BUTLER COUNTY, Pa. — A Butler County father is facing charges after police say his wife burned his 6-year-old daughters’ hands over a burning stove.
John Ingram was arrested Tuesday and charged for allegedly allowing the abuse to happen for years.
Police said the 6-year-old victim opened up to her foster mother about the abuse she suffered, helping them bring new charges against Ingram and the girl’s stepmother.
The girl was taken away from her parents four months ago when allegations surfaced that Tonya Schmidt burned, hit, punched and tried to drown her. Authorities said Ingram was aware of the alleged abuse.
“We've gotten search warrants back, the documentation from school (and) more information to charge him,” Butler City Police Chief David Adam.
According to the criminal complaint, police learned the abuse dates back three years, starting when the girl was 3. Ingram used make-up to conceal his daughter’s facial bruising and watched as Schmidt held the child's head under water, the complaint said.
He was aware that Schmidt had been abusive toward his daughter and did nothing to protect her, according to police paperwork.
“It's a shame that this is happening in our community. The details are rough to hear. It's our job to lock these people up, and hopefully, get a good resolution out of this,” Adam said.
Schmidt remains behind bars on charges of aggravated assault filed in January as well as several new aggravated assault charges filed Wednesday.
Ingram is facing charges of endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment.
Three other children who were found inside the couple’s Butler home in January have been placed in foster care.
Cox Media Group
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