Girl, 18, and her 37-year-old boyfriend charged in death of teen’s brother

An 18-year-old Iowa woman has been charged with child endangerment over the death of her two-year-old brother from a brain hemorrhage in May.

Denver Emery was booked into Polk County Jail on Monday evening and remained in custody Tuesday. 

Her arrest came four days after her boyfriend, 37-year-old Nicholas Rivera, turned himself in to the police and was charged with child endangerment causing the death of Emery’s baby brother, Calvin Trullinger.  

Couple charged: Denver Emery, 18 (left), and her boyfriend Nicholas Rivera, 37 (right), have been charge with child endangerment causing the death of Emery’s baby brother 

Two-year-old Calvin Trullinger (pictured with Emery) died in May from a brain hemorrhage after being brought to the hospital by his sister and her boyfriend 

Two-year-old Calvin Trullinger (pictured with Emery) died in May from a brain hemorrhage after being brought to the hospital by his sister and her boyfriend 

Police say Emery and Rivera (pictured together with Calvin) were the boy’s sole caregivers in the two weeks leading up to his death

Police say Emery and Rivera (pictured together with Calvin) were the boy’s sole caregivers in the two weeks leading up to his death

Court records show Emery and Rivera took the little boy to Mercy Hospital on May 24. Doctors said Calvin’s injuries, including bleeding on his brain, were consistent with ‘abusive brain trauma’ that wasn’t accidental. 

They noted bruising on the toddler’s back that may have been caused by fingers. 

Police say Emery and Rivera were the boy’s sole caregivers in the two weeks leading up to his death, reported Des Moines Register.

During that period, Emery and her mother – Calvin’s biological mother – communicated by phone and text message. 

Calvin’s mother and Rivera told police the boy fell out of his crib a few days before he died: a claim that was corroborated by a May 20 home security recording that showed the boy climbing over the crib’s railing and falling to the floor. 

Emery (left) has defended her boyfriend, saying that he was 'amazing' with Calvin

Emery (left) has defended her boyfriend, saying that he was ‘amazing’ with Calvin

Doctors concluded that Calvin's injuries, including bleeding on his brain and a bruise on his back, were consistent with 'abusive brain trauma' that wasn’t accidental

Emery and Calvin

Doctors concluded that Calvin’s injuries, including bleeding on his brain and a bruise on his back, were consistent with ‘abusive brain trauma’ that wasn’t accidental

In the hours leading up to her arrest, Emery posted a rambling status update on Facebook, defending herself and her boyfriend against claims that they had something to do with her brother’s death.

‘I want everyone to know that nick and I would never ever hurt my baby brother it destroys me that people think diffrent [sic],’ she wrote.

The 18-year-old insisted that Rivera was ‘so amazing with Calvin’ and accused the ‘f***ing news’ of maligning her boyfriend and herself.

‘I hope u don’t see what all these disgusting people keep saying about us only if you could tell them everything and how much fun we had,’ she added.

Emery concluded her rant by saying how much she loves and misses her ‘cuddle buddy.’

Calvin's mother (pictured) has written on Facebook in support of her daughter Emery and the teen's boyfriend 

Calvin’s mother (pictured) has written on Facebook in support of her daughter Emery and the teen’s boyfriend 

The woman’s mother wrote in a comment Tuesday that she loves her ‘sunshine’ and promised her the ‘best of the best lawyers have been hired’ to get her and her boyfriend out of jail. 

Rivera is being held on $50,000 bail. He is due back in court on September 17. 

In August, Calvin and Emery’s mother shared on her Facebook page a copy of a letter from the Iowa Department of Human Services notifying her that agency had conducted an investigation into allegations of child abuse and concluded that an unspecified incident involving the deceased toddler could not be confirmed.

The mom wrote in a status update that the family of Calvin’s biological father ‘turned me in for “killing my son.”’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk