Boy tortured to death for wetting his pants

Brandon Hayes of Michigan could face life in prison for the death of four year old Dominick Calhoun. The boy was the son of Hayes' girlfriend, and Hayes resented the child for the biological father not paying child support. More than once when the boy wet his pants, he was beaten, punched ans kicked in the arms, legs, and even the genitals. The boys knuckles had even been burned in the torture. Even the Police Chief said "I've been doing this a long time, and this is the worst case of child abuse I've ever seen". The boy's mother had been there for part of the abuse, as she tried to stop it by laying over the boy. Instead of stopping the beating, she only got beaten herself, and ended up stepping out of the way. After coming to buy drugs from the man, and seeing the condition of the boy, the biological grandfather was contacted, he then contacted authorities. It was too late however, Dominick was barely alive when the ambulance arrived. He was brain dead, and taken off of life support the next day. Hayes faces nine charges including: one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one count of first-degree child abuse, and one count of of torture which alone could get him life in prison. Every aspect of this story makes me sick. First of all, this woman had her child living with a Drug Dealer. This wasn't the first time the child had been abused for wetting his pants, and yet she stayed. Then, even though she tried to stop it, she walked away, and didn't call for help for her child.

This site on child abuse and neglect helps to recognize and prevent child abuse, and goes over some common misconceptions. Child abuse, other than physical abuse can be very damaging as well. Ignoring a child's needs, putting them in unsupervised, dangerous situations, and making a child feel worthless or stupid, can leave a lasting scar as well. The effects of abuse last a lifetime effecting a child's sense of self, ability to have a healthy relationship, and the ability to function at home, at school, and at work. There is a difference between physical abuse, and discipline. In an abusive situation, the child has no clear boundaries or rules to go by, and must constantly walk on eggshells, not knowing what he or she might do to set the parent off next. An abusive parent will lash out in anger, wishing to show control as opposed to being motivated by wishing to teach the child right from wrong. Sometimes parents believe that they must use fear to keep their child in line, all they are really doing is teaching the children how not to get hit instead of how to behave.

This Baltimore County Police Department page has interesting facts, like 84% of prison inmates were abused as children, or Child abuse is far more likely to occur in the child's home, rather than at daycare. It isn't usually the proverbial stranger with a lollipop that sexually abuses a child, but someone close to the child. 1 in 3 girls are sexually abuses, and 1 in 5 boys are sexually abused. Another good thing to look at on this page is 10 things to do instead of hurting a child.