Child Victimization Has Heavy Price

Milwaukee PD on top of issue

• Karen L. Bune
• 2009 Jan 7

In 2008, more children under age three in Milwaukee have been murdered than in any year in the last ten years, and all of them died at the hands of their caregivers. Seven died as a result of neglect or abuse, and three of the seven were due to Abusive Blunt Force Head Trauma (ABFHT), commonly known as Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). Six cases were charged as homicide and one was the result of neglect that caused death. As a consequence of this surge in child homicides, the Milwaukee Police Department has initiated a proactive and preventive approach by actively disseminating information to the community concerning the issues related to child abuse and the facts surrounding it. 

"We all have a role to play as models and protectors for our children," says Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn. In a recent public service announcement, Flynn says, "We ask you not stay silent if you know child abuse is taking place. Act like a child's life depends on you because it does."

Captain David Zibolski, commander of the homicide unit, who has been with the department for 24 years and has been in the homicide division for 13 of them, notes that in the years 2005, 2006, and 2007, there was only one infant death each year (an infant is considered to be under the age of one). He notes that there were two cases in January 2008—one in which a seven-month-old female was killed by her mother's live-in boyfriend. He physically abused the baby who would not stop crying, and he covered her up with a bathrobe and suffocated her. That same month, another case involved a 38-year-old mother who was depressed over the death of her adult son. She tried to drown her two-week-old twin boys by submerging them in a tub. Her mother happened to arrive on the scene at the time this was occurring. Consequently, one infant was saved, but the other one died.

In September 2008, a six-month-old male victim was killed by his natural 17-year-old father. The father had his son for a 24-hour period and shook the baby until he was unresponsive. The father subsequently placed the infant under hot water in an effort to get him to respond, but his efforts were futile. Another case involved a natural mother who had a Down Syndrome child and who was frustrated over her six-week-old female infant who was crying. She shook the baby to the point of causing her death and then wrapped the infant in a blanket and left it for two days, during which time she said nothing to her husband about the child. Captain Zibolski, who has seen the gamut of child abuse in his career, admits he has even seen cases where a dead child could be laying next to the parent who killed it, and the parent does not call the police. 

Captain Zibolski relates the case of a woman who killed a one-year old and abused a two-year-old. She abused the two-year-old by burning blisters on the child's feet and dunking them in hot water. She abused the one-year-old in the same manner and, in addition, punched and choked the child, ultimately killing her. The woman was charged with homicide and physical abuse. 

Inadequate caregivers
Amidst the different circumstances of these actual cases, similarities surround them. The perpetrators of the violence are frequently unable to deal with child care issues that include infants who become fussy about eating, who have crying bouts and who do what normal infants do in the developmental process. The caretakers are often not emotionally capable of caring for a child and may be deficient in coping skills or lack them entirely. Parents may lack knowledge and possess inadequate parenting skills. 

Some abuse cases are more difficult to outwardly detect because visible signs may not be immediately noticeable. "These are some of the most difficult to deal with because there is not obvious external trauma to the infant," says Captain Zibolski.   He admits that a police officer has to show compassion but, as a cop, has to think in the back of his mind that this could be a potential homicide and, therefore, it is important to cover all bases. "You have to be outwardly compassionate and inwardly suspicious," says Captain Zibolski. He indicates it is important for the officer or detective to get a full background on both the child and the caretaker and consider all medical issues, injuries, and also ascertain if the child was born prematurely. "They should investigate it like it's a homicide until an autopsy proves it is not," says Captain Zibolski.

The risk for infanticide is greater when the child is very young. An average two-month-old cries approximately three hours per day. For caretakers or parents who lack knowledge and coping skills and who have little patience to deal with an infant, the risk becomes extremely high for victimization. In many instances, the caretaker may be the boyfriend of the natural mother and may be someone the mother is not well acquainted with and who has not been a part of her life for a substantial period of time. As a result, the child is at placed in a high risk situation and may become a victim. 

Head injuries
Head trauma is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases. A child who has been the victim of Blunt Force Head Trauma, commonly referred to as Shaken Baby Syndrome or Shaken Impact Syndrome, is usually less than one year of age, but symptoms can present between the ages of three to eight months and even as old as age four. When a child is shaken in a violent manner, severe and permanent injury—or even death—can result. Infants have weak neck muscles and heavy heads, and when shaken in such a manner, the movement causes the brain to move back and forth within the skull. This can tear brain tissues and cause ruptured blood vessels and nerves. If the child survives the impact and the severe internal injuries that are sustained, the child can have seizures, impaired intellect, severe mental retardation, speech and learning impairment, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, and partial or total blindness.

Infanticide and child homicide is a disturbing phenomenon that prevails not only in Milwaukee but throughout the country. "Children in our community are paying a terrible price for the abusive behaviors of those who are supposed to protect them," says Chief Flynn. The Milwaukee Police Department is paying particular attention to these crimes in various forms and focusing on education, community awareness, and reaching out to community resources for assistance. Their emphasis on prevention and their efforts to minimize victimization of infants and children should motivate their colleagues across the nation to follow their lead.

• More articles by Karen Bune
• Milwaukee Police Department
• National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
• American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
• Brain Injury Association of America

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• Karen Bune

  Karen L. Bune is a Victim Specialist in the domestic violence unit of the State's Attorney's Office for Prince George's County, MD. >>View Author Profile