Child Abuse And Neglect Among Charges For A Williston Woman

Williston, ND (KEYZ) - The Williston Police Department began investigating a report of suspected child abuse on September 7th, involving Sandra Travis and her two young children.

When asked about a burn on the lower back of the 2-year-old Jane Doe by a WPD Detective, Travis claimed that the 2-year-old must have burned herself with water when Travis went to wash her off after an accident.

Law enforcement took temperature measurements of the hot water source to the residence, and observed Travis' explanation of how the burn occurred. Investigators found that the temperature of the water and the explanation of how the injury supposedly occurred did not match the injury itself. The burn also appeared to have bruising associated with it.

During the investigation, Travis told many different stories about how the injury supposedly happened including Clorox wipes, other brands of wipes, hot water, a spatula, spanking, and blaming her boyfriend, and his friends for the injuries.

Travis ultimately admitted that the incident occurring on September 5th, when Travis stated she grabbed the hot pan from the stove and struck the Jane Doe when she was screaming and crying, causing the burn and associated bruising.

Jane Doe had also been diagnosed with asthma, and had been prescribed two medications for it, with one being albuterol. Travis stated to investigators that she did not give the the second medication because it made her attitude worse, even when the child was sick enough to be taken into a clinic.

Detective were told by Travis that she had been withholding food from the 3-month-old John Doe because she wanted him to get a feeding tube. Videos had been posted on social media by Travis, regarding the infants purported feeding problems, with one video showed Travis pulling the bottle out of his mouth once he latched on.

Travis has been charged with the Class B Felony of Child Abuse which carries a maximum penalty of ten years' imprisonment, a fine of $20,000, or both. As well as two counts of the Class B Felony of Child Neglect, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine of $10,000 or both.