A four-year-old American boy has met his untimely death after his step-mother punished him by putting his legs in scalding water in Ohio.
Authorities were called to an Ohio home on Wednesday morning after responding to a report of a child not breathing.
When authorities arrived, the victim, Austin Derreck Cooper was unresponsive before he was transported to Atrium Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
An initial investigation revealed Ritchie had put his legs in scalding water the night before his death, according to the Franklin Police Department.
Austin was then reportedly put to bed early before he was found not breathing on Wednesday morning.
A man who identified himself as Austin's father found the boy and called 911, telling dispatchers he thought his son had died, according to Fox 19.
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Ritchie has since been arrested following his death and has been charged with endangering children, a second-degree felony.
She was initially being held on a $100,000 bond but it was raised on Thursday to $350,000. Ritchie is set to be video arraigned on Friday at the Franklin Municipal Court.
No charges have been filed against the father, Fox 19 reported.