Texas – In a shocking case out of Texas, a 32-year-old mother, identified as T. Robinson, and her 31-year-old boyfriend, identified as D. Wheeler, have been arrested and charged after a 2-year-old boy was found with devastating injuries, including third-degree burns and a healing broken arm that had been left untreated for weeks.
Authorities say the boy was the victim of repeated abuse, culminating in a brutal assault where scalding water was poured over his small body. The motive, according to reports, was chilling: Wheeler simply didn’t get along with the 2-year-old boy’s father. Both Robinson and Wheeler now face felony charges of injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury or mental impairment. Arrest affidavits allege a disturbing pattern of physical abuse and deliberate neglect that left the toddler suffering in silence—burned, broken, and without medical care.
The abuse came to light on August 22, when Robinson contacted police from her apartment to report an alleged assault by Wheeler on her young son. By the time officers arrived, Wheeler had already fled the scene, but the injuries on the child were impossible to ignore. The boy had visible burns across his head, neck, torso, and back—some still raw, others already scarring. But what doctors would later uncover went far beyond what was seen at first glance. Medical staff at the hospital soon discovered that the child was also suffering from a broken arm that had healed incorrectly and required surgery. The timeline of injuries revealed a horrifying story of months of unreported abuse, with the scalding water incident serving as the most violent example of escalating cruelty.
Robinson initially told investigators that the scalding incident happened sometime in late May or early June. According to her account, she had been preparing to cook and left a pot of water on the stove. She and the toddler then took a bath together. Afterward, she briefly stepped into another bathroom. Within minutes, she heard the boy scream. When she ran to check, she saw Wheeler exiting the bathroom and found the child in the tub, his skin burning hot and marked with red, peeling patches. Nearby, the pot she used to cook sat nearly empty in the sink.
She said Wheeler never explained what happened and then disappeared from the apartment. Instead of seeking emergency care, Robinson admitted she tried to treat the injuries herself using items from a basic first aid kit. Her reason for not going to the hospital was rooted in fear—both of Wheeler, who allegedly threatened her, and of Child Protective Services, whom she believed would take her children away. Wheeler had reportedly warned her, “No one is going to find out about this or you are going to lose your kids,” while sitting in a car with a handgun in his lap. That threat, she claimed, kept her from reporting the burns or the other injuries the boy had endured.
Authorities noted that the burn pattern on the child’s body suggested the liquid had been poured from above, not splashed accidentally. This further supported the conclusion that Wheeler had intentionally poured the scalding water over the child. Both Robinson and Wheeler were arrested on Thursday following the police investigation. According to reports, Wheeler was responsible for inflicting the injuries on the 2-year-old boy, while Robinson failed to report the abuse and withheld medical care. She also admitted knowing the boy’s arm was injured—swollen and discolored—but still chose not to take him to a doctor.
The couple is currently being held at the county jail. Robinson’s bond has been set at $250,000, while Wheeler’s stands at $300,000. The child, now safe and under medical supervision, is receiving treatment for the injuries he suffered at the hands of those who were supposed to provide him with a safe, loving, and nurturing environment. Authorities have not released details about his current custody status, but the extent of his injuries paints a haunting picture of prolonged suffering—abuse inflicted not just through violence, but also through silence, inaction, and fear.
