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Home > Blogs > Dayton area crime > Archives > 2009 > September > 17 > Entry
Pregnant mother charged with burning infant in scalding water
DAYTON - A 20-year-old pregnant mother has been formally charged with one count of child endangering after police said she placed her 10-month-old infant daughter in 140-degree bath water.
Donnishia Peterson was questioned by officers about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, after the child was placed in a hot-water bath at 3709 E. Cornell Woods Drive, according to police.
The child suffered second-degree burns on her legs and feet from the water — skin peeling off her toes, police said. Officers responding to Dayton Children’s Medical Center said the child was in such bad shape they too became emotional.
Peterson told officers that a fan she was using to dry carpet fell on her infant and caused the burns, police said. But investigators said, according to doctors, that story is not true.
Police are not sure why Peterson did not check the water before placing the infant in it, Sgt. Judy Abshire said. It is also unclear why the water was so hot.
The infant is recovering from the burns at Dayton Children’s Medical Center and is expected to recover, police said.
Peterson, who is nearly nine months pregnant with her second child, was charged with a third-degree felony county of child endangering Thursday afternoon by county prosecutors.
Children’s Services is investigating the incident and has no prior cases involving Peterson or her daughter, spokeswoman Ann Stevens said. Upon release from the hospital, the infant will be place with a suitable relative or in foster care, Stevens said.
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