Racine woman accused of scalding young son in hot water bath

RACINE (WITI) -- 17-year-old Samadhi Hamilton of Racine is charged in connection with an incident in which she is accused of scalding her child in a hot water bath.

Hamilton faces one count of physical abuse of a child -- recklessly causing great bodily harm.

On June 25th, officials responded to an apartment on Boyd Avenue in Racine and discovered a child had suffered severe first and second degree burns.

The criminal complaint in the case indicates Hamilton told officials she tried to give her son a bath in the kitchen sink, at which time he began to cry. Hamilton then said she went for a walk, and when she returned home, she noticed the child was red and peeling -- according to the criminal complaint.

Officials say Hamilton was unable to give a sufficient history surrounding the events leading up to or during the time her son was burned, according to the complaint.

The criminal complaint in the case says the child had an appointment later on June 25th, and that Hamilton called the doctor's office to cancel the appointment, without giving a reason for the cancellation.

An investigator said in order for an infant to be instantly scalded, the water temperature must reach 150-155 degrees. When the water was tested at the Boyd Avenue apartment, the water temperature was determined to be 169 degrees -- well above the instant scalding temperature -- according to the criminal complaint.

If convicted, Hamilton could face no more than 15 years in prison and/or no more than $50,000 in fines.