KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City baby boy ended up with severe burns over much of his body and now his mother is facing a felony charge of child abuse.
Prosecutors charged Eernestine Swinton with child abuse Saturday.
Court records claim Swinton told police that her seven-month-old boy was burned in the bath and that his skin began to fall off. Swinton said she feared losing custody so she treated the injury at home for days.
Doctors say the baby has a burn covering 20 percent of his body, and that he will need long-term physical therapy to fully extend his legs and learn to walk.