Mom finds 4-month-old's arm ‘dangling'; Father charged

PITTSBURGH — Police said a 4-month-old baby remains hospitalized after her father physically abused her inside their North Side apartment building.

According to police paperwork, Le-Jiaron Elmore was watching his 4-month-old twins while their mother, his fiancé, was visiting a relative.

Investigators said when the woman returned to the North Side apartment building, she saw the girl's arm dangling.

Doctors found the baby had at least three broken ribs and femurs, police said. A doctor at Children's Hospital told detectives the baby had been a victim of physical abuse on more than one occasion.

According to the criminal complaint, when Elmore's fiancé asked him about the alleged abuse, he denied it.

A neighbor who lived above Elmore, his fiancé and their kids said they haven't been around since last week.

"I don't know the reason he felt that he should break the baby's arm. That's unnecessary," the neighbor said.

Doctors told Channel 11 there are ways to help stop abuse, including looking for signs.  

"I think all of us, when we recognize an abusive injury, think, 'How could we have prevented this?'"  said a local doctor.  "Things to look for are bruises that are unexplained, frequent accidents with vague explanations and kids who continue having bad luck with uncommon injuries."

Police said Elmore is facing several charges, including endangering the welfare of children and aggravated assault.

WPXI