Grandmother asks for "stiffest penalty" in grandson's death

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. - “Here is a lock of hair, “said Elethea Dampier.

A lock of hair and an old photograph of baby Emilio is all Elethea has to hold on to of her grandson.
Seven weeks old, Emilio Bautista, died Saturday at Tampa General Hospital due to severe burns, police say, he received from his mother.

Emilio sustained burns to his head, chest and arms after his mother, Chekayla Dampier, 18, held him under scolding hot water.

Tampa General Hospital staff reported that Emilio’s burns were so severe his left nipple peeled off when his shirt was removed.

Emilio survived 12 days after he was badly burned.

Police said that the mother was frustrated with her baby, so she placed him under running hot water for several minutes. The baby cried the entire time.

The temperature of the water was later determined to have been 142 degrees.

“They need to give her the stiffest penalty they can give her for doing what she did, because she knew better,” Elethea said of her adopted daughter.

The grandmother claims she notified Pasco County Sheriff’s Office of possible child abuse her daughter was doing to her grandson.

Elethea said she will never understand why this happened.

“Right now, I am mostly sad and heart broken. I feel anger inside me that just wants to explode."

Chekayla is being held at the Pasco County Jail under a $150,000 bond.

She is charged with Aggravated Child Abuse with Great Bodily Harm.

The incident is still under investigation. No further charges have been made at this time.

SOURCE: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_pasco/baby-burned-by-mom-by-hot-water-dies?hpt=ju_bn4

[el_em_en_oh]

I barely made it through the entire article. Almost vomited. WTF is wrong with people?!? Babies having babies... shame.

I bet someone would have adopted that little baby in a nano-second.

I'm sickened by this. I'm not shocked by anything I read anymore, but it doesn't make it any less sickening.

[teko]

Sickening describes it for sure. I hope they throw the book at this mom.

[brice1967]

Geez..... I don't even know what to say.  

[specialmom]

I want the stiffest penallty as well.  I really think that if we get a license to drive a car, they should have that to be a parent.  I'm glad that Grandma did the right thing here and turned her daughter in for abusing that poor baby.  yeesh.  Yes, nauseating.

[adgal]

I feel sick. I also cannot find the words...night all, I'm off to hug my son.

[narla]

I find it hard to even comment on this,this is when I feel an eye for an eye has some validation,let this mother feel what she made her son endure.I pray that maybe the pain was that horrific that it made his body shut down at some point,
REST IN PEACE little man,

[adgal]

Hey you!!! Welcome back!  Great to see you posting again. You were missed!