Antelope Valley woman burned 2-year-old son with scalding water before his death, complaint says

LANCASTER, Calif. () — New details have emerged after an Antelope Valley woman was charged with murder in connection with the death of her 2-year-old son.

According to a criminal complaint, Rayzhanna Greenhoward used scalding hot water to burn her son in November 2025. The child later died from those burns.

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.

According to the report, the boy had been in the care of a foster parent but was living with his mother at the time of his death.

Greenhoward’s father, Raynard Greenhoward, recently spoke out, saying he has faith she “didn’t do anything wrong.” He said his daughter loved baby Legend.

“You’re innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

Raynard Greenhoward 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 issued the following statement to Eyewitness News:

“The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is deeply concerned by the death of any child, especially under tragic circumstances such as those involving 2-year-old Legend L.

DCFS understands the public’s interest in children from the community who may have received services from the department; however, state laws prohibits the disclosure or confirmation of such information. These laws are intended to protect the children and families, who may have come into contact with DCFS, from emotional distress and social stigma associated with public exposure of complex family issues.

As a reminder, suspicions of child abuse and neglect may be reported 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling the Child Protection Hotline at 800-540-4000.

Parents in need of support or resources are encouraged to call 211 for help.

The incident remains under investigation.