Suspect arrested after woman, 18-month-old son burned with hot oil in Hamilton, police say

HAMILTON, Ohio (WXIX) - A man is under arrest after a woman and her 18-month-old son were burned with hot oil during a break-in at their Hamilton home, police confirm.

Sgt. Richard Burkhardt says Michael Maloney, 41 was arrested without incident by Covington police around 6 p.m. Monday at a home on Scott Street.

Burkhardt confirms Maloney is the woman’s cousin.

Jayla Witt has been in a burn unit in Dayton since the Dec. 21 incident where someone broke into her home in the 1700 block of Grand Boulevard around 7:50 a.m. and burned her with hot oil, Hamilton police aid.

Jayla called 911 and said an intruder poured something on her and her son while they were sleeping, Sgt. Burkhardt said.

The suspect also poured the oil onto Jayla’s 18-month-old son but family members say he is doing okay. In fact, the family tells FOX19 NOW he could be released from the hospital sometime next week.

Maloney is currently facing two counts of felonious assault, Burkhardt said. Witt’s family hopes the Butler County prosecutor will upgrade the charges against Maloney to attempted murder.

Sgt. Burkhardt says police received several tips that helped track Maloney down.

Police have not mentioned a motive for the attack at this point.

Jayla’s father, James Witt, said Maloney did what he did because Jayla made him move out of her home where he had been staying.

“Jayla gave him a place to stay for a couple of nights because she’s got a soft heart like that,” James said. “When she asked him to leave, I’m sure that’s what’s made him mad, and that’s the reason he’s done this because she threw him out.”

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