A Texas woman is facing charges of manslaughter and injury to a child following the death of her 8-month-old son, who police say died from injuries sustained after being submerged in scalding bath water. The woman, identified as 21-year-old Jatoria Cleamons, formerly of Texarkana, allegedly became frustrated with her son, Courtlyn Cleamons, after he soiled his diaper, leading to the tragic incident on February 4, according to the Hooks Police Department.
Authorities announced on Saturday that they were seeking to apprehend Cleamons. They urged anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.
On the day of the incident, officers from the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a medical assistance call at a residence in Hooks. Upon arrival, they found medical responders performing CPR on the infant. Reports suggest that Cleamons was staying with a relative at the time.
Following the incident, Justice of the Peace Jay Wommack ordered an autopsy to be performed on Courtlyn’s body at the Southwest Institute of Forensics. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as thermal injuries, commonly known as scalding.
In the wake of the autopsy report, a homicide investigation was initiated. Hooks Police collaborated with detectives from the Texarkana Texas Police Department to interrogate Cleamons. During questioning, she allegedly confessed to giving her son an extremely hot bath at a residence in Texarkana about two weeks before his death, reportedly out of frustration over a diaper accident.
An online obituary for Courtlyn read, “Though his time on earth was brief, Courtlyn brought immense joy, love, and light to those who knew him. His sweet presence will forever be cherished in the hearts of his family.”
In the aftermath of her son’s death, Cleamons reportedly made several posts on Facebook expressing her grief. In one post, she wrote, “Rest in love my baby,” alongside a reel of pictures of Courtlyn. In another, she expressed her heartbreak, saying, “I love you so much and I miss you so much my heart is so broken. I will always think about you. Rest in Heaven my love.”
As of Sunday afternoon, arrest warrants had been issued for Cleamons, who remained at large.