Common Factors in Child Homicides/Murders

  Children being reported as missing/kidnapped to cover a crime in the home. Children under 4 are at greatest risk of death by violence in the home and 46% of these children are 1 and under by national statistics. Infants can not take as much force as older children therefore are the greater risk. Infants also cry more and are more needy then older children. Approximately 1500 children die in United States every year and about 690 are 1 and under. Infants kidnapped as of 2010 4 all returned to the families with out harm this is out of 850,000 kidnapped/missing children reported.


  When a child under 4 years of age is reported missing the most likely suspect is violence within the home. Children 1 and under are at greatest risk of abuse int he home. Often there is substance abuse,low income,under educated, full time parent
that often is described as a wonderful parent by friends and or family. In most cases there is previous abuse and or neglect that has gone unreported. Most family members and friends can not accept the fact a child was murdered and will often defend the murderer. This denial is what ends up allowing the numbers of child homicide due to abuse to raise no one wants to think their child, sister, friend, neighbor could actually harm a child.


  Kidnappings do happen ussually an infant that is kidnapped is 6 weeks or younger. 1 out of 4 times there is violence towards the mother. Very often they are stolen from a hospital setting by a female pretending to be the nurse, or the home by a female pretending to be with child protective. These babies are stolen due to a phsycological need for a child they are often driven by deceptive pregnancies, miscarriage and or loss of a child. These women are often found within the first week i  have have see a few cases that went well into 6 weeks.
  Often you will see friends and or family supporting the family member who has comitted a crime against a child. You will here  deceptive descriptions such as he or she was a great parent, loving, adored their child. I have even seen the family of the murderer harass threaten the family of the murdered child. Denying their family member would ever do such a thing however the man is serving time for his actions toward a 10 month old. Who by his family loved with all his heart, as he were his own,would never harm him, and yet somehow this baby is still dead at the hands of a 23 year old man in charge of his care.


  Substance abuse alcohol and drugs often plays a role in these cases. Many times a person claims to have done these things while drunk or high. Other times it comes out in the investigations that alcohol or drugs were present during the crime. Some are found in the autopsy of the child while others admit using or abusing during the moment in question.