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May 2, 2012

Mom jailed for burning baby

By JOSH NEWTON Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — Investigators with the District Attorney’s Office say a local mother has admitted to burning her 13-month-old son with a flat iron used for straightening hair.

Jodi Rock, 19, is being held on a $200,000 bond at the Cherokee County Detention Center on accusations of felony injury to a child. Investigators said the baby was taken into custody of the Department of Human Services and transported to a Tulsa hospital, and other injuries may have been discovered on him.

Because the case is ongoing, investigators wouldn’t release many details, but an affidavit – filed this week for a search warrant request – provides some information on the accusations.

According to the document, Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies were called last Thursday after Rock took the baby to Tahlequah City Hospital. The boy had reportedly suffered at least three different bone fractures, and had burns between his legs and on his genitals.

DA Investigator Jarrod Brown responded to the hospital, according to his affidavit, along with a DHS employee who later interviewed Rock.

During the interview, Rock allegedly told several stories as to how the child might have been injured, and also said her boyfriend may have been responsible for hurting the boy.

She agreed to an interview with Brown on Friday, and gave more conflicting stories to the investigator, Brown said in his affidavit.

Rock later confessed to burning her infant with a flat iron, and said she and her live-in boyfriend may have hurt the boy’s arms by playing with him in a rough manner, Rock said.

Formal charges have not been filed against Rock.

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