Babysitter accused of burning toddler with curling iron

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 1:16 p.m.

Tina Cicchetti

Metro Police arrested a babysitter Monday night and charged her with two felony counts of child abuse.

It took police more than a month to investigate the case of a 3-year-old boy who had third-degree burns on his left heel and neck from a curling iron, police said.

The babysitter, Tina Cicchetti, 28, of Las Vegas, was arrested at her home Monday night and charged with two felony counts of child abuse, police said. She had been babysitting the children since January.

The case started when the boyfriend of the mother of 3- and 5-year-old boys picked up the children from the babysitter's residence about 5 p.m. May 19, said Officer Ramon Denby, a spokesman for Metro Police.

When the children returned to their apartment complex, the 3-year-old was crying and limping, Denby said. They took his sock off and found a "huge" blister on his left heel and another large blister on his neck, police said.

Police arrived at the apartment and took the children to University Medical Center, where medical personnel said the burns had been caused by a curling iron, Denby said.

Once the police got a search warrant, after interviewing family members and friends, they found a curling iron that matched the burn marks on the boy's heel and neck, Denby said.

"These are really senseless cases," Denby said of the series of recent child abuse cases in Las Vegas. "Take a step back. Don't hurt kids."

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By WelshGirl

6/24/09 at 3:42 a.m.

Suggest removal

What's the matter with people? I'd make sure this monster got her just desserts.
This is why I never leave my children with anyone.
By idabessie

6/24/09 at 10:25 a.m.

Suggest removal

Hate to think what she is capable of when she gets REALLY angry. Poor kid(s)!One can hope they keep this "woman" locked up..........
By smoke14

6/25/09 at 1:11 p.m.

Suggest removal

just kill these people.......thin out the herd and get rid of this trash..........if this country cant keep its children safe......and it does a HORRIBLE job of that...then what can we keep safe??