A state-licensed day care worker accused of killing a 20-month-old toddler told authorities she wanted to “toughen him up” when she placed him in a bathtub with scalding water in The Bronx last week, The Post has learned.
Athena Skeeter — who wore a t-shirt reading “Volunteering Matters” during her arraignment Sunday — picked up little Cardell Williamson from a bed at her day care after he had thrown up around 2:20 p.m. Friday and put him in the tub, leaving him with severe burns, sources said.
The infant also had blunt force trauma to the head and chest, sources added.
Cops who were called to the scene tried performing CPR on the tiny victim while racing him to Bronx Lebanon Hospital in their squad car. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
Skeeter, 40, was arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court after the Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide.
She is charged with manslaughter, a class C felony, for recklessly causing the baby’s death and acting in a manner injurious to a child, court records state.
Skeeter cried during her hearing as her family looked on. She didn’t say anything
She has no prior arrests, police sources said.