Girl Attempts Suicide After Severely Burning Classmate's Face With Scalding Water

An 11-year-old girl who got doused in boiling-hot water while she slept, suffered second-degree burns to her face and shoulders by her classmate in a prank gone too far, according to police. The girl responsible for the incident later attempted suicide.

Aniya Grant Stuart, 12, tried to take her own life, the girl’s mother told the New York Daily News Thursday. Stuart poured boiling water on Jamoneisha Merritt, 11, during a sleepover in the Bronx Monday night.

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Police arrested and charged Stuart with felony assault in connection with the incident Monday near Findlay Avenue and East 166th Street. Shernett Panton, 34, said her daughter, Stuart, tried to stab herself after the incident.

"My daughter tried to stab herself with a knife," she told the Daily News. "It was a prank — not a good prank. But after she saw what she did to (Jamoneisha) was really wrong, she tried to kill herself."

Ebony Merritt, the 11-year-old's mother, allegedly choked Stuart over the incident. She showed up at the apartment Thursday while screaming obscenities outside their door.

"I’m going to cut your face, you f—ing b—h!" Ebony Merritt yelled. "I’m going to burn your f—ing house down! You let this happen to my daughter!"

Jamoneisha Merritt befriended Stuart after she moved into their apartment building about a month ago, according to Panton. She said the two pranked each other back-and-forth.

"They always prank each other," Panton said. "My daughter was sleeping and Jamoni poured cold water on Aniya. My daughter was like, 'OK, if you’re gonna do a prank on me, I’m gonna prank you back.'"

"But my daughter — I don’t know what she was thinking — boiled hot water and poured it on Jamoni’s face," she continued.

Panton was sleeping around 4 a.m. when the incident occurred. At the time, Jamoneisha Merritt was resting on the couch in the family’s living room.

Yolanda Richardson, the victim's cousin, claimed Jamoneisha Merrit had been arguing with the Stuart during the sleepover.

"Her and her friend got into an argument and she told her if she goes to sleep they were going to do something to her," she said Wednesday.

First responders transported Jamoneisha Merritt to Harlem Hospital, where she received treatment for her burns.

Officials placed Stuart on suicide watch at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center after she attempted to stab herself, according to her mother. Stuart underwent a psychiatric evaluation Thursday after she attempted to cut herself. The Administration for Childs Services (ACS) later became involved in the case, according to WABC.

"What she did was really wrong, but it’s too much right now," Panton said. "My daughter is 12. Everybody makes mistakes."

Ebony Merritt called for justice for her daughter Thursday. She claimed Stuart bullied Jamoneisha Merritt in the past. She said their relationship concerned her and hesitated before sending her daughter to the sleepover.

"I want justice for my daughter. I want all that was involved to be brought to justice. I want ACS to come and do their job," Ebony Merritt told local news.

Ebony Merritt said her daughter’s condition improved Thursday.

"She’s doing much better, shes in good spirits. She saw her face, shes okay with it. Shes still traumatized but she’s doing better," she said.