Charges: 2-Year-Old Lit Hair on Fire, Caretaker Didn't Seek Medical Attention

An Oakdale woman made her first appearance in court last week on charges in connection with an incident where she allegedly did not seek medical attention after a 2-year-old in her care lit her hair on fire while playing with a lighter.

Sarai M. Watkins, 28, is charged with neglect or endangerment of a child in connection with the alleged incident on Dec. 29.

The child had been staying overnight with Watkins at her home in the 6200 block of 12^th Street, according to the Washington County District Court Complaint. When her mother picked her up, she saw that the girl’s shoulder-length hair had been burned off completely in some spots, and cut extremely short in others, the complaint says.

Her mother took her to Children’s Hospital, where the child was determined to have second-degree burns on her scalp and an area of hyperpigmentation and redness on her left forearm, the complaint says.

An emergency room nurse called police to report suspected child abuse, according to the complaint.

Watkins told police said she thought the girl had been sleeping when she came running down the hallway with her hair on fire, the complaint says. She said she put the fire out with water, and didn’t see any marks or burns on the girl’s head, according to the complaint.

Watkins is charged with gross misdemeanor neglect or endangerment of a child, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and $3,000 in fines.