Woman accused of burning 6-year-old child's hands on stove
BUTLER, Pa. -- Police have arrested a woman after she allegedly placed her stepdaughter's hands on a hot stove, reports CBS Pittsburgh.
Tonya Schmidt, 34, has been charged with felony aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children, according to the station. She is reportedly being held at the Butler County prison.
Police arrested Schmidt after they say she physically abused her 6-year-old stepdaughter at the home where Schmidt lives with her four stepchildren and their biological father, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
In court documents, authorities allege that Schmidt placed the girl's hands on a hot stove and burned them.
The child allegedly told investigators, "My stepmother said she would kill me if I told anyone what happened."
Sherri McKibbin, whose 9-year-old granddaughter also lived with Schmidt, told the station that she was "not at all surprised."
"We're talking about this little girl; she was a victim long before they caught it. It just had to get to a point where she was this hurt," McKibbin said.
The burned child has now been placed in a foster home, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
McKibbin has reportedly been involved in an ongoing battle with county officials to remove her 9-year-old granddaughter out of the home. She told the station she wants all the children removed.
"It's very ugly," she added. "It's not okay and it's not right, and these kids need to be protected."