3-year-old boy beaten, burned with scalding water at New Jersey home; 6 charged
NEWARK, New Jersey -- Six adults have been arrested after they allegedly beat and scalded a 3-year-old boy at a home in New Jersey.
Patricia Gamarra, 62, Mary Buchan, 55, Patricia Buchan, 28, Bridget Buchan, 23, Natacha Smith, 43, who is the mother of the victim, and Homer Searcy aka Omar Searcy, 39, are all charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a 3-year-old child.
All six of the suspects lived in Newark in the same house with six children.
They are accused of the systematic and coordinated beating of the child with a belt and fists. Prosecutors say the brutality didn't stop there. They also allegedly poured scalding water on him as a form of corporal punishment.
The little boy was apparently the only victim of the terrifying abuse. The other children were said to be in good condition.
The condition of the little boy is not yet known, but he did survive the abuse.
The family often used the food pantry across the street where workers say they were shocked to hear the painful allegations.
"No, we had no idea of what was going on," the worker said. "Sometimes they would bring the kids and whatever the case, and go back. Because we just service the community, we know they live there. So when the kids are out and we have little snacks and stuff, we give the kids something extra, but other than that we haven't seen anything."
The six children have all been turned over to Children's Services.
All six adults were being held Wednesday at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.
