Concerns after image of child burned by iron surfaces

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A person close to the family of a small boy hurt by an iron said the child was burned intentionally and nothing has been done about it.

KFOR has protected the man’s identity for fear of retaliation.

"I think if something's not done, this child, one of these children, are going to be hurt, possibly killed," said the man.

An image sent to News 4 showed the burns on the 5-year-old child’s back.

The picture sparked an investigation. Del City police received the initial call about the child’s injuries. The department passed the case onto Oklahoma City police because the incident reportedly happened at a home in Oklahoma City.

News 4 reached out to OKCPD who said they responded to the home but no arrests were made.

The man said the mother claimed the boy fell into the iron but the child told a different story.

"The little boy said that he had his mother's phone and she was mad and took the iron and burned him."

The Department of Human Services showed up at the hospital to investigate. KFOR reached out to the agency who sent this statement:

Child safety is of the utmost priority to Oklahoma Human Services, and it relies on every member of the public to make it aware of abuse and neglect.  Someone who believes abuse or neglect of a child is occurring has a legal responsibility to report it and can do so by contacting the 24-hour Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-522-3511.

Child welfare investigations are confidential by state and federal statutes, so Oklahoma Human Services is unable to publicly confirm an investigation or discuss a case with anyone who is not authorized by statute or permitted by an order of the court. Only the court can issue an order for a child to enter or exit the state’s custody and their orders also focus on child safety. In cases where individuals are unable to safely parent their child the agency may recommend removal of the child(ren) to the court until the parent(s) can correct the safety concerns in their home. The agency's safety assessment process is outlined in our policy and is available to the public at https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/library/policy/current/oac-340/chapter-75/subchapter-3/child-safety-evaluation.html.

Oklahoma Human Services

There have been no arrests in the case so KFOR will not name the mother, but News 4 has learned the woman is currently on parole for a conviction of felony child neglect in 2018. The case involved other children.