Suspicious circumstances reportedly surrounded the boy's death. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded to the residence Thursday on the 26000 block of S. Western Ave.
The boy's death was under investigation. Detectives questioned the toddler's mother as they try to piece together what happened to him.
"The little boy was so cute, and the little boy could talk-2 years old and can talk really good," said neighbor Corri Hardy.
The initial call for help was for a child not breathing. When sheriff's deputies arrived at the boy's Lomita home Thursday afternoon, they found his lifeless body inside. Investigators said he had obvious signs of trauma, including bruising to his body.
They're waiting on an autopsy to determine exactly how the boy died. Neighbors said the mother's boyfriend was babysitting the toddler at the time.
"I heard that she left this morning, and when she came back, she found out that her baby was dead," said Hardy.
Neighbors said that the mother's boyfriend would often babysit the toddler, but they never saw any signs that he would harm the little boy.
Detectives are only saying that they're trying to ID a friend of the mother. Devastated family members made it clear the boyfriend is the one authorities are looking for.
"I'm sorry, he just needs to turn himself in," said one person.
Friends said the mother has two older children, but they were at school at the time.
