Woman charged with burning her child
By Terry Murry on Thursday, January 21st, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
KENNEWICK – Maliyah Fairchild, 22, of Kennewick is facing a charge of assault of a child in the second degree in Benton County Superior Court. She entered a not guilty plea this week.
The incident that resulted in the arrest occurred in June when Kennewick police responded to a report from Trios Health that a patient was brought in with burns that were called suspicious.
Court records indicate that Fairchild told investigators she was using a flatiron to straighten her hair, and then went into the kitchen. She heard a scream, ran in and found her 11-month-old child in the bathroom. She said the child pulled the cord and was hit by the hot utensil.
Medical experts reported to the court that the burns did not appear to have been accidental. Harborview Medical Center child abuse experts reviewed the medical reports and pictures that were taken. Their report stated that the significant number of burns, along with the fact that they were on several parts of the baby’s body were typical of an intentionally inflicted injury, not those of a falling object.
Documents state that the child had first-degree burns on his left cheek and second-degree burns on the left forearm, left triceps, right forearm, left calf, and left thigh. Fairchild’s bail was set at $20,000. The judge also ordered that if she posts bail, she is to have no contact with her child.
