Donations being accepted for abused baby, mother

It was hard enough for a young Lodi mother to spend three days at the hospital with her 2-month-old daughter, who had allegedly been severely injured by her father.

When the women was finally able to bring her child home from the hospital on Thursday evening, she found the home completely ransacked, with all her valuables gone.

Now donations are being accepted to help the mother and baby.

Diapers, gift cards and baby clothing may be donated between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Women's Center of San Joaquin, 29 S. Washington St., in Lodi.

The suspect in the abuse investigation is the girl's father, 20-year-old Lodi resident Justin Beebe, who is now in jail on nine felony charges and $800,000 bail. On Monday, the mother came home from her first day back at work after maternity leave to find her daughter seriously injured.

When she tried to take the baby to the hospital, Beebe assaulted her, according to Lodi police. The mother ultimately got away and made it to the hospital, where the baby was soon transferred by helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

The baby was in critical condition for a time, but improved and was released Thursday evening. The burglary of the apartment outraged many people.

"Can you think of anything more heartless? She literally fought to save her baby's life, then came home from the hospital and was victimized again," said Detective Steve Maynard, lead investigator on the case.

That's how Lodi resident Laurie Kraljev felt when she heard the latest news. The initial story was upsetting for the mother of three, but she said she was also impressed that the mother got away and made it to the hospital. The burglary, though, was too much, she said.

"I want her to know she isn't alone. I want her to know she did the right thing. I want to think I would be as strong," Kraljev said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the burglary, which happened sometime after late Monday night, when Beebe was arrested.

The home was thoroughly ransacked, Maynard said, and all of the mother's jewelry was gone, along with several expensive designer purses she'd collected before getting pregnant. Her TV, DVD player and cell phone were also stolen.

Items that would be most useful to the mother and baby are diapers, size 1 or 2; baby girl clothing, size 6 months; gas cards to help the mother travel to work and to the hospital in Sacramento for check-ups; and gift cards to grocery or retail stores.

Debbie Smith, a Lodi resident who also wanted to help the mother and baby, hoped the story and donations would encourage victims of domestic violence.

"There is a way out. There is community support, and we will help you any way we can," Smith said.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.