HIGH POINT, NC – A 40-year-old babysitter faces serious charges after allegedly submerging a young boy in a scalding bath, causing severe burns necessitating skin grafts. Amesha Johnson was arrested Thursday and charged with felony child abuse, authorities stated.
Officers responded to High Point’s children’s hospital on March 1, 2025, after a report of suspected child abuse. Hospital staff notified police of a toddler admitted with significant burns on his hands and feet, according to police reports.
A detective from the High Point Police Department’s Special Victims Unit discovered that the 1-year-old had sustained injuries while being bathed at the babysitter’s home. Subsequent investigation identified Johnson as the caretaker during the incident. She was later detained and transported to Guilford County Jail.
The child’s mother recounted the heart-wrenching ordeal, describing the level of distress her son endured. “From the calves down, there’s no skin, just red,” she shared, portraying the grim reality. The toddler required emergency medical attention and was rushed to the hospital, eventually being admitted to the burn unit.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the mother was met with immediate police questioning as they sought to understand how her son sustained such injuries. Their inquiry eventually led to Johnson’s arrest.
The young boy’s treatment has been ongoing since the incident, with his first skin graft surgery occurring on March 7, 2025. Doctors grafted skin from his thighs to his legs. His hands, fortunately, suffered only second-degree burns, avoiding additional surgery.
Recovery is an uphill battle, the mother noted, involving diligent home care and therapy sessions twice a week to address his wounds.
Johnson remains incarcerated with a set bond of $25,000, highlighting the seriousness of the charges. This case underscores the vulnerability of children under the care of others and the lasting impacts such traumatic incidents can inflict.