What to Know
- A mother and five other people have been arrested for “severely” beating and scalding her 3-year-old son, authorities said
- All six of them allegedly beat the boy with a belt and their fists and poured scalding water on him “as a form of corporal punishment"
- They have all been charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child and are expected to appear in court on Thursday
A mother and five other people have been arrested for “severely” beating and scalding her 3-year-old son, authorities said.
Patricia Gamarra, 62, Mary Buchan, 55, Patricia Buchan, 28, Bridget Buchan, 23, Homer Searcy, 39, and Natacha Smith, 43 — the boy's mother —were arrested for the “systemic and coordinated beating” of the little boy, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said Wednesday.
All six of them allegedly beat the boy with a belt and their fists and poured scalding water on him “as a form of corporal punishment,” prosecutors said.
Smith was allegedly staying with Searcy, who is her boyfriend, in a three-bedroom apartment at the home in Newark where all of the defendants lived.
The other four defendants also lived in the home.
All six defendants have been charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said.
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Detectives say the boy endured beatings from other children living at the home, which was discovered when a pre-school nurse saw burns and blisters on his legs.
Bruises were also discovered on the boy's stomach, back and face, according to detectives.
"Based on their training and their care, they did bring it to the notice of authorities and were absolutely correct to do so," Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said.
Neighbors said there weren't any signs that the child was being abused, with one person calling whta happened to the boy "a tragedy."
The defendants are expected to appear in court on Thursday, prosecutors said.
Their attorney information wasn’t immediately available Wednesday.
