SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The trial of a Texas father accused of starving his 4-year-old son to death began this week, more than three years after the child’s unfortunate demise. Brandon Lee Cervera, 31, faces allegations alongside his former wife, Miranda Casarez, in the death of his son Benjamin on August 17, 2021.
In opening statements, prosecutors pointed to findings by the Bexar County Medical Examiner that indicated starvation as the cause of Benjamin’s death, leading them to press charges of injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury against Cervera. The trial, which started on September 24, has drawn considerable attention due to the harrowing nature of the allegations.
Testimonies presented during the trial painted a distressing picture of Benjamin’s condition at the time of his death. Foremost among the witnesses was San Antonio Police Officer Omar Perez, who recalled the scene when he performed a welfare check at Cervera’s home in 2021. Perez testified to the child’s visible injuries and extreme emaciation, noting that the boy’s skeletal structure was strikingly apparent.
Despite the accusations, Cervera denies responsibility, attributing his son’s condition to behavioral issues that led to self-harm. His defense attorney, Jodi Soyars, contended that Benjamin’s small stature was a chronic condition and not the result of deliberate starvation. Soyars dismissed claims of malnutrition and dehydration, citing a lack of concrete evidence.
Nevertheless, the prosecution brought forth compelling evidence including graphic images of the child and expert testimonies. Dr. Kimberly Molina, Bexar County Chief Medical Examiner, stated during her testimony that Benjamin weighed merely 28 pounds at the time of his death, and she classified the death as homicide by starvation.
Further medical insight was provided by pediatrician Dr. James Lukefahr, who had assessed Benjamin in the hospital. Dr. Lukefahr reiterated the severe underweight condition and malnutrition, emphasizing that the circumstances unequivocally pointed to starvation as the cause of death.
The previous conviction of Miranda Casarez in April 2023 for the same incident served to underscore the severity of the case. Casarez was sentenced to 25 years in prison following a trial that revealed alarming evidence including padlocked food storage areas in the home and the barred bedroom of Benjamin, indicating a pattern of abuse and neglect.
The current trial revisits these haunting details and introduces additional testimony from Benjamin’s older brother, who described a broader pattern of maltreatment directed towards him and his younger sibling.
With the various pieces of evidence and witness accounts laid out, the jury faces the daunting task of determining Cervera’s culpability in this tragic case. If convicted, Cervera could receive a sentence ranging up to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, reflecting the gravity of the charges against him. The community and broader public await the outcome, hopeful for justice on behalf of young Benjamin.