On a somber note, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the conviction of two women for their roles in the neglect and endangerment of a toddler. Reneisha Devore, 29, and Diana Washington, 42, were found guilty by a jury of mayhem and child endangerment, respectively, as reported by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
The victim, a two-year-old girl, was presented to UCSF Children’s Hospital Mission Bay with grave injuries. Having suffered second and third-degree burns over half of her small frame, the doctors determined, quite sadly, that the wounds had been festering for days, some even weeks. The delay in care, a decision resting on the shoulders of her mother and babysitter, led to what will be her permanent disfigurement, as details emerged in the court proceedings.
Assistant District Attorney Melissa Demetral described the case as "deplorable and heinous" and noted its gravity, given the close relationship between the victim and her mother. "The conduct in this case was particularly deplorable and heinous not just because of the injuries, but because it was an act committed by a mother against her child," Demetral conveyed, as per the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
Due to the investigation spearheaded by the San Francisco Police Department's Special Victims Unit, jurors received a solid case outlining the negligent actions of both Devore and Washington. After her transfer for specialized care, the medical professionals at Saint Francis Bothin Burn Center worked tirelessly, and others were able to determine the Victim’s severe wounds were far from recent.
Scheduled for sentencing on February 4, both Ms. Devore and Ms. Washington remain in custody.
