Long Island babysitter accused of leaving 2-year-old in scalding bath

WABC logo
Monday, January 6, 2020
Long Island babysitter accused of leaving 2-year-old in scalding bath
NJ Burkett reports on the arrest of a babysitter in Hempstead.

HEMPSTEAD, Long Island (WABC) -- A babysitter on Long Island is under arrest, accused of leaving a 2-year-old boy in a scalding bath for several minutes.

Police say 19-year-old Yenci Elizabeth Lopez was the long-term care giver of the boy and put him into a hot bath for several minutes, leaving him unattended despite his screams.

It happened around 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Hempstead, and authorities say Lopez then dressed the boy and took him to a birthday party without providing any care.

Others at the party noticed the injuries, and the child was transported to a local burn unit for treatment of second-degree burns that covered more than 20% of his body.

Lopez, who is the child's aunt, was taken into custody without incident around 6:30 p.m.

She is charged with reckless assault of a child by a child daycare provider, second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

----------

* More Long Island news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube