Mom charged with attempted murder after toddler burned in car fire, Columbia police say
A woman is behind bars on multiple charges, including attempted murder, after her baby was severely burned in a car fire that shut down a highway Sunday, the Columbia Police Department said.
The 14-month-old boy suffered severe burns all over his body and is in critical condition at the Augusta Burn Center in Georgia, police said Monday morning in a news release.
The fire happened at about 1:30 p.m. on S.C. 126, according to the release. All of the westbound lanes on the major road were shut down near the exit for Greystone Boulevard and the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens because of the burning vehicle, the South Carolina Department of Transportation said.
The car was stopped on the shoulder of the highway when Caylin Allise Watson is accused of intentionally setting it on fire while her son was sitting inside, police said.
Four bystanders who were also heading west on S.C. 126 saw the car on fire and stopped to assist, according to the release. Some of the good Samaritans got out of their vehicles to help the toddler, while others called 911, police said.
Members of Columbia Fire Department extinguished the flames, while the 23-year-old Elgin woman was immediately detained by police after officers discovered evidence that suggested the fire might have been intentional, according to the release.
After being treated for injuries at an area hospital, Watson was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. In addition to attempted murder, Watson was charged with first-degree arson, third-degree arson, and abuse/infliction of great bodily injury upon a child, jail records show.
A judge denied Watson bond, and she remained behind bars at the Richland County jail, police said.
Information on a motive was not available, but the incident remains under investigation by police. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) assisted in the crime scene investigation.
Less than a month ago, Watson was arrested on two traffic violations, Richland County court records show.
On April 23, she was charged with driving under suspension, license not suspended for DUI and driving a vehicle at greater speed than is reasonable under the conditions, according to the records. She was fined $647.50 and $155 respectively, but has yet to make the payments, records show.
In 2017, Watson paid a $76.88 fine for speeding, 10 mph or less over the speed limit, according to Richland County records.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 10:56 AM.
