Brownsville couple accused of keeping 6-year-old girl in dog crate
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A Brownsville couple was jailed Tuesday for allegedly keeping a 6-year-old girl in a locked dog crate, restraining the child with plastic zip ties and beating her with a broom on multiple occasions, according to a criminal complaint filed by state police.
The alleged abuse at the hands of Jacob W. Weight Sr., 37, and Mimi A. Frost, 33, was uncovered when troopers responded Jan. 7 to a Sheridan Avenue residence in Brownsville after a 911 call about the girl being unresponsive, police said.
The child was found to have bruises on her body and was treated at Uniontown Hospital before being taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the complaint said.
Weight called emergency responders because the girl was unresponsive in a bathroom where dog feces was found, police said.
A 17-year-old living at the house told authorities Frost did not want them to call 911 and that Weight initially prevented Brownsville EMS from entering the home so he could clothe the girl in an attempt to cover her bruises, according to the complaint.
State police said they learned of the child’s living conditions by interviewing some of the five other children at the house. The inside of the home was deplorable, with dog feces, urine and trash throughout, according to the complaint.
There were eight dogs and two cats living in the home, and fleas were found around dirty dishes in the kitchen, police said.
Police charged Weight and Frost with felony counts of aggravated assault, attempt to cause serious bodily injury; aggravated assault of a person under age 13; two counts of unlawful restraint of a minor; false imprisonment of a minor; and endangering the welfare of children.
Both also were charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, corruption of minors, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Frost was charged with a felony count of strangulation.
The pair were arraigned before Uniontown District Judge Jennifer L. Jeffries and placed in the Fayette County Prison, pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 20.