Case of missing toddler highlights effects of child abuse
A fter an international search, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Bella Bond was solved. 2-year-old Bella Bond who was initially identified as “Baby Doe,” was found dead in June, 2015, on the shoreline of Boston Harbor. Her death highlights the reality of child abuse and neglect. In September 2013, the National Academy of Sciences reported the results of the first major study of child abuse and neglect in 20 years. The Academy’s report suggests that the abuse suffered by children can reshape the child’s brain and the effects can last a lifetime. “Child abuse and neglect is a serious public health problem which requires immediate, urgent attention. The consequences can last into adulthood with significant costs to the individual, to families, and to society,” said Anne Peterson, a professor at the Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan. On average in the United States, child protective services receive 3 million referrals