Grandmother Faces Abuse Trial

A judge on Thursday ordered an Anaheim woman to stand trial on charges that she tied her 3-year-old grandson to a bed, scalded him with hot water and beat him while his mother was away.

Carol McCullough, 42, faces six counts of child abuse and enhancements that could bring a 20-year prison sentence. She buried her head in her hands and wept throughout Thursday’s preliminary hearing in Fullerton.

“All child-abuse cases are horrendous, but what is amazing [about this case] is the brutality and the injuries to the child,� Deputy Dist. Atty. Karen Schatzle said. “This boy has suffered continued abuse.�

McCullough’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Arthur Pham, could not be reached for comment.

McCullough was arrested Jan. 14 after she and her daughter took the boy and his 5-year-old sister to the hospital because the girl had pneumonia.

They fled the hospital after officials there questioned them about the boy, who was so thoroughly bundled up that their suspicions were aroused.

Police found McCullough and her daughter at their motel home and arrested McCullough after she was questioned by police.

An investigator for the Orange County district attorney’s office testified Thursday that he searched McCullough’s motel room and found plastic bags tied to bedposts, shower knobs and spouts. McCullough is suspected of using the bags to tie up her grandson.

The boy suffered scalds all over his face and bruises and scars to his wrist, ankle and neck.

He also had at least two broken ribs, a broken collarbone and cigarette burns to his chest, investigator Nasario Solis said.

McCullough had told investigators that the boy’s injuries were from rough play and she wanted to make the boy “more of a man,� another investigator testified. She first said the boy accidentally poured coffee on himself and later said he fell in hot bathwater when she went to grab the phone, authorities said.

The children are in protective custody.