A toddler who tested positive for cocaine was reportedly horribly burned by his babysitter, who allegedly denied him medical care for days after the incident occurred.
38-year-old Natoyia Danelle Barbee lives in Durham, North Carolina.
At the beginning of July, Barbee had a 2-year-old boy and his two siblings staying at her home. Their mother had gone out of town and left Barbee in charge of the youngsters.
On July 6, the authorities went to Barbee’s home after someone reported that they suspected that child abuse was taking place.
When officers with the Durham Police Department saw the 2-year-old boy, they reported that he had severe burn marks on his body. When the burns were inspected by first responders at the scene, they asserted that the injuries had already started to heal.
The police spoke to Barbee and asked how the boy obtained the burns, and the woman reportedly said it happened accidentally. She allegedly said she attempted to administer treatment at home using a spray bottle.
When asked why she did not bring the child to the hospital, Barbee allegedly said that she did not want them to think she was the one who burned him.
Emergency Medical Services took the toddler to Duke University Hospital. When his blood was tested, it reportedly showed that he had cocaine in his system. It was also reported that he will need surgery to fix his damaged skin.
Barbee was taken into custody and booked into the Durham County Detention Facility. She may face charges of one count of felony negligent child abuse with great bodily harm, five counts of misdemeanor larceny, four counts of misdemeanor conspiracy, and one count of communicating threats. She is being held in lieu of a $250,000 bond.
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