A Minnesota woman has been charged with torturing and assaulting her 2-year-old son after authorities allege she repeatedly struck the toddler and sent videos of the abuse to her boyfriend as retaliation for him not answering her phone calls, according to investigators with the Dakota County Sheriff's Office.
Background
Karina Burns, 27, and Colt McNeese, 27, were taken into custody following a welfare check at their home in Burnsville, Minnesota — a suburb approximately 15 miles south of Minneapolis. On June 4, authorities responded to the residence after someone reported concerns about a child's safety and provided police with photographs showing bruising across the toddler's body.
When officers arrived, they found the child had stitches on his forehead and numerous bruises covering multiple areas including his back, stomach, sides, arms, legs, and face. Neither parent could provide investigators with a credible explanation for the injuries. The child was placed under a 72-hour health and welfare hold and transported to a hospital where a pediatrician concluded the bruising patterns were consistent with abuse.
Neighbors told investigators they had heard ongoing screaming from inside the home and reported multiple prior welfare checks related to disturbances involving a woman and child at the residence.
The Investigation
Authorities obtained a search warrant for both parents' cellphones and uncovered more than 100,000 text messages between Burns and McNeese. According to prosecutors, message exchanges revealed that when McNeese was at work and failed to respond to Burns' calls or texts, she directed her anger toward the child.
Burns allegedly responded by repeatedly shaking, striking, and punching the toddler while threatening to kill him. She then sent McNeese photos and videos of the crying child, documenting the abuse as it occurred.
Investigators identified at least 11 instances between May 2024 and April 2025 where Burns texted McNeese about physically hurting the child. Between May 2025 and June 2026, authorities documented at least 69 separate dates when Burns admitted via text message to assaulting her son, with many messages including visual evidence of the toddler crying.
The Charges
Burns has been charged with two counts of child torture, six counts of third-degree assault of a victim under 4 years old, and one count of harassment. McNeese faces two counts of child endangerment causing substantial harm. Both suspects were booked into the Dakota County Jail — Burns with bail set at $500,000 and McNeese with bail at $140,000.
Key Takeaways
- The alleged abuse was reportedly carried out in apparent retaliation after the child's father failed to respond to Burns' calls while at work
- Investigators recovered more than 100,000 text messages between the couple documenting the abuse over approximately two years
- A pediatrician concluded the extensive bruising patterns were consistent with non-accidental trauma
- Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena praised the individual who reported concerns about the child: 'Their willingness to act undoubtedly protected this child from further harm and may have saved the child's life'
What's Next
Burns is scheduled to appear in court on July 15. McNeese has a court appearance set for August 5. The toddler remains in protective custody under the care of county Child Protective Services.
The case is being prosecuted by the Dakota County Attorney's Office with investigation support from the Burnsville Police Department and Dakota County Sheriff's Office.