A mother of two on Long Island has been arrested for setting a fire in her home that burned her baby, and police say she may have been trying to hurt her children, and possibly herself.
Natashia Reed, 25, of Hempstead, N.Y., has been charged with second-degree arson, second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment for lighting shredded papers on fire in her kitchen.
She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Wednesday. Her lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment.
Police say they got a tip from a child welfare worker after the fire two weeks ago that led them to investigate her for arson. Nassau County Child Protective Services declined to comment.
Her four-month-old baby girl suffered second-degree burns, officials said. Reed also was injured in the fire, but her 5-year-old boy was not hurt.
Neighbor Linette Concepcion told NBC New York that Reed appeared to be a loving mother, and was always out and about with her children.
"It doesn't make any sense to me," she said. "Why would she do such a thing?"
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The children are being cared for by other family members.
