MESA, Ariz. — A mother and her boyfriend have been arrested in connection to the death of a toddler who sustained a severe burn injury, court records show.
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Alexsander Byrne, 21, and Artnesia Baptist, 24, are facing charges of child abuse and murder in relation to a 22-month-old child who died on April 12.
Court records show investigators allegedly observed a burn injury on the child that affected 40% of the toddler’s skin and smelled of “rotten flesh.”
The injury is suspected of happening several days prior to the child’s death. Byrne denied knowledge of how the child sustained the burn injuries, records show.
The boyfriend allegedly admitted the child vomited, became feverish and did not walk again after the burn.
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Baptist allegedly told police she refused to seek medical attention for the injured child because she feared child protective services might get involved.
“The defendant admitted that she knew it was wrong, illegal, caused additional injury to the child, additional pain and caused the death of the child,” police wrote in a court filing.
Byrne and Baptist were taken into custody by Mesa police on May 26 and both were issued $1 million bonds.