Gabriella Jessica Alexander

A Syracuse Woman has been arrested after a babysitter noticed severe burn injuries on her child. Gabriella Jessica Alexander was arrested Thursday, May 14, for neglect of a dependent resulting in a serious bodily injury.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Kosciusko County Prosector’s Office on May 14, Alexander dropped off her two children to her babysitter at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 14. Alexander reportedly informed the babysitter that her son had blisters on his feet and she planned to take him to the doctor the following day.

After Alexander left, the babysitter began changing the boy’s diaper and checked his feet. She discovered severe burn marks with large blisters on the bottom of the right foot and pinky toe. On the left foot, she observed large blisters across the top of the foot extending to all the toes. On the boy’s buttock area below the scrotum there was a large, red abrasion that appeared to be blisters that had broken.

The child was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment where police spoke with Doctor Mansfield. Mansfield, who had examined the boy’s injuries, advised he was very concerned as the injuries were very severe. The boy was transported to the Saint Joe Burn Center in Fort Wayne for treatment.

Officer Todd Sautter with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department spoke with Alexander who advised on Wednesday, May 13, she put her children down for a nap and went to sleep at or about 1 p.m. She woke up at 7 p.m.  to discover the children had “destroyed the house.” She advised there was no one else at the residence to watch the children while she slept. Alexander stated she found fingernail polish in the boy’s hair and that she discovered the marks on his buttocks after changing his diaper. Alexander stated at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 14, she discovered burn marks on the boy’s feet.

Alexander also stated she had not made any arrangements to take the boy to the doctor for treatment of his injuries. She noted she did not know how his injuries were sustained.

Kosciusko County Child Protective Services removed both children from Alexander’s home. She was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on a $4,000 surety bond.