Tammy Lerner grew up in a big, close-knit family in central Pennsylvania. Everyone lived near one another, celebrated holidays together, and respected the elders as the strong-willed heads of the extended household. When some family members heard allegations that young Tammy and a couple of cousins were being sexually abused by two of their uncles, they protected their kin. The accused abusers, that is.  READ MORE HERE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The man accused in the violent beating of a 2-year-old child was indicted by a grand jury on 12 counts Friday.Albuquerque police said they arrested Diego Gonzales in February 2012 after his girlfriend called to report severe injuries to her 2-year-old girl. The young child was rushed to the hospital and survived her injuries. READ MORE HERE

‘Most Beautiful Teen’ Facebook Contest Concern

A South Carolina mother pled guilty to killing both her toddler sons. On August 15, 2010, Shaquan Duley suffocated her one-year-old son Devean and her two-year-old son Ja’Van and placed them in her car before driving it into the river. Duley put her sons in their car seats, drove to a boat ramp, placed her car in neutral, and sent it into the North Edisto River. READ MORE HERE

A FORMER teacher who groomed and sexually assaulted a boy at a notorious private school more than two decades ago was jailed today. Mark Standish, 48, also known as Alex, was locked up for four years for abusing Anthony Hudson between 1988 and 1989. Standish was working at Crookham Court School in Thatcham at the time and his victim was just 14-years-old.  READ MORE HERE

Child Abuse Issues (Dec 13, 2011)

Senate Committee Health, Education, Labor and Pensions | Children and Families

TITUSVILLE — A Brevard County father and his girlfriend face serious child abuse charges after police said they found the man’s son locked in a bathroom, lying on the floor and extremely malnourished. Michael Marshall, 38, and his live-in girlfriend, Sharon Glass, 48, were arrested late Thursday afternoon. Titusville police said they received a report about the child’s living conditions. They said the boy had been kept in a cage within a closet, strapped to a bed or locked in the bathroom for days or weeks at a time over the last year. Police said the boy is approximately 13 years old, and weighed only 40 pounds when they found him. READ MORE HERE

Families dealing with child neglect and abuse often go through lengthy and emotional struggles when dealing with Child Protective Services. But, the question remains: Should CPS be able to take children away at their own discretion, without a court order? Changes could be coming as a review of CPS practices is underway.  Police have to get a warrant if they want to search your house. Detectives have to get a court order to seize your property. But, in Kern County, Child Protective Services does not seek court orders or warrants when removing children from their parents. READ MORE HERE

A woman who locked her 14-year-old son in a squalid trailer and fed him just a few times a week has been jailed for three years. Amanda Jolliff, 37, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and child abuse after police found the boy living in a rodent-infested mobile home in Erie, Colorado. READ MORE HERE

Death of 15-yo, Anne Kasprzak, found in Jordan River ‘isolated act,’ police say

UTAH–Saturday night, Kasprzak said family members searched that area, but found nothing. They assumed that her phone battery had died in that area. They continued to search for her until about 5 a.m. Sunday, she said. The girl’s body was pulled from the Jordan River near 12600 South Sunday afternoon after police responded to reports of suspicious activity in the area earlier in the day. A bloody sneaker was found on a pedestrian bridge. A shoe found with Anne’s body after she was pulled from the water matched the other on the bridge. She was last seen wearing a red flannel shirt and blue jeans. READ MORE HERE