Grandmother Also Charged In Beating Of Infant: Montco DA

BRIDGEPORT, PA — The grandmother of an infant who was severely beaten by his father in Montgomery County has now been charged, as authorities allege she failed to protect the child.

Michelle Rohloff, 63, of West Palm Beach, Florida, had agreed with caseworkers that she would not allow her son, Daniel Rohloff, to be alone with the 2-month-old insider their Bridgeport home, police said. She remained in her bedroom in the home throughout the assaults, despite video surveillance capturing the baby's "loud and unusual" crying over a period of hours, the District Attorney's Office said.

>>Weeks Before Assault, Caseworkers Tried To Protect Montco Infant

Michelle Rohloff now faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person. Daniel Rohloff, 33, had previously been charged with attempted murder.

“Michelle Rohloff affirmatively accepted the responsibility of protecting Landon, First Assistant District Attorney Edward F. McCann, Jr. said in a statement. "She had a legal duty of care to this vulnerable baby, and she violated that duty when she allowed Landon to be unsupervised with Daniel Rohloff."

The incident occurred back on July 26, but was preceded by weeks of court procedures and efforts by caseworkers to protect the child from his father. Daniel Rohloff had a long history of mental instability and was possibly under the influence of drugs from the time his son was born, according to a criminal complaint.

As part of the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth's work to protect the child, they created a court-mandated safety plan wherein the grandmother — Daniel Rohloff's mother — moved into their Bridgeport home. Police said this was done "for the sole purpose of supervising Daniel Rohloff at all times when he was around the baby."

Footage recovered from home surveillance cameras show Daniel Rohloff entering a room carrying the baby, who was, at that time, quiet and content. He then covers the camera with a towel, and the baby then begins to "intensely scream," according to the DA's Office.

There are then several periods of crying and silence before Daniel Rohloff uncovers the camera and leaves the room, holding the baby, police said.

Hours later, at 10:17 p.m., he again enters the same room holding the baby, and again covers the camera, investigators said. Within 11 seconds, the baby begins intensely crying again, according to police.

The father then leaves the room carrying the baby, which was then making a "loud screeching, unusual sounding cry," the DA's Office said.

The entire time, Michelle Rohloff was in her bedroom, allowing the unsupervised contact in violation of the safety plan and court order, police said.

“As a result of her failures, this baby suffered serious bodily injury and required lifesaving medical treatment," McCann added.

Michelle Rohloff posted $25,000 bail and was released. A preliminary hearing is in the process of being scheduled.