Toddler "Jane Doe" - 1 yo - Wells Township (nr WV border) OH

Father Of Abused Baby Says He's Been Fighting For Custody

IMAGES: Jefferson Co. Child Abuse Investigation, Meth Lab Find

Updated: 4:59 pm EST November 19, 2010

The father of a baby who police said was abused and severely burned told NEWS9 he has been fighting for custody of the child.The 1-year-old girl was found Thursday evening at a home on Coss Street in Dillonvale.

Wells Township Police Chief John Ingram said the girl had "severe burns to its private areas," was dehydrated, filthy and had a fever of 103 degrees. The baby's mother, 21-year-old Samantha Burch, was arrested on pending child abuse charges. Burch's boyfriend, 34-year-old Ryan Neal Custer, tipped police off after they stopped him for a traffic violation. Custer, who was later arrested on pending drug charges, told police he believed the baby was being abused.

Police said the baby's father, who lives in Wheeling, is not facing any charges. The father said his daughter had to have surgery just months ago after she swallowed a chemical. Since then, he said, he's been trying to get custody of his young daughter.

"Second strike this year. Let's not have a third. Next time I feel like I might be burying her, might not be holding her this time. So let's just hope it comes out better this time," he said.

He said he saw his baby for the first time in months at a local hospital Thursday night and was stunned by her burns and injuries. "Soon as I got there, they showed me and it was -- you can't describe it. Just melting skin is what it looks like," he said.

He said the hardest part is seeing his baby with tubes and IVs lying in the hospital. He said he hopes now that the child is out of the home, her life can change for the better. "(Parents are) supposed to be the caregiver and the care provider. You're not supposed to endanger them. Nowhere is that part of being a parent at all," he said. "If she walks out with a smile on her face -- maybe in the arms of people that can really take care of her and care for her and give her a better life -- that enough is a better reward than anything else. As long as she's out of harm's way."

Police said the abuse happened at 821 1/2 Second St. in Brilliant. The baby has second- and third-degree burns, but police said they did not know how she was burned. The baby was initially transported to East Ohio Regional Hospital, then transferred the burn unit at Columbus Children's Hospital, where she remained Friday.

"Just pray for the baby," Ingram said.