NC mother sentenced to prison for burning toddler with boiling water, cigarette

NC mom sentenced for putting son in boiling water

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — A 22-year-old North Carolina woman who put her toddler in boiling water and burned his foot with a cigarette has been sentenced to prison.

Media outlets reported Tuesday that Tabitha Rich pleaded guilty to two felony counts of inflicting serious injury to her then-33-month-old son. She received a 25- to 39-month sentence on each, to run consecutively.

Prosecutors said Rich put her son in a pan of boiling water in October 2008 as punishment because he was constipated. He was treated for third-degree burns on his bottom. He had a cigarette burn on his left foot and other injuries.

Rich was ordered to have no contact with her son and to receive parenting training.