Mom, Boyfriend Accused of Torturing Toddler

(Victorville, California) A 22-year-old mother and her 24-year-old boyfriend, Vanessa Woods and Reginald Hardin Jr., were arrested yesterday for allegedly torturing Woods' 21-month-old daughter, who weighed a mere 10 pounds.

According to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Detective Randy German, the child has burns on her feet, arm, chest and genitals, as well as a lacerated liver and a distended stomach from blunt force trauma.

Authorities said that there were cigarette burns on her arms and chest, her feet were completely burnt possibly by putting the child's feet in scalding water, and the burns on her genitals were "consistent with being burned with a curling iron."

 
Vanessa Woods -- Reginald Hardin Jr.

Woods reportedly took the child to Desert Valley Monday hospital (sic) after she began vomiting blood, officials said. She told doctors that the girl had a blistery rash on her forehead, so they gave the infant nearly a full adult dose of penicillin on Sunday, authorities relayed.

"Instead of taking her to the hospital at first they tried to give her apple juice and Tylenol infant drops. Then on Monday morning they said they took her socks off and her skin peeled off with the socks," German said.

When doctors discovered the girl's injuries, especially the scar tissue covering her anus, the adults said "they had no idea how she could've gotten burnt -- they said they thought it was diaper rash," German explained.

When Hardin arrived at the hospital, he apparently did so in a stolen car, and he and Woods were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property as well as torture and child abuse, officials said.

"It appeared the child had been continually abused for several months," German said.

The infant is in critical condition at the Loma Linda University Medical Center.