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A BABYSITTER was convicted after a baby in her care suffered extreme burns on her entire body.
The mother returned to pick up her child, only to find the 1-year-old completely burned with no explanation earlier this year.
The babysitter, 53-year-old Kimberly Richmond, pleaded no contest to a child endangerment charge this week.
Following the conviction, prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich remarked, “To cause such harm and pain to an innocent child, then fail to get the child medical attention, is despicable.”
Photos of the baby show her in a hospital bed, completely wrapped in white bandages with severe swelling to her face.
She had first, second, and third degree burns covering her body and head, according to police.
The mother, Breanna Peterson, went to pick up her daughter when she found the girl burned.
She was given no explanation, and the baby did not receive help, according to a GoFundMe she made for the little girl.
She had left her with Richmond, who reportedly was a family friend, when she went out of town.
“My body was so weak, I couldn’t believe what I saw,” Peterson told WKYC at the time.
“For me to trust you with my child when I’m gone and you let that happen to her. I just can’t let this go.”
According to Lt. Michael Murphy of the Akron, Ohio Police Department, as reported in April, “What we were able to gather initially on scene was that the child was bathed or given a shower at some point.”
“[A]nd the water was hot to the point that it scalded her body.”
Richmond turned herself in after the incident, WKYC reported.
“You can’t grab my baby? You couldn’t stop the water,” the mother said earlier this year.
“The bruises, the spots. It’s not adding up.”
The baby suffered serious injuries from the burns.
“I’m going to fight for my daughter. I’m going to do everything I possibly can. I’m going to do it.”
The babysitter has a sentencing date of October 6.
“This child’s life has been altered forever,” the prosecutor said after the conviction.
“I hope this conviction can help her and her family continue pushing forward in the healing process.”
