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Rena Santiago, 27, appeared in Manitowoc County Court July 15 for a preliminary hearing. Santiago waived her right to the hearing and a judge bound her over for trial.
Santiago is charged in the death of her two-year-old son Gilbert A. Grant II.
Gilbert died April 26 after enduring repeated beatings over an eight-month period.
Santiago's roommates, David R. Heiden and Bianca M. Bush, are also charged in the child's death.
On April 26, police were called to 2110 E. River St in Two Rivers for a report of a two-year-old boy who was not conscious and not breathing. Crews arrived to find the boy with no pulse and cool to the touch. He was pronounced dead. He had large bruises on his forehead, cheeks, face, legs, buttocks, back feet and arms.
David Heiden told detectives about months of abuse inflicted on Gilbert Grant. Heiden admitted to treating the boy "poorly." When asked why, he responded, "he's not my kid ... I didn't care."
Heiden said Bush was "the worst" to Gilbert and that she would "lose it on him like five times an hour." Heiden said he had seen Bush spank Gilbert about 50-to-60 different occasions. She would sometimes spank him up to 15 times per occasion, Heiden said. He also witnessed her hit the child in the face, chest and head. He said Bush would throw bottles and toys at Gilbert.
Heiden says the boy's mother, Rena Santiago, would do the same things Bush did but "not as frequently." Heiden saw Santiago hit and spank her son and throw bottles and toys at him. The mother was also seen shoving her fingers in the boy's mouth to make him gag.
Investigators also found signs of older injuries to the abdominal area and small bowel.
Rena Santiago's arraignment hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15.
Bianca Bush has a "plea date" scheduled for Aug. 16.
David Heiden has a "plea date" scheduled for Aug. 8.
Two Rivers mom bound over for trial in son's death
Santiago is charged in the death of her two-year-old son Gilbert A. Grant II.
Gilbert died April 26 after enduring repeated beatings over an eight-month period.
Santiago's roommates, David R. Heiden and Bianca M. Bush, are also charged in the child's death.
On April 26, police were called to 2110 E. River St in Two Rivers for a report of a two-year-old boy who was not conscious and not breathing. Crews arrived to find the boy with no pulse and cool to the touch. He was pronounced dead. He had large bruises on his forehead, cheeks, face, legs, buttocks, back feet and arms.
David Heiden told detectives about months of abuse inflicted on Gilbert Grant. Heiden admitted to treating the boy "poorly." When asked why, he responded, "he's not my kid ... I didn't care."
Heiden said Bush was "the worst" to Gilbert and that she would "lose it on him like five times an hour." Heiden said he had seen Bush spank Gilbert about 50-to-60 different occasions. She would sometimes spank him up to 15 times per occasion, Heiden said. He also witnessed her hit the child in the face, chest and head. He said Bush would throw bottles and toys at Gilbert.
Heiden says the boy's mother, Rena Santiago, would do the same things Bush did but "not as frequently." Heiden saw Santiago hit and spank her son and throw bottles and toys at him. The mother was also seen shoving her fingers in the boy's mouth to make him gag.
Investigators also found signs of older injuries to the abdominal area and small bowel.
Rena Santiago's arraignment hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15.
Bianca Bush has a "plea date" scheduled for Aug. 16.
David Heiden has a "plea date" scheduled for Aug. 8.

Two Rivers mom bound over for trial in son's death