Boy Restrained, Burned Wanted to Die; Parents Charged

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CLARKSBURG, MD — A 7-year-old boy told authorities he wanted to die during the months his father and stepmother allegedly scalded him with water, tied him to a bed and wrapped him in plastic.

Craig Anthoney Williams, 42, and Nicole Williams, 39, both of Clarksburg, were charged with child abuse. WJLA says the couple initially had their bonds set at $300,000 and $400,000, respectively. A judge lowered that to $10,000 each and they were released Thursday.

The couple had five other children in the home, ages 1, 4, 6, 12, and 17, WJLA said. Some of the children told police they were with a belt hit by both parents.

The 7-year-old was taken to Shady Grove Medical Center Dec. 2 to be treated for a seizure, along with cuts, bruises and blisters all over his body. The youth was then flown to Children’s National Medical Center for further treatment.

The victim’s father admitted to wrapping the boy in plastic wrap from his shoulders to his knees at bedtime, according to charging documents. The father said he did this over a 30-day period in the house, but later told a nurse that it occurred over a seven-month time period, reports WTOP.

Craig Williams’ attorney, David Driscoll, told FOX 5 that the father is innocent of the charges.

“There is a great deal of background involving this family that I don’t believe police have investigated,” Driscoll said, but he would not elaborate on the child’s injuries.

Sometimes the boy was kept restrained in plastic wrap for most of the day. On Thanksgiving, he was kept bound until it was time for dinner, according to charging documents.

The boy’s hands were stuck in hot water, causing them to blister, he told a nurse, the documents report.

The child told police the abuse is so bad that he sometimes did not want to live, according to charging documents.

The couple is scheduled to be in court again on Feb. 12.

»Screenshot of Craig and Nicole Williams from FOX DC

Charging documents for Craig and Nicole Williams