Couple faces trial in burning of teenage son

Associated Press

UNIONTOWN, Pa.

A southwestern Pennsylvania couple faces trial on charges they didn’t take a teenager for treatment after he was burned during a social media “fire challenge” last year.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Wednesday a judge ruled after a preliminary hearing that there was sufficient evidence to send the case to trial.

Connie Kirby of New Salem is charged with assault and reckless endangerment for allegedly pouring rubbing alcohol on her stepson’s back and lighting it on fire. The boy’s father, 41-year-old William Kirby Jr., is accused of reckless endangerment.

In a brief phone interview, both said the incident isn’t how it’s been portrayed by police, but neither would elaborate.

Police say the boy was on fire for at least a minute until a sister doused the flames with Kool-Aid.