A woman has been jailed for the systematic sexual abuse of her own children, including broadcasting live pictures of them to an international internet pedophile ring. The 31-year-old was sentenced to a maximum 18 years in jail with a non-parole period of 13 years. She, along with her 51-year-old husband and another man, was arrested in November 2010 and admitted to a series of charges relating to the sustained sexual abuse of the couple’s son and daughter, aged 12 and 11. READ MORE HERE
A convicted sex offender is caught allegedly writing letters to at least a dozen fourth grade students in Houston. As it turns out, investigators say, the children’s teacher is the one who initiated the whole thing. Now that teacher is out of a job and the school’s principal is being punished. Rickey Rowlett was in the Comal County Jail on a child molestation charge during the time investigators say he exchanged letters with elementary school students in Houston. READ MORE HERE
An Indiana man is working to put an end to bullying with the help of an unusual toy. Creator Mark Little says “Ugly Ted” the bear is made fun of for his looks, but is still staying positive. Little came up with the idea for ted to try and teach kids about bullying and show that true beauty comes from within.
“With Ugly Ted you see that message, and hopefully people start realizing that we have to start paying attention to this, it’s a growing epidemic,” Little says. Each stuffed bear comes with different stories of Ted’s life, which include being picked on and being orphaned. Little says he want kids to take those stories to school to help make them a better and safer place. Manufacturers are working to make some of Ugly Ted’s new friends come to life as well. Ted and his books are set to hit select stores in late July.
Each Ugly Ted costs $17 and is currently sold online at www.UglyTed.com. A portion of Ugly Ted sales are donated to Dreamcatchers for Abused Children and the Megan Meier Foundation.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A mother who was rescued from a house fire that killed four of her children was charged Friday with setting the fire, but authorities would say little about how or why. Bobbie Kugler, 31, was scheduled to be arraigned in Rochester City Court Saturday on four counts of manslaughter and arson, Fire Chief John Caufield said at a news conference. Kugler is the mother of 14-year-old Gage Reavey, 13-year-old Greg Kugler, 12-year-old Kandee Kugler and 6-year-old Kaiden Kugler. All died in the Feb. 18 fire in their two-story Rochester home. READ MORE HERE
Daniel Trey Horne (24) of Clarkton, NC, was arrested twice recently and charged with impersonating an Emergency Medical Services employee, and, taking indecent liberties with a minor. Those two separate incidents involving Horne caught the attention of the Bladen County Sherriff’s Office in North Carolina – although Horne is currently free on bond. READ MORE HERE
Couple on the run after being charged with murdering 9-month-old baby who died of heroin and cocaine overdose
A couple have gone on the run after being charged with the murder of their 9-month-old nephew who died after a cocaine and heroin overdose. Oscar Rivera, 34, and Viameri Santana-Berrious, 27, both from Philadelphia, have been charged with the death of Milton Galarza-Rojas. Last July 29 medics were called to a home in Philadelphia with reports of a child having difficulty breathing. READ MORE HERE
A man charged with possessing child pornography allegedly told police he started collecting the images of children as young as six after watching an episode of America’s Most Wanted. Nathan J. Zielske, 48, was allegedly caught with 2,000 images and 113 videos showing young children being raped and abused. Police said Zielske even replaced an assailant’s face with his own picture and one victim’s face with that of another child from a school portrait using photo editing software. READ MORE HERE
Oxford child sex trafficking probe widens as number of ‘victims’ doubles to 50 girls, some as young as 11
A suspected sex trafficking ring in which girls as young as 11 were allegedly targeted was far larger than previously feared, according to police. As many as 50 young girls have come forward claiming to have been sold for sex in Oxford, detective confirmed today. It was originally thought that 24 girls, aged between 11 and 16 years, were the only victims but more youngsters have since contacted the police alleging they were also victims. READ MORE HERE
Federal agents have searched the campus office of former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine as part of the investigation of child molestation allegations against him, according to a law enforcement official. Fine’s office at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center was searched early Tuesday morning, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it’s an ongoing investigation. READ MORE HERE
Fresno, CA – Megan Denman, a 29-year-old teacher at Hoover High School in Fresno has been jailed after she allegedly had sex with a student. According to Fresno police, Denman performed oral sex on and slept with a student under the age of 18. READ MORE HERE
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – Adult Survivors Of Child Abuse
Trauma specialists believe that “what is most tragic about child abuse and neglect is the exploitation of the child’s attachment to the parent.” To be sure, it is far easier to abuse one’s own children, precisely because their love and loyalty to the parent render them much more compliant than they would be to a stranger. It is exactly this attachment exploitation that teaches children they are not safe in a relationship to other human beings. Physical abuse itself does not cause trouble. Most people have had physical injuries, fractures or burns during childhood due to purely accidental causes and they have not been harmed by it because they have been comforted and cared for by good caregivers at the time of the incident. Damage comes when the injuries are inflicted by those to who one looks for love and protection, and there is no relief from the trauma. It is the emotional and psychological setting in which the sexual maltreatment occurs, and with whom it has occurred, that makes the difference and causes lasting damage. READ MORE HERE
First Annual Candlelight Vigil in the State of Oklahoma, Sunday April 15 @ 7:00pm! Event will be held at the beautiful COLE’S GARDEN! Fox 25 will be covering our Candlelight vigil with our National Spokeswoman, Debbie Splawn~Bunch!! There will be an amazing group of volunteers, speakers, performer and preacher….. Don’t miss it!! It will be life changing!!!
Man sentenced to life for child rape
72-year-old was already convicted sex offender
FALL RIVER, Mass. – A 72-year-old sex offender was sentenced to life in prison Thursday, after he was convicted of raping a Fall River boy. The Bristol County District Attorney’s office said Palermo Alicea was also found guilty of child rape as a habitual offender. READ MORE HERE
Kendrick was 9 when a 41-year-old relative asked her a poignant question, “Can you keep a secret?” That secret included rape, unwanted touching and sodomy. The abuse went on for six years. Sometimes her family wasn’t at home. Other times her brother and sister were outside playing.Her demeanor changed. READ MORE HERE
DREAMCATCHERS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN, INC. is an official non-profit 501(c)3 child abuse & neglect organization. Our mission is to educate the public on all aspects of child abuse such as symptoms, intervention, prevention, statistics, reporting, and helping victims locate the proper resources necessary to achieve a full recovery. We also cover areas such as bullying, teen suicide & prevention, children\'s rights, child trafficking, missing & exploited children, online safety, and pedophiles/sex offenders.