Virginia Man Arrested On Child Abuse Charges, Accused Of Dipping 9-Month-Old Baby In Scalding Water

A Virginia man is facing child abuse charges after he allegedly submerged his 9-month-old baby in scalding water.

William Robert Schmuhl, 24, is being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond after an incident that occurred on April 21 at the Super Value Inn in Spotsylvania County.

According to Opposing Views, Schmuhl is being accused of causing extensive immersion-type burns on his baby, whose mother, Schuml’s girlfriend, was there at the time.

“The team, comprised of investigators from Child Protective Services, detectives from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigative Division and a Deputy CA from the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, were summoned by hospital staff after a 9-month old child was brought to the ER suffering from extensive immersion-type burns, common to dipping the child into scalding hot water,” Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Jeff Pearce told WTVR. “The child was stabilized and subsequently transferred to VCU Medical Center in Richmond, for advanced burn treatment and possible surgery.”

Although the hotel was located within minutes of the Mary Washington Emergency Room, the baby’s burns, consistent with being dipped in scalding water, prove that the couple waited several hours before seeking treatment.

“The baby’s burns are so very severe it appears the suspect waited several hours before bringing the child to the ER,” Pearce said. “The baby suffered several hours and she was lethargic. She was going into shock.”

Schmuhl was originally arrested on felony child abuse charges. However, if the baby does not make it, the charges will be upgraded.

“This investigation is still ongoing and additional charges may be brought against Schmuhl and anyone else who may have been involved and had knowledge of the crime, failing to summon law enforcement or assistance for the child,” Sheriff Harris said.

Schmuhl was previously arrested in 2013 for felony child abuse against his current girlfriend’s then 4-month-old son. In that case, the boy was said to have had broken ribs, a broken arm, and skull fractures. Those charges were later dropped.

Delphine Timberlake, the baby’s grandmother, said she already has custody of her daughter’s three other children, all under the age of six, and will be seeking custody of the 9-month-old as well.

[Photo via video screenshot]