Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Woman sets five-year-old stepdaughter’s face on fire as punishment for yelling

20-year-old charged with felony injury to a child 

Saturday 01 June 2019 21:04 BST
Comments
Jimenez initially blamed the burns on an accident, police say
Jimenez initially blamed the burns on an accident, police say (Grand Prairie Police/AP)

A woman doused her five-year-old stepdaughter’s face with rubbing alcohol and set it on fire as a punishment for yelling, police say.

Dalia Jimenez, 20, from Dallas, has been charged with felony injury to a child and has been freed on a $20,000 (£15,800) bond.

Officers went to the family home after a child had been reported as burnt and needing medical treatment.

They said Jimenez initially blamed the burns on an accident while lighting a candle, but after detectives found inconsistencies in her account, she admitted that she burnt the girl’s face.

“It was about an hour-long conversation, but ultimately at the end of that conversation she did confess to me that she had intentionally burnt the five-year-old for yelling previously in the home,” said Detective Greg Parker, CBS DFW reported.

“The burns extended on both sides of her cheeks and just a little bit down to below her jawline, small burns on her shoulder as well.”

The girl reportedly told investigators that her stepmother hit her repeatedly with a belt and burnt her.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

She was treated for first- and second-degree burns in hospital and later released, according to NBC5.

Child-protection services have placed her and a younger sibling with relatives.

The child’s father was not home at the time and is not considered a suspect.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in