UPDATE: Montgomery County Man Allegedly Ripped Teeth Out Of Autistic Boy, DA Says

UPDATE

A Montgomery County man has been arrested for allegedly severely beating a 4-year-old boy, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

Nicholas Kernechel, 27, was watching his girlfriend’s son on July 18 when he allegedly beat him and ripped his teeth out, the DA said.

The boy is autistic and was apparently not doing what Kernechel wanted him to do, according to CBS Philly.

After the alleged beating, Kernechel left the boy in his bed, bleeding and crying, and did not tell the boy’s mother about the injuries when she returned home in the early morning hours of July 19, the DA said.

The boy’s mother found the boy the next morning asleep on the floor, lying on a pile of dried blood, according to the DA.

The mother and the son reported the abuse to the Upper Perkiomen Police Department that morning, the DA said.

When they arrived, the 4-year-old boy had “severe” facial and dental injuries, including an extremely swollen lip and a bloody upper gum line, according to the DA.

The boy was also missing three of his upper teeth, the DA said.

The investigation determined that the boy had suffered additional injuries dating all the way back to April 2015, including bite marks and other injuries, the DA said. The boy said that Kernechel was the one responsible. 

Kernechel will be charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, along with other offenses.

Kernechel’s preliminary hearing is set for October 1.