Branden Pernell Mackall, 35, of Prince Frederick
UPDATE 5/1/2026 – Court documents added: Branden Pernell Mackall, 35, of Prince Frederick, is charged with first-degree assault, first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury, and second-degree child abuse, following an incident involving a 1-year-old female victim at a home on Mint Court in Prince Frederick.
On April 29, 2026, at approximately 11:38 a.m., deputies with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Mint Court for a reported infant cardiac arrest.
When deputies arrived, they found the child unresponsive in the living room while Mackall was attempting life-saving measures. Emergency responders observed multiple injuries, including “blood in the mouth, bruising on forehead, purplish/blue bruising behind the right ear and paleness on the majority of the victim’s body,” which were described as being consistent with an assault.
The victim was transported to Calvert Health Medical Center and later transferred to a hospital in Washington, D.C.
Medical personnel had to revive the child multiple times. According to the report, the victim “had no response to stimulus, was on a ventilator, and the prognosis of a recovery are not good.”
Investigators determined that Mackall was the only adult in the home at the time, along with the victim and three other children: a 4-year-old female juvenile, a 3-year-old juvenile, and a 1.5-month-old infant.
During an interview with detectives, Mackall stated “he was the sole adult at the residence” and said the day had been normal. He told investigators “he fed the children cereal and put the Victim in an upstairs bedroom in a crib.” Mackall said he “heard an adult female arrive back to the residence from the grocery store at which point he came downstairs,” and later “heard a thump upstairs, causing him to go upstairs to check on the Victim who he found with a blanket over her head and unresponsive.” He also stated that the victim “is always bruised up from horseplay.”
Authorities were allowed to retrieve and reviewed footage from an interior Ring camera footage from the home, which showed the victim moving in the living room at approximately 11:21 a.m. At 11:25 a.m., Mackall was seen placing the child in a crib upstairs.
According to investigators, “when Mackall is carrying the Victim into the room and when he placed her into the crib it appears that the Victim is already unconscious.” The footage showed Mackall checking on the child multiple times until approximately 11:38 a.m., when both he and another adult entered the room. Investigators noted that “each time Mackall checked on her, he would pull down the blanket, and then pull it back up over her face before he left the room.”
During a later recorded interview after being advised of his rights, Mackall agreed to speak with investigators without an attorney present. During that interview, he admitted to physically assaulting the child.
According to the statement, “Mackall admitted to grabbing the Victim by the collar of her shirt and throwing her into the headboard of the master bedroom.” He further admitted to “shaking the Victim ‘harder than he should have’ and causing the Victim’s head to experience whiplash.”
A juvenile witness was also interviewed by investigators. When asked how the victim was injured, the juvenile “held both of her arms up and made a shaking motion” and stated that Mackall was responsible.
Investigators also interviewed the child’s mother, who stated she left the home around 10:30 a.m. to go to a nail salon and grocery store. She told investigators the child was “perfectly normal” prior to her leaving and said she had never previously noticed bruising or blood in the child’s mouth. She also stated she had no prior concerns about Mackall being abusive. Both she and Mackall confirmed that he was the only adult caring for the children at the time of the incident.
Mackall was arrested and transported to the Calvert County Detention Center, where he is being held pending his initial appearance before a district court commissioner.
According to the report, all events were recorded on agency-issued body cameras and within an interview room.
4/30/2026: On April 29, 2026, at approximately 11:38 a.m., deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to the 1600 block of Mint Court in Prince Frederick for a reported infant cardiac arrest.
Upon arrival, deputies located an unresponsive juvenile victim inside the residence. Deputies observed injuries to the infant consistent with an apparent assault and immediately began life-saving measures until emergency medical personnel arrived. The victim was transported to CalvertHealth Medical Center and subsequently transferred to an area trauma center with life-threatening injuries.
Detectives from the CCSO Criminal Investigations Bureau responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
As a result of the preliminary investigation, an adult male, identified as Branden Pernell Mackall, 35, of Prince Frederick, was arrested at the scene. Mackall was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with the following offenses:
• First-Degree Assault
• First-Degree Child Abuse (Severe Physical Injury)
• Second-Degree Child Abuse
This case remains under investigation.
