Articles Posted in Child Abuse/Neglect

WBTV recently reported that a 7-year-old girl was nearly abducted. On Saturday, March 31, 2012, the police responded to an emergency on Long Creek Drive. Some reported that a little girl was snatched by a man while she was playing. Witnesses told the investigators that a man picked up the small girl and ran behind the apartment building. Fortunately, the girl knew enough to scream for help and the man put her down and fled the scene.

Police now have a description of the suspect. He is described as a Hispanic male, between the ages of 25 and 30, with dark spikey hair. Since the incident has happened, investigators are taking it seriously and are vigorously investigating the case, but they have yet to arrest anyone for the attempted abduction.

Nearly two months ago, the WFMY News in Greensboro, North Carolina reported an attempted abduction of another small girl in Georgia that had parents on high alert. The report emphasized that parents should be diligent about teaching their children how to avoid being abducted. Since the recent attempted abduction of the 7-year-old on Long Creek Drive, Charlotte parents could benefit from teaching their kids about how to detect danger and how to avoid it.

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According to a recent report by WBTV, a Charlotte, North Carolina, woman has been charged with multiple counts of child abuse after being caught on camera injecting something into her daughter’s IV in the hospital. Ladonna Parlier, 26, was arrested after police determined that she had abused her 5-month-old daughter on several occasions. The little girl remains in stable condition at Carolina Medical Center-Main. On the night of Wednesday, February 3, 2012, police were called to the hospital after officials caught her “aspirat[ing] blood from [the infant] and then [inject] some unknown substance into the victim with syringes, while both of them were staying in the same room.”

After a combined investigation with the Department of Social Services, the police charged Parlier with child abuse. It was unclear from the article why the 5-month-old was in the hospital in the first place, but the police had been investigating Parlier for child abuse allegations prior to the hospitalization of the victim.

Parlier’s family is in shock that she could be accused of such a heinous crime. Her husband, Tim, said, “I can’t point fingers at her, point all the blame, but waking up this morning learning new stuff… I can’t rule it out.” Tim also revealed that after the baby was born, Parlier was prescribed antidepressants, but at the time of the incident she had stopped taking them. Her brother also expressed his shock and confusion about the charges that his sister is now facing. He said, “Right now we’re confused, because we thought she would not do anything of this nature… I don’t think there’s anything in the world that she loved more than that baby.”

When Parlier was arrested, she was charged with five counts of child abuse inflicting serious injury, which are felony counts, and five counts of child neglect, which are misdemeanors. Her bond is set at $137,500. She is supposed to appear in court this Friday, February 10, 2012, which will be her first court appearance since her arrest.

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According to a recent report by WFMY News, seven people were arrested after a child was found locked in a room at a home in Thomasville, North Carolina. A woman called the Thomasville Police and told them that she had been kidnapped and assaulted by her boyfriend. Officers responded and conducted an investigation and issued several warrants, including one for the woman’s boyfriend, Joshua Reed. Upon a search of the location, police located several other suspects, marijuana and prescription drugs. They also found several children inside the home including a small child locked inside a room. The home was in disarray so investigators called in the Davidson County Department of Social Services and removed the children. The police have charged five people with a number of charges including kidnapping, assault, possession of marijuana and child neglect.

North Carolina defines a neglected child as a one who is denied adequate “care, supervision, or discipline” by a parent or guardian. The North Carolina Division of Social Services provides a list of signs to look for in a child to determine if they are suffering from neglect. If the child begs for food, lacks medical or dental care, does not have appropriate clothing for the weather or abuses alcohol or other drugs; then it is likely that the child has been or is being neglected. There are also signs to look for in parents. If the parent seems apathetic or depressed, behaves in a bizarre manner or abuses alcohol, then it is possible that the parent is abusing or neglecting his or her children.

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