Mother confessed to burning infant daughter with lighter, police say

FRESNO, Calif. -- A California mother is locked up, accused of child abuse. Her boyfriend is defending her while their 5-month-old daughter remains in the hospital with a second-degree burn.

Investigators say the mother confessed to burning her daughter as a way to get back at the infant's father during an argument. Fresno police arrested 23-year-old Denia Adams Friday morning.

Adams is facing one felony charge for child abuse. Her family says she's a chronic liar who often neglects her children. But, her boyfriend says she was pressured into that confession.

Until Friday, Adams had no criminal background. Her family says she has a history of drug abuse and a serious problem with lying.

Fresno police say Adams intentionally burned her daughter inside her East Central Fresno apartment.

"They put her in jail for nothing," said Adams' boyfriend Martin Thornton. He claims the burn was a complete accident. He says he lit a candle and misplaced the lighter on their bed. "She set her down not knowing the lighter was there, and it burned her leg, a little burn on her leg," Thornton said.

That little burn doctors say is a second-degree burn. A flesh wound deep enough that the infant is being cared for at Community Regional Medical Center overnight.

"I think this whole mess is being unfair to us, because we did nothing wrong," said Thornton.

The child's parents say the burn happened Tuesday. But the baby wasn't taken to the hospital until Friday morning when rushed there with a 103 degree fever by Adams' younger sister.

"Because she wasn't that hurt," Thornton said when questioned why the baby wasn't treated sooner. "She had a little burn on her leg is what I'm trying to tell you."

Police say Adams told investigators several different versions of how her daughter was burned. Her family tells Action News she often makes poor decisions because she doesn't understand consequences. They're not surprised she lied to detectives.

Adams also has a 3-year-old daughter. Both children are in foster homes for the weekend. Adams' mother is hoping to get custody of both kids next week.