A Pennsylvania man was arrested this week after police accused him of videotaping his teenage son lighting his now ex-girlfriend's young son on fire.
Edward B. Myers, 35, allegedly used a cell phone to record the incident, which occurred on May 25 at the Saxonburg, Penn., home of his then-girlfriend and her son, according to CBS Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA.
The 7-year-old victim had third-degree burns on his face and chest after Myers allegedly doused the boy's shirt in flammable liquid and watched as his 15-year-old son lit the garment on fire, reports KDKA.
Myers' two sons allegedly shot the victim multiple times with pellet-type guns, according to KDKA.
When the victim's mother came home, she took him to Butler Memorial Hospital, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was later transferred to a different hospital's special burn unit due to the severity of the injuries, which covered about ten percent of his body.
According to the Post-Gazette, the victim told police his alleged tormenters also threw something painful into his eyes. When he went to the bathroom to rinse them, Meyers allegedly poured nail polish remover on him.
“I’ve seen a lot of horrible crimes against children during my career, but this one ranks among the worst of them,” Saxonburg Police Chief Joe Beachem told the Butler Eagle.
According to the Eagle, law enforcement is still investigating a motive for the brutal attack, but one of the alleged young perpetrators reportedly called the incident a "prank."
Myers is being charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, according to the Post-Gazette.
Unable to pay his $250,000 cash bond, Myers is currently being held in the Butler County jail, reports The Associated Press. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16. Myers' 15-year-old son is facing charges in juvenile court.