On Monday Autumn Hallow, 8, was suffocated by her father and stepmother after being starved, punctured, and beaten for months. She weighed 45 pounds and her hair had come out.
The Star Tribune reported it on the last page of the Metro section.
There was no public outcry or demand for reform.
Let’s not resign ourselves to the status quo. Other states are strengthening their child protection efforts, particularly to identify children currently hidden by COVID-19.
For example Allegheny County Pennsylvania is training mail carriers and retail workers to identify abuse, and New Jersey teachers are giving children a “safe word” to signal distress.
Perhaps one of these strategies would have found Autumn in time.
Email Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan here with this message:
Remember Autumn Hallow. Please make finding child maltreatment victims hidden by the pandemic part of your COVID-19 plan.