Father takes stand in own defense against child endangerment charges

The father of a 14-year-old who starved to death took the stand Wednesday in his own defense against charges of child endangerment.

Daniel Kelly told a story of traveling across the country with his two children and eventually ending up back in Philadelphia in a home with 19 residents.

Kelly admitted his daughter Danieal, who suffered from cerebral palsy, stayed in a stroller most of the time because he didn’t acquire a wheelchair for her.

Eventually Kelly testified he was evicted from the home and had to leave his children in the custody of their mother Andrea, even though he took them from her years before because she could not care for them properly.

Kelly maintains he did not abandon his children. He says a police officer told him he could not take the kids. At the time of his daughter’s death, Kelly was working on a plan to regain custody.

Andrea Kelly is serving 20 to 40 years after pleading guilty to third degree murder in the death of 14-year old Danieal, who only weighed 42 pounds when she died.

A social worker accused of not checking in on Danieal as well as an administrator charged with falsifying paperwork are also on trial.