Sources: KSL News, PEOPLE, KUTV

There are stories that make you question how something like this could happen at the hands of one person, let alone several.

This is one of them.

According to KSL News, PEOPLE, and KUTV, Mitchell and Carrie Murray have pleaded guilty to child abuse homicide in the death of their 18-month-old daughter, Ruby Marie Murray.

Investigators say Ruby died from complications of malnutrition and dehydration after enduring what they described as a severe pattern of neglect.

The details are almost impossible to wrap your head around.

According to court documents, Ruby spent just over six hours out of her crib during the final four days of her life.

Detectives say another human being was physically present with her for only 49 minutes and 15 seconds during that entire period.

Her father reportedly referred to them as “crib days,” explaining that Ruby would remain in her crib while he worked from home.

March 18 was allegedly one of those days.

According to investigators, Ruby was never taken out of her crib.

Her diaper wasn’t changed.

The total interaction she had with her parents and sibling that day lasted just 49 seconds.

Investigators also say Ruby’s room was noticeably hotter than the rest of the home because of a nearby space heater. Her crib, which had been covered with mesh to keep her from climbing out, reportedly contained old scraps of food.

Throughout her final night, security footage allegedly captured Ruby crying, whimpering, and gasping.

She weighed approximately 17 pounds when she died.

One of the most difficult details to process is that Ruby's mother was a nurse. People enter that profession to care for the sick and vulnerable, which makes the allegations in this case even harder to comprehend.

According to court records cited by PEOPLE, she called 911 to report that Ruby was “beyond help” and allegedly refused to perform lifesaving measures before first responders arrived.

I can’t even begin to imagine that level of apathy.

As a parent, I keep coming back to one thing.

Forty-nine minutes.

That’s less time than it takes to watch a show.

During the last four days of her life, Ruby spent more time alone than she did being held, comforted, talked to, or cared for.

I don’t know how anyone reads that without feeling physically ill.

For this story, I wanted to highlight Childhelp, which operates the National Child Abuse Hotline.

One of the hardest truths about child abuse and neglect is that children often cannot save themselves. They depend entirely on adults to notice something is wrong and step in before it’s too late.

If you ever suspect a child is being abused or neglected, trust your instincts and say something. Childhelp’s hotline is available 24 hours a day for anyone who needs guidance, wants to report concerns, or simply isn’t sure what to do.

Ruby deserved adults who would protect her.

Every child does.

Sources: WKRC Local 12 and WLWT Cincinnati

This was a tough one to read...especially as a caretaker for my own mother and my children’s grandmother.

According to WKRC and WLWT, 19-year-old Wyatt Testerman was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty but mentally ill to beating his 74-year-old grandmother, Cheri Oliver, to death.

Cheri wasn’t just another victim in a headline.

She was the grandmother who had welcomed Wyatt into her home after he was released from the hospital following an LSD overdose. According to family members, she was thrilled he was staying with her. He helped around the house, ran errands, and drove his grandparents to doctor’s appointments.

Then everything changed.

According to prosecutors, Testerman texted his mother that he intended to kill his grandmother before the attack. They say he positioned Cheri in front of a cell phone camera, propped the phone on a tumbler, moved the coffee table and rug out of the way, closed the blinds, and announced his intentions before carrying out the assault.

Prosecutors said the recording showed Testerman pausing to look at the blood on his knuckles, checking whether his grandmother was still alive, and then continuing the attack.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney described it as the most premeditated murder he had seen in his career.

Despite those horrific details, Testerman’s family described a completely different person.

His aunt told the court she could not reconcile the grandson she knew with the young man sitting before the judge.

“I don’t believe Wyatt is just evil,” she said. “I can only assume that he started back on the drugs, had a mental break, or something.”

Testerman’s attorney argued he was experiencing a drug-induced psychosis, and Testerman himself said he genuinely believed his grandmother posed a threat because of the way drugs had altered his mind.

As someone who’s been in recovery for many years, I’ve heard stories like this before and even witnessed drug-induced psychosis firsthand—but nothing anywhere close to this.

I once had a friend break into an elderly woman’s home because he genuinely believed he was saving her from an alien invasion he was hallucinating. He was fortunate that nobody got hurt and he celebrated 20 years sober this year.

This story though, this is on an entirely different level.

Cheri Oliver lost her life.

A family lost a beloved mother and grandmother.

And another young life will likely be spent behind prison walls.

Reading this story sent me down a rabbit hole about drug-induced psychosis because, although I knew it existed, I didn’t realize there were organizations dedicated to educating people about it.

Instead of linking to a general addiction charity, I chose to feature Made of Millions, which provides education and resources about mental health conditions, including drug-induced psychosis.

I’m of the belief that severe mental illness and substance-related psychiatric conditions don’t excuse people from the consequences of their actions. At the same time, there’s tremendous value in understanding these conditions, recognizing warning signs, encouraging treatment, and hopefully preventing another family from experiencing a tragedy like this one.

The first link explains drug-induced psychosis in plain language.

This second link is Made of Millions’ donation page if you’d like to support their work improving mental health education and reducing the stigma surrounding serious mental illness.

There are stories that make you angry.

Then there are stories that make you so angry that it physically hurts.

This is one of those stories.

According to reporting by freelance journalist Sarah Boyles and court documents cited by KLAS 8 News Now, 8-year-old Cruzito Ruiz began choking on a piece of pineapple while eating lunch at John Bass Elementary School in Las Vegas on February 25, 2025.

What makes this story especially heartbreaking is that Cruzito reportedly knew exactly what was happening and repeatedly tried to get help. He did exactly what most of us have been taught to do when we’re choking. He signaled. He pointed to his mouth and chest. He patted his back. He sought out an adult.

Surveillance footage and court documents allege that Cruzito approached a teacher’s assistant for help. One of his classmates reportedly also attempted to alert the aide that something was wrong.

According to the lawsuit, Cruzito had previously suffered a traumatic brain injury at age three and was enrolled in an Individual Education Program (IEP) because of resulting disabilities. While every article about this case mentions that fact, I struggle to understand why it would matter in this moment. Choking is choking. A child desperately signaling that he cannot breathe is a child desperately signaling that he cannot breathe.

Despite his repeated attempts to communicate that he was in distress, the lawsuit alleges the aide directed Cruzito to the boys’ restroom instead of rendering aid.

There, he collapsed alone.

According to court documents, staff were not alerted to Cruzito’s condition until approximately five to six minutes later, when other students discovered him. Emergency responders reportedly arrived about fifteen minutes after the choking episode began.

By then, Cruzito had been deprived of oxygen for too long.

He was transported to the hospital and later diagnosed with a severe brain injury caused by lack of oxygen. Cruzito never regained consciousness and was declared brain dead on March 2, just two weeks before his ninth birthday.

As a parent, what makes me so incredibly angry about this story is that Cruzito wasn’t suffering silently.

He wasn’t hiding in a corner.

He wasn’t unable to communicate.

He was desperately trying to tell the adults around him that something was wrong.

He pointed.

He gestured.

He sought help.

And according to the lawsuit, that help never came.

The family has since filed a federal lawsuit against the Clark County School District alleging failures in both response and training.

No matter how that lawsuit ultimately plays out, one thing is certain: a little boy who should have been worrying about recess, homework, and his upcoming birthday never made it home from school.

Even people with no formal medical training generally know that choking is an emergency. The idea that a child could repeatedly signal that he cannot breathe, in a cafeteria of all places, and still fail to receive immediate help is almost impossible for me to comprehend.

This story made me furious.

So if you’re sitting here feeling as angry as I am, maybe channel some of that rage into something useful.

I chose the American Heart Association because they provide CPR and first-aid education that teaches people how to recognize and respond to emergencies like choking. While no organization can change what happened to Cruzito, helping more adults know what to do when a child can’t breathe seems like a worthwhile place to start.

Source: The Independent

A close friend of mine is an ICU nurse, and over the years she has told me some absolute horror stories. Not about blood or trauma or the things most people associate with nursing, but about the anger, frustration, and sometimes outright aggression directed at her and her coworkers by patients and families.

Before she got into this profession, I don’t think I had ever really considered the danger that can come with being a nurse. I thought about the stress, the long hours, and the emotional toll. I didn’t think about the fact that simply showing up to care for people could sometimes put your own safety—or even your life—at risk.

Then I came across this story.

According to a lawsuit filed by her husband, 27-year-old Alabama nurse Ada Doss was on the phone discussing her workday, dinner plans, and the evening routine for her two little girls when everything changed.

Her husband, Drew, says he heard Ada suddenly plead, “Please don’t. I have babies.”

Seconds later, she was dead.

The lawsuit alleges that the man accused of killing Ada had been exhibiting erratic behavior for hours before the shooting. It further claims that security personnel had been made aware of concerns about his behavior but failed to locate or monitor him before the encounter.

Ada wasn’t walking through a dark alley at midnight. She wasn’t taking some enormous risk. She was leaving work. She was talking to her husband. She was thinking about getting home to her babies.

That is the part of this story that haunts me.

One second you’re discussing dinner plans. The next second your children no longer have a mother.

Drew later described Ada as the best person he had ever known and said she made sure their daughters knew every day how important they were to her.

Ada left behind a husband, a six-month-old daughter, and a two-year-old daughter.

For this story, I’m not linking to a charity.

I’m linking directly to the verified GoFundMe established for Drew and the girls.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do—the thing that helps us feel like we’re adding a little good back into the world—is help a family, left behind by something unimaginably bad, to pick up the pieces.

Read Full Reporting from BBC News

Sometimes the stories are so horrific that I feel the need to share them simply to lessen the burden of knowing people capable of this kind of cruelty exist.

That is, honestly, how this site was born. Too many people in my real life didn’t want to hear the stories that kept me up at night, so I created a place for anyone willing to carry a little of that burden with me.

According to BBC News, 13-month-old Preston Davey died in July 2023. Prosecutors said he was repeatedly abused, sexually assaulted, physically injured, and photographed during the short time he spent with his adoptive parents.

This innocent child suffered 40 traumatic injuries.

Jamie Varley, 37, was found guilty of sexually abusing and murdering Preston after initially claiming the child had accidentally drowned in a bath. A post-mortem examination later revealed that Preston had suffered dozens of injuries during the short time he was in the couple’s care.

Varley’s partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was found guilty of sexual assault, child cruelty, and allowing the death of a child.

BBC reported that Preston had been taken to the hospital multiple times before his death with suspicious bruising that was ultimately explained away. He had also been seen by several social workers.

Varley rushed Preston to hospital for a final time on 27 July, unresponsive. He claimed to have left the child in the bath for a couple of minutes and returned to find him submerged.

But the trial heard Preston’s hair was dry, he had a nappy on and he did not appear to have swallowed any water.

A Home Office post-mortem examination ruled out drowning as the cause of death, with the cause found to be acute upper airways obstruction by an object or objects inserted into his mouth.

Due to the severity of the case, jurors were told, "bearing in mind what we have called upon you to do", they would be exempt from jury service for life.

Cases like this inevitably raise questions about how vulnerable children fall through the cracks despite contact with multiple agencies and professionals.

While no organization can undo what happened to Preston, there are charities working every day to protect children from abuse, strengthen safeguarding systems, and support vulnerable families before tragedy strikes.

I’ve linked to Childhelp, an organization dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected, and at-risk children.

Photo Credit

According to News with Jahlen and Brazilian media outlets, authorities have officially charged three men after having questioned six people in relation to this tragedy. The men face charges of homicide with implied malice, a legal standard prosecutors say applies when individuals knowingly disregard obvious risks that could lead to death.

Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, a 21-year-old woman, fell approximately 130 feet to her death during what she believed was a guided rope-jumping excursion. Just before the jump, she posted to social media: "Who was the crazy one who let me jump off a bridge?"

She had signed up for a tour and adventure activity, allegedly unaware that investigators would later determine the organizers lacked authorization to operate at the site and were not following proper safety regulations.

Authorities allege the event organizers were operating without the necessary permits or oversight. An attorney representing the accused has disputed claims of negligence, stating the group was "highly experienced" and that this was their first fatal incident.

Maria had recently graduated with a degree in physical education and sports management.

Reports indicate her boyfriend, who witnessed the incident, was so distraught that he required medical attention.

According to witnesses, screams erupted moments after Maria fell as onlookers realized the safety rope had not been attached.

The mayor of Limeira has questioned whether local officials could have done more to prevent the tragedy, citing longstanding concerns about unauthorized activities at the location.

I searched extensively for a verified fundraiser benefiting Maria’s family but have not yet found one. Until an official campaign emerges, I wanted to highlight an organization that supports people coping with traumatic experiences.

For witnesses, loved ones, and first responders, the emotional impact of witnessing a traumatic death can last long after headlines fade.

Trauma Survivors Network

Witnessing a sudden or violent death can leave lasting emotional scars. The Trauma Survivors Network provides education, peer support, and recovery resources for people coping with the aftermath of traumatic events. By connecting survivors with others who understand their experiences, the organization helps individuals and families navigate the difficult road toward healing.

According to the New York Post, 28-year-old Vitor Francisco Gomes stands accused of carrying out a horrifying double murder that left two young men dead in Fall River, Massachusetts. Prosecutors allege Gomes killed Eduardo Cardosa DaSilva, 19, and Pablo Henrique Rocha-Dasilva, 20, following a dispute that began after an informal boxing match among friends.

Witnesses told investigators that Eduardo had knocked Gomes unconscious during the backyard sparring session. Humiliated and enraged, Gomes allegedly demanded a rematch, but Eduardo refused.

Hours later, tensions boiled over. Prosecutors say Gomes confronted the pair as they sat inside a vehicle preparing to leave the area. During a heated argument, Gomes allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots through the driver’s side window, striking Pablo.

The violence didn’t stop there.

Authorities allege Eduardo fled toward the rear of the property in a desperate attempt to escape. He was later discovered face-down, dead from a gunshot wound, with a pitchfork embedded in the back of his skull — a gruesome scene that investigators described as one of shocking brutality.

Prosecutors say Gomes then turned his attention back to Pablo. After allegedly dragging the wounded 20-year-old from the vehicle by his collar, Gomes is accused of repeatedly striking him in the head with the firearm. When that wasn’t enough, investigators allege he grabbed a loose cobblestone from the driveway and continued the attack, bludgeoning Pablo until he succumbed to his injuries.

Gomes was arrested nearby and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

This scene must have been so surreal and traumatizing. Although there are a ton of people hurting due to this crime, I’m going to just focus on the EMTs and first responders who had to come upon this scene and handle it. This sounds like something out of a horror movie.

So, I found The Code Green Campaign, which is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization focused on mental health advocacy and education for first responders. It works to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide among professionals such as firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, police officers, dispatchers, and others in emergency services.

sourceLocal 10 News

Sometimes the stories are just almost too insanely brutal to fathom. This is certainly one of those. This man, Juan Lopez, is accused of not only not seeking medical attention for his 23 year old girlfriend who was burned over 80%-90% of her body, but also finding multiple illegal drugs to give her all while filming himself engaging in sexual battery with her lifeless burned body. She would later be pronounced dead, and his cell phone search history and videos taken, would be discovered. This is so brutal. Lopez claims that his girlfriend was cleaning cat urine with rubbing alcohol when a lit candle ignited the fumes, causing the burns.

You can find further details of the story here on NBC Miami.

Honestly, this story is so awful that I don’t even know which charitable route to take here. Sadly this woman suffered from domestic violence, deadly burns and sexual assault all within this one incident. I’m sure their relationship involved further horrors.

What I do know is that there are people who spend their lives helping victims of sexual violence navigate the aftermath of trauma and abuse. Organizations like RAINN provide support, resources, and advocacy for survivors when they need it most.

No charity can change what happened in this case, but they can help ensure that people facing sexual violence scenarios don’t have to go through it alone. I've linked directly to their donation page for anyone who would like to support their work.

Police allege that when rescuers finally reached a pair of 13-month-old twins who had been left alone for days, the surviving child was so malnourished that he attempted to eat a paramedic’s stethoscope, mistaking it for food.

His twin sister, Mazouri Jones, was already dead and decomposing.

According to Fox 5 DC, 25-year-old Valencia Duke has been charged with first-degree felony murder and two counts of first-degree cruelty to children in connection with the death of her daughter.

Duke appeared in Superior Court on June 4, where Judge Heidi Hermann found probable cause and ordered that she be held without bond pending trial. During the hearing, Duke’s attorney revealed that she is currently pregnant. Court records also indicate Duke does not have custody of an older daughter.

The charges stem from an incident on January 18, when Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to an apartment on Southern Avenue Southeast for a report of an unconscious child.

Inside the residence, officers discovered 13-month-old twins. Mazouri Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Her twin brother was found alive but suffering from severe dehydration and malnourishment. He was transported to a hospital, where he received treatment for several days.

According to court documents, investigators believe the children were left completely alone inside the apartment for more than 72 hours between January 14 and January 18.

An autopsy later determined that Mazouri died from dehydration and malnutrition caused by neglect. The Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide.

Photos released from the scene allegedly show cluttered and unsanitary living conditions inside the apartment. Investigators say the surviving twin’s condition reflected the extent of the neglect he endured during the days he was left alone.

Cases like this inevitably leave people asking how something so catastrophic could happen and whether there were warning signs long before authorities became involved.

While no charity can undo what happened to Mazouri Jones, there are organizations working every day to protect vulnerable children and support families before neglect and abuse become tragedies.

One such charity is Childhelp. Childhelp exists to meet the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children. They help find foster placements for those in need.

According to MyFox8, Destiny Wilson, 34, doused herself in gasoline before setting herself on fire. Wilson reportedly had a history of mental illness, suicidal ideation, and previous psychiatric hospitalizations.

While Wilson’s mother attempted to get her into the shower, Wilson’s three-year-old daughter, Jamie Lee, was in a front room of the home that became engulfed in flames. Jamie Lee was pronounced dead at the scene, while Wilson later died at the hospital.

Wilson’s mother stated that they had been staying with her for the weekend. She also shared that Wilson faced significant challenges raising Jamie Lee, who had cerebral palsy, autism, and a disorder involving self-harm.

There were six other family members in the home at the time, including a 10-year-old child. The Fire Marshal continues to investigate the cause of the fire.

Stories like this are difficult because they involve multiple realities at once. Reports indicate that Wilson struggled with serious mental health issues, while also navigating the demands of caring for a child with significant disabilities. While it would be unfair to reduce this tragedy to any single cause, it is also true that many families caring for children with complex needs face enormous emotional, physical, and financial pressures.

That led me to look into organizations that support individuals and families facing similar challenges.

Organizations like The Arc work to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, resources, community programs, and support services. Their mission is rooted in the belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and a strong network of support.

While no organization can undo a tragedy like this one, ensuring that families have access to resources, community, and assistance can help reduce isolation and provide support before a family reaches a point of crisis.

Learn more or support their work at thearc.org.

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.

source

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.

Image Source

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.