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Pediatrician Accused of Waterboarding On Prosecutors Radar

Melvin Morse, Del. State Police

Pediatrician Dr. Melvin Morse, who is facing charges of child endangerment for allegedly waterboarding his 11 year-old step daughter, was on the radar of authorities as far back as 2007.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that prosecutors confirmed that he came to the attention of authorities after he sent “a disturbing” greeting card to his stepdaughter.

The paper reports that it implied a sexual relationship with the girl who was then 15.

Joe Hurley, the pediatrician’s attorney, dismissed the card written to the stepdaughter when she was in a residential treatment program.

He said it was an example of his client’s hyperbolic writing style that is misunderstood.

Morse and his wife Pauline waived their rights to a preliminary hearing.

The case now goes to Superior Court.  

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.