Girl Burned at Day Care Goes Home
A 2-year-old girl severely burned when a day-care worker allegedly dropped her in scalding water for soiling her pants was released Monday from the burn unit of a Sherman Oaks Hospital after a party to celebrate her recovery.
Kristen Williams, who suffered burns over 50% of her body, sang the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” song as she sat on her grandmother’s lap and helped her grandfather cut a devil’s food cake during the festivities at the Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Care Center, hospital spokesman Larry Weinberg said.
It represented major improvement for Kristen, who entered the hospital July 2. The little girl has had four toes amputated and has undergone 15 surgeries, Weinberg said.
The operators of a day-care center were charged with hurting the child. Lemuel Rodgers, 25, pleaded no contest on Sept. 1 to child abuse and a special allegation of intent to injure with great bodily harm. He faces a maximum sentence of nine years in prison.
His wife, Katherine Rodgers, 35, pleaded not guilty to one count of child abuse. Her next court hearing is scheduled for today.
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