California Babysitter Arrested For Murder Of 1-Year-Old Child Found Dead Near Railroad Tracks, Authorities Say

A California man who was supposed to be caring for two toddler brothers was arrested after one of the children was found dead near railroad tracks, authorities said.

On Aug. 4, Edward "Two Feathers" Steele, 32, was booked into the Mendocino County jail on a murder charge, online jail records show.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m. the previous day, deputies in Ukiah responded to a report from a concerned parent about the two missing children — a 2-year-old boy and his 1-year-old sibling who were left in Steele’s care at a hotel, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Steele reportedly was not the father of the boys.

Deputies were unable to locate Steele and the children until 3:55 p.m. when first responders were dispatched to railroad tracks after a passerby found the 2-year-old child suffering from what appeared to be heatstroke.

The boy was transported to an area hospital.

Deputies launched a search for the child’s younger brother, and at 4:20 p.m.,“law enforcement personnel located the child’s one-year-old sibling deceased in the general area,” the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities have not released the child’s cause of death.