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WILKES-BARRE — Medical opinions from physicians resulted in a mother being charged with burning her 5-month-old child earlier this year.
City police on Wednesday charged Tyera L. Folks, 27, last known address as Murray Street, Wilkes-Barre, with aggravated assault and child endangerment after her child was examined for severe burns in March.
Folks claimed she was rinsing her child after a bath in a kitchen sink when the water turned scolding hot, court records say.
Physicians who examined the infant say the infant suffered second-degree burns over 15 percent of the body caused by being held in scalding water. One physician opined the pattern and depth of burns along with burns being round-shaped are not consistent with a flow pattern burn and not agreeable with how Folks claimed the infant suffered the burns, court records say.
Police said Folks failed to appear for three scheduled interviews with a detective.
According to the criminal complaint:
Police responded to an apartment building on Murray Street where Folks resided on March 5. Paramedics were treating the infant on a bed.
Folks claimed she was rinsing her child off with water and noticed steam rising and felt the water turned scalding hot. She told police whenever another tenant turned on water, the water temperature becomes hotter.
The infant was initially transported to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital where an examination determined the child suffered second degree burns to the left side of the body including the arms and legs.
Police said the infant was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown where other physicians examined the child and offered opinions.
A medical report indicated the infant may suffer permanent scarring and would likely require physical therapy.
Folks was arraigned by District Judge Richard Cronauer in Wilkes-Barre on two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child. She was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.