Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Happy Mother's Day weekend to all you moms.
Enjoy every moment with her fam.
Read Belinda Magana's MySpacepage in 2009.
Just the next evening, belindacalled Corona California police
and asked them to come to herapartment that she shared with
her boyfriend of five months,michael Nareen.
Belinda said that hertwo-year-old son, malachi Magana
, had disappeared while theywere at a family barbecue at a
(00:23):
park nearby.
Welcome to this episode ofHuman Wreckage.
Today's episode is about alittle boy whose life was far
too short Malachi Magana.
Malachi was just two years oldwhen he died in 2009.
At an age when most toddlersare just starting to find their
words to explore the world withclumsy steps and bursts of
laughter, malachi's life was cuttragically short and in the
(00:45):
wake of his death, there werequestions.
Questions about how, why andwhat could have been done to
prevent it.
Let's get into it.
So An extensive search for thetoddler ensued, including
(01:29):
volunteers on foot, bloodhoundsand a police helicopter.
The search turned up no clues.
When Belinda and Michael werequestioned, police started to
doubt their story and foundinconsistencies and
discrepancies.
Furthermore, when Belindacalled the police, she sounded
unnaturally calm as the searchwas underway.
Neither Belinda nor Michaelexhibited signs of distress and
(01:50):
didn't even participate in thesearch.
In the early morning hours ofthe following day, the body of
Malachi was found in ruggedterrain just off Little Creek
Road.
Belinda had directed policethere, telling them that Michael
had killed him.
When she was out of the house,malachi's body was riddled with
bruises and burn marks.
It was evident that he hadlived a traumatic and violent
(02:11):
life.
Both Belinda and Michael werecharged with one count each of
murder, torture and assault on achild causing death.
They were both scheduled tostand trial and due to the
torture charge, which was amitigating factor, they would
both be facing a death sentence.
Prosecutors said that Malachihad essentially been abused to
death.
Shortly before his death, eitherBelinda or Michael poured
(02:33):
boiling hot liquid over Malachi.
It scalded a layer of skin offhis head, neck and back.
Neither adult decided to seekmedical treatment for Malachi
Due to the burns.
Malachi had cried out in pain,but when he cried he was
brutally beaten with a belt.
Malachi's autopsy showed thathe had suffered extensive
scalding as well as blunt forcetrauma to the head.
(02:54):
Attorneys couldn't decide onwhether the primary cause of
death was the blunt force traumaor sepsis from the untreated
scalding injury.
When he died, however, he waswrapped in a plastic bag and
stuffed into the car.
His four-year-old brother alsoclimbed into the car and the
family drove to a party in AppleValley.
On the way there, they stoppedin wasteland off Little Creek in
(03:16):
San Bernardino County andburied him in a shallow grave.
According to one of Belinda'sdefense lawyers, ryan Markson,
michael was domineering andcontrolling and forced Belinda
to use physical discipline onher son.
He argued that Melinda wasn'thome when Malachi was burned and
that Michael wouldn't allow herto seek medical treatment.
Allow her to seek medicaltreatment.
One of Michael's defenselawyers, michael Belter, refuted
(03:38):
this claim and instead saidthat Belinda was an extremely
neglectful and abusive motherwho had been abusive long before
Michael began dating her.
Just five months beforeMalachi's murder, there were
several relatives whocorroborated these claims.
Malachi was the product of rapeand Belinda had always treated
him differently.
Furthermore, as Malachi wasdying, michael went to Long
(04:00):
Beach overnight to DJ andBelinda still didn't seek out
medical help.
She wasn't held hostage, shehad a phone, she had a car.
She left for the store, saidProsecutor Dama Calhoun.
Two separate juries foundBelinda Magana and Michael
Noreen guilty of all charges.
In opening statements of thepenalty phase, riverside County
Deputy District Attorney DaymaCalhoun described how Belinda
(04:22):
was acting violently in jail.
She had already been in severaljailhouse fights.
In one, she grabbed an inmatefrom behind and slashed her face
with a razor blade, kicked herand then tried to throw her off
the second floor.
In another fight, she slashedan inmate on the arm from a
neighboring cell.
This highlighted the fact thatBelinda was capable of
committing violence.
(04:43):
Riverside County DeputyDistrict Attorney Day McCalhoun
also said that Michael had ahistory of domestic abuse
against two of his former wives.
He described how eachrelationship drastically changed
from kind and loving todomineering and violent.
His first wife, renee Helen,described how their relationship
had deteriorated and finallyreached breaking point when
(05:03):
Michael punched her in the face.
His second wife, marizla Nareen, said that Michael often
berated her and punched her sohard in the chest that she had
trouble breathing.
On the 2nd of May 2015, bothBelinda Magana and Michael
Noreen were sentenced to death.
As we come to the end of today'sepisode, we hold space for the
memory of Malachi Magana, alittle boy whose life, though
(05:25):
brief, touched the hearts ofthose who knew him and continues
to echo far beyond his twoyears.
Malachi wasn't just a name in aheadline.
He was a son, a grandson, acurious, bright-eyed child with
a future stolen far too soon.
His story reminds us of theprofound fragility of life and
the deep responsibility we allshare as individuals, as
(05:45):
communities and as systems, toprotect our most vulnerable.
What happened in 2009 shouldnever have happened, and the
years since have only deepenedthe grief and sharpened the
questions.
For Malachi's family, the painhas not faded, but neither has
their determination.
They are still asking foranswers, still asking for
justice and, most of all, stillmaking sure that Malachi's name
(06:07):
is spoken, remembered andhonored.
If today's episode moved you, weencourage you to share
Malachi's story, not just as atragedy but as a call for change
.
And if you or someone you knowis navigating loss, we see you.
You're not alone.
Thank you for joining us onHuman Wreckage.
We tell these stories notbecause they are easy to hear,
(06:27):
but because they matter.
Until next time, I'm Thomas.
Take care of yourselves andtake care of each other.
The Thank you you.
Happy Mother's Day weekend to all you moms.
Enjoy every moment with her fam.
Read Belinda Magana's MySpacepage in 2009.
Just the next evening, belindacalled Corona California police
and asked them to come to herapartment that she shared with
her boyfriend of five months,michael Nareen.
Belinda said that hertwo-year-old son, malachi Magana
, had disappeared while theywere at a family barbecue at a
(00:23):
park nearby.
Welcome to this episode ofHuman Wreckage.
Today's episode is about alittle boy whose life was far
too short Malachi Magana.
Malachi was just two years oldwhen he died in 2009.
At an age when most toddlersare just starting to find their
words to explore the world withclumsy steps and bursts of
laughter, malachi's life was cuttragically short and in the
(00:45):
wake of his death, there werequestions.
Questions about how, why andwhat could have been done to
prevent it.
Let's get into it.
So An extensive search for thetoddler ensued, including
(01:29):
volunteers on foot, bloodhoundsand a police helicopter.
The search turned up no clues.
When Belinda and Michael werequestioned, police started to
doubt their story and foundinconsistencies and
discrepancies.
Furthermore, when Belindacalled the police, she sounded
unnaturally calm as the searchwas underway.
Neither Belinda nor Michaelexhibited signs of distress and
(01:50):
didn't even participate in thesearch.
In the early morning hours ofthe following day, the body of
Malachi was found in ruggedterrain just off Little Creek
Road.
Belinda had directed policethere, telling them that Michael
had killed him.
When she was out of the house,malachi's body was riddled with
bruises and burn marks.
It was evident that he hadlived a traumatic and violent
(02:11):
life.
Both Belinda and Michael werecharged with one count each of
murder, torture and assault on achild causing death.
They were both scheduled tostand trial and due to the
torture charge, which was amitigating factor, they would
both be facing a death sentence.
Prosecutors said that Malachihad essentially been abused to
death.
Shortly before his death, eitherBelinda or Michael poured
(02:33):
boiling hot liquid over Malachi.
It scalded a layer of skin offhis head, neck and back.
Neither adult decided to seekmedical treatment for Malachi
Due to the burns.
Malachi had cried out in pain,but when he cried he was
brutally beaten with a belt.
Malachi's autopsy showed thathe had suffered extensive
scalding as well as blunt forcetrauma to the head.
(02:54):
Attorneys couldn't decide onwhether the primary cause of
death was the blunt force traumaor sepsis from the untreated
scalding injury.
When he died, however, he waswrapped in a plastic bag and
stuffed into the car.
His four-year-old brother alsoclimbed into the car and the
family drove to a party in AppleValley.
On the way there, they stoppedin wasteland off Little Creek in
(03:16):
San Bernardino County andburied him in a shallow grave.
According to one of Belinda'sdefense lawyers, ryan Markson,
michael was domineering andcontrolling and forced Belinda
to use physical discipline onher son.
He argued that Melinda wasn'thome when Malachi was burned and
that Michael wouldn't allow herto seek medical treatment.
Allow her to seek medicaltreatment.
One of Michael's defenselawyers, michael Belter, refuted
(03:38):
this claim and instead saidthat Belinda was an extremely
neglectful and abusive motherwho had been abusive long before
Michael began dating her.
Just five months beforeMalachi's murder, there were
several relatives whocorroborated these claims.
Malachi was the product of rapeand Belinda had always treated
him differently.
Furthermore, as Malachi wasdying, michael went to Long
(04:00):
Beach overnight to DJ andBelinda still didn't seek out
medical help.
She wasn't held hostage, shehad a phone, she had a car.
She left for the store, saidProsecutor Dama Calhoun.
Two separate juries foundBelinda Magana and Michael
Noreen guilty of all charges.
In opening statements of thepenalty phase, riverside County
Deputy District Attorney DaymaCalhoun described how Belinda
(04:22):
was acting violently in jail.
She had already been in severaljailhouse fights.
In one, she grabbed an inmatefrom behind and slashed her face
with a razor blade, kicked herand then tried to throw her off
the second floor.
In another fight, she slashedan inmate on the arm from a
neighboring cell.
This highlighted the fact thatBelinda was capable of
committing violence.
(04:43):
Riverside County DeputyDistrict Attorney Day McCalhoun
also said that Michael had ahistory of domestic abuse
against two of his former wives.
He described how eachrelationship drastically changed
from kind and loving todomineering and violent.
His first wife, renee Helen,described how their relationship
had deteriorated and finallyreached breaking point when
(05:03):
Michael punched her in the face.
His second wife, marizla Nareen, said that Michael often
berated her and punched her sohard in the chest that she had
trouble breathing.
On the 2nd of May 2015, bothBelinda Magana and Michael
Noreen were sentenced to death.
As we come to the end of today'sepisode, we hold space for the
memory of Malachi Magana, alittle boy whose life, though
(05:25):
brief, touched the hearts ofthose who knew him and continues
to echo far beyond his twoyears.
Malachi wasn't just a name in aheadline.
He was a son, a grandson, acurious, bright-eyed child with
a future stolen far too soon.
His story reminds us of theprofound fragility of life and
the deep responsibility we allshare as individuals, as
(05:45):
communities and as systems, toprotect our most vulnerable.
What happened in 2009 shouldnever have happened, and the
years since have only deepenedthe grief and sharpened the
questions.
For Malachi's family, the painhas not faded, but neither has
their determination.
They are still asking foranswers, still asking for
justice and, most of all, stillmaking sure that Malachi's name
(06:07):
is spoken, remembered andhonored.
If today's episode moved you, weencourage you to share
Malachi's story, not just as atragedy but as a call for change
.
And if you or someone you knowis navigating loss, we see you.
You're not alone.
Thank you for joining us onHuman Wreckage.
We tell these stories notbecause they are easy to hear,
(06:27):
but because they matter.
Until next time, I'm Thomas.
Take care of yourselves andtake care of each other.
The Thank you you.
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