Grandmother sought in toddler's scalding death in custody
HALTOM CITY, Texas -- A grandmother wanted in connection with the death of her two-year-old grandson was arrested Thursday.
Patricia Annette Flores is now in police custody in Frio County, about 350 miles away from her Haltom City home.
Police say she may have contributed to her grandson's death by waiting six days before calling authorities to report her grandson had been burned.
“I’ve got a 2-year-old who looks like he’s in shock,” you can hear Flores say in a 911 call released by Haltom City Police on Thursday. “He’s having trouble breathing.”
Police say Flores made that call March 30. The little boy was injured March 24.
“Okay, is he turning colors?” the dispatcher asks.
“No, he’s heaving real bad. His eyes are rolling back,” Flores said.
The little boy, Lyfe Maleek “Gabe” Flores, didn’t survive. Patricia Flores, his paternal grandmother, was his legal guardian at the time.
Police revealed Thursday that Gabe had third-degree burns on his hands, feet, and genitals, knocked out teeth, and internal bleeding. The burns, Detective Matthew Spillane said, covered 20 percent of his body.
“She had a duty as a legal guardian, as well as a compassionate person, to understand these were severe burns, and she neglected to get him any kind of medical treatment,” Spillane said.
Police said Flores claims Gabe had been on the floor in the bathroom between midnight and 2 a.m. March 24 while she ran hot water in the tub to do some mopping. She told police that he somehow scalded himself on the water before ending up back on the floor, where she found him.
“We’re still investigating how he came to be burned or injured -- if it was intentional, if it was unintentional,” Spillane said.
Flores is charged with serious bodily injury to a child by omission. Police say the grandmother tried treating the burns herself because she has medical training as a nurse’s assistant.
Jessica Rhodes, Gabe’s aunt on his maternal side, released this statement to WFAA-TV:
“We are so ecstatic to hear that Patricia Flores is in custody, although it doesn't bring our sweet Gabe back," Rhodes said. "We are hopeful that our judicial system does not fail Gabe and that he gets the justice he deserves. We are also thankful for all the support from friends, the community, law enforcement and coverage from media to help get this woman off the streets. Our prayers have been answered but continued prayers are appreciated.”
Haltom City Police say they’ll Flores will be transported to Frio County today.