PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Delaware County man accused of abusing his girlfriend's 6-year-old son has had his bail revoked, and the boy’s mother is also charged.
The boy ended up in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on Nov. 19, 2021 with 14 broken ribs and injuries to his genitals, abdomen, chest, face, arms and legs.
Steven Dougherty, 31 from Collingdale, is charged in Montgomery County with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
According to charging documents, the boy said Dougherty held his head underwater and smeared excrement on his face. Dougherty is also accused of bruising the boy’s face and knocking out a tooth.
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The child also had injuries to his genitals that were so bad, a school employee who heard him crying in the bathroom described them by saying “there are no words.”
According to court documents, on Nov. 16, a woman called police when the boy climbed into her car and hid while she was getting gas in Tredyffrin Township. She says he told her Dougherty was trying to cut off his genitals and kill him.
Police say Dougherty climbed into the car, grabbed the boy over the console and pulled him out of the car.
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Dougherty was out on bail, but that bail has been revoked. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 9.
Emily Laster, the boy’s 30-year-old mother, is now charged with felony endangering the welfare of a child. Detectives say despite warnings of abuse, she allowed Dougherty access to the boy, made excuses for his injuries, and refused to believe him.
The boy has been in the care of other family members since the investigation began in November.
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