Ky. mother charged after her son allegedly poured boiling water on his friend, report says

A Clay County woman was charged after her son allegedly participated in the “Hot Water Challenge” and left an 11-year-old boy with severe burns, police and WMYT report.

While sleeping at a friend’s house Tuesday night, Billy Oliver suffered second and third-degree burns after friends poured boiling water on him to imitate the “Hot Water Challenge,” a prank circulated through YouTube and social media, said Clay County chief sheriff’s deputy Clifton Jones.

Angela Guth, 42, of Manchester was charged with criminal abuse and wanton endangerment for allegedly not seeking medical attention after Oliver was injured, Clay County Attorney Joe White told Associated Press.

WYMT reported. Guth turned herself in Friday afternoon at the sheriff’s office. She was placed in the Clay County Detention Center, according to the jail website.

Oliver was taken to Manchester Memorial but transferred to the Cincinnati Burn Center, Jones said.

The challenge involves pouring boiling water on yourself or someone else or drinking the water through a straw. Jones said this is the first incident of the “very dangerous” challenge in the state to his knowledge and urged parents to be aware of what their children are doing.

There were several reports of children participating in the challenge across the United States. In July 2018, FOX 59 reported a 15-year-old boy from Indiana suffered from second-degree burns on his back, chest and face after a friend poured water on him while he was sleeping.

In 2017, an 8-year-old girl was dared to drink boiling water through a straw for the challenge, and later died from burns to her mouth and throat, as reported by CBS 12.

This story was originally published July 26, 2019 at 4:39 PM.