A three-year-old girl named Belle is at Penn State Hershey Medical Center with severe brain damage. She was physically abused by her foster dad, Joshua Martin, 23, of Reinholds, Pennsylvania. Her injuries were sustained over a three day period between Friday, September 21, 2012 and Sunday, September 23, 2012.
Martin told investigators that the little girl annoyed him, so he was rough with her while showering and changing her on Friday. While carrying her, he struck her head on a wooden door frame and then punched her in the head with his fist closed. A few days later, Martin says he was rough with the child again and she fell. She was unresponsive after that.
On Sunday, doctors at Reading Hospital in Reading, Pennsylvania, treated Belle for suspected physical and sexual abuse. Doctors reported that the child had a head injury caused by blunt-force trauma as well as bruising all over her body. She was later transferred to Penn State Hershey Medical Center with severe brain damage. She is in critical condition.
Martin is charged with felony aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. He is being held in the Lancaster County Prison on $500,000 bail. His wife has not been charged in the matter.
The Harrisburg personal injury lawyers at Schmidt Kramer Injury Lawyers has been following this tragic case very closely. Everyone at the firm sends sincere condolences to the little girl and her family.