Sarasota News Leader

02/07/2014

Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/256534

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 89 of 134

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested a North Port woman for Child Neglect after her 2-year-old son suffered severe burns, the office has announced. Devon Rowand, 24, of 425 Granada Blvd., A1, North Port, called the victim's father on Jan. 25 and told him there had been a "little accident," according to the report. Rowand said she was blow-drying the boy's hair after bathing him, but she left him in the tub briefly while she went to check on her two-month- old in the home, the report continues. She said the boy burned himself but she did not want to take him to the emergency room because she would be reported to the Department of Children and Families, the report continues. When Rowand returned the boy to his father on Jan. 29, the man saw the burns on the child's left thigh and genitals and immediately took him to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) satellite unit in North Port for treat- ment, the report says. Doctors determined the boy had first- and second-degree burns, a news release notes. An SMH physician told officers the burns "appeared to be consistent with an accident," the report says. Later, Rowand admitted that the bathtub had not drained completely when she left the older child to check on the younger one, the report continues. She added that she left the blow dryer on the closed toilet seat next to the tub, according to the report. The dryer "stays hot for so long after it's turned off that she never puts it back in the closet until at least 30 min- utes has elapsed," the report adds. Rowand is charged with Child Neglect for knowingly leaving her unclothed toddler unsupervised, next to a defective hot hair dryer that was still plugged in, and next to a bathtub containing water, the release says. She is being held without bond. NORTH PORT WOMAN CHARGED IN CHILD-NEGLECT CASE Devon Rowand/Contributed photo Simply put, Crime Stoppers relies upon the cooperation between the police the media and the community to provide a flow of information about crime and criminals. All submitted tips are secure and anonymous. (941) 366-TIPS (8477) • SarasotaCrimeStoppers.com Sarasota News Leader February 7, 2014 Page 90

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Sarasota News Leader - 02/07/2014