MEMPHIS,Tenn. — A 31-year-old Cordova woman is facing child abuse and neglect charges after investigators said she poisoned an 8-year-old boy with salt.
Tiffany Johnson was his nanny. Now the Shelby County District Attorney, Amy Weirich, says this case is a good reminder for parents to be aware of whose around their children.
“We all have a responsibility to keep our children safe,” Weirich said.
According to police, that was the last thing Johnson was doing. She’s accused of putting massive amounts of salt in the gastric tube of a wheelchair-bound little boy with special needs.
Police said Johnson took the boy to the hospital more than half a dozen times between March and August last year. He was suffering from symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Each time he was in the hospital, doctors would see his sodium levels spike.
Johnson was arrested Monday
WREG went to the address listed for Johnson’s home and no one answered.
“It’s a hard thing to think about someone doing,” parent Justin Hall said.
Hall has a three-year-old son and said he’s shocked by the case.
“If she actually did that, then there’s something wrong with her or she needs to go away for a long time,” Hall said.
Weirich said this case is a reminder of how important it is to be aware of who you hire.
“Whether it’s construction or babysitting or whatever it is, we just have to be extra diligent and check to make sure we’re making the right choice,” she said.
She also said sometimes people still slip through the cracks.
“Horrible things sometimes happen. Fortunately, law enforcement was there, and we’ll make sure the victims in this case see justice,” Weirich said.
Johnson is set to be in court February 2.
