Miami

Miami Gardens Man Arrested in Boy's Burning Accused of Molesting Girl

Khalil Jabali, 23, was arrested Sunday on a charge of aggravated child abuse, and now faces a lewd and lascivious molestation charge

A Miami Gardens man arrested after his girlfriend's son sustained severe burns while under his watch is now accused of molesting a young girl, authorities said.

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

The arrest report said a 6-year-old girl told investigators that Jabali molested her when she was 5 years old while they were watching a movie in bed.

The previous arrest happened after a 4-year-old boy in Jabali's care suffered severe injuries, an arrest report said. Jabali was watching his girlfriend's children while she was at work when the 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 another 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.

His girlfriend left work early and took the child to Jackson North Medical Center, where he was treated and then transferred 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 percent 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 remained in jail without bond Tuesday, records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.

Contact Us