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GREENSBURG, Pa. -- Suffering skin burns from a diaper that likely hadn't been changed in a month, a child was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment, police said.
The father -- Jesus Rodriguez, 34, of Greensburg -- was arrested Friday on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment.
Rodriguez's 3-year-old son is in critical but stable condition at West Penn Hospital's burn unit with what police called "caustic" burns on his legs and genitals. Doctors said they're worried about the possibility of infection.
Also, police said, Rodriguez's 4-year-old daughter has redness and marks between her bellybutton and knees, and a leg burn.
"The 3-year-old had to be in immense pain and discomfort from the waist down to the knees. It was terrible," Greensburg Police Chief Walter Lyons said.
WTAE Channel 4's Jennifer Miele reported that the brother of the child's mother visited the children on Christmas. When he tried to hug them, he said they screamed in pain, so he called police and an ambulance.
The girl is being treated at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, where nurses filled her bed with dolls and toys for Christmas.
Police said they found Rodriguez's apartment on East Pittsburgh Street filled with garbage, and the floor was covered with food and waste.
"The inside of the home had a strong odor. It smelled very bad," Lyons said. "There was a lot of old food. Poor living conditions for two young children."
Rodriguez is being held in the county prison. He told a judge that he was caring for the two children because their mother is in jail, too.
Boy Left In Old Diaper Now Critical In Pittsburgh Burn Unit
That's and sicko, poor baby