Mother Will be Tried for Child Abuse & Torture

A 25-year-old mother will stand trial for child abuse and torture after evidence surfaced that she intentionally burned her 18-month-old daughter with scalding bathtub water.

On March 9, Diana Vicky Estrada will be in court to face charges stemming from an incident that occurred last August. According to prosecutors, Estrada submerged her daughter’s leg in scalding hot bathwater after the young girl urinated on herself while being potty trained. As a result, the girl suffered third-degree burns on lower legs and feet.

Both sheriff’s and district attorney’s investigators testified that Estrada told them the incident was an accident. She said she had run the hot bathwater because she planned to clean some curtains, and that the girl crawled into the tub when she wasn’t looking. She said she heard a scream and came running into the bathroom to find her daughter’s legs submerged in the 134.1 degree water up to her knees.

Investigators began to suspect Estrada intentionally burned her daughter after coming across an American Red Cross report that stated it takes 17 seconds to sustain a second-degree bun in 131 degree water, and 30 seconds to sustain a third-degree burn.

An investigator with the district attorney’s office also testified that a forensic pediatric doctor said, after looking at the girl’s injuries, that her burns were intentional because there was no evidence of splashing, which there would have been had the girl accidently fallen into the water.

Child abuse and torture are two charges that, if you should be found guilty, warrant harsh penalties, including incarceration in state prison and thousands of dollars in fines. A Riverside domestic violence lawyer at the Law Offices of Gregory H. Comings can ensure your case is aggressively defended from start to finish, and work hard to secure the best possible end result to your case.

To arrange a consultation to discuss your charges, please contact the office today by calling (866) 399-1215.