A Southwest Florida woman is facing child abuse charges after police said she intentionally branded her two young children with a hot stick in order to know the kids were hers, according to NBC 2 in Fort Myers.
The children, aged 5 and 7, told police their mother, Kayla R. Oxenham, 23, used a lighter to burn a stick and then injured their arms by touching the hot stick to them, NBC 2 reported.
The kids said Oxenham told them she burned them so they could have ice cream and to identify both kids as hers.
NBC 2 reported medical exams on the kids showed at least one had injuries indicative of a burning.
Oxenham also faces allegations she grabbed her child by the hair and hit the child. According to police, Oxenham declined to talk with law enforcement about the alleged burns.
Oxenham has bonded out of jail, according to NBC 2.
