Pennsylvania Father and Girlfriend Charged in Horrific Child Abuse Case Involving 5-Year-Old Boy

A Pennsylvania home where a father and his girlfriend were arrested in a case of severe child abuse involving a 5-year-old boy, as described by local authorities.

By Savage RoyalT | August 6, 2025 | SavageRoyalT.com

MONESSEN, PA — A Pennsylvania father and his girlfriend are behind bars in what police describe as a “disturbing” case of prolonged child abuse against a 5-year-old boy. Charles Smitley, 29, and Colleen Cassidy, 35, are both facing multiple charges, including endangering the welfare of children, unlawful restraint, and simple assault, after authorities say the young victim was found emaciated, bruised, and subjected to abuse so severe that it shocked even seasoned investigators.

Police say the investigation began in April, when Pennsylvania State Police in Uniontown were contacted by Smitley’s father, who had recently gained custody of his grandson after Smitley reportedly said he no longer wanted to care for the child. According to court records, the boy had been living with Smitley, Cassidy, and Cassidy’s 11-year-old son since October of last year. When the grandfather took the boy in, he immediately noticed the child was dirty, emitting a foul odor, and appeared to be in pain. On a trip to McDonald’s, the child focused solely on eating and complained that his stomach hurt. After bathing the boy, the grandfather discovered severe bruising on the child’s legs and buttocks and took him to the hospital.

Medical staff at Uniontown Hospital, and later West Virginia University Ruby Memorial Hospital, determined the child was extremely malnourished, weighing just 44 pounds, and had likely gone without food for an extended period before being fed by his grandfather. A forensic nurse examiner reported that the injuries to the boy’s buttocks suggested he had been seated for a prolonged period of time.

During interviews with medical staff and a caseworker, the child disclosed that both Smitley and Cassidy routinely struck him with a white paddle “every day,” forced him to eat his own feces, and deprived him of food for days. He also alleged that Cassidy tied him to a chair and made him sleep on the floor of a basement bathroom without blankets or padding. In another incident described by Cassidy’s 11-year-old son, the victim was allegedly found in a closet with his hands taped together with duct tape. The 11-year-old confirmed witnessing abuse toward the younger boy but said he himself was never harmed.

Neighbors told local media they were stunned, with one resident saying she never even knew children were living in the home since the couple moved in last fall. “My heart celebrates that bad people are off the street, but it aches for those kids,” said neighbor Katherine Secleter.

Both Smitley and Cassidy remain in the Westmoreland County Jail on $250,000 and $100,000 bail, respectively. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for August 22. Police confirmed that the children have been removed from the home and are now in safe conditions.