Inset: Gregory Bernard Campbell (Anderson County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Office). Background: The block in Anderson County where Campbell allegedly threw boiling water on his great niece (Google Maps).
A South Carolina man has been detained after officials allege he hurled a pot of boiling water at a 24-year-old family member following “a few disagreements,” resulting in severe injuries that necessitated treatment at a burn center. Gregory Bernard Campbell was apprehended last week and charged with one count of assault and battery, officials reported.
According to a news release from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded on Friday, Sept. 5, to a residence in the 1000 block of Misty Circle in Belton, South Carolina, regarding a domestic disturbance. The residence is situated about 215 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina.
Officials stated that Campbell was arrested after it was discovered he “poured boiling water” on the victim, whom officials identified as Campbell’s great niece.
The sheriff’s office reported that the victim was taken to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, for treatment of her injuries, approximately 90 miles southeast of the Belton residence.
“Gregory Bernard Campbell used boiling water to hurt his family member,” the release states.
The sheriff’s office shared additional details about the alleged incident with The Charlotte Observer, reportedly indicating that the attack was unprovoked.
“They had a few disagreements leading up to the attack,” the agency reportedly told the newspaper. “However, that day it came out of the blue. He was simply standing over the stove one minute and as she walked by, proceeded to throw the water on her.”
Authorities did not provide details about the victim’s injuries or her current condition. However, according to the American Burn Association, while water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, just brief exposure to water as low as 140 degrees Fahrenheit can “cause a burn serious enough to require surgery.”
The sheriff’s office said Campbell was released from the Anderson County Detention Center after posting bond. It was not immediately clear when he was scheduled to appear in court.
