4-year-old Dominick Calhoun's mother pleads guilty to his murder

WXYZ - On April 12, 2010, Corrine Baker woke up in jail.

She was covered in bruises, her hair was matted with blood, and her eyes were nearly swollen shut. Argentine Township Police had arrested her while they investigated the torture and beating of her 4-year-old son Dominick Calhoun.

While she sat in a jail cell, her little boy died.

She was released from jail for a short time before being charged with child abuse and second degree murder.

“The last thing I wanted was for my little boy to die,” she said at the time. 

She said she had done everything she could to save her little boy from the brutal beating handed down by her boyfriend, then 24-year-old Brandon Hayes. She said Hayes was abusing drugs and flew into a rage when the child wet himself on the sofa in their Argentine Township apartment.

Corrine Baker defended her actions. She said she had screamed for help, but neighbors ignored her. She said she had fought Hayes, but he beat her. She said people saw what was happening to her and her son, but turned a blind eye.

One year, 4 months, and 19 days after her little boy’s death, she stopped defending herself.

“The underlying theme was: she did too little, too late,” said Argentine Township Police Chief Dan Allen.

Police had presented to her evidence that she had opportunities to get help for her helpless son, but didn’t.

They presented witnesses who claimed Corrine said she didn’t get her son medical help because she feared getting in trouble. She was on probation for a drug crime, and was not supposed to associate with anyone with a criminal record. Her live-in boyfriend, Brandon Hayes, had a record.

Baker's family members testified that she had opportunities to get help from them, but hid the fact that there was what would become deadly trouble in her home.

“She didn’t intervene as a mother should,” said Allen. “Putting a time-line together of that weekend left her no wiggle room to get out of the charges. The case against her was strong.”

On Tuesday, August 30, 2011, the 26-year old pleaded guilty as charged.

The police officers who arrived at her apartment to find her son covered in bruises, “from his head to his toes” couldn’t help but wonder what was going through her mind as she emotionally faced the judge.

“She was emotional,” said Allen. “Was it because she was taking the plea? Was it remorse? Only she knows.”

“We are one step closer to bringing Justice to our grandson Dominick,” said Martin Baker of his daughter’s plea.

“Get Brandon put away,” said Baker, of Livingston County's Tyrone Township, of the next step in getting Dominick justice.

Brandon Hayes is scheduled to face trial on September 7, 2011 according to Genesee County Circuit Court records.

Baker told Genesee County Prosecutors she will help them put Hayes away. She will testify against him when he goes on trial. She faces up to 30 years in prison.