Essex County authoritities placed six adults under arrest after they allegedly assaulted a three-year-old boy who was regularly beaten and scalded.
Police say Patricia Gamarra, 62, Mary Buchan, 55, Patricia Buchan, 28, Bridget Buchan, 23, Natacha Smith, 43, who is the mother of the victim, and Homer Searcy aka Omar Searcy, 39, are all charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a three-year-old child.
According to police, all of the suspects lived in the same house as the child.
Officials say the suspects are accused of the systematic and coordinated beating of the child with a belt and fists.
Prosecutors say the brutality didn't stop there. They also allegedly poured scalding water on him as a form of corporal punishment.
Police would not release the condition of the child.