NC Child Abuse Causes Death

A recent autopsy report confirmed that an 18-month-old Henderson, NC toddler died because of abuse inflicted by her stepfather. The toddler, Destini Bullock, was abused by Dontavious Washington, 23, who is now charged with felony child abuse and officials plan to file homicide charges. According to WRAL, Bullock went into cardiac arrest in May 2011 and was taken to UNC Children's Hospital in Chapel Hill where she died. Initial reports stated that her caregiver accidentally dropped her, but the autopsy found the cause of death was blunt-force trauma.

Child Abuse or Neglect Cases in NC

Child abuse in North Carolina is preventable. Reports from 2008's NC Child Fatality Prevention team indicate there were 2 deaths that year attributed to child abuse. How can you report child abuse in NC? Although there are no criminal penalties for failing to do so, all citizens are required to report cases of suspected child abuse or neglect. This does not mean that those who fail to report abuse are exempt from prosecution. If someone is found guilty of not reporting child abuse or neglect, they could be charged with a misdemeanor. Child Protective Services (CPS) reviews cases of suspected abuse and neglect and offers in-home counseling services to help children stay with their families. When necessary, CPS removes children from the abusive home and matches them with a nurturing family.

CPS and Child Abuse Lawyers

Child abuse and neglect cases are not always physical like the recent death of Destini Bullock. CPS offers programs that assist low-income families in their efforts to provide a healthy environment for children. Some families are unable to afford heating in the winter and cooling systems in the summer, which means the children are being neglected and may suffer health problems because of inadequate home environments. Families in this situation also have a hard time paying food bills. So that children aren't neglected of the proper nutrition, CPS offers federally-funded assistance programs that help parents and caregivers provide meals for their children.

Raleigh Abuse Attorneys

If you know of a family who is not providing the proper home or meals for their children, or if you suspect they are physically abusing kids, contact CPS and a child abuse lawyer at Brent Adams & Associates to learn about available actions to change the victim's exposure to abuse.