UPDATE: TODDLER SUFFERS SERIOUS HOT WATER BURNS / VICTIM IDENTIFIED
3850 Justice El Paso, TX 79938 
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Direct: (915) 538-2119
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Email: jtovar@epcounty.com
Release Date / Time: Monday, October 12, 2009 8:00 PM
SECTION: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (LOWER VALLEY PATROL)
EVENT: UPDATE- TODDLER SUFFERS SERIOUS BURNS FROM HOT WATER / VICTIM IDENTIFIED
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 200 block of NE Eubanks Fabens, TX
DATE / TIME: October 12, 2009- 7:56 AM
RESULT: INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
FABENS, TX- Early Monday morning 10-12-09 at 7:56 AM, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 200 NE Eubanks, Fabens, Texas in reference to a medical call. Deputies arrived and were directed inside the residence where Deputies found a 2 year-old toddler with serious burns to his neck & facial area. After a brief investigation, it was determined that a pot with hot water was left on the kitchen table when the 2 year-old climbed on a chair and pulled the pot towards him causing the hot water to fall on him. The pot of water was heated & placed on the table by the young Victim's mother who proceeded into another area of the home leaving the pot unattended. Life Ambulance arrived moments later and immediately tended to the child transporting him to University Medical Center.
At about 1:00 PM, Sheriff’s Officials conducted a follow-up investigation at the hospital where they learned the young Victim suffered second and third degree burns to his neck & facial area. Sheriff’s Officials also learned the toddler had to be airlifted University Medical Center`s Timothy J. Harnar Burn Center in Lubbock Texas for further treatment.
The victim is identified as JOEL NOEL MARTINEZ (2) who remains at the Lubbock Burn Center receiving treatment.
The Victim’s mother will not be identified at this time but is in Lubbock with the Victim.
Child Protective Services were notified of the incident & immediately launched an investigation. CPS is working in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office investigation & are in contact with Medical Physicians in Lubbock, TX. A reminder that all CPS cases remain confidential.
There have been conflicting reports that the young toddler was burned with a cup of coffee, however, those parties that have made this claim were not present at the time of occurrence.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
CHARGES MAY BE PENDING
THIS INCIDENT WILL BE FILED AS AN INJURY TO A CHILD CASE.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.