Authorities charged a Detroit babysitter with the murder of a toddler with autism after she allegedly admitted to pouring scalding hot water on the victim and banging her head against the bathtub.
Iesha Harris has also been charged with first-degree child abuse in connection with the death of the child, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.
It's unclear if Harris, 30, entered a plea to the charges or retained an attorney to comment on her behalf.
The victim's parents identified their daughter as 3-year-old Harmoni Henderson, who they described as non-verbal and autistic, according to WJBK-TV.
"I would never in one million years (think) she would do this to my baby," Paris England, Harmoni's mother said, the outlet reported. "Even if you think you trust the person, you can't."
On Sunday, Harris was babysitting Harmoni at a Detroit home when she locked the girl in a room with her 1-year-old while she smoked marijuana, prosecutors alleged in court Thursday. Harris became upset when she realized Harmoni threw up on herself.
"Ms. Harris allegedly admitted to police she poured scalding water on top of the 3-year-old and slammed her head against the side of the bathtub," Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Douglas said, according to WDIV-TV.
During a video call, Harris allegedly told England that Harmoni bumped her head after slipping down the stairs.
"From my knowledge, it was just a fall down the stairs - that she just missed her step, and that's all it was. She told me everything was okay," England told WJBK. "I saw her through the video chat, she was okay."
But when England arrived the next morning, Harmoni was unresponsive.
"She was already dead from the moment that I got there," said England. "She was gone."
The medical examiner determined Harmoni died from blunt force trauma. Harris was arrested Thursday.
"I done cried so much, I don't even know if there's no more tears left in there," the girl's father, Marquise Henderson, said.
Harris was denied bond. She's due back in court Wednesday.
