Boy's Burns Were No Accident, Expert Says

Tulsa World

Author: Patti Weaver; World Correspondent

STILLWATER - A child abuse expert told a Payne County jury Monday that it is impossible a 4-year-old boy caused the severe scalding burns he suffered on his legs and feet at his foster home in Cushing.

"This is a classic case of child abuse - the child was held with his feet immersed in hot water," Dr. John Steumky, who wrote the curriculum on child abuse for the University of Oklahoma Medical School, testified Monday.

Justin Fields, now 5, whose skin was completely burned off his feet and lower legs, told the jury Monday, "Nita did it." Justin also testified his foster mother "threw me around, made me hit concrete."

Anita June Franklin, 43, of Cushing, who was Justin's foster mother for four months, testified Monday she had never injured the boy "in any way."

She said Justin "had a bout with the flu and developed diarrhea. . . . He had an accident down his legs all over his clothes.

"He got in the tub by himself. I drew his bath water" and left him alone, Franklin testified. "I heard Justin fall. I found him laying on his back" in the tub on Feb. 2, 1993, Franklin testified.

She said when she found Justin unconscious, she called a neighbor who came to her house and called 911.

Franklin testified she had five foster children through the Department of Human Services since 1992.

If convicted of child abuse, Franklin could receive up to life in prison, prosecutor Beth Pauchnik said. The case will go to the jury of seven women and five men Tuesday, Associate District Judge Bob Murphy Jr. said.

Roberta Wilson, a burn nurse specialist at Children's Hospital of Oklahoma where Justin was hospitalized for more than a month, testified Monday that his injuries were not consistent with an accidental burn. His burns were so severe that he required skin grafts on his feet, she said.

"All he would say was that Nita did it," Wilson testified.