BARSTOW – The Barstow Police Department announced that detectives arrested Brandon Padilla-Aguilera on charges of murdering his two-year-old son, Xavier Padilla-Aguilera.

On Thursday, September 18, 2025, around 7:14 p.m., Barstow Police and Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the 24000 block of West Main Street for a vehicle swept away by floodwaters.

Responding units found the vehicle had been swept into a wash north of West Main Street. 

The driver, Barstow resident Brandon Padilla-Aguilera, 26, and his son Xavier, exited the vehicle but were separated by the floodwaters.

Numerous emergency responders and volunteers conducted an extensive search. However, Xavier was found deceased on September 19.

Given the severity of the incident, the Barstow Police Department’s Detective Division took over the investigation. During the month-long investigation, detectives interviewed witnesses and collected evidence.

Based on the evidence, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for him.

Booked at the High Desert Detention Center

On Friday, October 17, 2025, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Barstow Police Department detectives arrested Brandon Padilla-Aguilera at his residence in the 300 block of Chandler Avenue, without incident.

He was subsequently booked into the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department High Desert Detention Center on charges of murder (PC 187[a]).

Anyone with information about the investigation can contact detective Bryce Carson at (760) 255-5183 or [email protected].

Those wishing to remain anonymous can report criminal activity by calling the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or submitting information at www.wetip.com.

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