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A wife learned her long lost daughter was pregnant with her dad's child by reading about the alleged incestuous affair in one of her other children's journals, it has been claimed.

Steven Pladl, 42, left his wife to start a relationship with 20-year-old Katie Pladl, who has now reportedly borne his child.

Steven told his other children that they should start referring to their eldest sibling as their "step-mom", according to court documents.

The couple are now facing criminal charges after police uncovered the horrendous scandal.

(Image: Collect Unknown)

Katie, who was given up for adoption at birth in 1998, decided to track down her biological parents when she turned 18.

(Image: Copyright unknown)

(Image: Instagram)

Within months of meeting her parents, her mum had moved out of the family home with her two children.

Katie's mum told police that Steven had begun "sleeping on Katie's floor", according to court documents.

Then in May 2017, the wife read in one of her other children's journals that Katie was pregnant and Steven was the father.

It was around this time that the couple moved around 150 miles together to Knightdale, North Carolina, and Steven reportedly told his wife that he planned to marry to his daughter.

(Image: Collect Unknown)

In November police were informed of the relationship and issued warrants for their arrest.

One of Katie's Instagram photos, posted in July last year, shows her heavily pregnant and kissing her dad by a lake. The caption suggests it was their 'wedding day'.

"Nothing fancy, just love #justmarried #simplewedding #pregnancy," she wrote.

The oldest comments underneath the snap appear to be from people who had no idea about the couple's biological link.

(Image: Instagram/your_local_amateur)

One friend wrote: "Happy for you Kate", while another simply added the word 'congrats' accompanied by a heart emoji.

A photo, posted on January 18, shows Steven feeding a baby boy, believed to be their son who was born in September last year.

It is captioned: "Eat, spit it out, be merry. First feeding, #firstsolidfood #baby #fatherandson."

(Image: Collect Unknown)

Kate reportedly first contacted her biological parents through social media when she turned 18 years old.

The family arranged her to come and visit them in Richmond, West Virginia, in August 2016 and she met the Pladl's and her two younger siblings.

(Image: Wake County Sheriff) (Image: Wake County Sheriff)

A baby boy, believed to be Steven and Katie's son, was found with them when they were picked up by police last week.

He is believed to have been born last September and Katie posted a picture of a baby boy on her Facebook page around that time with the caption "Carolina air".