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Texas mom accused of handcuffing, seriously injuring 3-year-old son

By Michelle Ewing and Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Savanna Nicole Coats and Steven Joe McGaha

By Michelle Ewing and Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A Texas mom is in jail after authorities say she put handcuffs on her 3-year-old son – then, along with the boy's father, resorted to dangerous methods to remove them.

HOUSTON — >> Watch the news report here

According to KHOU and Harris County court documents, Savanna Nicole Coats, 25, of Houston was charged with serious bodily injury to a child after police say she handcuffed the boy's ankles last month, then misplaced the key. After searching for the key for five hours with help from Steven Joe McGaha, the boy's father, Coats held down the crying boy as McGaha "tried to cut the handcuffs with a sawzall, followed by a knife sharpener, then ultimately was successful when using a grinder," court records say.

The boy reportedly suffered burns and cuts from the grinder, but his parents did not take him to the hospital until four days later, "when the wounds started to get red and infected," according to court records.
"We didn't want to get the cops involved because we knew what would happen," Coats reportedly said, adding, "I know we should have taken him on the first day, but we didn't."
A pediatrician at Texas Children's Hospital told investigators that the child will be permanently disfigured by his injuries. 
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KHOU reports that Coats' children have been placed in foster care. 

Coats, who was booked Wednesday, is being held at the Harris County jail without bail. As of Wednesday evening, no charges had been filed against McGaha, KHOU reports.

Read more here.

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