Monroe Woman, Two-Year-Old Child Attacked & Burned
The child is in stable condition but remains hospitalized as of Wednesday evening.
MONROE, N.C. — It all happened in broad daylight.
Just before 3:00 Tuesday afternoon, Monroe Police were called to 408 East Talleyrand Avenue for an assault.
Investigators quickly discovered that a robbery took place at the house just blocks from downtown – and that the suspect allegedly physically assaulted and inflicted burns upon a woman and a two-year-old child inside before taking the woman’s purse.
The woman, who had visible burns and bruises when we spoke to her, often babysits kids in the neighborhood. She does not speak much English and declined to talk with us on-camera, but we were able to speak to her son, Erick Mendez, over the phone. He tells WCCB Charlotte the robber threw some type of acid on his mom and the child – and that her skin was blistering.
“I see my mom turn around and you can see that she just got attacked,” Mendez explains, “Then after that, I was just seeing the baby crying, he was crying for help. I called 9-1-1 right away… You don’t expect that when you walk inside your house. You don’t expect to see something like that.”
Neighbors are shocked about the heinous act, saying it’s a rarity in their neighborhood.
“I grew up in this neighborhood as a little boy, so it seems to be nice,” lifelong Monroe resident Willie Wynn says.
“I’m always on guard. My son’s a state trooper. So I’m pretty aware of things, but it’s a pretty cool neighborhood.”
Malinda Houser echoed Wynn’s statement.
“We’re not in a bad neighborhood,” says Houser, “Every day I walk down the streets. I pray for the neighborhood and ask God to bless them, keep them in our love and care.”
Monroe Police describe the robber as a younger black male with no facial hair. He was wearing a red shirt with stripes and a black head wrap at the time of the robbery, after which he ran off.
Monroe Police say the robber still has not been caught and need the public’s help in finding him.
The two-year-old child is in stable condition, but remains in intensive care at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Burn Center in Winston-Salem.
If you have information on the robbery or suspect, call Monroe Police at 704-282-4700 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600.
