LOS ANGELES, June 14 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles woman and her girlfriend have been charged with torturing the woman's young son, leaving him unable to open his hands.
Deputy Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Friday a stranger found the boy, who had been left alone, the Los Angeles Times reported. McDonnell told reporters at a news conference the boy remained in a hospital five days later.
Starkeisha Brown, 24, surrendered Friday. Krystal Matthews, 19, was arrested Saturday at the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
The women allegedly burned the boy with cigarettes, forced him to go without food or water and beat him. He allegedly was forced to hold his hands down on a stove.
Investigators said the two women kept an appointment with Children and Family Services Monday, the same day the boy was found, but they allegedly brought a friend's son with them and claimed he was Brown's child.
