Palmdale, California – A father in custody in Utah has been charged with the murder of his 3-week-old baby boy, Baki Dewees, who disappeared in early May. Yusuf Dewees, 24, faces charges including murder, assault on a child causing death, and child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death. The child’s body has not been found, despite extensive search efforts at the Antelope Valley Landfill.
Family members reported that Baki Dewees went missing on May 3 and was last seen with his father. The child’s great-aunt shared on social media that Yusuf Dewees had taken the baby from his grandmother’s home, and he has been missing ever since. Interestingly, the child’s mother, Rosealani Gaoa, was arrested in Utah shortly after giving birth due to child abuse allegations involving another one of her children.
After Gaoa’s arrest, Yusuf Dewees returned to the family home in Palmdale with their other three children. However, he later went back to Utah, leaving baby Baki behind. The whereabouts of the other two children are unknown, as they were also placed in the care of welfare officials in Utah. Dewees was subsequently arrested in Utah on charges of making a false statement and obstruction of justice related to his son’s disappearance.
The decision to charge Dewees with murder has not been clarified by prosecutors, but they are recommending a $2 million bail once he is extradited to Los Angeles. If convicted, Dewees could face life in prison. The case of Baki Dewees’s disappearance has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of all children involved and has sparked a widespread search for answers in the community.