Grandfather Of Toddler Who Died: 'I Don't Want To Cremate Him And Burn Him Again'

DENVER (CBS4) - The mother of a Denver toddler who died on Wednesday is now under arrest along with her boyfriend.

Candice Lampley, 29, and DeLonta Crank, 36, are being held on charges of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, according to Denver police.

"We did find yesterday, through the course of the investigation, that there were injuries to the child. We're not certain that that was the cause of the death. That will be determined by the coroner's office. But that did lead us to two arrests," said Denver police spokeswoman Christine Downs.

The boy, 23-month-old Javion Johnson, was declared dead Wednesday morning after being taken to St. Joseph Hospital. The boy lived at an apartment near the intersection of Franklin Street and 17th Avenue.

The child's grandfather, Earl Lampley, told CBS4 Candice Lampley is the boy's mother. He said police showed him pictures of Johnson with serious burns on his legs, in between his thighs, on his genitals and bottom.

Downs was asked if there were previous reports or signs of earlier abuse on the child's body.

"Out of respect for the investigation we don't want to give anything that might jeopardize that," Downs said. "It's a very sad say when a child dies and we just want to make sure that we give the family and the child the respect they deserve."

CBS4 has learned that Crank has previously been arrested on suspicion of child abuse in 2007. The details of that case are unclear.

Johnson has three siblings but police wouldn't comment on whether Social Services is now involved.

Quintaviax Wallace, who is friends with Lampley and Crank, told CBS4 he didn't know the extent of the injuries when he found Johnson after he was called to check on the boy, but he knew something was wrong right away.

Wallace said Johnson was in bed with his 9-year-old brother and his lips were purple and he wouldn't wake up.

"So when I turned the lights on I could clearly see that his lips were purple and that his eyes were slightly open," Wallace said.

With St. Joseph Hospital a few blocks away, Wallace said he didn't wait for an ambulance.

"I tried to rush him to the hospital, I'm thinking I still had time to save him," Wallace said. "As I'm running him in I go to the front counter and I'm like, 'He's not responding, he's not responding, what do I do?' … I gave him to the lady and I ran upstairs with them and they started to put him on the bed and tried bring him back to life."

Wallace says he keeps seeing the boy's lifeless body in his mind. He said he encouraged Crank to turn himself in to police after Crank initially ran. Wallace believes Crank is innocent.

"I don't think he would just hurt Javy, and I don't think the momma would just do it either," he said.

Earl Lampley believes Crank is responsible for Johnson's death.

"I honestly believe that my daughter didn't know the full extent of her baby's injuries," Earl Lampley said.

Wallace and Earl Lampley both say that Candice Lampley and Crank told them that Johnson suffered smoke inhalation from a stove in their apartment. An autopsy is pending in the case.

Earl Lampley is now trying to raise money for his grandson's funeral.

"I don't want to cremate him and burn him again. I want him buried. I want to bury him," he said.

Additional Resources

A memorial fund has been set up to help pay for Johnson's funeral:

Javion Johnson Memorial Fund
Bank Name: Partner Colorado Credit Union
Account # 116751
ACH Account # 0011675113