Last July, a 34-year-old father from Hopkins dropped his 2-year-old son off with a relative and gave unusual instructions: Do not change his diaper, and do not apply sunscreen.
The relative quickly sensed something was wrong. The toddler, who had been walking, was now crawling. When she tried to pick him up, he cried out in pain. Days later, a child protection investigator observed bruising on the child’s leg and noticed he struggled to stand.
Medical records confirmed a fractured tibia. The bone had already begun to heal, meaning this 2-year-old had been living with a broken leg for as long as 10 days. His father said the injury came from falling off a small trampoline, but medical findings did not match that explanation.
The man was just charged with malicious punishment of a child.
This heartbreaking case reflects painful truths.
- Child abuse is more common than people realize. Each year, at least 5,000 children are confirmed victims of abuse. Picture that for a moment. If those children stood in a single line, it would stretch more than 2 miles.
- Most abuse happens in a child’s own home, at the hands of a caregiver. While abuse in foster care, day care or schools often makes headlines, those cases are far less common. The majority of perpetrators are a child’s biological parents.
- Because abuse happens behind closed doors, mandated reporters are critical. About 80% of reports to child protection come from teachers, doctors and other mandated reporters — but anyone can make a report.
Know the signs. Trust your instincts. If you see something that concerns you, contact law enforcement, your county child protection agency or your local tribe to discuss it.
When adults speak up, children have a chance to be seen and protected.