CHILD ABUSE

Beginning Saturday morning on March 11, ChildSafe will distribute Cardboard Kids across Bexar County to empower families to discuss child abuse.

Boerne Police Chief Steve Pérez said 74-year-old Michael Spiller bonded out of Kendall County Jail late Tuesday morning on a charge of indecency with a child.

A San Antonio police officer was indicted by a Kendall County grand jury earlier this year on multiple felony charges of child abuse, court files and termination paperwork obtained by KSAT Investigates confirm.

Rallies were held in cities across the U.S. including here in San Antonio for Melissa Lucio, a death row inmate facing execution on April 27th. Supporters argue the mother of 14 is innocent.

Associate Judge Raul Perales will hear CPS cases involving child abuse, neglect and domestic violence.

Law enforcement agencies, community leaders, child welfare agencies and families expressed frustration Friday during a Child Abuse Awareness event at the Bexar County Courthouse.

San Antonio Metro Health launched a parent education program as part of a broader effort to combat family violence in the community.

The newest report for child fatalities brings bitter sweet news for children in our state, 199 Texas children died in 2021, the number dropped when compared to previous years. The number of children who died by child abuse in Bexar County did not change from 13.

ChildSafe worked to meet the list of standards set by the Ecumenical Center to officially become certified for their use of trauma-informed care when treating abused children.

Police say they have a person of interest in the case and are awaiting autopsy results.

On the heels of two child deaths in San Antonio, allegedly from abuse, KSAT is taking a look at new laws passed last year that affect abuse and Child Protective Services cases.

Families and advocates against child abuse coming together tonight to call for changes to reporting and investigating alleged abuse.

Days after two children died after alleged child abuse in San Antonio, prevention advocates rallied the community to inspire change.

Bexar County child abuse prevention advocates are calling on the community to speak up if they witness instances of abuse after two children were pronounced dead in separate cases in which parents were arrested.

Community leaders are raising awareness about the trauma experienced for a child after being removed from a home due to abuse.

A Guadalupe County court-at-law judge said he prays his name and reputation will be restored, days after prosecutors in Hays County declined to move forward with felony child abuse charges against him.

A woman was arrested Friday after doctors at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio reported her for suspected child abuse, according to San Antonio police.

The grandmother of a 5-year-old boy who was killed, allegedly at the hands of his mother’s boyfriend, is raising awareness about child abuse and the need for grandparents to have better rights when it comes down to child abuse cases.

A San Antonio mother and stepfather have been charged in the death of a five-year-old boy whose remains are believed to have been found at the bottom of a ravine in Colorado earlier this week, court records obtained by the KSAT 12 Defenders show.

A Guadalupe County court-at-law judge was “heavily intoxicated” and in an enraged state when he forced his way into a home, striking his baby son with a door, arrest affidavits released to the KSAT 12 Defenders show.

Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1578 into law last week, which focuses on situations where the child's injury might actually be a medical illness.

The law mandates CPS investigators to verbally remind people under investigation they have the right to record conversations and appeal investigation results.

Twenty-three foster care children in Texas have died the past 21 months while in state custody, according to a massive report filed Tuesday as part of a decade-old federal lawsuit.

Patty Ojeda says her grandson, Josiah Williams, would be 14 years old now if he hadn’t died at the age of 5 from abuse and neglect at the hands of his father, step-mother and step-grandmother, who are all serving prison time.

Data released this month by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services shows an increase in child abuse and neglect deaths in 2020, a jump from the previous two years.

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio child advocacy group is stressing the importance of child abuse awareness after police saved a severely emaciated 9-year-old girl from a couple this past week. “My 5-year-old son, who was premature and is small for his age, is 35 pounds -- not a 9-year-old girl,” Anderson said. “A 9-year-old girl should not be 35 pounds.”Dr. Mandie Svatek, a pediatrician with UT Health San Antonio, agrees. San Antonio police said Lakendra Williams, the girl’s mother, called 911 and told dispatchers that the child had passed out and was cold to the touch. Child Abuse CasesIf you or someone you know is dealing with child abuse, follow the links below for resources:REPORT CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT TO THE STATE BY CLICKING HERE.

SAN ANTONIO – A newly-proposed state bill aims to hold more people accountable for violence against children. There was a grandmother, there was a friend, a neighbor,” said former investigator and child abuse advocate Carrie Wilcoxon. Wilcoxon used her decades-long career in child abuse advocacy, casework and investigation to draft HB 1009, which would strengthen the penalty for people with actual knowledge of serious child abuse, who never report it. Wilcoxon pointed out statistics of the people that report child abuse, saying, “Your top three are your medical, law enforcement, and teachers. If you suspect or have direct knowledge of child abuse, report it now.

SAN ANTONIO - – According to Childsafe, 90% of child sex assault victims stay silent -- something that Kenneth Anderlitch understands. “Last year we saw 5,200 plus clients, and 76% of them were sexual abuse cases,” said Maliha Imami of Childsafe. She is working hand-in-hand with Anderlitch, who is about to run 223 miles to raise money for the care center. He said the work and planning will be worth it, knowing he is helping break the cycle of sexual abuse, stigma and unearned shame. “99% of the perpetrators are known and trusted by the child,” Imami said.

KIRBY, Texas – Five years after his father severely beat him, a Kirby boy has died, and his father now faces a capital murder charge, police say. The 38-year old man was convicted of child abuse in 2019 and sentenced to three years in prison. But he says child abuse happens everywhere and urges parents to seek help or step back if they feel frustrated with their child. And kids, unfortunately, suffer, you know, for no reason whatsoever other than to just cry.”If you suspect child abuse, report it to the state by calling 210-252-5400. KSAT held a special town hall meeting last month, click here to learn more about how you can help stop child abuse.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. – A Trolls doll is being pulled off store shelves amid complaints it promotes child abuse. An online petition suggests the doll is “conditioning our children to think pedophilia is OK.”“This is not okay for a child’s toy! That it’s fun when someone touches your private area?”The petition is addressed to major retailers including Target, Walmart and Amazon. Some Facebook and Twitter users have shared videos of the doll that show where the button is placed and the sounds the doll makes when it is pushed. Many social media users who have posted videos also note that the doll’s packaging doesn’t indicate that there is such a button.

FBI program uses public’s help to fight child sex abuseTheir case is ongoing, but the mother wanted to share their story to help other children. Room Redux anonymously transforms the rooms of children who have faced physical or sexual abuse in one day. “We get our referrals from counselors, CPS caseworkers, communities, schools, law enforcement,” said Room Redux CEO Susie Vybiral. Room Redux started in 2017 and now has chapters all over the country. If you want to request a room transformation, sign up to volunteer or learn more about the nonprofit, head to the Room Redux website.

After two abuse investigations, Texas’ child welfare workers did not remove the child from the home. Top-priority child abuse investigations are supposed to be initiated within 24 hours, but nearly a third weren’t. Seventy-nine percent of priority one and two child abuse investigations were not completed on time. State workers “inappropriately downgraded” dozens of abuse allegations against staff of residential child care centers, failing to investigate workers accused of hurting children. These “inappropriate downgrades of referrals represent a significant, systemic failure that increases the risk of serious harm to children,” the monitors’ report states.

STOCKDALE, Texas – One of three children who was hospitalized after being found severely malnourished and covered in feces early last week has been released from the hospital. 3 children in critical condition, found severely malnourished in Wilson County homeA Wilson County Sheriff’s Office investigator said an older child in the home reported the abuse Tuesday by sending a text message to 911. A Wilson County sheriff’s investigator said Friday it appears the man was no longer living there when they began investigating earlier this week. The 16-month-old, who was described as severely malnourished and weighs 12 pounds, had sunken eyes, pale skin and was unable to stand on her own, records show. The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating and have yet to make any arrests.

3 children in critical condition, found severely malnourished in Wilson County homePublished: May 8, 2020, 5:38 pmAn investigation is underway in Wilson County after three children were found in horrible conditions inside a home in Stockdale, court records obtained by KSAT 12 confirm.

STOCKDALE, Texas – An investigation is underway in Wilson County after three children were found in horrible conditions inside a home in Stockdale, court records obtained by KSAT 12 confirm. Three children, ages 4, 2, and 1-years-old, were found severely malnourished and covered in feces earlier this week and have since been taken to a hospital. A Wilson County Sheriff’s Office investigator said an older child in the home reported the abuse Tuesday by sending a text message to 911. The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a criminal case is underway and that charges could be filed as early as Monday. A Wilson County sheriff’s investigator said Friday it appears the man was no longer living there when they began investigating earlier this week.

"It's a perfect storm, unfortunately, for the perpetrators of these types of crimes." Child abuse is a serious issue facing the city, respondents said. (KSAT)Now that children are no longer in school or the public eye, perpetrators can hide abuse, McGibeny said. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reports fiscal years 2019 and 2018 each saw nine child abuse fatalities in Bexar County. Click here to learn how you can report child abuse.

SAN ANTONIO – A perfect storm — that’s what some child abuse prevention advocates are calling the coronavirus pandemic. Some worry the longer this crisis continues, it will lead to another epidemic of child abuse and neglect cases. “The implication is that maybe that child abuse is down, right? We know that in these kinds of very tense, anxious, anxiety-producing times that parents inappropriately will lash out at anyone around them, including children,” Burton said. “Very few staff are working in offices right now but CPI caseworkers are still responding to allegations of child abuse and neglect.

SAN ANTONIO – Fears that the coronavirus quarantine will spark a flurry of unreported child abuse cases is prompting advocates to spread the word on how to calm the situation. Child abuse will spike with stressed families stuck at home during quarantine, experts say“Everyone in Texas, everyone, is a mandated reporter. Definitely make that phone call.”The phone call she’s recommending is to the state Child Abuse Hotline which is 1-800-252-5400. She says by just walking away for a minute or two, you let the moment pass when child abuse is most likely to happen. Have a consistent wake up time, consistent bedtime, consistent mealtimes, and set aside time for when you do schoolwork and exercise.

SAN ANTONIO – Child abuse is predicted to rise as families are stuck at home during the COVID-19 self-quarantine period. “Because schools are closed down, the children aren’t being seen by anyone, so that’s always a red flag for us,” Abernathy said. Some teachers can assess kids’ well-being through tele-education, but for students who aren’t doing that, the community is being asked to look out for concerning or unusual activity. If they see it, they’re asked to report it to the Texas Child Abuse Hotline. If you believe abuse may be happening, immediately call the Texas Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 252-5400.

DENVER, Colo. – The father of a 7-year-old boy whose body was found encased in concrete in a storage unit in 2018 was sentenced to 72 years in prison on Friday in his death. Prosecutors dropped a murder charge under the deal, partly because authorities could not specify how the boy died. Pankey's wife, Elisha Pankey, previously pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death under a plea deal that required her cooperation with prosecutors. Authorities found Caden's body in December 2018 while investigating allegations of domestic violence that Elisha Pankey made against her husband. An autopsy found signs that the boy was severely emaciated and evidence of injuries to his head, chest and limbs.

Siblings of toddler beaten to death removed from mother's custodyPublished: February 19, 2020, 5:11 pmThe two older siblings who witnessed their 3-year-old brother beaten to death, allegedly at the hands of his mother's boyfriend, have been taken from their mother's custody.

CONVERSE, Texas – A Converse couple was arrested Tuesday after forcing two minors to drink alcohol and play games naked, according to two arrest warrant affidavits. Man accused of sexually assaulting underage relative for 5 yearsThe affidavits state that two minors were forced by the couple to drink alcohol and participate in games like strip poker and naked Twister. Both of the child victims told police that James, 51, also sexually assaulted them multiple times since 2015. The arrest affidavit for Jennifer, 43, states that she participated in the games with the minors and provided alcohol to the minors along with her husband. If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse you can view a list of resources to find help here.

Records show Sandy filed for divorce from Vigil in July 2018, three months after he was arrested. Vigil was then indicted for continuous sex abuse of a child a month later, records show. This is a (expletive) divorce proceeding. Several other charges, including interfering with an emergency telephone call, have been dismissed in exchange for guilty pleas to other charges, court records show. Court records show that in May 2018 the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office filed a protective order against Vigil.

Is it child abuse or productive discipline? Parents disagree about the best way to discipline their children. WBNS spoke with parents and experts to see what people feel is acceptable and what goes too far.