Dad faces preliminary hearing for beating death of 20-month-old daughter (North Union, Pennsylvania)

 Dad is identified as DOMER BURKHOLDER.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/news/hsnewsnow/hearing-set-in-beating-death-of-north-union-toddler/article_9ac4bf0d-457f-542b-b5cf-e59680644dbb.html

Hearing set in beating death of North Union toddler

Posted: Thursday, November 21, 2013 3:00 pm

Josh Krysak

A North Union Township father will face a preliminary hearing in the alleged beating death of his 20-month-old daughter in late January.

Domer Burkholder, 30, of 600 Washington Ave., was charged Friday by police with criminal homicide and child endangerment in the death of Caylee Jo Burkholder.

A preliminary hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Wendy D. Dennis, however, that hearing has been continued.

According to court records, the hearing has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 29 before Dennis.

Trooper Heather Clem-Johnson said the charged against Burkolder were filed after police were called to Uniontown Hospital at 12:30 p.m. Friday when physicians diagnosed the child with severe internal injuries. The child was then taken to UPMC-Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for further treatment where she died.

Clem-Johnson said the girl’s mother, Jessica Marie Burkholder, told investigators that she saw her husband discipline the child, which included a spanking on her butt and “roughly” grabbing her arm and also saw her husband using his fist and punching the child in the abdomen in a playful but rough manner.

On Friday morning, Clem-Johnston said Jessica Burkholder found found bruises on the girl's stomach, and it was swollen.

Dr. Adelaide Eichman of Children’s Hospital told police that the child suffered a lacerated liver, perforated intestines and internal bleeding.

During an interview with police, Domer Burkholder admitted to officers that he had been “too rough” with the child, Clem-Johnston said.

He remains in Fayette County Prison without bond.