A couple from Pennsylvania is facing serious accusations of abusing a 5-year-old boy under their care. Police reports describe the child as being severely malnourished and covered in bruises. Disturbingly, the boy said he was forced to eat his own feces and often went days without food.
On August 4, the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office announced that 29-year-olds Charles Smitley and Colleen Cassidy from Monessen have been charged with multiple counts related to child abuse. According to authorities, Smitley is the boy’s father, while Cassidy is his girlfriend.
The couple was reported after a relative noticed the child looking unclean, undernourished, and in pain. This family member, identified as the boy’s grandfather, took him to a local emergency room, where medical staff observed that he seemed extremely thin and had not eaten for a while.
Hospital staff informed police that the boy’s injuries indicated he may have been sitting for a long time. During interviews, he disclosed that he was sometimes tied to a chair and hit with a paddle by both Smitley and Cassidy.
Additionally, the boy revealed he was made to sleep on the bathroom floor in the basement without any bedding. Another child living in the home, Cassidy’s 11-year-old son, supported the victim’s claims during interviews, although he denied experiencing abuse himself.
Neighbors expressed their shock, stating they were unaware that children lived with the couple. One neighbor commented that while they felt relief that the alleged abusers were off the streets, they also mourned for the children involved.
Both Smitley and Cassidy have been taken into custody and are currently held in Westmoreland County Prison. They are awaiting preliminary hearings scheduled for August 22, with bail set at $100,000 for Cassidy and $250,000 for Smitley.
