MICHIGAN– A 4-month-old Canton boy isn’t expected to survive injuries that led to criminal charges against his father, who has admitted he “messed up bad” following allegations he pushed the infant’s head against the floor of a residence on Michigan Avenue near Sheldon.

An Indiana woman and her fiance have been charged with 16 felonies for severe abuse allegations detailed by her 14-year-old son, who was being questioned by police after running away from home. Tina Louise Graham, 40, and Vernon Widner, 55, stand accused of physically abusing the teen for more than two years, ABC 7 reports. The boy told police he was beaten with a horsewhip and belt, threatened with knives and a gun and locked in a dog cage on multiple occasions.

In 2008, World Vision and other groups worked with Congress to pass an important piece of legislation that protects a basic human value. The law prohibits our government from funding militaries that use children. Unfortunately, it also allowed some loopholes, and for the second year in a row, the Obama Administration has used that opportunity to continue funding militaries using child soldiers. The State Department’s 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report finds that six countries use children in their national militaries. Yet, the US currently gives aid to five of those six countries. In October, the administration offered a partial waiver to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a full waiver to Yemen.

EMINGTON, Ill.– Five people, including three children, were found shot to death at a home in the small Illinois town of Emington in what authorities are calling a murder-suicide. County coroner Michael Burke identified those killed as: 30-year-old Sara McMeen, 29-year-old Daniel Warren, 8-year-old Skyler Lemke, 7-year-old Ian Lemke and 10-month-old Maggie Warren.

The search for 13-year-old Courtney Harshman is now an AMBER ALERT. Courtney was last seen on Sunday, December 18, 2011, at about 4:00 p.m., in Lake Geneva. She is believed to be in the company of the suspect, Jacob T. Cambridge. They may be traveling to an unknown location in a white Honda coupe with Nebraska license plate RUU652. If you see the victim, suspect, or vehicle, call 911 immediately.

LAS VEGAS — Grief counselors were sent to the schools of two teens who shot themselves Wednesday in unrelated attempted suicides. A 13-year-old girl remains in critical condition, but 10-year-old Kameron Asgari died. Asgari’s classmates at Jydstrup Elementary met with counselors to help them come to grips with what happened. Asgari was well liked and had many friends. Grief counselors say the students are now coping with the loss.

LONG BEACH, CA — A gang member was sentenced Monday to 155 years to life in prison in the shooting death of 16-year-old honor student Melody Ross. Ross was shot and killed while attending the Long Beach Wilson High School homecoming game on October 30, 2009. 18-year-old Tom Love Vinson was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder and one count of attempted voluntary manslaughter.

During the holiday season, please consider donating time, money or gifts to give others a chance to have a wonderful Christmas. Please take the time to explore ways to give back during this holiday season…A little bit goes a long way!! Dreamcatchers for Abused Children is an official nonprofit 501(c)3 child abuse & neglect organization. All donations and in-kinds are 100% tax-deductible. Please consider giving the gift that keeps on giving….Abused children need your help!!

A CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer is needed to serve as a “Baby CASA” for 1½-year-old “Isabella.” Child Protective Services (CPS) removed Isabella from her mother because the home she was living in – which included five adults and eight children – was filthy and unsafe, with shards of metal and other sharp objects accessible to the little girl both inside and in the yard of the home. Piles of garbage were also found throughout the home. In addition, the mother exposed Isabella to domestic violence when she took the baby to visit her boyfriend, who once assaulted Isabella and also had weapons in his home. The mother had a history of substance abuse dating back to when she was 11 years old, as well. The father was unable to parent Isabella because of several pending criminal charges due to his violent nature.

The Columbia Falls Police Department investigated a report of suspected child abuse Saturday evening, with a 14-month-old child in a hospital emergency room with a traumatic head injury. A worker with Child Protective Services reported the suspected abuse and told police the child could have a brain bleed and has numerous bruises.

Madaline Grace Reynolds needed medicine to treat her cystic fibrosis, but her parents seemed more interested in getting their own prescriptions filled, a tipster told a Kentucky child-protection worker in November 2008. Madaline’s parents always picked up their own pills, including pain pills, but sometimes went months without getting medicine needed by the 20-month-old Lincoln County toddler, according to a state report.

An Evangelical church pastor was arrested on December 17 near Orlando FL on five counts of sexual battery on a child. Arnold Mathis (40) remains in custody at a Polk County facility after being arrested at his home in Winterhaven. The alleged perpetrator of the crimes is scheduled to appear before a local court later this week, having now secured a court-appointed defense attorney.

WATERVILLE, Maine — Maine police appealed Sunday for the public’s help in finding a toddler who has been missing from herWaterville home since a family member saw her asleep in her bed Friday night. Federal, state and local officials were helping in the search for 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds.

UNION, S.C. — Union County deputies say a man has been charged with homicide by child abuse after the 9-month-old girl he was babysitting died from injuries suffered in his care. Investigators said the girl was taken to the hospital last week with bruises on her face and died Friday from a fractured skull.