Rayzhanna Greenhoward was arrested last Thursday and charged with murder in the death of her son, Legend. Homicide detectives said the child died after suffering severe burns but did not provide additional details. The case stems from an incident that occurred in November at a Lancaster home.
Greenhoward's arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed until early August after a judge said she suffered a mental health breakdown. She remains in custody, with bail set at $2 million.
Raynard Greenhoward, Rayzhanna's father, said his daughter loved Legend.
"You're innocent until proven guilty," Raynard Greenhoward said.
"I've got faith that she didn't do anything wrong," he added.
He said his daughter called him in a panic after Legend was injured.
"She says, 'I'm taking the baby to the hospital,'" he recalled.
Yolanda Ramsey, who was Legend's foster parent, recalled learning of the toddler's death and described her heartbreak.
"I couldn't believe it. I had to see his face first because that little bottom lip of his was just everything," Ramsey said.
Ramsey said Legend was placed in her care within days of his birth.
"I had Legend for 9 months," she said. "I picked him up from the hospital 10 days old."
Ramsey declined to discuss why Legend was placed in foster care instead of with his mother. She said she was devastated that after the child was eventually returned to his mother's care, he died.
She also expressed concerns about the handling of child welfare cases in the Antelope Valley.
"I think it goes back to the DCFS office," Ramsey said. "It needs to be more looked at."
The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services did not respond to a request for comment regarding the case.