Boy Burned In Prank Gone Wrong

A 9-year-old boy suffered severe burns in what police say was a prank gone wrong in Hammond, Ind.

Three older boys poured rubbing alcohol on third-grader Joshua Judkins, then lit him on fire Monday in Gibson Woods, near Judkins' mother's apartment, said Judkins' father, Elijah.

Joshua was able to extinguish the flames by rolling on the ground, then ran a block, screaming, to his mother's apartment.

The older boys, white males in their early teens whom Joshua had met only a day earlier, fled. One of them, the boy said, may have been named Ryan.

"We don't know who they are or why they did this," Elijah Jenkins said Thursday from his son's bedside. "Whether it was [intended] as a prank or not, it was dangerous, and it's a crime.

"They did this to a kid who was just 9 years old, that they barely knew."

Joshua Judkins was taken to Saint Margaret Mercy Health Care Center in Hammond, then transported to the intensive care unit at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County for treatment of third-degree burns on his back, buttocks, neck and legs. The burns will require skin grafts to heal, Elijah Jenkins said.

Police have not identified the boys and have not interviewed witnesses, said police spokesman Lt. Richard Hoyda. The incident appeared to be an accident, not an attempt to hurt Judkins, but the investigation is continuing, Hoyda said Thursday.

Joshua lives with his father and brothers in Gary, but was staying with his mother, Arkeesha Judkins, and sisters in Hammond. Joshua said he first met the boys Sunday and played with them without incident.

Monday evening, he was outside near 169th Street when the three boys came up to him and said they were going into the woods and asked if he wanted to see "how to build a fire," Elijah Judkins said.

As they walked into the woods, Joshua said one of the boys dumped alcohol on his back, then lit his shirt on fire. One of the boys apparently tried to help him pull the burning shirt off as the other boys ran away.

A police report states Judkins told police the boys were playing with lighters, burning sticks and paper. When Judkins caught fire, he told police, the other boys "freaked out."

Elijah Judkins said he returned to the woods earlier this week and found his son's burned shirt and a bottle of alcohol, and several water bottles.

Judkins said he told police he had the items, and has kept them in the trunk of his car.

"There should be fingerprints on them, things they could use as evidence," he said. "They don't seem interested."

Hoyda said police have not located any of the boys or other suspects. Anyone with information may contact Detective Lt. Michael Bales at (219) 852-2906.

"Somebody, especially those boys, knows what happened," Elijah Judkins said. "They need to come forward."