SEEKONK, Mass. (WPRI) — The mother and aunt of a 4-year-old girl who suffered severe burns last month faced a judge Monday afternoon.

The girl’s mother, 38-year-old Guilene Gerome, and aunt, 44-year-old Franzceska Gerome, were arrested over the weekend in Seekonk following an investigation into the child’s injuries.

Prosecutors said the young girl’s injuries date back to Oct. 9, when first responders rushed to a home on Oak Hill Avenue and found her suffering from second and third degree burns “over large portions of her body.”

The young girl was rushed to Hasbro Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Prosecutors said her body was in shock and her organs weren’t functioning properly when she arrived at the hospital.

Her condition has since improved, though she remains hospitalized.

Guilene and Franzceska Gerome are accused of waiting approximately 17 hours before calling for help. When investigators asked them why, the women claimed the girl didn’t appear to be in pain.

Franzceska Gerome, who was home at the time her niece was injured, told investigators she had fallen into a fire pit.

But investigators refuted her claims, arguing that the burns were consistent with a hot liquid being poured onto the young girl.

Franzceska Gerome has been charged with reckless endangerment of a child, assault and battery on a child with substantial injury, permitting substantial injury to a child and mayhem. She was ordered held without bail and is scheduled to return to court next month.

Guilene Gerome was charged with reckless endangerment of a child and permitting substantial injury to a child. She remains held on $25,000 cash bail and was ordered not only to surrender her passport, but to also have no contact with her daughter.