Texas Mom on the Run After Infant Son Dies from Scalding Bath, Police Say

A very heartbreaking and deeply disturbing case has recently surfaced in Texas, in which a mother caused the death of her 8-month-old son by bathing him in boiling water. She claims that the cause of her atrocity was frustration, and the baby had unnecessarily soiled his diaper.

Information from law enforcement states that Jatoria Cleamons, 21, who previously lived in Texarkana, is currently being charged with manslaughter and injury to a child for the death of her infant, Courtlyn Cleamons, who passed away from severe burns caused by the thermal energy. The tragic event took place on the 4th of February in Hooks, Texas, and now a manhunt is under way to catch her and bring her to trial.

The Hooks Police Department received a 100 Kennedy Circle alarm from one of the residents, who called for help. The victim was not breathing when the children and paramedics arrived and had begun the resuscitation process. Unfortunately, the baby did not survive.

The body of Courtlyn was transported to the coroner’s office for identification and examination, and the latter proved that the little boy had died as a result of burns from the exposure to the hot water. A subsequent inquiry on the death, was initiated and the detectives of the Texarkana Police Department were requested Lab results indicated that the burns sustained by the little boy were such as an exposure to extremely hot water could cause. Based on that, detectives of the Texarkana Police Department were called in to assist the homicide squad assigned the investigation.

Police say court evidence suggests that Cleamons had given her son a particularly hot bath at a house in Texarkana, approximately two weeks before Courtlyn’s death, when she was being questioned. She said she thought she lost her mind and got angry because her child wet the diaper.

Police assume that a relative had cared for Cleamons when the medical personnel were called and that the bath had taken place at his location days before. After all, the time it took to request help and receive medical treatment might have elongated such the distance that it was too late making it difficult for the outcome to be optimistic.

The grief caused by the death of the baby has touched people of all ages. An obituary said baby Courtlyn was a person who sparked “immense joy, love, and light,” and it went on to reveal that his presence in the world although short was the basis of the family’s love.
Even if the charges are serious, Cleamons designed things on her Facebook account to honor the memory of her late son. An expression of sorrow and unfulfilled life were also vocalized, mainly in a video slideshow, where she wrote: “Rest in love my baby,” followed by another post saying, “I love you so much and I miss you so much… my heart is so broken.”

The police have issued a search warrant for her arrest on Friday, and by the time it was Sunday, she was still at large. Those who know where Cleamons is, the police are requesting them to call 911 or contact law enforcement immediately.

Not only has this incident deeply affected the neighborhood, but it has also brought forward some challenging questions that are related to the mental health of the mother, stress, and despair as a result of no intervention yet.