Posted 11:38 pm Tuesday, August 14, 2012
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Whitehouse couple's trial set Sept. 24
The trial for a Whitehouse couple accused of scalding the feet of their 2-year-old granddaughter in February is set to begin Sept. 24 in the Smith County 241st District Court.
Kenneth Neal Walker, 55, and his wife, Shelley Walker, 60, were each charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony after their arrest in March. They could get probation or face up to life in prison if convicted, Smith County Assistant District Attorney Jason Parrish said Monday.
Tyler police were called to 4201 Aberdeen St. on Feb. 28, following an EMS report of burns to Bridget Walker's feet. Parrish said Monday that he could not comment on the child's current condition.
According to arrest affidavits, the child received burns to both feet and ankles that were consistent with second-degree immersion bilateral burns and not splash burns.
Tyler Detective Michelle Brock said in her affidavit in March that the child was in the care of the Walkers, who are her grandparents, when the injuries occurred.
Kenneth Neal Walker, 55, and his wife, Shelley Walker, 60, were each charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony after their arrest in March. They could get probation or face up to life in prison if convicted, Smith County Assistant District Attorney Jason Parrish said Monday.
Tyler police were called to 4201 Aberdeen St. on Feb. 28, following an EMS report of burns to Bridget Walker's feet. Parrish said Monday that he could not comment on the child's current condition.
According to arrest affidavits, the child received burns to both feet and ankles that were consistent with second-degree immersion bilateral burns and not splash burns.
Tyler Detective Michelle Brock said in her affidavit in March that the child was in the care of the Walkers, who are her grandparents, when the injuries occurred.
Detective Brock stated in her affidavit that the Walkers gave multiple stories about the incident, but doctors told detectives the burns were not accidental.
“Shelly Walker has provided approximately seven different accounts of what happened to Bridget Walker the morning of the incident,” the affidavit states. “The type of immersion burn that Bridget Walker suffered is consistent to her being dipped into scalding hot water. It should be noted that there are no splash burns on Bridget Walker's legs, and the burn marks are even bilaterally just above each ankle.”
The affidavit states that Kenneth Walker told police he was lying on the couch when he heard his wife scream and saw the injuries to the child's feet. However, he said he allowed his granddaughter to continue walking despite the blistering feet on the child.
Detective Brock said Kenneth Walker gave conflicting reports and told police he turned the home's water heater down after Bridget was burned, but he also said he didn't know anything about water heaters.
The affidavit states that Bridget's mother was told multiple stories by the couple and she didn't know what to believe.
Both Walkers remained jailed on $250,000 bonds each.
Staff Writer Kenneth Dean contributed to this report.
“Shelly Walker has provided approximately seven different accounts of what happened to Bridget Walker the morning of the incident,” the affidavit states. “The type of immersion burn that Bridget Walker suffered is consistent to her being dipped into scalding hot water. It should be noted that there are no splash burns on Bridget Walker's legs, and the burn marks are even bilaterally just above each ankle.”
The affidavit states that Kenneth Walker told police he was lying on the couch when he heard his wife scream and saw the injuries to the child's feet. However, he said he allowed his granddaughter to continue walking despite the blistering feet on the child.
Detective Brock said Kenneth Walker gave conflicting reports and told police he turned the home's water heater down after Bridget was burned, but he also said he didn't know anything about water heaters.
The affidavit states that Bridget's mother was told multiple stories by the couple and she didn't know what to believe.
Both Walkers remained jailed on $250,000 bonds each.
Staff Writer Kenneth Dean contributed to this report.
