Dad jailed on aggravated assault charges; allegedly got "frustrated" and burned 1-month-old daughter in scalding water (Chester County, Pennsylvania)

http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20121015/NEWS01/121019735/oxford-father-accused-of-burning-infant-daughter

The baby is now in critical condition with 2nd-degree burns across 40% of her body.

Dad is identified as JORGE COLON.

Oxford father accused of burning infant daughter

By MICHAEL N. PRICE Posted: 10/15/12 02:24 pm

Jorge Colon was charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, and related charges. He is currently incarcerated at Chester County Prison after failing to post $125,000 bail.

OXFORD — A 20-year-old father is in jail after he was arrested for allegedly burning his 1-month-old daughter with scalding water Saturday.

Police said Jorge Colon, of Oxford, was bathing his daughter, Kiara, in a kitchen sink when he became frustrated as she began to cry. In his frustration, police said, he allegedly turned the water to a scalding temperature and allowed it to contact his daughter’s body.

“This is a shocking crime. A father should be willing to lay down his life for his child,” said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. “Instead, this defendant decided to douse his baby daughter with scalding water, causing severe burns.”

According to a criminal complaint filed by investigators, Colon then wrapped his daughter in a towel. When he later removed the towel, his daughter’s skin was peeling off from the burns.

The child was taken by Colon and her mother, Maria Ortiz, to Jennersville Regional Hospital. She was later transferred to the Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s burn unit where she is currently in critical condition with first and second-degree burns across 40 percent of her body.

Oxford Police Chief John Slauch expressed shock at the severity of the alleged abuse.

“I have been a police officer for 38 years,” Slauch said. “This is one of the worst cases of child abuse I have ever seen in Chester County.”