INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A new report from the Indiana Department of Child Services has found that 49 children died of abuse or neglect in the state during fiscal year 2013.
Officials reviewed the circumstances behind 286 children’s deaths that occurred between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013. Of those cases, The Indianapolis Star (https://indy.st/1HzRsYz ) reports that 35 deaths resulted from neglect and 14 died from abuse. The number of neglect-related deaths had risen 84 percent from the previous year.
But the increase was not the result of more deaths. Child services spokesman James Wide attributed the rise in neglect determinations to officials receiving more complete information from various sources, including local child services officials and police.
Drowning was the most common cause of neglect-related deaths for kids. Fourteen children drowned during that time period because of lack of supervision, according to the report.
Other causes of death included gunshot wounds, drug overdose, beating, stabbing, suffocation, burning and malnutrition.
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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, https://www.indystar.com
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