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Pocono News Section
Police Say Mother Burned Daughter
Police Say Mother Burned Daughter - Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 5:50PM EST
Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010 @ 05:50pm EST
South Williamsport, Lycoming County-
A South Williamsport woman is accused of intentionally burning her daughter with a lit cigarette. The woman says it was all an accident.
Police say 31-year-old Ruth Eileen Whitney burned her seven-year-old daughter with a lit cigarette just a day or two before Christmas.
South Williamsport Detective James Taylor noted, "It was brought to the attention of our officers by the biological father and stepmother of the juvenile female victim."
Whitney claims it was all an accident. She says that a cigarette she was holding might have grazed the girl's collarbone area as she was inspecting a scratch inflicted by the family cat.
But apparently, that's not how the little girl remembers it. She explained it to police as a cruel disciplinary measure, a story corroborated by her brother.
Taylor recalled, "According to the victim, she was bad, so her mother burned her with the cigarette."
Police say the wound appears more consistent with an intentional burn than an accident.
Taylor added, "Based on the injury itself for the most part, the physical aspects of the injury. Plus the information we received through talking with various people."
Ruth Whitney refused an on-camera interview, but did speak with reporters after her hearing.
Whitney says the children's biological father has been fighting her for custody. She believes he's exaggerating this episode to help with that battle.
At this point, police say they haven't found a history of abuse. They believe the cigarette burn is an isolated incident.
Whitney was released on unsupervised bail following her arraignment. She is not allowed to have contact with the children until the case is resolved. | | |
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