Mom charged in son's hand burning

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - A Round Rock mother was arrested Monday for allegedly trying to burn a tattoo off her 13-year-old son's left hand by placing it on a stovetop burner.

The incident happened on Oct. 8 in the 1200 block of Apollo Circle, according to the arrest affidavit filed in Williamson County.

The boy was interviewed at Children's Advocacy Center on Oct. 19. He told officials that his mother, Monica Cantu, attempted to burn off his tattoo with a cigarette lighter, but it wouldn't stay lit. Then she placed his hand on the stovetop burner, he said, which caused a significant burn to his hand. The tattoo was located between his thumb and index finger, according to the affidavit.

In an interview on Oct. 20, Cantu allegedly admitted to Round Rock police that she tried to burn off the tattoo with a lighter, then turned on the stovetop burner and told her son to burn off the tattoo. She told police her son placed his hand on the burner, causing the burn, according to the affidavit.

Cantu is charged with injury to a child and held on $7,500 bond.