A 22-year-old woman in Ohio is facing a long time behind bars after she was convicted of brutally abusing two young girls, forcing them to stay in a scalding hot bathtub that left them with severe burns. One of the children, a 5-year-old girl, suffered such extreme injuries that she had a seizure.
On Wednesday, a judge in Gallia County sentenced Malynda R. Harrison to serve between eight and eleven years in prison for her horrific actions. She was found guilty of two counts of child endangerment that caused serious physical harm.
The shocking case first came to light on June 6, 2024, when deputies and emergency medical personnel rushed to a home on Hannan Trace Road in Guyan Township, Ohio, about 120 miles southeast of Columbus. They had received a call about a 5-year-old girl having a seizure. But when they arrived, they discovered something even more disturbing— the little girl had severe burns covering large parts of her body. She was immediately taken to a medical center in Huntington, Ohio, for emergency treatment.
As authorities investigated, they soon uncovered the horrifying truth: Harrison was responsible for the child’s burns. Gallia County Sheriff Matt Champlin explained that detectives conducted a thorough investigation and determined that the injuries were the result of intentional abuse.
Harrison was arrested on June 9, 2024, and charged with child endangerment, a felony offense. She had been in a relationship with the children’s father and was supposed to be taking care of the two little girls when the abuse happened.
According to court records, Harrison admitted to putting both the 5-year-old and her 4-year-old sister into a bathtub filled with dangerously hot water. Not only did she refuse to let them get out, but she physically restrained them, forcing them to stay in the scalding water.
The older child suffered second-degree burns and a seizure due to the extreme heat, while the younger girl also endured first and second-degree burns.
Now, Harrison will spend years in a state correctional facility, paying the price for the pain and suffering she inflicted on these innocent children. After completing her prison sentence, she will remain under the supervision of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority for up to three more years.
Authorities have not released further details about the current condition of the children, but their rescue and Harrison’s conviction bring some justice to this tragic case.
