A 25-year-old Ohio woman has been charged after allegedly putting her stepson’s legs in scalding hot water as a form of punishment.
Anna Ritchie has been charged with child endangerment after 4-year-old Austin Cooper died in hospital of second- and third-degree burns.
A 911 operator received a phone call from the boy’s father, claiming he thought his “son died” after he found the boy not breathing in bed.
The boy’s death was ruled a homicide by The Warren County Coroner’s Office, according to Fox 19.
The man, identified as Richard Ritchie, also said in the phone call his son had taken a “hot bath” with his stepmom and then said he wanted to go to bed.
Franklin Police Chief Russ Whitman told WKRC News the woman admitted to punishing the child and putting him in water, however, it’s not known why the young boy was being punished.
Anna Ritchie is currently in jail where she is being held on a bond of $350,000.
She will make her next court appearance on March 18.
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