Man charged after toddler dies from ‘serious physical abuse’ in Uniontown, district attorney says

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A man was charged in the death of a 2-year-old girl in Uniontown

>> State police investigating death of 2-year-old girl in Uniontown

The coroner’s office was called to Uniontown Hospital just after noon Monday, where the toddler, identified as Margaret Nunn, was pronounced dead.

The Fayette County District Attorney’s Office said Emmanuel Dennis, 33, has been charged with homicide connected to Margaret’s death.

“I can’t understand, can’t wrap my head around how a person could do this,” said Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele. “This child had been systematically abused for weeks prior to her passing at the hands of the defendant.”

Now, Emmanuel Dennis is behind bars facing four felony charges.

According to court documents, police were called to a home at the Village of Searights in Menallen Township for an unresponsive child at noon Monday. When they got there, they found the girl face down with dried vomit around her mouth.

Police say the girl had scratches and bruises over her entire body.

They believe she died Sunday night.

“It was immediately apparent to them with her condition that there was something very, very wrong,” Aubele told Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek.

According to court documents, Dennis told police the girl fell and hit her head six times between Saturday and Sunday. Police say he kicked the girl down the hallway to her bedroom while she was lying on the ground, incoherent.

At one point, police said Dennis said he didn’t know his own strength and feared he used excessive force while disciplining her.

The district attorney said the girl’s mother was aware of the abuse.

“She was witness to this and basically let it happen,” Aubele said.

According to police, the mother wanted to take the girl to the hospital over the weekend after she said she heard Dennis hit the girl several times — describing the sound as thuds. This caused swelling to the girl’s head.

The mother told police Dennis convinced her not to take the girl to the hospital to avoid a Children and Youth Services investigation.

“This child very well may have been saved had she had earlier intervention,” Aubele said.

Two other children were removed from the home. The district attorney said more charges will be filed.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police in Uniontown or the district attorney’s office.

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