Texas Couple Allegedly Set Child On Fire As Punishment

A Texas couple have been arrested after authorities in Houston said they tortured a four-year-old child as a form of punishment. The Dreamin’ Demon reports that Veronica Harris and Christen Rogers face charges associated with the violent abuse that the child allegedly suffered.

The arrests of Rogers and Harris have come after an investigation that lasted nearly a year. The incident took place last May, sparking an investigation that began when the unnamed four-year-old child was taken to the hospital with burns to 40 percent of her body. Veronica Harris, who is the girl’s aunt and legal guardian, told hospital staff that she had been injured approximately 24 hours before she had been taken to the ER. She cited her lack of a vehicle as the reason for delaying medical attention. She acknowledged that she should have called 911 but did not.

While being treated, the four-year-old girl told police (who were alerted by hospital staff) that her aunt had intentionally burned her after strapping her into a seat in her vehicle. She said that the woman squirted alcohol on her. She alleged that Christen Rogers held a lighter to her alcohol-soaked stomach. This caused her to ignite, causing significant burn damage to approximately 40 percent of her body.

The child also revealed to authorities that she was wearing only a diaper when the alleged burning took place. Veronica Harris reportedly told authorities that the entire ordeal was an accident, but they’re not buying her story.

Fox 6 News reports that investigators in Houston found enough evidence to charge and arrest the Texas Couple, which brings about the path to some kind of justice for the alleged victim.



Police: Girl, 4, allegedly strapped to car seat and set on fire for “being bad” https://t.co/9ycW6eilPM pic.twitter.com/HCkpEz19Mo

— HLN (@HLNTV) February 17, 2016




Omg…pure evil https://t.co/Iw4QIm3P3q

— carol cook (@angeleyze31) February 17, 2016

@HLNTV if this is true whoever did this should be set on fire too!! What is wrong with people???!!!!

— Deb (@deblovessports) February 17, 2016




@HLNTV the devil has taken over this world it’s time our Lord take it back

— Lee de Jongh (@mustard42) February 17, 2016




@HLNTV MAN, I have a very special way of dealing with people that hurt children…WOW, I wish I could get my hands on this person!

— Albert Renta (@I8Utoo) February 17, 2016

This case is attracting attention on social media, likely due to the horrific nature of the alleged crime against an innocent child. The four-year-old girl said that the Texas couple did this to her because she was “being bad,” but how bad could the girl possibly have been?

Sadly, this is far from the only incident in which a caregiver has allegedly burned a child as a form of abuse. Last year another Texas couple were arrested in connection to the death of 19-month-old J’zyra Thompson. The toddler was reportedly left alone with siblings when she became trapped in an oven, which burned her to death.

Also last year, 26-year-old Kerrian Clofer was arrested for allegedly burning an eight-year-old child’s hands with an open flame. The Dreamin’ Demon reports that she burned the child’s hands because she had eaten a snack without permission.

As for this latest Texas couple, authorities have charged each Christen Rogers and Veronica Harris with a count of injury to a child. They are currently being held in jail on bond in the amount of $30,000. No reports indicate whether or not they have attorneys or if they’ve been able to post bond to be released. There are also no updates on the four-year-old girl who claims that her own aunt set fire to her as a form of punishment.

[Image via Houston Police Department]