Drake Weston, 4

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Drake Weston, a 4-year-old white boy, died of pneumonia on Feb. 27 at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. Coroner’s officials determined that Drake’s death was also caused, in part, by a March 2005 beating that left him in a vegetative state.

Drake’s mother had left him in the care of her boyfriend, Robert William Ross, at their Lakewood home while she went to work. Ross, 27, was accused of beating the child about the head, causing severe brain injuries that left him with the abilities of a 4-month-old infant, a coroner’s spokesman said.

Last year, Ross pleaded no contest to a charge of assault likely to cause great bodily injury or death to a child. He was given a 9-year prison sentence that was suspended and was placed on five years probation. In July, Ross admitted violating his probation and was sentenced in September to the full nine years in prison. Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide Det. Philip Guzman said investigators are trying to determine whether there is enough evidence to prosecute Ross for Drake’s death.--Jack Leonard/LAT