Sad Testimony in Burned Child Hearing

A young mom charged with reckless endangerment after one of her four children suffered severe burns, gets a stern lecture from the judge in the case. Back in January, six-year-old Dynasty McMillan got third degree burns over 43-percent of her body after a cooking accident. Her mother, Erica Springs, was not home.

Today the courtroom heard some chilling details about the circumstances leading up to the accident that left the little girl with disfiguring injuries.

It was January 29, inside a small apartment at the Harriett Tubman Homes, when 6-year-old Dynasty McMillan awakened Jimmy Car, the man her mother left her and seven other children with.

In court Carr said, "She woke me and she told me she was burning. I looked at her and she was on fire. I looked again and seen the fire pop out the back of her leg. And she took off running. I had to jump off the couch and snatch them clothes off her."

Investigators say Dynasty was the oldest of eight children staying in Car's apartment, and was trying to cook a can of ravioli on the stove. The broiler was already on, with the oven door open to heat the apartment. Investigators say as Dynasty tried to turn the top burner on to heat her food, the heat from the broiler ignited her clothes. An analysis of the burned remains of Dynasty's clothes shows her shirt, for some unknown reason, was soaked with a flammable liquid, perhaps used earlier as a rag.

Testimony also shows Car should have never been left to care for eight children, because of a disabling brain injury he suffered from a fall that put him in a coma for six months, according to his caretaker.

Cresiana Daniels said, "He's not capable of watching no one. No child at all. I mean, can I speak frankly? I wouldn't let him watch my kids."

Dynasty has endured numerous surgeries and skin grafts at a Georgia burns center.

Anothy Moore, a Chattanooga Fire Dept. Investigator said, "The caseworker there told me she had her ears replaced, she has cadaver ears, as it burned her ears off and down to her mouth, all the way to her waist."

Investigator Moore demonstrated how Dynasty's arms are in braces, held outward, as she heals. A police child abuse detective said Dynasty's mother has not shown any emotion or care during the entire ordeal, and pointed to her casual demeanor in the courtroom today. For that, Judge Ron Durby scolded Springs, saying he hasn't seen such callousness toward children by a mother.

Judge Durby said, "To leave children unattended is not going to be tolerated. Take her back."

Springs was placed under a $5,000 bond after previously having been released on her own recognizance.

Judge Durby sent the case to the grand jury, and if they indict,Springs case will go up to Criminal Court for trial.