Police: Adopted Daughter Forced To Eat Candy Canes From Christmas Tree For Nourishment
UNIONTOWN, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - A western Pennsylvania man and woman accused of having starved their adopted daughter have been ordered to stand trial on assault and endangerment charges.
The (Uniontown) Herald-Standard reports that a Fayette County district judge on Tuesday held the charges against 40-year-old Edwin Havrilesko and 40-year-old Jennifer Havrilesko.
A child advocate at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh testified that the 13-year-old girl was near death when she was admitted last year, weighing only 48 pounds - less than she did when she was 7 years old.
Authorities said the girl told police that she was underfed and even ate candy canes from the family Christmas tree. Her mother told police the girl had food allergies and regurgitated when fed. Defense attorney Jack Connor says the girl now denies the allegations.
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