Boy's burns lead to father's neglect arrest
By Nadine Parks
Rivers
A Charleston man has been accused of dropping a clothes iron on his 9-year-old son and then telling the boy to lie about the cause of his wounds.
The Department of Social Services took custody of the boy and his 2-year-old sibling, said Charles Francis, police public information officer.
On Thursday, police were called to Susan G. Boykin Academy of the Performing Arts. An incident report said officers there found three burns on the boy's body: one at least 8 inches long on his back, one about 6 inches on his shoulder and a 3-inch wound on his leg.
The boy said he was playing on a trampoline, then said he had a carpet burn, the report said. The boy later told authorities his father dropped the iron on him and told him to say it was a carpet burn, the report said.
Oscar W. Rivers was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with unlawful neglect by a legal custodian, Francis said. Rivers is expected to have a bond hearing today.
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NativeSon (anonymous) says...
Dropped? How do you drop an iron three times in three different places.
This man needs to be tried in California where the judges know how to deal with criminals!
September 16, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DanniD (anonymous) says...
I got an iron to drop on that SOB...poor little kid.
September 16, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
Thank you to the teacher/school staff who have quite possibly saved the life of this child and his sibling.
September 16, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
Sickening Idiot...Fry Him...
September 16, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
Read my comments under the "#1 in Crime" article and this is exactly what I was talking about! You folks just don't get it.
September 16, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
I know this dude from high school!! *le gasp!*
Burn his azz. He's always been a jacked up type of person. How do you just "strategically" drop an iron on a child 3 times?? Get him as soon as he gets out the shower and burn him...let his flesh sizzle and burn and then put butter on it. He doesn't need to see the light of day ever again.
What, y'all were expecting a bleeding heart moment from me? Sorry, I don't play when it comes to kids.
September 16, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
At the bond hearing, I hope the judge remembers to issue a restraining order against this convict. If he does walk, I hope the relatives of these kids have the decency and common sense to call police if they see him around these kids because he will try to see them.
September 16, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
I don't understand what they mean by "dropped". He would have had to been sitting or lying underneath it for it to drop on him.
Was the boy lying under the ironing board? If so, then it sounds like an accident.
Were suspicions aroused becuase he told him his son lie or because of past signs of abuse?
On the other hand, if the iron was help to hom, thrown at him or touched to him interntionally then there si no question that it was abuse.
Sort of like saying I dropeed a pot of boiling water and it splashed on him" as opposed to " I threw the pot of boiling water at him".
September 16, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Coldbeer, you iron??? Wow. Never woulda figured that one.
Yes, accidents do happen, but like suec said, that boy would have had to have been sitting or layind under the ironing board for that to have happened. But if that was the case, why tell the child to lie?? That just makes things look 100 times worse.
September 16, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
number1volsfan1 (anonymous) says...
Absolute no excuse!!! I say imprison this piece of s**t for a long time. No excuse for abusing women or children!
September 16, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
ColdBeer,
I was about to type the same thing. I dropped my curling iron on my son. He was standing under me while I was curling my hair and the curling iron slipped out of my hand. It burned him in two places. It hit his shoulder and the back of his hand. This could have been an accident. The thing that this guy did wrong was lie about it, if it was an accident.
September 16, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Hi Lovely!! I always seem to drop my curling iron on my own neck, or on my cheek. It hurts like hell and leaves quite an ugly mark until it heals, so yes, accidents do happen, but you don't lie about it- that just makes you look guilty as all get out. The fact that he told his son to lie makes me think he is guilty of abuse.
September 16, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I want to know how school officials just happened to find these burns. The only one that should have been visible was the one on his leg. Did he go to the school nurse, because he was in pain?
They left out some important facts from this story.
September 16, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
I, like Lucy, am having a hard time accepting that this is an accident because he told the child to lie. Looks kinda suspect to me.
September 16, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Hey Lucy,
Yes, I have done the neck thing many times (OUCH!!!) and I agree that the lying makes him look guilty. But some people will lie to keep from getting in trouble, even if an accident did occur. I guess that is the perspective I was looking at.
September 16, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
Now that I read the headline, it makes a little more sense.
I think maybe it was neglect becuase the burns were left untreated.
He was not charged with abuse. He was chaged with neglect.
September 16, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Hi, RTC and Tammie!!!
Yes, lovely some people will naturally lie about anything and everything thing. So, if you will notice, I haven't been all over article, condemming to all kinds of unimaginable, horrible things, yet. Aren't y'all proud?? BUT, if it comes out that this wasn't an accident, then, watch out!!
September 16, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
Good morning all. Did they strip this poor kid down or what? I still want to know how the school found the burns and then called the police.
Was the child under the father while he was ironing?
Did Dad have one too many cold ones and was clumsy?
Was the father afraid that he would be accused of abuse if he took his child for medical care?
Or....did the man deliberately burn this boy?
See, I am just full of questions this morning. :)
September 16, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
RTC, maybe he was playing or something and started wincing in pain. Then his teacher wanted to take a look at the area (parental instinct) thinking the boy badly injured himself and that may have been how she saw the burns. Who knows? I'm just sayin...
CB, you really do iron, huh? I took you as a "Lemme throw this in the dryer" type of guy. :-p
And Love a dub and Lucy Lemongrass...I sure dont miss the curling iron days, especially with all this humidity!
September 16, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
LMAO, CB. My father was a military man and his creases had to be perfect. When he would ask me to iron I would do the double crease thing so he would refrain from asking me as well. Your wife is a smart woman.
lucy, yes, I am extremely proud of you. And suec is right, he was charged with neglect not abuse, so it could be that the burns were untreated.
September 16, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Tammie, that is why I keep it naturally curly!!!
September 16, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I don't like to iron clothes, hair, or the dog.
I always ending up burning myself or someone else.
Hence, the hair is natural, the clothes have that rumpled look, and the dog has a full coat and a smile on his face.
September 16, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Coldbeer- ironing men's slacks with the darn crease is the hardest thing for me to do. Like your wife, I also did the mulitiple, not double, crease, but I swear it wasn't on purpose. Hubby complained and raved about that, but still refused to iron his own, so too darn bad for him!!
Thank you for being proud of me, Lovely. See? I can be good sometimes!
And RTC and Tammie- I have to do the curling iron thing, or I will look quite flat, and we can't have that, now can we??
September 16, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
lucy, you have a problem with flat, huh? LOL
Don't talk about me like I'm not here! ( as Julie Roberts said in Steel Magnolias)
September 16, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
uh, that's Julia, not Julie.
September 16, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
RTC- just my hair, thank you very much! LoL, you can ask Tammie! Knew you would take that wrong, shame on you!!
September 16, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
lucy, I also have flat hair. Geez, I wasn't talking about chests. Where is your mind this morning?
Blow dry your hair upside down, and try some of that volumizing foam. It works for awhile at least.
Okay, as usual, we are off topic.
Neglect in this man's case could mean that he was accused of being negligent, because he was carelees in using an iron around a child, resulting in injury.
Who knows? I just hope that this man is not a hardworking dad trying to take care of his kids and do chores, and they are accusing him falsely.
Accidents do happen, and only perfect people don't have them.
September 16, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...
*ol' pretty thinks to himself"damn these are some quick to judge people, when it comes to minorities. paul moonie is so right."
September 16, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
An accident? Hmm Maybe, but why have the kid lie something is not right here.
September 16, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
I use to iron my hair in the sixies and seventies my hair was down behind my knees.
September 16, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldglory (anonymous) says...
My desire is that this child be protected. Not sure that will happen with under-funded agencies.
CB, you usually have solid opinions, often make the chuckle and even laugh, but even with probably 30 years on you, there is no way in hell I'm going to iron. The most I can say is that your wife is smarter than you, and further that you don't expect her to iron!
September 16, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Mr_Pretty- Did anyone here say anything about race??? Where are you coming from????
September 16, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
lucy,
Please don't get Mr_Pretty started or fan his flames any further. I respect him for his opinions but he can be a little oer the top at times.
September 16, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Lovely, I must have been away too long, I'll be good.
September 16, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Well a LOT over the top. And quite racist in his views, in my opinion. Like ColdBeer said, a lot of what he says is valid, but he looses value when he posts such angry posts.
September 16, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Hmm. Sorry I have missed those. NOT!
September 16, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Mr Pretty, do you realize that you aren't the only minority that posts here? You can make some valid points but yeah, it's agreed, you can get waay over the hedge sometimes.
September 16, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
I don't know about you Ladies or men but when I iron or cook there are no children around me. I keep my grandchildren at times, and feel the very young ones have no business in the kitchen during the cooking time IF they are under the age of 12. After that I allow them in to help. As far as Ironing
That I do when no one is around. That way no one gets burned including me. OH By The Way I love to iron
September 16, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Ok, Granny. Tell me where send them and I will send you my shirts and pants that need to be ironed!! I hate ironing more than any other household chore!!!
September 16, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Steaming my clothes is my thing. My granny bought me a steamer and its my new bestest friend. Lol
September 16, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
Isn't that just so special, Tammiebelle. I am so happy for you.
September 16, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Lol @ Lucy. I HATE ironing but I dont like going out looking like I rolled all the way to my destination. That's not kewl.
September 16, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lucy_fan (anonymous) says...
No, it's not kewl at all!! I hate to iron, but I do it every week. Yuck!
September 16, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
I hope this man told his son to lie because he was scared but if he did this on purpose, I want to caveman bop him upside the head with a hot iron!
Hey Lucy! I haven't seen you on here for a minute! Hello to everyone else as well!
September 16, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
professional_blk_woman (anonymous) says...
It was NOT an accident. The student actually showed friends the mark on his back and was experiencing pain with the burn on his arm. When a teacher inquired about the burn on his arm, students prompted her to look at his back. Upon investigation, teachers and school officials determined that there was indeed a reason to call both DSS and authorities. The student actually DID tell the truth about what happened. This was his "punishment" for getting in trouble at school, and this was not the father's first OR second run in with the Department of Social Services. He should fry. This is utterly sick and ridiculous!
September 16, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Wow PBW...if what you're saying is the gospel, my hunch was kinda right...kinda...
September 16, 2008 at 2 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
Thanks pdw, for some hindsight into this situation.
You answered my question concerning how the authorities found out.
From your comment it sounds as if this man should have already had his kids taken away before this incident.
September 16, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
Uggh, There is nothing that angers me more than violence on children. I think it would only be fair, if this man is indeed guilty of this horrific crime, to take a hot iron and leave a permanent 8 inch reminder on his back.
Since he is an adult, and would probably take the pain better than a small child, I say it would only be fair to do it twice. Now, I know this is unconstitutional, and will never happen as it is considered cruel and unusual punishment, but I just think it would be fair.
Where is the child's mother? How did they find the burns.
Bad job P & C on the story. More details please.
Also, a man like that doesn't look like he does much ironing, of course I'm just speculating. He may be a pretty clean-cut, starched shirt kind of guy.
This leads me to believe that this was pre-meditated.
September 16, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
wonder if Mom was out working and dad was a stay at home dad.
September 16, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
Professional Black Woman,
thanks for the info.
I think I will go vomit now. I don't see how anybody could ever purposely burn a child with an iron.
It certainly did not look like an accident. If he told the boy to lie, than he knew he was doing something wrong, and he would get in trouble. Not only was it premeditated, but he also knew it was illegal, inhumane, and considered child abuse. He should never be allowed to be around a child again without another adult present.
I'm glad someone posted some more info on this story, it was hard to find in between all those worthless posts people love to contribute to these comment sections.
Perhaps some people don't know about chat rooms.
September 16, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
Also, I've had a hot iron drop on me, and it left a tiny little burn, not an 8 inch burn!!!
Good luck with the "accident" story!
September 16, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
PBM-Thank you so much for your insight!This s absolutely terrible and all too common.My daughter cam home from school and overheard our neighbor's child telling a friend that his Dad used to abuse him,but didnt get into details.I have to say it doesn't surprise me.It's my pitbull running loose,trailer hauling,hot tempered hill billy neighbor.(I hate to stereotype-but he truly fits the bill!)What POS's!Who could hurt a child like that?
September 16, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ms_lady2u (anonymous) says...
where the hell was Mom? still in the club...I love my baby daddy..
September 17, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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