A Pennsylvania father was arrested in May after police say his 2-year-old daughter was discovered outside during a January snowstorm with severe cold injuries to her hands and feet.
Arrest and Charges
On May 6, Joshua Kitner, 29, of Newville, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children, according to online court records and a Pennsylvania State Police affidavit obtained by reporters.
What Police Say Happened
State Police in Carlisle responded on Jan. 25 at about 5:30 p.m. to assist EMS after a 2-year-old girl was found outside at a residence in North Newton Township suffering from hypothermia and what the affidavit describes as "severe frostbite." The affidavit alleges Kitner was the child's sole caregiver when he fell asleep for an indeterminate period and the child sustained serious cold-related injuries during that time.
Kitner told investigators he had been "buzzed" the night before after drinking eight or nine beers and was exhausted the next day, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Kitner said he woke shortly after 5 p.m. and found the toddler outside with the family's 3-month-old dog. He reportedly told officers the child was "seated on her butt and dozing off" and that her feet and toes were "frozen and purple, almost black in color." He said he believes the child let the dog out while he slept and then became locked out of the house.
Medical Treatment
Responding EMS found both of the child's feet blue and purple. Medical personnel later determined she had stage-4 frostbite in both feet and stage-3 frostbite on the fingers of her right hand. The toddler was taken to a local hospital and subsequently transferred to the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Medical Center, where she remained for about a week. She returned to the burn center for follow-up care for more than a month, according to the affidavit.
Legal Status and Next Steps
Online court records list Kitner's release on $20,000 unsecured bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 21, and no attorney was listed in the records available online. The case remains pending as authorities and medical providers continue their review.
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
