El Cajon
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An El Cajon man arrested last week on suspicion of molesting his girlfriend’s 18-month-old son now faces charges in connection with the child’s death, police said.
The toddler, Jeffri Lee McLane, died at Children’s Hospital about 7 p.m. Wednesday, a week after being admitted to another hospital; he had severe head injuries, Police Officer Joel Hernandez said.
Benjamin John Chloupek, 24, the boyfriend, told police that the boy had fallen off a water bed in an apartment in the 1000 block of Peach Avenue, Hernandez said. Chloupek was arrested after physicians at Sharp Memorial Hospital determined that the toddler’s injuries were not consistent with Chloupek’s explanation.
Chloupek is being held without bail at County Jail downtown on charges of felony child abuse, lewd and lascivious acts, sodomy with a minor and murder, a jail spokeswoman said.
An autopsy is expected to be completed today, a deputy coroner said.
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