THE NEWS DESK
The News Desk is a collection of news, notes and breaking items affecting the Fredericksburg community.
Man charged with abuse after girls, 2 and 4, were burned in Fredericksburg
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A Fredericksburg man faces felony child abuse charges after police say two young girls in his care suffered burns – one requiring transporting to a burn center in Richmond.
Demarco Singleton, 19, the boyfriend of the children’s mother, is charged in the case.
The older child, a 4-year-old girl, has been released to another family member, said Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe. The younger child, 2, is still being treated at the VCU Evan-Haynes Burn Center.
She said the burns on the younger child are consistent with immersion burns.
“The child’s hand is burned entirely from fingertips to above the wrist, which is consistent with the child’s hand being immersed in water that’s hot enough to cause a significant burn,” she said.
Singleton was alone with the the children when they were burned, according to police.
The children’s mother returned home shortly after it happened and immediately took them to the hospital, police said.
The exact sequence of events is unclear and police are using evidence to put the pieces together, Bledsoe said.
The investigation is ongoing.
