North Union man denies fatally beating 20-month-old daughter

A Fayette County man accused of fatally beating his 20-month-old daughter denied harming the child as he waited outside a courtroom on Monday for a closed-door child-custody hearing.

“I didn't do it,” said Domer Wade Burkholder Jr. as he sat, in handcuffs and leg shackles, on a wooden bench outside the courtroom of Judge Nancy Vernon.

“The police don't believe me,” Burkholder said as a court security officer kept watch. “They think I stood there, punching her in the stomach.”

Burkholder, 30, of North Union is charged by state police Trooper Heather Clem-Johnston with criminal homicide and endangering the welfare of children in the death of Caylee Jo Burkholder.

In an affidavit of probable cause, Clem-Johnston said Caylee Jo died on Friday at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of blunt-force injuries consistent with physical abuse. Dr. Adelaide Eichman told police Caylee's injuries included a lacerated liver, perforated intestines and internal bleeding, the affidavit said.

Several family members, who accompanied Burkholder's wife, Jessica, to the hearing about the couple's three other children, declined comment.

“I just want my babies back,” said a tearful Melinda Stewart, who described herself as the children's grandmother. “We're all just grieving right now.”

In the affidavit, Clem-Johnston said Jessica Marie Burkholder told her that on Thursday, Domer Burkholder disciplined Caylee by spanking her on the buttocks and grabbing her “roughly” by the arm.

“Jessica said later that the defendant was playing with the victim and demonstrated the defendant using his fist and punching the victim in the abdomen region,” Clem-Johnston wrote. “She advised that she yelled at the defendant and told him that he was being ‘too rough' with the victim.”

Domer Burkholder acknowledged that he had punched the child during an interview with police, the affidavit said.

“The defendant admitted to being ‘too rough' with the victim and that he smacked her butt, grabbed her by the arm, punched her one time with his fist in the abdomen region and dropped her on the couch,” Clem-Johnston wrote.

Jessica Burkholder told police she argued with her husband over the incident and he left the residence. She said Caylee ate but threw up several times after she was given a bath.

The next morning, more vomit was found in the playpen where the child slept, according to the affidavit. When Jessica Burkholder changed Caylee's diaper, she noticed the child's stomach was bruised and bulging.

The child was driven to Uniontown Hospital, then flown to Children's Hospital.

As he waited for the start of the custody hearing, Domer Burkholder said he was not home when his daughter was injured. Asked if he knew how Caylee was injured, Burkholder said, “I can't answer that.”

Domer Burkholder said he did not see Caylee when he returned home and went to bed on Thursday. He said the child was taken to the hospital immediately when the bruises were discovered on Friday.

“I rushed her to Uniontown Hospital,” Domer Burkholder said. “Within a matter of 10 minutes after she woke up, she was in the hospital.”

Burkholder said he and his wife have two daughters, ages 6 and 2 months, and a son, 4. Following the 15-minute custody hearing, he said he had no knowledge of who the courts have assigned to care for them.

Domer Burkholder is in the Fayette County Prison without bond. A preliminary hearing will be held before North Union District Judge Wendy Dennis.

Liz Zemba is a reporter for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-601-2166 or lzemba@tribweb.com.