Pittsburgh father charged after toddler suffers severe burns

Pittsburgh father charged after toddler suffers severe burns Advertisement Updated: 6:34 PM EST Nov 11, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Kalea Gunderson Reporter Pittsburgh father charged after toddler suffers severe burns Updated: 6:34 PM EST Nov 11, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Kalea Gunderson Reporter PITTSBURGH — A 19-month-old girl from Pittsburgh is recovering in an Akron, Ohio, hospital after suffering third-degree burns during a bath, and her father is now in custody facing multiple charges. According to court documents, the child has remained in the Akron hospital since October 27, undergoing skin graft surgery for her injuries. Her great-grandfather said her condition is improving. Advertisement Police said 21-year-old Aubre McClendon was at a family member’s home in Pittsburgh’s Perry North neighborhood on October 25, giving his daughter a bath. McClendon admitted to leaving the child alone in the bath with the shower running for a period of time, police said. When he returned, McClendon allegedly told police his daughter had manipulated the water temperature. He noticed redness and burns on her skin but did not think the injuries were serious. He took her to his aunt’s home, where she received some care for her wounds. Police said McClendon left the home to work on a music video shoot. It wasn’t until Monday night, more than 24 hours after the child sustained the burns, that 911 was called. The child was reportedly in critical condition, seizing and foaming at the mouth, with burns covering 40% of her body. She was rushed to UPMC Children’s Hospital and then flown to Akron for more specialized treatment. During the investigation, police learned McClendon contacted a CYS caseworker four days after the incident. He allegedly told the caseworker, “I knew if I took her to the hospital, I knew I would get back to jail.” McClendon was charged and taken into custody on Tuesday. Court records show McClendon spent much of 2025 in the Allegheny County Jail serving time on previous firearm and drug-related charges. In January, a judge granted him alternative housing at the county’s Renewal Center. He was later charged with escape, which is a third-degree felony, after walking out of the facility without permission, leading to an active arrest warrant. Make WTAE a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks JoBe Cerny, who voiced the Pillsbury Doughboy, has died Lessie Benningfield Randle, the last known Tulsa Race Massacre survivor, turns 112 They longed to hold their fragile NICU babies. A new device made it possible 106-year-old WWII veteran reflects on his service and provides life advice