A New Orleans day care worker has been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting she burned a 6-month-old girl’s hand by dipping the infant’s fingers into a bottle warmer. The case drew intense scrutiny after surveillance footage and medical reports showed the baby suffered serious scald injuries that required hospital care. Prosecutors said the punishment reflects both the severity of the burns and the strength of the evidence investigators gathered.
Criminal District Judge Robin Pittman handed down the sentence to 29-year-old Victoria Saulter, who pleaded guilty to second-degree cruelty to juveniles and cruelty to juveniles, as reported by NOLA. Court records show Saulter received five years in prison, with an additional three years suspended. Prosecutors said they accepted the plea after closely reviewing the center’s surveillance video and the child’s medical records.
Surveillance Footage and Police Account
According to staff at the day care, the child’s mother was told that surveillance video showed Saulter placing the infant’s left hand into a bottle warmer twice while the baby cried, and that Saulter was heard saying “Good job,” reporting by FOX 8 stated. Police documents cited in that coverage say the bottle warmer can heat water to about 194.5°F, hot enough that even a brief touch can cause deep scald injuries. The facility has said it cooperated with investigators and provided the footage to both the family and police.
Injuries, Reporting and Medical Findings
Doctors treated the 6-month-old for second-degree burns on all five fingers of her left hand, and told investigators the injuries were consistent with exposure to boiling water and steam, according to reporting in NOLA. Police allege that Saulter waited hours before reporting the injury, and that she applied petroleum jelly to the baby’s burned hand at one point before alerting staff and the child’s parents. The girl has since received medical care, and her mother told reporters the child is recovering.
How Quickly Hot Water Harms Children
Medical specialists note that young children’s skin is far more vulnerable to scalds than adults’ skin, and that hot water and steam can cause serious burns in a matter of seconds. Safety guidance from Mass General recommends setting home water heaters to around 120°F and always testing warmed bottles before feeding, steps that can significantly reduce the risk of scald injuries. Parents and caregivers are also urged never to leave infants alone near heat sources and to carefully follow product instructions for bottle warmers and similar appliances.
Reaction and Next Steps
McMillian’s First Steps, the Uptown center where the incident occurred, has said it maintains policies on camera monitoring and staff vetting, and that it cooperated fully with investigators, according to earlier coverage by FOX 8. With Saulter’s sentence now in place, prosecutors and the family say the focus shifts to the child’s ongoing recovery and to efforts aimed at preventing similar incidents at other day care centers.
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