A man from Bakersfield has been taken into custody after allegedly being involved in his girlfriend’s death, following his claim that she had slipped in the shower.

Authorities responded to a call at Adventist Health Bakersfield around 11 p.m. on February 7, after Crystal Marie Falcon was urgently brought to the hospital with severe injuries.

The injuries Falcon sustained included scrapes and bruises that suggested she might have been restrained, along with potential cigarette burns, broken bones, and noticeable deformities, as detailed by police in a court document referenced by KGET.

Police discovered blood splatter not only in the bathroom but also in the bedroom and hallway of the southwest Bakersfield residence, where Falcon had been found unconscious.

Brandon Grimaldi, aged 29, was apprehended a week later after Falcon, aged 23, succumbed to her injuries on February 13. He now faces charges related to suspected domestic violence causing severe bodily harm, as reported by Bakersfield Now.

The Bakersfield Police Department released a statement asserting its dedication to fighting domestic violence and ensuring justice for the victims involved.

Grimaldo also faces child endangerment charges according to KGET, as blood splatter was also found on the crib of a child who has a disability at the home, the court filing said. 

Crystal had two young kids, including one with special needs, according to a GoFundMe page. 

“We are opening this go fund me to raise money for not only a peaceful goodbye in memory of Crystal, but her two beautiful children to help during this time,” wrote Cheryl Cervantes, the organizer of the GoFundMe page. 

Grimaldo is due back in court next month, KGET reported.