By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Ellis County law enforcement authorities are still investigating the death of a 5-month-old boy who died on April 2 in Hays.
The mother of the child was previously convicted in connection with the death of the child's older brother.
The mother of both children, Brandi Niehoff, entered a no contest plea for aggravated child endangerment in December 2020.
Niehoff was sentenced in 2021 along with Russell resident Jody Steven Fox for the death of 14-month-old Gabriel Usoro in 2017.
Fox was sentenced to 200 months in prison for second-degree murder and an additional 24 months for child abuse.
SEE RELATED STORY: Russell man sentenced for murder, abuse of toddler
Niehoff had theft, interference with a law enforcement officer and drug charges in Ellis County from 2022. She was ordered to serve probation on those charges, according to court records. She also had drug charges in 2011, and she completed a diversion in that case.
She had an intimidating a witness charge from 2023 but was released on Jan. 16 on bond, according to court records.
Fernando Leon passed away on April 2 at the Rodeway Inn, according to a media release.
Emergency Medical Services performed CPR on Fernando before he was transported to Hays Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased, according to the statement.
Police have not released any further information about the circumstances surrounding Fernando Leon's death. No charges have been filed.
Niehoff is in custody at the Ellis County Jail as of Wednesday morning.
Abraham Leon, Fernando's father was in the Ellis County Jail with interference with law enforcement charges but has been released.
Nieffhoff was booked into the Ellis County Jail on Feb. 6, but the Hays Post was not able to determine what the charges were at that time.
The funeral service for Fernando Leon will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory-Brock's Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. See his obituary on Hays Post.
Anyone with information relating to the incident at the motel should call Detective J.B. Burkholder at 785-625-1030.