A resident of Grand Prairie, Dalia Hemenes, blame that on may 13 she deliberately splashed in the face with stepdaughter alcohol and then lit it with a lighter, according to her, in punishment for what the child screamed.
Initially, the incident was considered an accident. Hemenes argued that the stepdaughter got burns from the candle that inadvertently ignited.
Dalia Hemenes poured over the face of the stepdaughter with alcohol and set on fire. credit: Grand Prairie Police Department
The police were called by neighbors living close by. Officers found the child with burns first and second degree on her face.
«We found burns on both cheeks, beneath the jaw and shoulders,» said detective Greg Parker.
The victim was taken to the hospital. At the moment, the child protective services took the girl and her younger brother from the house and handed over to relatives.
Investigators studying the testimony of the stepmother, found multiple inconsistencies in the story. In the end, the woman admitted that she deliberately set fire to the face stepdaughters, as a punishment for the fact that the child cried much.
The girl told police that before her stepmother repeatedly beat her with a belt, and confirmed that she burned her face.
Father at the time of the incident was not at home, he is not a suspect in the case. However, he did not seek medical help earlier, despite the fact that he knew about the beatings. Biological father raising a child from birth. In 2018, the police questioned Hemenes and the girl’s father after the child broke his arm. Then the incident is regarded as an accident and accusations no one has been charged.
Hemenes was released on bail of $20 000. She is not allowed to approach the children.
