Montco mom admits abusing adoptive daughter

Montco mom admits abusing adoptive daughter

Posted: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 6:16 pm, Fri Dec 9, 2011.

By Margaret Gibbons Staff writer | 4 comments

An Upper Dublin woman Tuesday admitted physically abusing her 3-year-old adoptive daughter.

Theresa M. McNulty, 53, of the 600 block of Loch Alsh Avenue, is facing a possible maximum sentence of five to 10 years behind bars after pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault.

“What this woman did was absolutely despicable,” said Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Samantha L. R. Cauffman. “And, she did not appear remorseful when I detailed the charges of the crimes against her or when I even showed her the photos of the child’s horrendous injuries.”

Cauffman said she will ask for prison time for McNulty at her sentencing, which was deferred by Judge Steven T. O’Neill until he gets more information about McNulty from the county adult probation office.

Authorities first learned about the probable abuse on Feb. 23, 2009, when police were contacted by the staff at Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia to report that the child, suffering severe burns to her face and body, had just been brought into the emergency room by her mother.

McNulty told hospital staff that the burns occurred two days earlier when she was bathing her daughter. McNulty said her daughter scooted to the front of the tub to rinse out her hair under hot, scalding water, according to the criminal complaint.

While treating the child for her burns, emergency room personnel also observed numerous other bruises on the girl’s body, the complaint said. McNulty informed the medical personnel that her daughter had fallen down the stairs at their home on Feb. 18, 2009, according to the complaint. Hospital staff subsequently contacted police.

During their investigation, police learned that day care employees, family members, physicians and children and youth workers all had observed and/or reported welts, cuts and bruising to the child’s head, ears and face. These observations occurred from April 2008 through February 2009.

“She (McNulty) was very good at covering her tracks and making plausible excuses,” said Cauffman. “Also, no one person ever saw the entire picture.”

The child, whom McNulty adopted from Russia in December 2007, is in foster care.

“She is doing remarkably well,” said Cauffman.