A former Twentynine Palms Marine pleaded guilty last month to charges he caused the brain death of his 5-week-old boy more than seven years ago. On April 8, 2013, paramedics were called to the 4900 block of Desert Knoll in Twentynine Palms for a baby not breathing. Zachary Brendemuhl, 34, said he had been feeding his son a bottle when the baby threw up and stopped breathing. The infant was taken to Loma Linda Children’s Hospital where doctors found numerous injuries on his body. The baby’s condition worsened until he was declared brain dead two weeks later. Brendemuhl, who was originally charged with murder, child cruelty, and assault on a child causing death, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter October 30. He will be sentenced December 17.
