Washington County parents charged after 14-month-old boy dies
CHARLEROI, Pa. (KDKA) — A Washington County mom and dad are facing charges after their 14-month-old son died.
Brooke Whitehead was charged with criminal homicide and Ryan Whitehead was charged with endangering the welfare of children, the Washington County district attorney announced on Wednesday.
According to the criminal complaint, the child was taken to the hospital with multiple bruises after first responders were called to Prospect Avenue in Charleroi for reports of a 14-month-old who wasn't breathing on Oct. 24, 2023.
Police said Brooke Whitehead was the only person caring for her child the entire day after Ryan Whitehead left for work at 2 a.m.
Investigators said the autopsy, which they received nearly a year later, found the toddler died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, torso and extremities. The child had recent skull fractures and long bone fractures in various stages of healing, police said.
"Obviously this is horrific, one of the most horrific cases of anybody, child or adult, I've seen," said Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh.
"This baby, I mean I can't even go into the injuries this child suffered, fractures and refractures," Walsh said.
According to court paperwork, some of the child's injuries happened before the toddler died, when under the care of both parents.
"He should've stepped in if he knew what was going on," neighbor Dan Chacko said.
The couple was transported back to Washington County from Centre County to be processed. It's unclear if they were visiting a family or moved.
A hearing date hasn't been set yet, Walsh said.
