Toddler's family speaks as new court docs reveal disturbing details on death

Alejandro Perez Jr., known by his family as Andres, was only 3 years old when he died in Oildale on February 9 just before 7 in the morning.

 

A drawing of 3-year-old Alejandro "Andres" Perez Jr. by his grandpa Ed Walton III.

The Kern County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home and found the foster mother, 32-year-old Margaret Eichhorst giving Andres CPR.

About a week after the death, Eichhorst was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and assault of a child under 8 resulting in death.

Eichhorst was arranged last month and pled not guilty.

Andres' grandfather, Ed Walton III told Eyewitness News Eichhorst is not related to Andres in any way.

Waltons said Andres was in the care of Eichhorst after child protective services took both him and his younger sister away from their home following an incident.

He said Andres’ little sister suffered second-degree burns from hot water after a former roommate allegedly tampered with the heating system.

The family hasn’t been able to get the kids back since.

Court documents obtained by Eyewitness News reveal Eichhorst was caring for both Andres and his baby sister along with an additional foster child and her biological daughter.

During the initial interview after Andres died, Eichhorst told the KCSO she believed Andres fell off the bed as he did many times. Except this time when she checked on him the following morning,he was unconscious and described him as cold and stiff.

KCSO parked in front of Margaret Eichhorst's house.

She told officials she got scared and called 9-1-1.

During the toddler's autopsy, investigators found injuries consistent with child abuse almost everywhere on his body.

Pathologists determined his cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Eichhorst told officials she was aware Andres had bruises and cuts and said he would often run into things around the house.

When questioned about disciplining the kids she said she didn't hit them she just put them in time out facing the corner.

But Eichhorst’s biological daughter told officials a different story much darker than Eichhorst's.

She said her mom would spank Andres and make him face the corner with his hands above his head.

Walton is now suing the county for wrongful death and is asking the community for help to raise money for funeral arrangements. He told Eyewitness News the money could be sent to him through Zelle by the email 'In.memory.of.andres@gmail.com.'

Eichhorst is set to appear in court on March 7 for her preliminary hearing.