New London Mother Pleads Guilty After Baby Burned in Tub

New London Fire Department personnel were called to 39 Bristol St. in New London on Sept. 20, 2015, after receiving a report of a 20-month-old child who was having difficulty breathing.

“After a lengthy investigation and numerous interviews, [Elizabeth] Mendez-Marchany admitted that she placed the victim in the bathtub unattended with the water running,” New London Deputy Police Chief Reichard wrote in an October 2015 press release. “The prolonged exposure to the hot water caused serious physical injuries to the child.”

On Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Mendez-Marchany pleaded guilty to leaving her child alone in the tub that was filled with scalding water, according to The Day.

She pleaded guilty via the Alford Doctrine, a plea referring to a criminal case where the defendant doesn’t admit guilt, but agrees that the state has enough evidence to get a conviction.

Police said Mendez-Marchany’s initial statement was inconsistent with the victim’s injuries, as reported by medical doctors.

“During subsequent interviews, Mendez-Marchany admitted to placing the child in the tub and leaving him unattended,” Reichard said in October 2015.

During the investigation, police also reportedly discovered Mendez-Marchany had asked a repairman to increase the water heater’s temperature gauge to the highest setting, about a week before the incident.

Click here to read the full report and court testimony from The Day.

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(Photo: New London Police)