Detroit babysitter who was 'trusted friend of family' deliberately scalded girl, 3, with boiling water then slammed toddler's head against bath, police say

A babysitter is accused of throwing boiling water over a three-year-old girl and fatally smashing her head into a bath.

Iesha Harris, 30, was charged with murder and first-degree child abuse after autistic toddler Harmoni Henderson was found dead on Monday.

Harmoni's mother Paris England left her at Harris home in Detroit overnight, as she was a trusted family friend who often looked after the little girl.

But instead of watching her, Harris locked her in a room with her own one-year-old daughter and smoked marijuana for three hours with friends.

Harmoni Henderson, 3, was found dead on Monday morning after her babysitter allegedly poured boiling water over her and smashed her head against the side of a bath

Iesha Harris, 30, was charged with murder and first-degree child abuse

She became enraged when she returned to find Harmoni had vomited on herself and needed to be cleaned up.

Harris allegedly admitted to detectives that she poured scalding hot water over her face and head to clean her off.

She then allegedly smashed the toddler's head into the side of a bathtub, assistant prosecutor Jennifer Douglas said.

England video-called Harris for an update and was shown Harmoni in bed and told she fell down the stairs and bumped her head but was fine.

'From my knowledge, it was just a fall down the stairs – that she just missed her step, and that's all it was. She told me everything was OK,' England said. 

'I seen her through the video chat, she was OK.'

Harmoni's mother Paris England (pictured) left her at Harris home in Detroit overnight, as she was a trusted family friend who often looked after the little girl

England came to Harris' house the next morning, expecting to pick up her daughter, but found her unresponsive in bed

Harris was arrested on Thursday and denied bail as the judge considered her a danger to other children

England came to Harris' house the next morning, expecting to pick up her daughter, but found her unresponsive in bed.

'She was already dead from the moment that I got there. She was gone.' 

They rushed Harmoni to hospital where she was declared dead on arrival, and police arrived to investigate her death.

Harris did not call London or 911 at any point, and she lay in bed dying through the night.

'She was having a hard time. My baby is autistic, nonverbal,' England told Local 4 News.

'I think she got frustrated with her and her own daughter and she slammed my baby's head against the tub.

Instead of watching Harmoni, Harris (pictured) locked her in a room with her own one-year-old daughter and smoked marijuana for three hours with friends

England, surrounded by family, speaks to local news about her daughter's death

'I would never in one million years [think] she would do this to my baby. Even if you think you trust the person, you can't.' 

Harris was arrested on Thursday and denied bail as the judge considered her a danger to other children.

She was charged the same day as Harmoni's viewing.

'Blunt force trauma. Blunt force trauma. A three year-old autistic baby,' Harmoni's father Marquise said as he read the autopsy report.

'I done cried so much, I don't even know if there's no more tears left in there.'