Pct. 3: Toddler severely burned while in care of babysitter, dies

HOUSTON – An autopsy will reveal more details about the death of a child that has prompted an investigation into whether she was staying at an illegal child care operation.

Investigators say the little girl was scalded in a bath while staying at an apartment in The Oaks at Greenview complex on Normandy Street near Orleans Street.

Officials say it wasn't until a few hours later, when the caretakers realized how badly the child was burned that they called 911.

Deputies say the child had first and second-degree burns on 60 percent of her body.

The 2-year-old girl was flown to the hospital where she died.

"It struck me hard, I have a 2-year-old niece who I love to death and to hear that a 2-year-old who hasn't even gotten a chance to experience their life has actually lost their life in a tragic situation like that, it disturbs you," neighbor Artrell Jenkins said.

Neighbors say they could hear the child's mother screaming through the entire complex.

"I guess he told the lady the news about the child, you can hear the cry through the whole apartment you could hear the scream," Jenkins said

Child care licensing officials say the woman watching the little girl was not registered as a child care provider.

The child care licensing laws state that if you are receiving payment on a regular basis to care for a child that is not related to you, you must register with the state.

But neighbors say the woman wasn't running a child care operation and instead was just watching the child as a favor to a friend.