Brandon Cervera is accused in the starvation death of his 4-year-old son, Benjamin Cervera who died on August 17, 2021 weighing just 28 pounds at the time of his death. His his ex-wife, Miranda Casarez, was convicted earlier this year of injury to a child with serious bodily injury by omission and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. At her trial Benjamin's older brother testified that she made him eat hot sauce and hand sanitizer as punishment. He said she would throw the boy in the air only to intentionally let him fall. He added that his stepmother would not feed his brother when the rest of the family was fed, and that they placed locks on food cupboards and the fridge. Casarez took Benjamin to a hospital but the boy did not survive. Doctors were immediately concerned about his weight and police were called to investigate, leading to the discovery of disturbing conditions in the family’s home. Inside the residence, officers reported that all the food was locked away, and the children’s room was secured with locks, gates and surveillance cameras. Cellphone footage was also found showing Benjamin crying and shaking uncontrollably, and pleading for food and water. If convicted, Brandon Cervera faces up to life in prison.