Pennsylvania Couple Faces Child Abuse Charges
A couple in Pennsylvania has been charged with child abuse after allegedly confining a 5-year-old boy underground and neglecting his care.
Colleen Cassidy, 35, and the boy’s father, Charles Smitry V, 29, were taken into custody early Monday at Smitry’s home in Monessen. They face allegations related to child welfare, illegal detention, and simple assault, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation began when Smitry’s father reported noticeable abuse of his grandson in April. He had given custody of the boy to Smitry while he was away, intending to ensure the child was cared for, as detailed in court documents.
From October 2024 to April 2025, the little boy lived with his father, Cassidy, and Cassidy’s 11-year-old son.
Upon taking the child from their care, the grandfather observed extensive bruising on the boy’s legs and buttocks, which officials claim were inflicted with a white paddle.
Documents reveal that the child appeared very frail, unclean, and emitted a foul odor.
His grandfather then took him to a McDonald’s, where the boy complained of abdominal pain and was seen walking in discomfort, according to court records.
Afterward, he was taken to the hospital, where medical staff uncovered additional evidence of abuse and starvation.
In an interview with investigators, the victim recounted the horrific conditions he endured and reported going several days without food, at times being forced to eat his own feces. He mentioned that he had no proper place to sleep, alleging that Cassidy would sometimes restrain him and he had to sleep on the cold cellar floor.
The District Attorney’s office stated that Cassidy’s older son corroborated the boy’s allegations.
The boy’s brother even reported a shocking incident where he found the victim bound with duct tape inside a closet, as indicated by the officers.
Both children have since been removed from the home, and police express optimism about their future.
Cassidy and Smitry are currently held in Westmoreland County Jail after failing to post bail set at $100,000 and $250,000, respectively. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 22nd.
