Two women are accused by police of abusing a 10-year-old child who reported being beaten, denied food and forced to stand in the corner of a room for three days as punishment, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.
Mt. Pleasant Borough Police arrested Elma Ritenour, 68, and her daughter Mary Shroyer, 48, this week on charges of aggravated assault, child endangerment and related offenses. Both women are free on $25,000 unsecured bond.
Police said in court papers they were notified of the accusations through a ChildLine report, according to the DA’s office. The child told investigators they were only allowed to shower once a week, had to sleep on the floor without blankets and rarely ate outside of meals provided at school.
A beating by Ritenour and Shroyer in December resulted in the child being diagnosed with a concussion, the DA’s office reported. Neither Shroyer’s attorney nor the two suspects could be reached Friday. Preliminary hearings are set for April 23.
