Father, stepmom facing charges in paddle beating of Ambridge 4-year-old

AMBRIDGE, Pa. — A 4-year-old Ambridge girl suffered significant bruising after police said her father and stepmother beat her with a paddle.

Channel 11’s Amy Marcinkiewicz spoke to Ambridge police Thursday, who said Michael Plohr, 24, and Amy Plohr, 29, are facing endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault and harassment charges.

Investigators said Beaver County Children and Youth Services was contacted after someone in the Ambridge School District noticed the bruising.

The injuries, police said, included bruises on her buttock, left hand and right arm. Officials said the bruises were in the shape of a paddle.

The beating, Marcinkiewicz reported, happened on April 13 after the girl refused to tell them where she placed a ring.

“This was all over the step-mom's ring.  The child took it and hid it, and the mom wanted it back,” said Ambridge Police Chief Jim Mann.

According to the criminal complaint, the parents denied beating the child and said she fell.

Police said the girl’s 6-year-old brother witnessed the assault.

The Plohrs are scheduled to appear in court on May 23.

WPXI