Cops: Children suffered severe beatings at parents hands

A Chester man and his wife allegedly beat their two children, ages 6 and 8, so badly that the kids had more 30 welts between them from their ears to their legs, police said.

Last Monday, the 6-year-old's teacher noticed bruises on the boy's face and called Delaware County Children and Youth Services, police said. That child and the boy's 8-year-old brother were taken from class to be examined, according to police.

Medical exams showed that the boys had more than 30 welts to their bodies that appeared to be from belts, buckles and cords, police said. The children showed injuries to their backs, legs, buttocks, arms, heads, ears, chests and faces, police said.

According to authorities, the children said they were beaten for "lying or doing poorly on school tests."

Police arrested the children's stepmom, Cassandra Williams, on Friday but they are still searching for the boys' father, Nathaniel Ballard, 26. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call Chester police at 610-447-8447.

Williams was charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and related offenses.