Forsyth County man could face death sentence, life without parole after child burned by scalding water dies

WALKERTOWN, N.C. (WGHP) — A Triad man, who has now been charged with murder after the death of his 4-year-old stepson, made his first court appearance on his new charges.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to the home in Walkertown on July 21 on suspicion of child abuse. Investigators found a 4-year-old boy with serious burns on the lower part of his body.

Deputies at the scene were told that the child might have pulled a pot of boiling water onto himself, but investigators allege that Huff had placed the boy in a tub of scalding-hot water.

The child’s stepfather, James Wilford Huff, 34, was charged with intentional child abuse inflicting serious injuries.

The boy died on Thursday, and Huff was then charged with felony murder.

Huff appeared in court on the new charge on Friday. The judge explained that the new charge carries a possibility of the death penalty or a life sentence without parole.

“He loved animals, he loved family, he loved his dad and we’re going to miss him. It’s hard,” a family member, who remained unidentified, said after the court appearance, calling the pain of the boy’s death “indescribable.”

The suspect remains in custody with no bond and will be back in court on Sept. 12.

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