GROVE CITY — A hearing is set next month for a borough couple accused of abusing the husband's 2-year-old daughter so badly that the girl ended up hospitalized with life- threatening injuries, authorities said.

A physician at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh told Grove City police that the girl also appeared to have been malnourished, according to court documents.

Bruce A. Perryman Jr., 33, and Samantha L. Perryman, 25, remain in the Mercer County Jail on $50,000 bail each.

Police arrested the suspects March 12. The defendants are charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault and child endangerment, both felonies.

The police investigation began Jan. 3 after Samantha Perryman took her stepdaughter to Grove City Medical Center. The child was unresponsive and had severe head injuries and including bleeding on the brain.

Perryman claimed the girl had fallen from a booster seat the night before and accidentally hit her head, documents said.

A Grove City Medical Center physician was suspicious of the woman's account and notified police.

The girl, police said, also appeared to have other less serious injuries to her face, arms and legs. Additionally, an examination at the hospital found she was underweight and malnourished.

Police noted that the medical staff classified her injuries as “life threatening.”

The girl subsequently was taken to Children's Hospital, where she was placed in intensive care. She remains in critical condition.

The Perrymans are to face their preliminary hearings April 8 before District Judge D. Neil McEwen of Pine Township.

Attorney Mark D. Freeman of Media, Delaware County, is listed in court papers as representing Bruce Perryman. Public defender Raymond Harry Bogaty is Samantha Perryman's counsel.

Neither defense attorney returned a telephone call Thursday.