Domestic Violence and Child Murder: Red Flags
Abusers are gaming the legal system and children are paying the price — their lives.
Why are so many children still murdered by parents and/or family with histories of domestic violence when the red flags are right in front of us? The case of 8-year old Autumn Hallow in Minnesota was anything but justice:
“The last call made to police regarding suspected abuse and neglect of young Autumn was within two weeks from Autumn’s death.”
Ms. Kruse, Autumn’s mother, had a protective order (type of restraining order) against Autumn’s stepmother, who is implicated in Autumn’s death. In the months leading up to Autumn ‘s murder, many other calls were made to child protective services and police regarding concerns about suspected abuse and neglect.
According to the Center for Judicial Excellence, which tracks information on crimes of post-separation child murder:
From 2008 to today, 762 children in the United States have been murdered, many by a divorcing or separating parent with a history of domestic violence.
