Man accused of burning toddler with scalding bath
Girlfriend’s son, 3, treated for second-degree burns
TEXARKANA, Texas — A Texarkana man is facing a charge of injury to a child for allegedly submerging a 3-year-old boy in water hot enough to cause a second-degree burn.
Terrell Da’Shun Childs was allegedly babysitting his girlfriend’s four children, including the youngest, a 3-year-old boy, when the child suffered a burn to his left buttock and part of his left thigh, according to a probable cause affidavit. The mother took the child to a local hospital for treatment March 24 and the child was transferred to a hospital in Plano, Texas, for treatment of the burn.
Texarkana Texas Police Department detective Tabitha Smith arranged to interview the child’s mother April 6. The mother allegedly told Smith that she was at work March 23 at a local department store and returned home after 6 p.m. She allegedly reported that when she changed the 3-year-old’s diaper, he “whimpered” and his skin stuck to the fabric of the diaper.
The mother allegedly claimed that Childs told her the youngster’s bottom was injured accidentally when he gave the boy a bath after he soiled his diaper. The mother claimed Childs was concerned that he would get into trouble if she took the boy to the hospital and would not allow her to do so.
The mother reported that she took the injured boy to the hospital the following morning after dropping his
older siblings at school.
The mother’s account came into question after Smith determined through the mother’s employer that she had not been at work March 23, the day before the child was taken to the hospital, and had last worked March 22. When confronted, the mother allegedly offered no explanation for the discrepancy.
Smith interviewed Childs as well.
During an interview April 8 with Smith, Childs allegedly claimed he drew a bath for the child to clean him after the boy soiled his diaper and did not realize the water was too hot. Childs allegedly told Smith he picked the child up under his legs and placed him in the tub on his buttocks.
Childs allegedly said
he took the child out of the tub when the child started to cry.
According to the affidavit, Childs’ account does not fit the physical evidence.
Smith notes in the affidavit that a 3-year-old is capable of getting in and out of a bathtub on their own and that if placed in a tub by an adult, it would likely be feet first.
“The child would have had multiple splash burns and a larger area of burn on his body if this statement were true regardless of any amount of water in the tub. With knowledge and training in child abuse cases it is known that submersion burns are a type of child abuse that is used typically for punishment during toilet training,” the affidavit states.
Childs allegedly denied that he ever prevented the mother from taking the child to the hospital though he did warn her that if she did, Child Protective Services might become involved. Childs allegedly told Smith that he and the mother did an internet search on how to treat a second-degree burn and attempted to treat the injury at home.
Childs allegedly told Smith that the mother took the boy to the hospital when the wound appeared to “look worse.”
Childs has been charged with injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury. If convicted, he faces five to 99 years or life in prison.
Childs is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $75,000. Court records show he was taken into custody on Monday.