Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, April 5, 2012
(RICHMOND) - A Richmond man was arrested after police accused him of using scalding bathwater to punish a child.
Robert Kendall, 28, was babysitting a 7-year-old girl on Monday at an apartment in the 200 block of North 10th Street, police said.
Police were dispatched to the apartment after receiving reports of abuse. When officers arrived, they found the girl covered in bruises and her feet severely burned, RTV6's Eboné Monet reported.
Kendall told police he was babysitting the girl and that he placed the child in a bathtub of "very hot" water as a form of punishment, Richmond police said.
Investigators said Kendall is a friend of the girl's father and had no prior arrest record. The girl's mother is deceased, officials said.
The girl was taken to the Wayne County Community Health Center with second-degree burns, and later transferred to the burn unit at Riley Hospital for Children, officials said.
Neighbors who watched police swarm the residence said they were angered after they learned of the allegations.
"To me, I don't quite understand it. It angers me, you know? I have two kids of my own," neighbor John Wright said.
"I love my children so much, I don't trust them with anyone. It's a terrible thing, the way some people treat kids," neighbor Travis Marquis said.
Kendall was taken into custody at the Wayne County Jail. He faces charges of child neglect and felony battery charges, police said.
Detectives said they're considering making a second arrest in the case.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.