A Michigan woman has been charged after allegedly pouring boiling water over a 15-year-old girl following a fight in Pontiac, leaving the teenager with severe burns to her neck and back.
Shanell Lakeisha Cohen, 31, is accused of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation. She was arrested after detectives said she admitted pouring the water over the girl.
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the area of Leonard Lane at about 7pm on Sunday following reports of a large fight. Between 50 and 100 people were reportedly gathered in a car park when officers arrived.
Investigators allege that Cohen and the teenager had initially been involved in a physical altercation. After that confrontation ended, Cohen is said to have gone into her home, taken a pot of boiling water from the stove and returned outside.
The 15-year-old was then involved in a separate fight with other people when Cohen allegedly approached and poured the water over her back.
The girl was taken to McLaren Oakland Hospital before being transferred to Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit because of the seriousness of her injuries. She remains in hospital with third-degree burns to her neck and most of her back, according to deputies.
Cohen went to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Pontiac substation on Thursday for an interview with detectives. She was subsequently taken to Oakland County Jail.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said: “We have another sad example of a verbal dispute, escalating into dangerous physical violence. Individuals that do so will be held to account.”
Cohen was arraigned on Thursday and granted a bond of $75,000 cash or surety, with a 10 per cent provision. Her probable cause conference is scheduled for October 13.
The allegations have not been tested in court. Cohen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
