6 charged in beating, scalding of boy due in court

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Six adults charged with severely beating and abusing a 3-year-old boy are due in court.

The six -- Patricia Gamarra, 62, Mary Buchan, 55, Patricia Buchan, 28, Bridget Buchan, 23, Natacha Smith, 43, and Homer Searcy, 39 -- are scheduled for a hearing in Newark Tuesday morning. Their arrests were announced last week.

The six, including the boy's mother, all lived in the same house. They are charged with aggravated assault and child endangerment.

The Essex County prosecutor's office says the boy was beaten with fists and had scalding water poured on him as punishment. They say authorities were alerted by the boy's pre-school.

The boy has recovered from his injuries and has been released from the hospital. He and five other children who were in the home have been placed with child protective services.