Christopher Stum, a 34-year-old father in Idaho Falls, Idaho, faces felony charges of injury to a child and destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence after allegedly scalding his 1-month-old son with hot water on January 22, 2026. He reportedly poured scalding bathtub water (initially 130-150°F) from a pitcher onto the infant to warm him after “air-drying” post-bath failed, causing second-degree burns on 24% of the baby’s body.
Incident and Confession
Stum, the child’s sole caretaker, admitted to police he tested the water with his finger but proceeded anyway, despite knowing his home’s water heated quickly—he had burned himself previously. The baby screamed as skin reddened and peeled; Stum rushed him to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where doctors confirmed immersion scald burns.
Legal Proceedings
Before the hospital trip, Stum adjusted his water heater from 150°F to 121°F to avoid appearing negligent, misleading investigators until he confessed. He was arrested and booked into Bonneville County Jail; a preliminary hearing is set for February 11, 2026, before Magistrate Judge John Dewey. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
