LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Louisville couple has been arrested after a 3-year-old boy was severely burned, according to court documents and Louisville Metro Police. The child was rushed to Norton Children’s Hospital on April 6 with severe burns to his hands and forearms, injuries that medical staff said were consistent with being submerged in hot liquid.
According to police reports, the child was interviewed and told officers, “Jacob did this to my hands.” He claimed that Jacob Snead, his mother’s partner, placed his hands in a sink with hot water, causing the burns.
Snead, 25, and Breanna Lair, 24, are in a relationship. Lair, the child’s mother, reportedly left the boy alone with Snead for approximately one hour on the day of the incident, despite an ongoing criminal abuse investigation involving Snead and the child. Child Protective Services had previously ordered Lair not to leave the child alone with Snead due to concerns over the child’s safety.
Lair told police that she waited up to three hours before seeking medical attention for her son. Additionally, she allegedly provided false information to medical staff about the nature of the child’s injuries.
Snead has been charged with assault and criminal abuse of a child 12 years or younger. Lair faces charges of criminal abuse of a child 12 years or younger. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges in an arraignment held on Tuesday morning. Snead’s cash bond was set at $15,000, while Lair’s bond was set at $10,000.
A spokesperson for Jefferson County Public Schools confirmed that Lair is employed as an instructional assistant at Wheeler Elementary School. However, her current employment status is unknown.
This case has sparked outrage within the community, drawing attention to the importance of child protection and the responsibility of caregivers to ensure the safety and well-being of children in their care. As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on the welfare of the young victim and the justice that may follow.
