Prosecutors seek death penalty for Florida mom whose 1-year-old son, died after he suffered ‘severe burns’ from a scalding-hot bath – Christina Hurt has a long history of child neglect
Prosecutors seek death penalty for Florida mom whose son, 1, died after he suffered ‘severe burns’ from a scalding-hot bath
Christina Hurt was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse on Friday
Her son, Ethan Cooley, one, died in January after suffering severe burns from a scalding-hot bath
Hurt, 35, from Homestead, claimed her 10-year-old daughter attempted to bathe Ethan and her four-year-old son accidentally made the bathwater hot
She’s had a long history of child abuse and was well acquainted with Florida’s Department of Children and Families.
In 2014 she sent her daughter to daycare with a bow tied to cover a skull fracture, she caused when she pushed the tot off the bed for wetting the sheets
Hurt had her older five children taken away by child welfare services at least three times
Initially charged with aggravated child abuse and manslaughter, the charges were upgraded to second to first-degree murder before prosecutors took the case to the grand jury on Wednesday
Cops arrested mother-of-six Christina Hurt, after her one-year-old son Ethan Cooley who died from the bath burns from a scalding hot bath in January
Prosecutors have accused the 35-year-old Florida woman of killing her toddler son in a burning-hot bath.
Christina Hurt, of Homestead, appeared in court on Friday to plead not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the January death of her son, Ethan Cooley, one.
Hurt is accused of refusing to take Ethan to hospital after he was burned from a scalding-hot bath.
According to an arrest report, Hurt did not seek medical attention and instead chose to call friend asking ‘about remedies on treating burn injuries,’ reported the Miami Herald.
One-year-old Ethan Cooley died from severe burns after his mother refused to seek medical attention, because she didn’t want to lose custody of her kids, again
Hurt claimed that her 10-year-old daughter was responsible for putting Ethan in the bath which caused his skin to peel.
Friends allegedly urged Hurt to call 911, but she refused out of fear Ethan would be taken by child welfare services.
Police say Ethan spent the night throwing up and was ‘lethargic’ as Hurt drove her other kids to school, bypassing Homestead Hospital on the way.
She then took Hurt to a friend’s home the next day for help, according to police, but he became ‘became unresponsive;’ after he was placed on a mattress in the front yard, reported WPLG.
A neighbor who was outside and saw his condition called 911.
Ethan [photo], died when Hurt failed to take the critically hurt child to the hospital.
Hurt claimed that her 10-year-old daughter was responsible for putting Ethan in the bath which caused his skin to peel..
Hurt allegedly told police that her daughter was attempting to bathe Ethan when her four-year-old son made the water extremely hot, causing Ethan to suffer burns from his mid-torso to his toes. Friends allegedly urged Hurt to call 911, but she refused out of fear Ethan would be taken by child welfare services..
Hurt on Friday [photo], to plead not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of her toddler
Medical experts concluded that Ethan’s injuries ‘were not consistent’ with the story his mother told police.
A search warrant was issued so experts could take ‘additional measurements and tests’ on the bathtub and water heater in the home.
Hurt was at first charged with aggravated child abuse and manslaughter but the charges were upgraded when prosecutors took the case to a grand jury on Wednesday.
The latter charge was upgraded to second-degree murder before prosecutors took the case to the grand jury on Wednesday.
Hurt had a long history of child abuse and was well acquainted with Florida’s Department of Children and Families.
In January 2014, Hurt dropped her daughter off at daycare with a bleeding gash on her head covered with a bow. Tests later revealed she had a cracked skull. The little girl claimed her mother pushed her off the bed after she wet the sheets.
Hurt had a long history of child abuse and was well acquainted with Florida’s Department of Children and Families.
Hurt lived in this run down home with her six children before she lost custody of the five older kids. She’s had a long history of child abuse, documented by the Florida Dept of Children and Families.
The Miami Herald reported that child welfare officers first removed Hurt’s eldest five children after their paternal grandfather claimed that kids were hurting themselves while being left alone and unsupervised.
The children were placed in the home of their father, Tabris Coley, but they were moved to a group home after prosecutors said Coley ‘secretly conspired’ with Hurt so she could ‘continue to come visit and care for the children’.
In July 2014, she dropped her then three-year-old daughter off at daycare with a bleeding gash on her head that she covered with a bow.
The little girl claimed her mother pushed her off the bed after she wet the sheets and daycare workers called police.
It was later revealed that the girl had suffered a cracked skull. Police charged Hurt with criminal child neglect for failing to seek medical attention for the child.
In June 2015, her children were again taken from her after reports came in of more abuse. The children were returned to her in 2017, but under the supervision of DCF.
Authorities in the past said that Hurt “was criminally negligent by failing to get medical care” for her kids and she was ultimately was placed on probation.
There have also been “multiple suspicious injuries” to the children over the years that Hurt explained as being caused by “the family dog,” prosecutors said.
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