Woman charged with killing her infant child in scalding water
On June 13, 2025, the Hooks Police Department obtained arrest warrants for Jatoria Renae Cleamons of Texarkana, Texas for the charges of Injury to a Child and Manslaughter in connection to the investigation of the death of Cleamon’s eight month old son.
According to a press release issued by Hooks Police Chief Johnny Millwood, on February 4, 2025 Hooks Police department and deputies with the Bowie County Sheriff’s Department responded to a medic assist call at 100 Kennedy Circle in Hooks,Texas.
Upon arrival, officers found emergency medical responders performing CPR on an eight month old child. Emergency responders were unable to revive the child and Justice of the Peace Jay Wommack arrived and pronounced the child deceased and ordered the child be sent to the Southwest Institute of Forensics for an autopsy.
A coordinated Investigation began involving officers from the Hooks Police Department, investigators with the Bowie County District Attorney’s Office and investigators with the Texarkana Texas Police Department.
Jatoria Renae Cleamons admitted to investigators that while she lived at 4624 Elizabeth in Texarkana, Texas that she placed her 8 month old son into scalding water, causing severe burns to the child, while bathing him.
Cleamons had stated that she was frustrated with her child because he had defecated in his diaper. The child died approximately two weeks later while Jatoria Cleamons was staying with a relative in Hooks, Texas.
The results of the autopsy listed the cause of death as Thermal Injuries (Scalding) and listed the Manner of Death as Homicide.
According to authorities, each charge against Cleamons is a 2nd degree felony punishable by a prison sentence of 2 to 20 years and a fine up to $10,000.
At press time, law enforcement officials were still searching for Cleamons. If you have any information regarding the case or her whereabout you are urged to call Bowie County Central Dispatch at 903-798-3876.
Jatoria Cleamons
