9-year-old boy found with more than 100 bruises on back; mom and boyfriend arrested

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, Ala. -- (WBRC) -- A 9-year-old boy is recovering from serious injuries after police said he was tortured by his mom and an acquaintance of hers.

He was being treated, as of Friday night, at Children's Hospital in Birmingham but is expected to pull through.

Tuscaloosa Police said it was a relative who called them out to Hay Court Apartments after noticing something was wrong with the child.

The child's mom, 31-year-old Cecily Burton, who we are told is pregnant with another child, was arrested along with 40-year-old Marzel Mills for attempted murder and aggravated child abuse.

Investigators said doctors call it torture after discovering the 9-year-old boy had over 100 bruises on his back alone, fluid behind his eye, broken bones, a homemade stitched ear, and was malnourished.

The lead detective Sgt. Mike Chaisson who works in the department's juvenile division said this is the most horrific child abuse case he has seen in his 20-year law enforcement career.

“You know one of the sad things was when they transferred him up there, he asked are they going to let me eat up there? That's heartbreaking when you hear someone say something like that in a situation like this, especially somebody that's 9 years old, a defenseless child,” said Sgt. Mike Chaisson.