How Could You? Hall of Shame-Terri L. Thornhill UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From West Tarentum, Pennsylvania, former foster mother Terri L. Thornhill,35, “awaits child abuse charges involving three children in incidents that allegedly occurred last year and again in May.”

“Authorities say that Terri L. Thornhill, 35,… Tarentum was investigated last year after accusations of beating a girl, then 6, with a belt.

Charges were not filed at that time.

But Thornhill faces charges of child abuse after day care workers at the Allegheny Valley YMCA in Harrison reported in May a significant amount of bruising on the buttocks of a 4-year-old girl and the girl’s 3-year-old brother. Those children also were foster children under Thornhill’s care.

As a result, Thornhill faces charges of aggravated assault and child endangerment regarding both alleged incidents, last year and in May.

Thornhill pleaded not guilty.

However, the charges against her were held for court at a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Carolyn Bengel.

All three children had been placed in Thornhill’s home by Allegheny County, which uses Every Child Inc. to provide some foster parents for the county.

Laura Maines, Every Child’s chief executive, said on Friday that Thornhill was previously overseen through the program.

“She is not a foster parent at this time,” Maines said.

WITNESSES TESTIFY

At Wednesday’s hearing, YMCA day care worker Jessica Swarek testified that in May she saw a significant amount of bruising on the buttocks of a 4-year-old girl and the girl’s 3-year-old brother.

“The girl had an accident and said it happened because her butt was too sore,” Swarek testified.

Authorities took photos of the girl’s injuries.

The state Department of Human Services and Allegheny County detectives investigated. The DHS certifies and licenses foster parents.

County Detective Timothy Stetzer testified that investigators observed an interview between child abuse specialists and the younger children at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Rebecca Lewandowski, a specialist with the state Human Services Department who investigates foster care abuse, testified that she sat with the boy, intending to watch him play with toys for a bit before questioning him.

But the boy started talking to her right away.

“He said ‘Miss Terri’ beat him with a belt,” Lewandowski testified. “He said he didn’t want to go back to the house.”

The boy also said Thornhill would often use one hand to “squeeze his face hard” when she was unhappy with him, Lewandowski said, demonstrating the one-handed squeeze on her own face.

THE 2014 CASE

Last year, the 6-year-old girl told police Thornhill hit her with a belt, sometimes because the girl wouldn’t want to got to bed, or when she spoke when ordered not to. The girl also claimed that her foster mother “sometimes wouldn’t feed me” and that she would go hungry.

Detectives filed charges in July based on the 2014 and 2015 allegations.

In an interview Thursday, county Detective Lt. Tom Ianachione said changes in the state’s child abuse law are enabling more prosecutions.

The law that once required proof of “severe” injury to a child before charges could be filed has been changed to “substantial” injury, he said.

District Judge Bengel set a non-monetary bond for Thornhill but ordered her to not have contact with the children.”

 

Foster mother awaits abuse charges [Trib Live 9/5/15 by Chuck Biedka]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: A searchof the public Pennsylvania court records shows that Terri plead guilty to 2 counts-Simple Assault – Grading, Victim Under 12  and  Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense on 3/1/16. She is sentenced to 3 years in jail.