Blawnox Couple Charged After Girl, 2, Taken To Hospital With Multiple Injuries
BLAWNOX (KDKA)- A couple faces charges for the alleged abuse of a 2-year-old girl in Blawnox.
The girl was taken to Children's Hospital last week because she had mucus coming out of her nose and ears and was having trouble keeping her balance.
Doctors noticed bruising on the girl's forehead, cheeks, arms, legs and stomach. She also had bleeding from her ears and bruises on her arm.
KDKA's Christine D'Antonio Reports:
Phillip Clark is the girl's biological father. In the criminal complaint, he told police he had suspicions for two or three weeks that his girlfriend, Alyce Aronckes, had been physically abusing the child.
He went on to tell police that he never witnessed any abuse and that Aronckes said the girl's injuries were self-inflicted.
Clark was charged with endangering the welfare of children. Aronckes faces more charges, including aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.
In her criminal complaint, officers say she admitted to pulling a chunk of the child's hair out during a bath. She also told them the girl has behavioral issues and is "a horrible child to deal with" and has "an annoying scream."
Clark and Aronckes lived inside a home on Riverside Court in Blawnox with Aronckes' two kids, ages 4 and 1, and Clark's two kids, ages 2 and 6.
Amanda Burkart, who has lived along Riverside Court for years, says she was suspicious of her neighbors because of the care she witnessed them giving their other children.
"The kids are outside constantly, there's never any supervision. You see the kids pounding on the door trying to get back in the house. The parents don't answer the door. The cops have been called quite a few times for the baby screaming for hours on end and kids hanging out of the window," she said.
The victim in this case is still in the Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital for treatment of her injuries.
The Blawnox police chief says his officers have been called to the home before for noise complaints. In fact, the couple pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct -- unreasonable noise two weeks ago.
The chief says they've never responded to the home for child abuse in the 10 months the couple has lived here.
KDKA's Amy Wadas Reports:
Child Youth and Families in Allegheny County is involved in the investigation along with Allegheny County Police.
"We take all allegations of abuse seriously," Assistant Deputy Director for Children, Youth and Families in Allegheny County Jacki Hoover said.
The criminal complaint says CYF was contacted in the past when the child was 10-months-old. While CYF can't comment specifically on the case, they encourage the public to report abuse if it's suspected.
"We receive over 10,000 calls a year, and I think the public would be amazed at the amount of abuse that is in all areas of our community," Hoover said. "Part of our investigation includes a home visit. In terms of crisis, we can go out to a home and provide an assessment within two hours of the report to make sure the children are in a safe home environment."
The couple has the other children. The Blawnox police chief says they're either in foster care or staying with relatives.
CYF recommends you contact the state Childline at 1-800-932-0313 or the local office at 412-473-2000 if you suspect abuse.
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