6 Newark Adults Beat, Pour Scalding Water On 3-Year-Old: Police – Newark, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Authorities charged six adults with assault and child endangerment after they allegedly terrorized a 3-year-old boy in Newark, severely beating him with a belt and fists and pouring scalding hot water on him as a form of “corporal punishment,” police said.

The alleged abuse was a coordinated effort between the six adults, who “systematically” abused the toddler, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the abuse took place on the same day or over a period of time. Patch has reached out to prosecutors for more information and will update this article with any reply we receive.

Prosecutors said that the six people arrested – who all live in the same house in Newark – include the mother of the boy, Natacha Smith, 43, as well as Patricia Gamarra, 62, Mary Buchan, 55, Patricia Buchan, 28, Bridget Buchan, 23, and Homer Searcy, 39, aka “Omar Searcy.”

Authorities charged the six with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a 3-year-old child. All are being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. They are scheduled to make their first court appearance on Dec. 13, prosecutors said.

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