Alabama Man Has Been Taken Into Custody After 18-Month-Old Toddler Dies from Extensive Injuries
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a 28-year-old man was arrested on December 17 and is being charged for suspected child abuse after his girlfriend’s 18-month-old daughter had been found dead. The young girl had been taken to DCH Regional Medical Center at approximately 3 a.m. on December 17 due to the fact that she had not been breathing. The young girl was able to be briefly revived but passed away soon after. The body had been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery in order to receive an autopsy. According to the autopsy report that had come back, the young girl had suffered from extensive injuries prior to her death.
Case Investigation:
Officers who had felt that the death of the child was suspicious made their way to the hospital to investigate and found reason to believe that child abuse could be contributed to her death. One of these officers who were suspicious of the cause of death was Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unity Captain Jack Kennedy.
The Tuscaloosa Police got in contact with the Violent Crimes Unit after drawing their conclusion, sending the unit to investigate and search the child’s residence at Hay Court, as well as her medical records. Joseph Earl Jenkins, the 28-year-old man in question that had been in a relationship with the child’s mother, had been taken into custody that night at 7 p.m. and has now been charged with capital murder. He is now being held without bond. It is possible for there to be more charges put onto Jenkins as the investigation continues, as there were other children in the home.
Multiple agencies worked together all day to resolve this case, including Tuscaloosa Police Department Criminal Investigations Division (CID), The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Mortuary Transport Unit, Druid City Hospital (DCH), Tuscaloosa County Department of Human Resources (DHR), the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS), and the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s Office.
Lessons to Learn:
This story coming to light is a reminder to many of us of how harsh this world can be, and the things that happen within our world are happening, even if we don’t want it to happen. Child neglect, abuse, and death are three things that we have a hard time swallowing and understanding that it is a very real issue in our world. It is so common that 1 in 10 children have experienced neglect in their lives. Sometimes, it can be very difficult to spot child abuse, but if you know the signs of abuse and neglect, it can become much easier to spot a child that is in need of your help and to know what to do to help that child.
How to Recognize Child Abuse/Neglect:
The first thing to understand is what neglect is in the first place. Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet the basic needs of a child, and it is considered the most common form of child abuse. These forms of neglect can come in the form of leaving a child hungry or dirty, without proper clothing, shelter, supervision, or health care. All of these things are enough to put children and younger people in danger and have long-term effects on both their physical and mental well beings. Other types of neglect include educational neglect, where a child is not offered or given the education that they need; emotional neglect, where a child does not get the nurturing or the emotional stimulation that they need, with this coming in the forms of ignoring, humiliating, intimidating, or isolating them; and medical neglect, where a child is not given proper health care, such as dental care and refusing or ignoring medical advice from professionals.
With these types of neglect in mind, it can become more apparent and easier to spot if you believe that a child is being neglected by a parent. While having a sign of neglect does not necessarily mean that the child is being neglected, having multiple signs that last for a long period of time can show that there is a serious problem.
A poor appearance or hygiene is one of the signs of possible neglect. This can include the child being smelly or looking dirty, being hungry or not being given any money to get food, wearing unwashed clothes, wearing clothing that is not appropriate for the weather in your area, or having frequent or untreated nappy rash if the child is an infant.
Health and development problems in a child is another sign of possible neglect. Children who have these symptoms can be seen with anemia, body issues such as prominent joints or low muscle, medical or dental issues, missed vaccinations or medical appointments, refusal for the child to take the correct medications, poor language or social skills, consistent illness or infections in the body, repeated accidental injuries due to the lack of supervision for the child, skin issues such as sores, rashes, flea bites, scabies, or ringworm, a thin or swollen belly, constant tiredness, untreated injuries, or weight or growth issues.
Housing and family issues may be one of the most obvious signs of possible neglect, especially if the child is in a family that you know or a friend’s family. The home may sometimes be unsuitable through the lack of heating or care, the child may be left alone for long periods of time to fend for themselves, or the child may find themselves forced into the role of a caretaker for other family members despite them still needing to be taken care of themselves.
Finally, you may notice changes in the behavior of a child. Neglected children can often have shifts in how they feel, whether that be through them becoming clingy, aggressive, obsessive, withdrawn, depressed, or anxious, as well as having changes in their eating habits, having a difficult time concentrating or taking part in activities, missing school, showing signs of self-harm, or using drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Many children do not realize or understand that they are being neglected, and it can sometimes be difficult to approach a child and ask them about their home life. However, if the child does reveal to you that they are being abused, it’s important to take the time to listen carefully to what they are saying, let them know that they’ve done the right thing by informing you of their situation, tell them that it’s not their fault and that you take them seriously, explain what you’ll do next, and report what the child has told you to authorities as soon as possible. Most importantly, do not confront the alleged abuser, because sometimes that can make the situation much worse.