A woman was charged Thursday with murder and other counts in connection with the death of her male companion’s 4-year-old son in Palmdale.
Lacie Fetters, 25, is scheduled to be arraigned March 6 in a Lancaster courtroom on one count each of murder, assault on a child causing death and torture.
The victim’s father, Andrew Paul Havrella, 36, was charged with one count each of torture and child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death. He is due in court Feb. 20, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The two were arrested Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Fetters was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $3 million bail. According to jail records, Havrella was released on bail Wednesday.
Details of the boy’s death have not been released. Sheriff’s officials said only that the boy died Dec. 3.
According to the county Medical Examiner, 4-year-old Ryker Havrella died at a hospital Dec. 3, but a cause of death was not specified, with the decision listed as “deferred” pending further tests.
Andrew Havrella launched a GoFundMe page days after the boy’s death, writing, “We lost Ryker in a tragic accident on December 3, 2024. We are absolutely devastated by Ryker’s passing and are struggling to find the funds to cover the cost of the services and end-of-life costs.”
The page had raised more than $6,100 as of Thursday.
Anyone with any information regarding the boy’s death was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.