A Racine woman is charged with child neglect resulting in bodily harm after police investigated a report that a 2-year-old girl in her care had severe burns, with no medical treatment offered afterward.
Josephine R. Lee, 47, was arrested Saturday, after police looked into the allegations. She is in custody on a $10,000 bond, and is due in court May 18 for a preliminary hearing.
Lee is being held on a $10,000 cash bond.
Racine Police went to Lee’s home and asked to see the girl. She was wrapped in a dirty blanket, the criminal complaint states, and they saw her foot sticking out, with what appeared to be severe burns. The girl nodded when officers asked if her legs and feet hurt.
Lee said she didn’t know how the girl was injured, and said she had the burns when she was dropped off two days earlier. Lee said the girl’s mother told her the child had turned on the hot water while in the bathtub, causing the burns. Lee told police that the girl’s mother said she had already taken her to the doctor.
The girl also had a broken tooth and a very severe diaper rash. She was crying in pain while at the hospital, police reported, and that any time she moved or blankets touched her legs, she would scream and cry.
A doctor told police that the girl appeared to be dehydrated, and that the burns were consistent with being dipped in hot water. The girl was taken by ambulance to Children’s Hospital for treatment.
A preliminary hearing has been set for 8:30 a.m. May 18 in front of Racine County Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch.
