Police: 2 charged with endangerment after 3 kids have 'unexplained' scars, marks

A Smithton man and woman were charged with child endangerment Thursday after investigators said three children removed from their home last year had “unexplained scars and marks” on their bodies.

Mel R. Anastasiu, 41, and Jamie Anastasiu, 39, each are charged with a felony.

Mel Anastasiu was arrested in August after police said he left two toddlers at his Third Street home alone. He shared security footage from his home with state police that showed the two children there by themselves while Anastasiu left for 33 minutes, according to court papers.

As a result, authorities removed children, ages 5, 3, and 1 from the home, according to the new complaint. While in foster care, the children showed signs of possible neglect and past physical abuse, troopers said. Authorities weren’t able to get any more details through forensic interviews with the children.

“There were clear signs of what appeared to be physical abuse, but it was unknown what type of abuse was committed against the children,” Trooper Jason Zanolli wrote in the complaint.

Anastasiu was sentenced in January to one year of probation in connection with the August child endangerment charge, according to court records. He was ordered to complete parenting classes.

No court action has been scheduled in the new cases. Neither suspect had an attorney listed in online court records. They could not be reached.