(Memphis) A babysitter accused of abusing a toddler is out of jail on a $50,000 bond.
The woman is accused of burning and beating the little girl so bad, she had to recover in the hospital.
The family of the young victim was hoping to see Ashley Tebron’s face as she starts to go through the justice system, but Monday, in Division 12, the judge didn’t allow family of victims or defendants to be in the courtroom because of a security breach that happened about a week ago.
A lot of people shuffled in and out of the courtroom, but the Bradford family was forced to stay in the hallway.
“If you’re already in the court room, come back in the court room but everybody else stay outside,” said the deputy at the door.
“Why did you think it’s important to be here today?” asked reporter Sabrina Hall.
“Because we want justice. We want to know why she did it to an infant baby,” said Tonya Bridges, the victim’s grandmother.
“I will still be out here every court day no matter if I have to stand outside the door or not,” said Kiera Bradford, the victim’s mother.
Bradford is the mother of 2-year-old Madison, who nine months ago, suffered from such severe burns she stayed at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital for a month.
The babysitter, Tebron, says the burns were an accident from a hot bath, but she couldn’t explain the bruises and whip marks on the toddler’s body.
“She had three knots across her forehead and bruises on her stomach and her back,” said Bradford.
“Does it make you wonder what she went through?” asked Hall.
“Yes. Every day I think about it. Everyday,” she said.
Bradford believes the babysitter took out her anger on the 17-month-old after the child’s uncle broke up with her that day in April.
Since then, the baby’s gone through surgeries and physical therapy, while investigators built a case.
They finally charged Tebron this week with child abuse.
It was a long time coming for the family.
“To see which she went through,” said Bridges. “The sedation, the morphine, the bruises. Who would want to hurt a baby?”
That’s the question they hope to have answered when Tebron goes to trial.
“I want to be here every step of the way,” said Bradford.
The family says they didn’t even get to see Tebron in the hallway because she’s been placed under protection.
She’s due back in court on February 10th.
