GASTONIA, N.C. — A Gastonia woman is facing child abuse charges after a child she was babysitting was burned by scalding hot water.
Cassandra Willard was providing care for a 15-month-old child at a home in Gaston County on June 8th. The child was unattended long enough to get inside a bath with scalding hot water. The child remained in the bathtub for approximately 30 minutes before she was found by her father who had just entered the home.
Police say Willard was listening to loud music through headphones so she could not hear the baby crying. The child had first, second and third degree burns on most of her body.
The victim was flown to Wake Forest Hospital after Willard called 911. Willard was not related to the infant and was babysitting several other children who were not injured at the time.
