Chinese Girl Suffered Horrific Abuse Including Having Her Mouth Sewn Shut

One of the most disturbing accounts of child abuse ever has just arrived from China. An 11-year old girl has been rescued from an abusive father, who among other things, dipped her in boiling water and forced her to kneel on broken glass.

The girl was found walking on a road in the town of Shichang, located in China's southwestern Guizhou Province. She was reportedly talking to herself and shouting at other pedestrians. A man known as Mr. Fu approached her, and found that she was covered in scars and missing much of her hair.

Her neighbors have reported that her name is Xiao Li. They also state that they were aware of her father's abuse, although not to the extent that was discovered.

Mr. Fu informed the police, who immediately took the father, known only as Yang, into custody. The ensuing investigation has revealed a horror story of abuses. The girl's mouth had been stitched up with fishing cord, she had been stabbed with sewing needles, and hung upside down and beaten with sticks, in addition to the boiling water and broken glass incidents. Photographs from her current stay in the hospital have revealed fresh wounds on her knees and old scars covering almost her entire body.

Doctors also report that the damage from the boiling water will mean that the hair on her head will most likely not grow back. She also appears to have been significantly malnourished for much of her life.

The father has reportedly admitted to the crimes, although official charges have not yet been set.

Police officials have been aware of Xiao Li for some time however. They had previously ordered Yang to take her to a hospital following the boiling water incident. Yang told police that he done so in an attempt to get rid of hair lice. The matter was never followed up on though, and the abuse continued for some time after that.

Local authorities have waved Xiao Li's medical costs, as well as begun organizing a psychological treatment program for her. Government official Chen Yuefang adds that they are looking for guardians to care for her, and has promised that authorities will be more alert in future to prevent a similar incident.