Brownwood man indicted for Capital Murder of 10-month-old, mother also charged

BROWNWOOD, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A Brownwood man has been indicted for the Capital Murder of a 10-month-old child, and the child’s mother is also facing charges related to the case.

Steven Wayne Peacock, Jr., 22, of Brownwood, was indicted Tuesday on charges for Capital Murder and Aggravated Assault – Serious Bodily Injury to a Family Member.

Peacock was arrested and charged with Injury to a Child during the initial investigation in December 2024, when a 10-month old victim was flown to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth for treatment to serious injuries.

This child died from her injuries January 6, despite intensive efforts to save her.

After the child’s death, Texas Rangers joined the investigation and gathered enough evidence to get Peacock’s charge upgraded to Capital Murder.

The child’s mother, Angel Mari Bernal, 24, of Brownwood, was also indicted Tuesday for Injury to a Child and Abandoning or Endangering a Child.

Bernal is being held in the Brown County Jail on bonds totaling $175,000 and Peacock is being held without bond.