PARENTS CHARGED WITH MURDER; Abuse suspicions arise in boy's fatal scalding

Author: Jeb Phillips

When a 3-year-old boy, scalded with hot bath water, died a little more than two weeks ago, police charged his parents with involuntary manslaughter.

Yesterday, a Franklin County grand jury indicted them on a charge of murder.

Gary A. Thompson and Amy L. Thompson didn't necessarily intend to kill their child, according to a statement from the county prosecutor's office. But a state law that took effect in 1999 allows prosecutors to bring a murder charge in an abuse case without having to prove intent.

Columbus police initially said that the water heater's thermostat was set too high and that Gary Thompson didn't check the temperature before putting Liam into the bathtub on Oct. 11. Although the child suffered first- and second-degree burns on 20 percent of his body, the Thompsons didn't call for help for five days.

When paramedics arrived at the Thompsons' Far West Side house at 1772 Navion Court on Oct. 16, they found that the parents had applied petroleum jelly to the burns. Mrs. Thompson is a licensed practical nurse.

Liam was pronounced dead that morning -- his third birthday.

"Some issues have come to light during our investigation that raised our suspicion as to their motives -- why they didn't seek medical assistance," said Columbus homicide detective Pat Dorn.

Liam was one of two Russian children the Thompsons adopted in the spring. The surviving adopted child and their two other children have been placed with relatives.

Amy Thompson, 33, faces one count each of murder and involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child endangering. Gary Thompson, 32, also faces murder and involuntary manslaughter charges, plus three counts of child endangering.

They both remain in custody. An arraignment on the new charges is scheduled for Wednesday.

jeb.phillips@dispatch.com

Caption:

Amy L. Thompson and Gary A. Thompson didn't necessarily intend to kill their child, prosecutors said, but state law allows murder charges in an abuse case regardless of intent.