Suspect in baby deaths pleads not guilty in Fontana
A man suspected in the deaths of two baby girls, who died two years apart in separate households, pleaded not guilty to murder charges at an arraignment Wednesday in Fontana Superior Court.
Ivan Benjamin Hancock pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of assault on a child resulting in injury or death, and one count of willfull cruelty to a child resulting in injury or death, according to Superior Court records.
Hancock returns to court Dec. 1 for a pre-preliminary hearing. Bail was set at $2 million.
The mothers of the children, who are Hancock's former girlfriends, also face similar charges.
Co-defendant Iyesha Marie Lightcsy, 27, was arraigned Nov. 12 and appeared in court today for a pre-preliminary hearing. Lightcsy also returns to court Dec. 1. Co-defendant Talonia Kaye Henderson, 37, is in state prison on an unrelated case and has not yet been arraigned on the new case, according to authorities and court records.
Hancock, 46, arrested on suspicion of beating his girlfriend's 17-month-old daughter to death in 2004, but a Colton detective said they had no real evidence to prove it at the time.
Two years later, San Bernardino police investigated Hancock after his new girlfriend's 15-month-old baby girl was found not breathing with head injuries in the couple's South Foisy Street apartment.
Still, he averted charges, until a prosecutor in the Crimes Against Children Unit recognized Hancock's name and linked him to the Colton baby's death. At the time charges were filed, Hancock was serving time in prison on unrelated drug charges.
In the Colton incident, police were called to a Rialto Avenue apartment on Aug. 4, 2004, on report of a child not breathing, according to police. Amber Russell, who was 17 months old, died soon after.
In the San Bernardino incident, police were called to a South Foisy Street home because Talonia Johnson had apparently stopped breathing on New Year's Eve 2006, police said. She was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where she was taken off life support two days later.
Her mother, Henderson, is currently serving time in prison after being arrested in September on burglary and possession of methaphetamine charges. Henderson and Hancock also face charges of child abuse in connection with beating Talonia's twin, who survived and was placed with Child Protective Services.
Staff Writer Stacia Glenn contributed to this report.
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