Father Admits to Burning Daughter in Microwave
Maudlin, his wife, mother, and daughter were in Galveston, Texas while he looked for work as a minister. He initially contacted 911 in Galveston on Thursday, May 10, 2007, and indicated that his baby was burned after he tripped while carrying a pot of hot water that he was going to use to make coffee. The baby's mother was reportedly getting dinner when the incident occurred. Police began to investigate the claims and they did not feel that the story was consistent with the child's injuries. When they confronted Maudlin, he changed his story and confessed that he had placed his daughter in the microwave.
The child was treated at Shriners Burn Hospital on Tuesday, May 15, for internal injuries and third degree burns on her face and hand. Based on the extent of her injuries, it appears that she was in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds. She is currently in critical condition.
Joshua Mauldin is currently in the Galveston County Jail and has been charged with injury to a child causing serious harm. His bond has been set at $250,000. If he is found guilty, he could face a prison term of five to 99 years and could also have to pay a fine up to $10,000.
Two similar cases have been reported in previous years. In 1999, Elizabeth Renee Otte, from a suburb of Richmond, Virginia, was arrested for murdering her one month old son after his body was discovered in a microwave in the family's home. She claimed that she had an epileptic seizure and in a confused state mistook him for a bottle of milk that needed to be warmed. She was convicted in September 2000 and sentenced to spend five years in prison.
In November 2006, China Arnold was arrested for the murder of her one month old daughter Paris. The cause of death was high body temperature and the investigators suspected that her body had been microwaved because there were no external burns on her body. She pleaded not guilty and claims she does not know what happened to her child. She has a history of criminal behavior including a conviction for an abduction of an elderly woman in 2000 and a conviction for forgery in 2002.
Sources:
Investigators: Dad Confesses To Burning Baby In Microwave
http://www.click2houston.com/news/13329125/detail.html
Mother Charged in Baby's Death
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/daily/sept99/microwave.htm
Mom Accused of Microwaving Baby
Published by Melissa W
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- Maudlin initially claimed that the child was burned by hot water
- Two similar cases were reported in Virginia in 1999 and Ohio in 2005
9 Comments
Post a CommentThis is a dreadful crime. Cannot understand how anyone can do this to a small baby.
This is such a dreadful crime. I cannot even comprehend how these people come up with such cruel ways to harm their own children. I just hope the baby survives.
Sophie
What a sad story. Most people can't imagine doing such a thing to a sweet little baby, but unfortunately it does happen. Great reporting.
oh this is awful, that poor baby. I'm glad she survived but I can't even imagine what would push a parent to do this.
Well done. Responding to Mommy2Lots, I don't think the goal was to quiet the baby. Acting out in anger, frustration and revenge more likely. Good this man will be in jail and not imposing his ideas on ministry on the public.
I saw this on the news and I thought it was horrible myself. I almost did an article on it, but after reading yours, I won't. You did great reporting. I don't understand how someone would even think of doing this. How do you even come to the conclusion of using a microwave to quiet a baby? And to think that there are others who did this? These people are obviously missing links in the brain department.
almost no one ever would act out their frustations with the child (infant) in this manner. Boy did he snap. Just terrible. And 2 months old-he deserves what he gets-2 months old.
I have a new baby myself and I was also wondering how anyone, even at a breaking point, could think of something like this. I was also shocked when I found out it had been done in the past! Tonight on the news, they were saying that she would live but that they had no idea what the impact of her injuries, particularly internal, would be.
This is just unimaginable and so sad. I don't know how someone could even think of doing this to a baby, but apparently others even thought of it first.