FLORIDA – 4-year-old Kissimmee father was arrested Monday after police say he broke his infant son’s thigh bone and lied about how it happened. Jorge Santiago initially told police he was holding his 5-month-old son tucked under his arm. He said he sat down in a chair and reached to pick up a blanket that was on the floor. That’s when heard “a loud ‘pop’ and the baby started to cry about one minute later, a report said. READ MORE HERE

EL DORADO, Kansas — An unlicensed daycare provider has been charged after she confessed to severely burning a toddler with hot water. Mary Ann Garrett faced a Butler County judge Wednesday morning. She is charged with one count of child abuse and one count of interference with law enforcement. The burns stemmed from an incident on October 27. Garrett told detectives then that another toddler at her home daycare had sprayed the boy. But when she was questioned again Monday, the sheriff says Garrett confessed to the crime. A preliminary hearing for Garrett is scheduled for January 15. READ MORE HERE

COLORADO – The four young boys were deprived of sunlight. On Tuesday in Denver District Court the father of the four boys, 67-year-old Wayne Sperling, was sentenced to five years in prison for keeping his sons in a tiny Denver apartment covered in layers of cat and human feces. Decomposing animals were found near the squalid mattress the four boys shared. Sperling accepted a plea agreement on Nov. 13 in Denver District Court. He pleaded guilty to one felony count of child abuse naming all four boys. The original six felony charges were dropped. READ MORE HERE

U.K. — The head of the NSPCC has called for the removal of all child abuse images from the internet. The charity’s chief executive Peter Wanless admitted it would be a “gargantuan task” but claimed “every one of us should feel at least a little guilty” while the problem persists. Last month David Cameron told a child abuse summit that a joint specialist unit run by the National Crime Agency and listening post GCHQ will target the most prolific offenders who are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to hide their true identities and encrypt and share images online. READ MORE HERE

Two children, ages 7- and 8-years-old, are suspected of committing rape. Shocking investigative evidence reportedly proved that the two young boys committed the crimes sometime last year. Brief details about the alleged crimes were released. But, due to the ages of the alleged victims and offenders, no names or specified information has been released. According to Manchester Evening News, the 7-year-old boy allegedly raped a girl “under the age of 13,” and the 8-year-old is suspected of raping a girl “under the age of 16.” The boys are among more than 1,000 minors who allegedly committed crimes in the Greater Manchester area. But, even if they are found guilty, there’s one big problem: They can never be prosecuted for the heinous crimes. READ MORE HERE

Children aged just 7 and 8 suspected of rape

Man arrested in homicide of 2-yo girl

A Seaside man has been accused of aggravated murder in the death of a 2-year-old Seaside girl, Seaside Police Chief David Ham announced Wednesday morning. Randy Lee Roden, 26, will be arraigned at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Clatsop County Circuit Court and the case will be presented to a grand jury. Roden has been held on an unrelated post-prison detainer since Saturday. An autopsy performed Sunday determined Evangelina Wing died of blunt force trauma and the death was ruled a homicide. Other injuries were noted, but not determined to be the cause of death, the news release says. READ MORE HERE

Seaside child died of blunt force trauma, medical examiner rules

LAKELAND – A couple is charged with a crime that Lakeland Assistant Police Chief Mike Link said is one of the worst he’s seen in his 30-year police career. The shocking developments were announced Tuesday at a press conference in Lakeland, where detectives said the duo is charged with murder in the death of an infant child. The 22-day-old baby, Betsey Kee Stephens, was found dead in the couple’s custody after detectives say she starved to death. Ruby, 23, and Roy Stephens, 48, told police they had just arrived in town from Indiana and checked into their motel when they discovered something was wrong. READ MORE HERE

Leelah Alcorn’s suicide note sparks discussion

KINGS MILL, Ohio — While family and friends are grieving the loss of a local teenager, an online firestorm of criticism and debate centering on beliefs and gender identity is spreading across the country. Authorities initially identified the teen as Joshua Alcorn. Ohio Highway Patrol officials said they believe Alcorn might have committed suicide by getting in front of a tractor-trailer Sunday on the southbound lanes of Interstate 71 in Warren County and died. READ MORE HERE

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. — The Henderson County teenager who took her own life last Saturday was laid to rest on the day after Christmas. 16-year old Amber Cornwell’s death sparked a discussion about bullying in the mountains. She’s remembered as a talented girl with a great sense of humor. Amber’s last Facebook post just before her suicide was heartbreaking. She asked if she died that night, “Would anyone cry?” At the visitation at Jackson Funeral Services, a long line answers the East Henderson High student’s question. READ MORE HERE

Girl writes heartbreaking post on Facebook right before death

Amber Cornwell’s Suicide: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

A mother whose infants were found dead amid squalid conditions in her Massachusetts home pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of murder and other charges. Erika Murray, 31 showed no emotion as she quietly answered “not guilty” nine times in Worcester County District court as the charges were read out loud. Besides murder she is charged with neglect, abuse, reckless endangerment, concealing a fetal death and even animal cruelty. READ MORE HERE

Prosecutor: Babies in Erika Murray’s Blackstone home lived one week to a month

Mother in Blackstone case appears to have led a double life

A Crookston man is facing six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for alleged sexual contact with a person younger than 13. Eric John Christianson, 31, made his first appearance at the Polk County District Court Monday, according to court officials. Each of the six counts against him is a felony with a maximum of 30 years in prison, according to a redacted criminal complaint. READ MORE HERE

CHICAGO – Two Crest Hill brothers were arrested at their home Friday morning and charged with possession of child pornography. Andrew Castro, 26, and Levi Castro, 29, both of the 500 block of Theodore Street, were arrested after officers executed a search warrant and seized their computers and electronics from inside the home, said Will County state’s attorney’s office officials in a news release. Investigators were able to identify the computer with an IPO address that linked them to the Theodore Street address.

Beaten girl regained consciousness on Christmas

CANADA – The six-year-old Alberta girl who was nearly beaten to death on the Paul Band First Nation awoke on Christmas Day and asked for Santa Claus. “She said Santa,” elder Taz Bouchier said Friday. “It was her grandmother who heard that word. And she was encouraged to say it again and then she drifted back into her sleep.” The girl had been unconscious since she was found lying naked and severely injured on the reserve west of Edmonton on Dec 20. Bouchier met the girl and her family in the hospital on Christmas Day. READ MORE HERE

License revoked after child molestation charges

EVERETT, Washington— An Everett optometrist’s license has been permanently revoked after state health officials say he sexually abused a 10-year-old girl during an exam. Authorities said John P. O’Brien and the girl were alone in an exam room at Eye Doctors LTD in August when he removed her shirt, touched multiple parts of her body and then took cellphone photos of her face and breasts. READ MORE HERE