Accused child abuser faces attempted murder charge

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Authorities have added attempted   homicide to a list of charges being lodged against an area man they said   severally beat his girlfriend’s children earlier this month.

A preliminary hearing for Samuel Whisel, 26, of   Volant, scheduled for Thursday was postponed until 11 a.m. Wednesday in Lawrence County Central Court here.

Pennsylvania   State police said they added the criminal attempt   at homicide charge for injuries Whisel is accused of inflicting on his   live-in girlfriend’s 3-year-old-son. Whisel was arraigned on the new charge earlier this   week. At that time the previous charges in the case were refiled and District Judge David Rishel   set a new bond at $200,000.

Whisel is also being held on a $200,000 bond related   to injuries police said were inflicted on the boy’s 18-month-old sister, causing   her compound breaks in both arms and severe bruising.

Whisel also faces charges two counts each of   aggravated assault, simple assault, endangering the welfare of children and   recklessly endangering.

For the complete story, see [next day]’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.