Police: SC baby sitter hit slain child with belt

Tools

By Jason Overholt

Story Created: Nov 6, 2009 at 5:02 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 6, 2009 at 5:02 PM EST

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say a baby sitter in South Carolina watching a 3-year-old girl who died in her care beat the girl with a belt after she used the bathroom on the floor.

Investigators told The Post and Courier of Charleston that 23-year-old Erica Butts is charged by homicide by child abuse in Serenity Richardson's death. Doctors say she had bruises over most her body and a large burn on her right leg.

Authorities say Butts was watching the child for Ieshia Richardson, a friend who was trying to move to South Carolina from Detroit.

Richardson was at a hearing Thursday where Butts was denied bond. Butts apologized to her over a monitor from the Charleston County jail.

Butts' lawyer called the incident a tragic event and said she has a clean criminal record.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

Current Temp 47.0

More Weather

WSBT Weather

More Weather

On Demand

iPhone
Get the WSBT News and Irish Sports Report apps for your iPhone! Read more »
On DVD
Order a DVD of a WSBT news story! Read more »
Twitter
Follow us on Twitter! Read more »
Facebook
Connect with us on Facebook! Read more »
WSBT E-News
Daily StormTracker e-mails right to your Inbox! Read more »
Video On Demand
Miss a story on WSBT News? Watch it here! Read more »
CBS Shows
Watch CBS shows and news online, free! Read more »
WSBT Alert
Breaking News & Weather right to your cell phone! Read more »
Mobile
WSBT News on the go for your cell phone or PDA. Read more »
RSS Feeds
Get news and updates as soon as they're published. Read more »

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.