Baby who died in care of mother’s boyfriend was burned

A 6-week-old boy who died Sunday while in the care of his mother's boyfriend suffered severe burns on his mouth, face and chest, a police report said.

Henderson police arrested 20-year-old Rayshaun T. Coleman on Monday. He faces a murder charge in connection with the death of Tristin Michaels Hilburn. Coleman was watching the child while his mother, Christal Hilburn-Gaynor, was in the Henderson jail for the weekend as part of a sentence, police said. The infant's burns were serious.

"The areas were a deep red color and there appeared to be skin missing from a large part of those areas," the report said. "The patterns appeared as if something was poured on the infant."

Police went to a home at 1941 Dunnam Street, near Pabco and Sunset roads, shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday in response to a call about an unconscious infant who was not breathing.

The baby was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The Clark County coroner's office hadn't determined the cause and manner of Tristin's death Thursday.

Police spoke with a man who lived at the home named Brian Harris. He is Hilburn-Gaynor's brother. Harris told police his sister's boyfriend, also known as RC, typically took care of Tristin.

Harris told police he left the house Sunday at 10 p.m. to purchase methamphetamine. When he returned, he saw police at the home.

Police then spoke with a man who told them his name was Marace Tyrone Culver. Police later discovered the man had given them a false name and that his real identity was Coleman. Coleman used a false identity because he believed he had warrants out for his arrest, the report said.

When interviewed by police, Coleman said he was cooking hot dogs and fries using cooking oil about 7 p.m. Sunday. While he cooked, Tristin was in the master bedroom.

Coleman told police he finished cooking, and then went into the bedroom, fed Tristin and gave him a bath. He then put Tristin on a couch and Coleman went to sleep.

Coleman told police he awoke at 9 p.m. and noticed the injuries on Tristin. He then called 911.

Police interviewed Coleman again after learning his real identity and questioned him about the time discrepancy in what he told them and the documented time he called 911. According to the report, Coleman called 911 at 10:51 p.m.

The report said Coleman never told police he injured Tristin.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.