11-Year-Old Severely Burned in ‘Hot Water Challenge’ Prank Recovering Well

11-Year-Old Severely Burned in ‘Hot Water Challenge’ Prank Recovering Well
Ebony Merritt and Rev. Kevin McCall stand outside of Harlem Hospital in New York City. (Screenshot via YouTube/CBS New York)
NTD Television
8/20/2017
Updated:
8/20/2017

An 11-year-old girl who was allegedly burned with boiling water in a prank by a friend at a sleepover party earlier this month is making a fantastic recovery, according to her mother.

Jamoneisha Merritt went to a sleepover party with some friends. She ended up in the emergency room after being awoken by a pot of scalding water being poured on her.

“I didn’t know what they was gonna do but I felt tired,”Jamoneisha told the New York Daily News. “So after I was dancing, I just sat on the couch and I fell asleep.”

A 12-year-old girl who was also the host of the party allegedly told Jamoneisha that she was going to do something to her once she went to sleep. She carried through on the threat, reportedly pouring boiling water on Jamoneisha, giving her burns on her face, neck, back, and chest.

Jamoneisha’s mother, Ebony Merritt, says that she doesn’t know if her daughter will need a skin graft, Inside Edition reports. The severely burnt areas of Jamoneisha’s face appear lighter than the surrounding skin.

She was treated at Harlem Hospital in New York City for 11 days. A visiting nurse has been attending to her wounds since has was released from the hospital, Inside Edition reports.

“She’s so amazing. She’s in good spirits,” Ebony Merritt told Inside Edition. “Her friends have come over and she’s in here dancing and listening to music.”

The 12-year-old accused of doing the prank was arrested, and her case turned over to family court since she is a minor. NY1 reported that she would be charged with felony assault.

“I just want justice. They need to be held accountable for their actions,” said Merritt’s mother to Inside Edition.

Jamoneisha’s mother said the outpouring of support has helped her heal. 

“She’s been getting flowers and balloons,” Ebony Merritt told Inside Edition. “I'd like to thank everyone for the love.”

The mother said last week that as the wounds heal, Merritt will likely miss the start of her seventh grade classes and will need homeschooling because her skin cannot be exposed to the sun. It will take six months for her color to come back, according to the Daily News.

“Her spirit and courage should really be an inspiration to so many young people — especially those who’ve been the victims of bullying,” said the family’s lawyer, Paul Prestia, to the Daily News.

 The girl arrested for the prank has tried to cut her wrists in a suicide attempt, reports the New York Daily News reports.

From NTD.tv