WARNING: The above video contains a graphic image that may be upsetting to some viewers. An 11-year-old New York girl is permanently scarred after her so-called friends dumped boiling water on her face during a sleepover in the Bronx. Family members told WCBS that Jamoneisha Merritt has not yet been given a mirror to see the severe damage done to her face and neck. Police say that while Merritt slept, a 12-year-old girl threw boiling water on her. That child is now being charged with felony assault. The child's mother told New York 1 that her daughter is in a lot of physical and emotional pain. "She's very sad. She's emotionally messed up. She don't understand why they did that to her. She thought they was her friends," Ebony Merritt said. Ebony Merritt does not believe that the one adult who was home during the incident did enough to prevent it. Investigators are looking into whether this crime was inspired by an apparent social media trend called the "Hot Water Challenge." It involves stunts where unsuspecting victims get hot water thrown at them.An 8-year-old in Florida recently died after drinking boiling water as part of a dare with another child.

WARNING: The above video contains a graphic image that may be upsetting to some viewers.

An 11-year-old New York girl is permanently scarred after her so-called friends dumped boiling water on her face during a sleepover in the Bronx.

Family members told WCBS that Jamoneisha Merritt has not yet been given a mirror to see the severe damage done to her face and neck.

Police say that while Merritt slept, a 12-year-old girl threw boiling water on her. That child is now being charged with felony assault.

The child's mother told New York 1 that her daughter is in a lot of physical and emotional pain.

"She's very sad. She's emotionally messed up. She don't understand why they did that to her. She thought they was her friends," Ebony Merritt said.



Ebony Merritt does not believe that the one adult who was home during the incident did enough to prevent it.

Investigators are looking into whether this crime was inspired by an apparent social media trend called the "Hot Water Challenge." It involves stunts where unsuspecting victims get hot water thrown at them.

An 8-year-old in Florida recently died after drinking boiling water as part of a dare with another child.