TWO RIVERS, Wis. — Three adults have now been formally charged in the death of a two-year-old in Two Rivers.
Rena Santiago, Bianca Bush and David Heiden are facing multiple charges of child abuse, including one charge listed in the criminal complaint as Physical Abuse of a Child, Repeated Acts Causing Death. They're also facing prostitution and drug charges.
According to the criminal complaint, all three adults admitted to investigators that they repeatedly beat the child on different occasions, over a period of several months. The complaint says the three hit the child with a belt, sandal and other objects. The criminal complaint says Heiden admitted to violently shaking the child. The complaint says Heiden thinks his shaking may have killed the child.
At one point, the criminal complaint says Heiden cried during the interview with investigators and said he felt bad and never meant for anything like this to happen. In another part of the criminal complaint, the court document says Heiden admitted the three of them treated the child “poorly”. When asked why, the criminal complaint says Heiden responded, “he’s not my kid…I didn’t care.”
The criminal complaint also released the preliminary findings from an autopsy performed on the child on April 29. The findings found multiple bruises on the child's head, back, legs, arms, and chest, as well as indications of an internal bleed. The complaint listed injuries but did not specify the exact cause of death.
The criminal complaint also states the child's mother, Rena Santiago, is nine months pregnant and is due May 13.
During a court hearing Monday, just as Heiden's appearance began, a man walked toward Heiden and was then escorted out of the courtroom.
According to the Manitowoc County Sheriff, a 30-year-old Two Rivers man made a handgun gesture with his hand, a two-fingered cocking motion, and approached the defendant's table. Bailiffs removed him from the courtroom for safety and security.
"Better pray you don't get out, David," the man was heard saying as officers escorted him out of the room.
In the lobby, the Sheriff says the man tried to pull away and the bailiffs had to "stabilize" the man. The man was booked in for disorderly conduct and a probation hold. He is being held in the Manitowoc County Jail. According to the Sheriff, the man is possibly a friend of someone the defendant knows.
