Police Seek Haltom City Woman After Grandson's Death
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HALTOM CITY (CBSDFW.COM) - Police in Haltom City are searching for a woman who has been accused of injuring her 2-year-old grandson last month. According to authorities, Patricia Flores was caring for young Lyfe Flores when the child was left alone in a bathroom with hot running water.
The toddler sustained "significant burns to his body," the Haltom City Police Department said. But while this alleged incident took place on March 24, officials stated that Flores waited six days before seeking any medical treatment for the child's burns. Police were called to her home, located in the 2100 block of Haltom Road, on March 30 and found the injured boy.
"These weren't mild burns," explained Det. Matthew Spillane of the Haltom City Police Department. "These were severe burns that required skin grafts. She waited six days to get help, and that's only because he became unresponsive."
Lyfe was transported to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, and then to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. However, last Monday morning, the child died from his injuries. Authorities said that the lack of medical treatment led to an infection. That might have contributed to the toddler's death.
"I had just contacted her... and checked on the kids," said Mike Hamilton, the toddler's grandfather from the other side of the family. Flores was the legal guardian for the young boy and his even younger sister. "She said they were doing fine." He later learned that they had not been fine.
"It was a horrifying death," added Hamilton. "It breaks my heart every time I think of how much pain he had to endure that many days without treatment. No kid should have to endure that kind of evil."
The Dallas County Medical Examiner has conducted an autopsy, but has not yet determined the child's cause of death.
"I don't think I'm ever going to get an answer as to why somebody could do that to a child," the boy's grandfather said. "That's unthinkable. No reason anyone can give me for doing that to a child." Hamilton said that he had no reason to worry about the children's care until it was too late.
Meanwhile, an arrest warrant was issued for Flores. She faces a charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, with a $75,000 bond. But police officers have been unable to locate the grandmother. Authorities believe that she may now be in the San Antonio area.
Flores has been described as a 43-year-old woman, about 5 feet tall and 180 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. Police are hoping that the public can help lead them to her location. Anyone with information about Flores is urged to call 817-222-7027 and speak with the Haltom City Police Department.
"The system has problems, but I believe in the system," Hamilton said, "and I think she'll get everything that's coming to her."
