seeing her successful court, and learning that her lawsuit was acceptable for a aboriginal preliminary hearing, was besides difficult. Augilar explained that Polk has a learning disability.

"She doesn't request to beryllium successful there, she needs to beryllium with her family. You know, that was her baby, that was her first. She don't merit this astatine all," said Aguilar.

Officials with the Atwater Police Department accidental the full concern has been incredibly tragic - and privation anyone struggling with the accent of parenting to scope retired for assistance erstwhile needed.