Two Suspects Arrested for the Torture of an 8-year-old Child in Hesperia
DATE/TIME: November 12, 2025, at approximately 2:00pm
INCIDENT: PC 206 – Torture
LOCATION: City of Hesperia
VICTIMS: Confidential Juvenile 1
SUSPECT 1: Denise Althoff, Age 26, Resident of Hesperia
SUSPECT 2: Elias Heinrich Dickson, Age 38, Resident of Hesperia
SUMMARY:
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, detectives and deputies from the Victorville Sheriff’s Station, and the Hesperia Sheriff’s Station investigated a call for service regarding an injured 8-year-old male who was brought to a local hospital with extensive injuries. Detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Specialized Investigations Division - Crimes Against Children Detail, assumed the investigation due to the circumstances.
Detectives identified Denise Althoff and Eilas Heinrich Dickson, residents of Hesperia, as the suspects. At the conclusion of the investigation, Althoff and Dickson were arrested and booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino for a violation of PC 206 – Torture, in leu of $1,000,000 bail.
Detectives do not believe there are additional victims. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Robert Sanchez of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 495-7018. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at wetip.com.
Refer: Deputy Robert Sanchez
Station: Specialized Investigations Division – Crimes Against Children Detail
Phone No. (909) 495-7018
Case No. 602500100
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD - Headquarters
655 E 3rd St
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 909-387-3700
