Miami

Man Charged With Child Abuse After Boy Found With Severe Burns

A Miami Gardens man was arrested after his girlfriend's son sustained severe burns while under his watch, police said.

Khalil Jabali, 23, was arrested Sunday and faces a charge of aggravated child abuse, according to a police report.

Jabali was watching his girlfriend's two children while she was at work when her 4-year-old son woke up Jabali because he urinated on himself, the report said.

Jabali told police he warmed up a bowl of water in the microwave for several minutes so he could wash the child's clothes. He said he left the bowl of hot water in the bathroom sink and went to check on the other child. When Jabali returned to the bathroom, he found the 4-year-old on the floor, moaning, and his skin peeling off, the report said.

Jabali said he took pictures of the child and sent it to his girlfriend, who then instructed him to apply Vaseline, the report said. He did not call 911.

The report also mentions the child urinated himself the day before on Saturday, but Jabali used the washing machine to clean his clothes.

His girlfriend left work early that morning and took the child to Jackson North Medical Center, where he was treated and then transfered to Jackson Memorial's Ryder Trauma Center. Jabali was then arrested and transported to the Miami Gardens Police Department.

A prosecutor told a judge in Miami-Dade bond court on Monday that the child is suffering "tremendous injuries," including a brain injury, abdominal trauma, lacerated liver, multiple fractures and more, including severe burns to 15% of his body.

"They do not know if he is going to survive, and if he does, he will likely be in a vegetative state," the prosecutor said.

Jabali remains in jail on $10,000 bond. A judge issued a stay-away order from the victim, house arrest and a GPS ankle monitor.

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