Spilled milk leads to felony
Child Abuse charges

Delaware  –  Two Ogletown residents have been indicted on felony child abuse charges for allegedly sleeping through the night, renting a car and eating at McDonald’s while a child in their care suffered from “severe” burns — this despite living within walking distance of a hospital, according to court records.

A Superior Court Grand Jury on Monday indicted Tyrone Brown, 24, and Devyn Hutchinson, 21, on felony child abuse charges for failing to provide the child with medical attention.

Hutchinson’s child, who is younger than 3, was treated for burns to his lower legs, posterior, thighs and feet at Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington in May, according to court documents.

A doctor at the hospital determined that the burns were caused by the child being “immersed in hot liquid,” according to a probable cause affidavit for Hutchinson’s arrest.

Brown, who is Hutchinson’s boyfriend, told police he was boiling milk on the stove while the child played at his feet.  He turned away to reach for sugar and accidentally knocked the pan of milk over, spilling the boiling liquid onto the counter and child.

Brown told police he wasn’t paying attention when he knocked the pan over, according to the probable cause affidavit.  At the time, he noticed two small blisters on the child’s feet, according to court documents.

Hutchinson returned home from work later.  She told police the child woke up crying around 3 a.m. and she tried to put medicine on his burn but the child would not let her touch his foot, according to court records.

And so, Hutchinson and Brown slept until 9 a.m. the next morning before Brown’s mother took them to get a rental car.  After renting the vehicle, Hutchinson, Brown and the child ate at McDonald’s before driving to the hospital in Wilmington.

Hutchinson and Brown share an apartment less than a mile from Christiana Hospital, the affidavit notes.

Staff at Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital contacted police over fears that the burns were not accidental.  Ultimately, the child was transferred to Crozer-Chester Medical Center due to the severity of the burns, according to court records.

Hutchinson faces one charge of second-degree child abuse for failing to provide medical care for the child.  Brown faces the same as well as a first-degree child abuse charge for “recklessly or intentionally” harming the child through “abuse or neglect.”

A trial date has not been set.