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Police: Mom's Boyfriend Accused Of Child Abuse, Drugs Found In Toddler's System

DERRY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A fugitive is now in custody, accused of abusing his girlfriend's young son, who was also found to have drugs in his system when he was treated at the hospital for his injuries.

Neighbors at the couple's apartment complex in Derry Township identified the man as 23-year-old Cory Kuntz. He is accused of beating his girlfriend's 2-year-old son.

According to the police report, Kuntz dropped the child's mother off at work back in April and was babysitting the boy at the apartment when the abuse occurred.

"This news about what's going on with her son really hurts me because it was next door and I didn't even know anything about it," said Ashley Smith, a neighbor.

Police say Kuntz tried to blame the mother for the child's injuries. However, investigators say she was the one first to take the boy to Latrobe Hospital when she noticed he was hurt.

Doctors found multiple bruises on the child's head, torso, back, arms and legs.

"It bothers me," said Smith. "I don't like it when little kids get hurt like that."

The child underwent tests at Children's Hospital to determine if the injuries were a medical condition. The results came back negative.

Also, a urine test on the child found traces of an amphetamine, or a drug, called Sally in his system.

"I just think it's disgusting. I don't believe in doing anything like that. I just think it's wrong and he should [face] charges," said another neighbor.

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Police say the abuse happened in April; and formal charges were filed in August. Since then, the mother and her children have moved out of the complex. Neighbors say sheriff deputies have stopped by several times, apparently looking for Kuntz, but no one was home.

"They came a couple times and they knocked on the door and she wasn't there, and then whenever they left the one day, surprisingly, she came two hours after they left," the neighbor said.

There's been no update on the boy's condition.

Before his recent arrest and arraignment, Kuntz had been a fugitive for several months. He is now facing charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

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