"Baby" LONG - 5 Months (2010) - South Strabane (S of Pittsburgh) PA

A 5-month-old boy from Washington County remains in the hospital today as he continues to be treated for serious injuries.
It happened at a home on Country Club Road in South Strabane Township.
According to South Strabane Township police, an unidentified man called the mother of the child at work Thursday to explain that the child had been injured.
Officials say the child's mother reportedly found her son bleeding when she arrived home and took him to Washington Hospital.
Doctors there determined that the injuries were serious enough to transport the child to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Officials say doctors there called in child and youth services and they contacted police.
Police officers went to mother's home and investigators conducted a search.
Authorities removed a young girl from the home.
No charges have been filed in the case, but the investigation continues.

Police want to question a man arrested in New York in the case of a baby who may have been abused in South Strabane Township.Keith Long was taken into custody, accused of violating a protection from abuse order. But police in Washington County want to question him about a suspected case of abuse from last week when a mother came home to find her child bleeding.The child is on life support at Children's Hospital.Long is the father of that baby, police said.No charges have been filed in the case.

A Washington County man has been tracked down, arrested and charged after his 5-month-old son was found bleeding and unresponsive last week.
Keith Anthony Long, 25, of South Strabane Township, is facing charges of endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, aggravated assault and simple assault.
According to investigators, Long called the child's mother to report the injuries on Sept. 16. Officials say the child's mother reportedly found her son bleeding when she arrived home and took him to Washington Hospital.
Investigators determined that injuries sustained by Long's 5-month-old son were the result of physical abuse.
The baby ended up at Children's Hospital last week.
"We unfortunately see the worst side of humanity on a daily basis in our line of work, but I can tell you as a father, it's very difficult when you see cases such as this," said Steven Toprani, the Washington County District Attorney.
According to the Observer-Reporter, Long was found in Olean, New York, where his former girlfriend lives. He was returned to Pennsylvania on Friday.
Toprani says investigators are still trying to pinpoint the precise motive.
"That's still under investigation. We're working on a timeline," he said. "We understand there's probably a two hour window when these injuries, at least for the 5-month-old boy, would have occurred."
South Strabane Township police say that Long is facing charges, not only for the alleged assault his infant son at the home on Country Club Road, but also for allegedly assaulting the boy's sister.
"The police learned that there were also potential signs of abuse with his 5-year-old sister," said Toprani. "I had the opportunity to meet the young girl last week. She's a beautiful young girl, but she'll obviously be dealing with some issues now."
A preliminary hearing has been set for Long next month.

9/16/2011 3:33 AM

Man's trial in assault of infant postponed

The trial for a former South Strabane Township man accused of severely beating his 5-month-old son last year has been postponed so he can hire a private attorney.
Keith Anthony Long, 26, who now lives in Bradford, was slated to go to trial Monday on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and child endangerment before Washington County Judge Phillippe Melograne.

His trial, however, was postponed after Long asked to obtain a private attorney rather than be represented by Assistant Public Defender Thomas Cooke.

Long was arrested a few days after the boy suffered severe injuries to his head, torso and right arm. Long is also accused of abusing the boy's 5-year-old sister.

Police were notified Sept. 16, 2010, that the boy was being treated at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC for life-threatening injuries. The boy had been rushed to Washington Hospital after the boy's mother, Christa Renee Bolen, got a call from Long that the boy was bleeding from the nose and mouth. He was transferred to Children's, where a doctor in the Child Advocacy Center determined he had suffered abuse.
Bolen told police that she left for work at a convenience store about 7:10 a.m. and that her son was fine then. The boy had been born prematurely.

When she returned home after getting the call about 9 a.m. from Long, she found the boy bleeding and not breathing.

During their investigation, police say they learned that Long also assaulted Bolen's daughter. During an interview at the Washington Hospital Child Advocacy Center, the girl indicated that Long had hit her in the face on multiple occasions. He also was accused of kicking her and throwing her into a refrigerator.

Assistant District Attorney Traci McDonald said the boy still has only 20 percent brain function because of the injuries he suffered.

http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/story11/09-16-2011-Long-trial