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State v. Combs9/25/2002
e family lived in Indiana. Esther identified a photograph of herself with large bandages covering both of her hands and arms up to the elbows. According to Esther, the underlying injuries were burns caused by hot oatmeal. Evangeline had taken the other children to wash their hands and instructed Esther not to touch the stove while she was gone. Esther nevertheless stirred the oatmeal in an effort to help, but she dropped the spoon into the pot in the process. When Evangeline discovered the spoon had fallen into the oatmeal, she forced Esther's hands into the hot food until she retrieved it. Her hands and arms were burnt as a result, and the wounds were very painful. Evangeline bandaged them herself. Esther did not receive medical treatment. Another time, Evangeline pushed Esther because she was not climbing the stairs fast enough. Esther tripped and hit her chin, which left a scar. Esther testified that the scar on her right hand was caused when Evangeline opened a pair of scissors and used one of the blades to cut her. An additional scar on her hand was caused when Evangeline held Esther's hand on a red-hot stove burner for an extended period of time. The various marks on her chest and another on her left arm resulted from those occasions when Evangeline would twist and pull Esther's skin with a pair of needle-nosed pliers until a chunk of flesh came off. Esther further testified that her front teeth were in poor condition because they were previously knocked out of her head. This took place after one of the other children had "turned her in" for jumping on the bed. To teach Esther not to do this again, Evangeline picked her up by her arm and leg, swung her around, and threw her into the wall. She hit the wall with her face, and four front teeth fell out. She was not taken to a dentist. Instead, Evangeline pushed the teeth back into Esther's head. After a while, they reattached. As an additional form of punishment, Esther was occasionally forced to sleep naked in the basement of their Indiana home. It was uncomfortable and very cold in the winter. One of Esther's earliest memories was of a time when Evangeline tied her to a high chair and threw her down the stairs. She recalled tumbling down two flights of stairs and landing in the basement. Evangeline left her there. No scars resulted from this event, but Esther recalled being "banged up, black and blue" for a while.
Next, Esther testified as to the treatment she received from Evangeline Combs while the Combs family lived in Clearwater, Florida. Esther first pointed to the photograph of a scar on her middle finger. According to Esther, this scar was produced when Evangeline placed her hand on the counter and then hammered this finger until it "busted open." Another time, Esther was whipped with a rope because the baby sitter had taught her how to write her name. On yet another occasion, Evangeline whipped the bottom of Esther's feet with an electrical cord because she believed Esther had been kicking the curtains. Other punishments inflicted upon her while in Florida included denial of food and additional instances of skin removal with the needle-nosed pliers.
Regarding the abuse Esther suffered while the Combs family traveled from state to state in the trailer home, Esther testified first that Evangeline burned her legs because the baby, Sarah Combs, had a diaper rash. Because it was Esther's job to change Sarah's diapers, Evangeline viewed Sarah's rash as proof of Esther's negligence. Wanting to demonstrate to Esther how a diaper rash felt, Evangeline burnt the inside of both of her thighs with a curling iron. The wounds were very painful, and it was difficult for Esther to walk afterward. Evangeline also beat the inside of Esther's thighs with a
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