Athens, P.A. Couple Leave Severely Abused 3YO Girl With Permanent Brain Damage

[Sugar Cookie]

Dalton James Sweat, 26, and Alyssa Rae Kithcart, 26, were arrested after police said a three-year-old in their care was severely abused, leaving the child with permanent brain damage.

On May 20, an officer from the Athens Borough Police Department was called to a residence for the report of a three-year-old who had fallen and hit her head, leaving her unresponsive, but breathing, the affidavit stated.

When the officer got to the home, along with EMS personnel, a man, later identified as Sweat, was seen standing in the front doorway, holding the door open. The officer then went into the home and saw a three-year-old girl lying on her back on the floor with her eyes barely open, but she didn’t seem to be conscious, the affidavit explained. Further, the officer said the child had visible bodily excrement in her diaper and looked very thin.

EMS then started giving medical attention to the child while Sweat was questioned by the officer at the scene, the affidavit said. When Sweat was asked about what had happened, he told the officer that his girlfriend, later identified as Kithcart, had called to tell him about the incident while he was on the way to work. When asked where Kithcart was at that moment, Sweat told the officer that she was not home, the affidavit said.

The officer then got to the local hospital, where the child was taken to, and was told by hospital staff that she was being prepped for a life-flight to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, according to the affidavit. As a result, the officer went back to the E. Frederick Street home to ask Kithcart about what had happened.

While Kithcart was questioned, she told police that she believes the three-year-old was getting ready for school when she slipped and fell off a piece of furniture, causing her injuries. The three-year-old was found lying on the ground around a coat rack at the home, which the officer took pictures of, the affidavit said. Additionally, Kithcart told the officer that the child seemed off, but she just thought she was tired, police said.

After an assessment of the child’s injuries, police were told by the Child Safety Specialist at Geisinger that the three-year-old’s injuries were too severe to result from the nature of the incidents that were described.

More specifically, the child’s right collarbone was broken, and the back, left side of her head was swollen, which was the result of a different trauma, the affidavit stated. Bruises were also seen all over the child’s body, which didn’t add up with the story of the three-year-old falling off a piece of furniture, police said. Further, the doctor said the girl appeared to be malnourished as she only weighed 25 pounds, which is severely underweight for her age, the affidavit stated.

Kithcart was then questioned again about the incident and said there have been times when she thinks Sweat is too harsh with his punishments. Additionally, there have been instances where she said she felt like she should’ve reported Sweat but didn’t, police explained. Kithcart also told police that the three-year-old had been life-flighted to Geisinger in the past after falling down the stairs, the affidavit noted.

A hearing regarding the child’s condition was held, where medical personnel described her as having a non-functioning left side of her brain, the affidavit said. During the hearing, doctors further explained that the three-year-old will probably not regain normal function, but there is a small chance for improvement. Additionally, doctors believed the child’s injuries were not the result of an accident but more likely repeated hits to her head or a traumatic event, according to the affidavit.

MSN

 

[the cat did it]

Poor baby-she survived but she will now never be what she could of been-somehow that kinds upsets me more. TO think trapped in a body you can't control? That's pure HELL, that's a prison sentence for an innocent child. And he looks filthy in the pic. POS's

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Poor baby-she survived but she will now never be what she could of been-somehow that kinds upsets me more. TO think trapped in a body you can't control? That's pure HELL, that's a prison sentence for an innocent child. And he looks filthy in the pic. POS's

I hope this baby is placed somewhere safe and loved that is not related to either parent.