A Confessed ‘Bad Mom’ in Oregon Charged After Toddler’s Feet Burned Wandering Alone on Blazing Pavement

LANE COUNTY, Ore. — A confessed ‘bad mom’ from Creswell has been charged with child neglect after a neighbor found an unaccompanied toddler with burnt feet from walking on a hot pavement in 90 degree-heat.

Ashley Canham admitted to a Lane County Sheriff’s Office deputy that she was ‘a bad mom’ as she had been sleeping at the time of the incident after drinking alcohol in the morning, according to court documents.

A neighbor found the three-year-old boy at about 3.30 p.m.  His feet were burnt red from wandering unattended for more than an hour on a hot pavement in blazing heat. The child was treated for his injuries.

The neighbor tried to contact Canham, but she failed to answer knocks on her apartment door. The neighbor said this was not the first time the toddler had to fend for himself, reporting that a similar incident had occurred a few days earlier.

According to court records, a deputy from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office attempted to enter the Canham apartment with a key but found that a child safety lock had been used to lock the door from the inside.

The deputy was concerned that this action indicated that the toddler had been deliberately locked out of his home.

Canham will appear in court on 9 July.