Detroit babysitter who was ‘trusted friend of family’ deliberately scalded girl, 3, with boiling water then slammed toddler’s head against bath, police say
- Harmoni Henderson was found dead when her mother picked her up from a friend’s home
- Iesha Harris, 30, was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse
- She admitted to smoking marijuana for three hours instead of looking at the toddler
A babysitter is accused of throwing boiling water over a three-year-old girl and fatally smashing her head into a bath.
Iesha Harris, 30, was charged with murder and first-degree child abuse after autistic toddler Harmoni Henderson was found dead Monday.
Harmoni’s mother, Paris England, left her overnight at Harris’ home in Detroit because she was a trusted family friend who often cared for the little girl.
But instead of watching her, Harris locked her in a room with her own one-year-old daughter and smoked marijuana with friends for three hours.
Harmoni Henderson, 3, was found dead Monday morning after her babysitter poured boiling water on her and hit her head against the side of a bath
Iesha Harris, 30, was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse
She became enraged when she returned to find that Harmoni had thrown up on herself and needed to be cleaned up.
Harris allegedly admitted to investigators that she poured boiling hot water over her face and head to clean her.
She then allegedly slammed the toddler’s head into the side of a bathtub, Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Douglas said.
The English video called Harris for an update and got to see Harmoni in bed and said she had fallen down the stairs and hit her head, but was fine.
‘As far as I know, it was just a fall down the stairs – she just missed her step, and that was all. She told me everything was fine,” England said.
“I saw her on video chat, she was doing well.”
Harmoni’s mother Paris England (pictured) left her at Harris’ Detroit home overnight as she was a trusted family friend who often cared for the little girl
England came to Harris’ house the next morning, expecting to pick up her daughter, but found her unconscious in bed
Harris was arrested Thursday and denied bail because the judge deemed her a danger to other children
England came to Harris’ house the next morning, expecting to pick up her daughter, but found her unconscious in bed.
‘She was dead from the moment I got there. She was gone.’
They rushed Harmoni to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival, and police arrived to investigate her death.
At no point did Harris call London or 911 and she lay in bed all night dying.
‘She was having a hard time. My baby is autistic, non-verbal,” England said Local 4 news.
‘I think she got frustrated with her and her own daughter and she hit my baby’s head against the bath.
Instead of watching Harmoni, Harris (pictured) locked her in a room with her own one-year-old daughter and smoked marijuana with friends for three hours
England, surrounded by family, speaks to local news about her daughter’s death
“I would never in a million years (think) she would do this to my baby. Even if you think you trust the person, you can’t.’
Harris was arrested Thursday and denied bail because the judge deemed her a danger to other children.
She was charged the same day as Harmoni’s viewing.
‘Blunt trauma. Blunt trauma. A three-year-old autistic baby,” Harmoni’s father Marquise said as he read the autopsy report.
“I’ve cried so much, I don’t even know if there are any tears left.”