One of the most uncomfortable realities about crimes against children is that they are rarely committed by the strangers parents fear most.

They are often committed by people who appear trustworthy. People with careers, families, responsibilities, and good reputations. People who blend in so well that no one suspects them until the unthinkable comes to light.

According to WMC, 33-year-old Cameron Sanders, a Tennessee nurse, was arrested following a months-long investigation by the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say the investigation began after deputies responded to a report involving the unlawful filming of a minor.

Sanders now faces charges including aggravated unlawful photographing of a minor, unlawful photography, solicitation of a minor by electronic means, possession of narcotics, and unlawful possession of a firearm. His bond has been set at $250,000.

According to Fox13, Tipton County’s Shannon Beasley didn’t hold any words back describing the seriousness of the crimes Cameron Sanders is accused of.

According to Beasley, the investigation began in late December after deputies received a report that hidden cameras had been discovered in a juvenile's bedroom and bathroom.

Investigators located multiple videos of the juvenile in the shower, inside the home and thousands more photos and videos of other unsuspecting females.

Investigators also reported discovering more than one hundred thousand suspected child sexual abuse images.

Sanders is a nurse with an active license according to state records.

“And what makes these allegations, even more troubling is that, the profession that he’s in is built upon trust, to care for others,” Beasley said.

The allegations are particularly jarring given that his public persona, as seen on his public Facebook page, emphasized caregiving and helping others.

Looking through it, you don’t see a caricature of a monster. You see someone presenting himself the way countless other people do online — sharing pieces of his life, interests, and identity.

And that may be the most unsettling part of all.

Stories like this are a reminder that the greatest threats to children are not always the strangers parents worry about. More often, they are people who have earned the trust of families, schools, communities, and employers.

That is why prevention and education matter so much.

Organizations like Darkness to Light work to prevent child sexual abuse by teaching adults how to recognize warning signs, respond appropriately, and create safer environments for children.

While no organization can undo the harm already caused, increased awareness and education can help protect children from becoming future victims.

Learn more or support their work at d2l.org.

According to Fox 35 Orlando, 22-month-old Avery Lynn Sexton died Saturday after being struck by a vehicle on New Smyrna Beach after reportedly darting into a lane of traffic.

The driver remained at the scene and, according to reports, was neither impaired nor speeding.

One detail that surprised me is that driving on the beach is not only permitted at New Smyrna Beach, but is a common part of the beach experience there.

In the wake of Avery’s death, her family is advocating for changes they hope could help prevent similar tragedies in the future. Among their suggestions are reducing the speed limit from 10 mph to 5 mph and limiting traffic to one-way travel.

There are some stories where there is an obvious villain. This does not appear to be one of them.

Instead, it seems to be the kind of unimaginable accident that leaves everyone involved carrying the weight of it forever.

If you would like to support Avery’s family, they have established a GoFundMe. Funds raised will help cover funeral and memorial expenses and assist the family as they navigate this heartbreaking loss.

WOW, this is a tough one.

According to KATU ABC2, Matthew Hertgen was found dead in his jail cell on May 8, 2026. Hertgen had been accused of killing his brother with golf clubs in a case so horrifying it barely feels real. Reports also alleged acts of extreme violence toward the family cat.

What sounds like it was once a loving, wholesome family was instead devastated by one of the most frightening diagnoses and outcomes imaginable.

I do not think schizophrenia is talked about nearly enough — especially the fact that its onset most commonly occurs between the ages of 16 and 30, or that people living with schizophrenia are statistically far more likely to become victims of violence than perpetrators of it.

Unfortunately, headlines like this are the ones that shape public perception and deepen fear surrounding severe mental illness.

At the same time, it is also clear that this was a man who was profoundly unwell. Hertgen had reportedly been deemed incompetent to stand trial, and despite the horrific nightmare this family endured, reports indicate they had still forgiven him.

Now, with what authorities suspect may have been suicide, that same family is left grieving all over again.

Organizations like CURESZ Foundation work to reduce stigma surrounding schizophrenia and other serious brain disorders while advocating for education, treatment, research, recovery, and support for families navigating these illnesses.

Click here for video on ABC13

I’m sure by now, most everyone has seen this video that’s gone viral of a brawl over seating at a Kindergarten graduation in Toledo, OH. I saw it this morning and was blown away by how ridiculous it was. I’d be willing to bet each kid graduating acted more mature than the adults in that room.

And listen — I have attended some deeply weird and aggressively trashy events in my lifetime, but even I have to admit this one reached a new level.

Can you imagine being five years old and watching police officers and an ambulance arrive at your kindergarten graduation because grown adults started fighting over folding chairs?

While the adults at this graduation clearly could have benefited from an etiquette course and possibly sedation, organizations like Imagine Etiquette focus on helping children build confidence, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and social awareness.

Rachel Ann Kirspel(Harrison County Sheriff's Office)

For many families — mine included — childcare is not a luxury. It’s the only option. Many parents simply do not have the ability to keep one parent home full-time, especially as the cost of literally everything continues to rise. Families are often forced to place enormous trust in childcare providers because financially, there is no other choice.

And some parents are like me: completely lacking domestic abilities and unable to conjure up the imagination necessary to spend eight consecutive hours pretending to be interested in magnetic tiles. I would make an absolutely terrible stay-at-home mother.

But not only are parents handing over the people they love most in the world, they’re usually doing it while paying an amount of money so outrageously expensive it makes them question every life decision they’ve ever made each time tuition is due.

Still, there is no real price you can put on the emotional development, communication skills, confidence, learning, and sense of safety children gain in a positive childcare environment.

That is what makes stories involving abuse or humiliation in childcare settings especially heartbreaking. Harmful experiences during those early years can leave devastating and lasting emotional impacts on children who are simply too young to understand why someone trusted to care for them chose cruelty instead.

Unfortunately, this child in Marshall ISD, TX got to experience the cruelty rather than the love.

According to KLTV Rachel Ann Kirspel, 37, of Marshall, was first arrested on Monday, May 18, and then released on May 20 on a $50,000 bond.

However, on Friday, May 22, she was booked back into the Harrison County Jail on a bond revocation. Her bond is now set at $100,000, and she remains in the Harrison County Jail on Friday evening..

According to an affidavit filed with Harrison County, the incident occurred at Marshall Early Child Hood Center in Harrison County.

The affidavit also stated that, on May 14th, the child, aged 5, received bodily injury due to Kerspel, “holding the student upside down by their feet and swinging them side to side and up and down.”

A witness who was an employee at the center stated that she heard Kirspel yell the phrases “you are ugly as hell” and “you can tell your mama didn’t raise you right” from outside the classroom.

In looking for Texas organizations that address early childhood education and abuse, I came across Children at Risk.

Their mission is to serve as a catalyst for change to improve children’s quality of life through strategic research, public policy analysis, education, collaboration, and advocacy.

While a donation to their organization will not directly impact this particular victim, supporting groups like this can help reduce the risk for countless other children across Texas.

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This story is nowhere near as dark as the ones I usually share, but it does involve nearly all of my son’s favorite things — with the exception of Wile E. Coyote:
a train, an explosive crash, and green septic hazmat material.

According to Fox News, a train collided with a septic truck on May 14. Thankfully, the truck driver is in stable condition and nobody else was injured or killed.

Unfortunately, the railroad crossing was private and lacked the typical warning signals seen at most crossings. Reports also indicate the truck driver may have failed to stop at a posted sign.

Organizations like Operation Lifesaver work to reduce injuries and fatalities at railroad crossings through public education and rail safety awareness programs.

According to ABC7, 6 year old Kingston McWilliams of Madison, Tennessee, died after falling from an eighth-story balcony. His mother had briefly stepped into another room when the incident occurred. She later said Kingston had been warned multiple times about climbing on the balcony railing.

As a mother, this story breaks my heart.

I remember feeling angry whenever people harshly judged parents for taking their eyes off their children “for just a second.” The reality is that no parent can watch their child every single moment of the day. Laundry still has to be done. Dinner still has to be made. Kids run, climb, jump, and burn through endless amounts of energy while life continues moving around them.

This poor mother reportedly searched several areas in and around the apartment before experiencing the unimaginable when she looked over the balcony.

Accidents in the home happen in ways most people never expect.There are so many ways for accidents to occur in a home. In 2007, Charlie Horn tragically died after attempting to climb a dresser in his home. His parents, Brett and Jenny Horn turned this tragedy into a mission to prevent accidents and injuries in the home. They founded Charlie’s House. You can support them or donate by visiting:

https://www.charlieshouse.org/donate-now

A GoFundMe has also been posted to support the family of Kingston

In Kingston’s memory, the family asked supporters to consider donating to St. Luke’s Community House.

I have trouble even calling him a father, despite what the article says. A four-month-old baby was murdered, and afterward he refused to call for help. He’ll serve time for it, while the mother was found incompetent to stand trial. That poor baby never had a chance.

https://people.com/dad-who-claimed-he-and-baby-were-playing-rough-sentenced-to-prison-11973086

I’ve read countless reports of child abuse, and as a mom myself, I know how overwhelming parenting can feel. Every parent gets frustrated. The difference is knowing when to step away.

I found a lesser-known foundation created in memory of 8-month-old Matty Eappen that focuses on preventing shaken baby syndrome and supporting parents in crisis. Take a look if you can.

https://www.mattyeappen.org

I came across this video — and if you search for it, the unedited version is everywhere — and I could not even watch the whole thing. First, I found myself praying that she was still alive. Then I could not stop thinking about her parents, and the parents of the teens assaulting her or standing by without intervening.

I later found an article about the incident and was horrified by how casually some of the kids spoke about it, as if it had simply gotten “a bit excessive.” No. I refuse to let this ever feel normal.

There is a GoFundMe to help her and her family with medical and legal fees.

If you’re looking to donate to something closer to home, Girls Inc. is an incredible organization supporting girls and young women. They focus on creating safe environments for girls to develop into healthy and confident women.

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According to NBC News, a young man, a father of two young boys, waited over 15 minutes for help to arrive. Had someone intervened earlier, maybe the outcome would have been different. During that time, more than a dozen people walked past the scene—many observing, a few attempting to help—but no meaningful assistance arrived until it was too late.

I first learned about the Bystander Effect in a Criminology course at the University of Maryland. It blew my mind that we’ve known about this phenomenon since at least the 1960s, when it was first given a name, and yet we still haven’t learned our lesson.

See story here: NBC 10 News

After reading this, I went searching for anyone working to combat the Bystander Effect. I believe we all carry both good and bad within us, but that most people are far more good than bad. Like many of you, my news feed often leaves me drowning in awfulness.

I’m determined to bring some—any—good into all of it. The closest thing I could find was American College of Surgeons’ “Stop the Bleed” program. Take a course. Learn what to do in an emergency. Be the person who takes action when someone needs help.