A District woman was convicted of beating a 2-year-old girl after the toddler spilled bleach on her own face, prosecutors said. Kimberly McCowan Williams, 52, pleaded guilty to first-degree cruelty to children, attempted second-degree cruelty to children and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She faces up to 16 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Williams was baby-sitting the girl at a home on the 200 block of M Street SW on the morning of Sept. 20, 2009, when the girl picked up a cup of bleach and accidentally splashed the chemical on her face. The child staggered in pain and knocked over glass items in the bathroom, prosecutors said. When Williams discovered the broken glass on the bathroom floor, she grabbed a belt and repeatedly struck the toddler all over her body, prosecutors said.
Williams did not seek medical attention for the bleach burns on the child’s face and in the child’s eyes, nor did she immediately inform the girl’s mother. Instead, according to charging documents, Williams called the child’s mother at work and the women agreed that the girl would spend the night with Williams as they had done previously.
When the mother tried to call Williams later that afternoon, Williams did not pick up the phone or immediately return messages
About eight hours after the assault, Williams called a poison control center and provided false information.
About 8 p.m., Williams called the mother to say that she was bringing the girl to her at a nearby store. At the store, Williams said the girl had gotten into some bleach and Williams disciplined her with a spanking. At the moment, a man exited Williams’ vehicle holding the girl, who appeared unresponsive and lethargic. Her face appeared to have been burned. Williams said she had called the poison control center, but they said that the girl did not need to be taken to a hospital.
The mother rushed the girl to the Children’s National Medical Center. In addition to the exposure to the chemical, emergency room doctors discovered severe lacerations to her body, head and facial area and multiple bruises about her body.
The child was admitted to the hospital, but suffered no permanent injuries.
When police tried to question Williams, she did not answer her door and did not return calls. A warrant was issued and she was arrested several days later, according to charging documents.
