Raquel Wilkins' boyfriend thinks mom who 'fell' to death with toddler did it intentionally
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: The boyfriend of a woman who took her own life and also killed her son has spoken up for the first time since the tragedy that happened in September last year. Raquel Wilkins fell to her death while carrying her 2-year-old son Denzel Browning-Wilkins, at Petco Park on September 26, 2021.
Then in January 2022, San Diego Police Lt Andra Brown said, “Raquel Wilkins’ death has been classified a suicide and Denzel Browning-Wilkins’ death has been classified a homicide.” Brown noted that report was made after a “thorough and comprehensive investigation that included dozens of interviews, reviewing of available video footage, and collecting background information to determine what led to the deaths.”
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However, Wilkins' family had slammed law enforcement’s findings. Their attorney Dan Gilleon said: “The City of San Diego owns that ballpark, it is legally responsible, assuming that what caused her to fall was anything but her intent. The only way the city is not at fault is if she intended to kill herself and her baby.”
But now Wilkins' boyfriend Christopher Browning, who was present at the site when the murder-suicide happened, has supported the police’s conclusion. He said: “To honor Denzel and her is to really be truthful. And to grieve in a healthy way, you have to honor the truth.”
Browning spoke with The San Diego Union-Tribune after the newspaper got its hands on police documents that included “police synopses of statements from several witnesses,” along with “diagrams, reports from officers on the scene and a list of seized evidence”. Browning claimed that the deaths of the 40-year-old and their son were “very intentional and very planned.” He told the publication: “I think she had a character breakdown. Things were getting very unstable. Raquel was getting sicker and not able to get the help she needed.”
He also recalled the moment before Raquel and Denzel died. He said they went to Petco to have some good family time and after reaching the third floor of the baseball stadium, Wilkins demanded cotton candy for Denzel, and Browning went to get one. The duo died soon after. “It was so quick, so fast. I looked over and she was on the bench and it was literally a split-second later. Both of them went over. It was very quiet. I was in complete shock,” he explained.
Browning said: “I loved her core. When people have a mental illness, something takes over their core,” before remembering his son: “He was beautiful and he was happy and he got the most out of life. I’m grateful for the years I had with him and I am sure I will see him again.”
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Earlier, Browning had spoken with the detectives several times and in his first interview with them, he said that he was not sure if Wilkins took her life or fell accidentally but claimed lately her behavior hinted toward suicide. A day before the accident, she had googled phrases, like “easy suicide” and “means of suicide," the documents noted. Besides, the San Diego Union-Tribune report stated that Browning also told investigators that “when they made it to the top of the pedestrian ramp at Section 320, she looked over toward the edge and asked if a fall would be fatal.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).