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Report lists ways that mistreated kids die

Drowning caused 22 of 111 deaths by abuse or neglect in Florida in 2004.

TALLAHASSEE - Some were clearly the victims of brutality: a 3-month-old hit repeatedly in the stomach by her father until she was dead. A 10-month-old girl who died after being shaken furiously by her mother.

Others were the victims of carelessness: Two children left alone in a house played with a lighter and died in the ensuing fire. Two kids were shot by siblings who found guns left unlocked.

They were the children who died in Florida as a result of child abuse or neglect in 2004 - 111 in all, state officials say.

Each year, the Florida Child Abuse Death Review Team releases data about the children. The review takes about a year, which is why the data released last week are for 2004 cases.

The 111 children who died in 2004 from abuse or neglect was up from 95 in 2003. The 2004 review only included 108 of those cases, because officials still didn't have key information in three cases.

But of those 108 cases, most - 66 - were victims of neglect. The most common type of neglect death was drowning - 22 children in 2004. Eleven died in swimming pools, three in a bathtub, one in a bucket, the rest in canals, ponds or other water bodies.

"Drowning deaths are often called "tragic accidents,' while they should be called "tragic deaths that could have been prevented,' " the review team said in recommending more public awareness on the risk.

Ten children died in Florida in 2004 from being left in overheated cars, or getting into an unlocked car they couldn't get out of. The review team recommended public service announcements to remind parents that children should never be left unattended in a car, and that if they have young kids, they should lock their car and keep keys out of kids' reach.

Ten children died in their sleep from unsafe conditions, some asphyxiated by loose bedding or a parent sleeping with them.

Five died in vehicle accidents where their death was considered the result of inadequate supervision or precautions. Forty-two died as a direct result of abuse, the majority from physical trauma such as beatings. Five died from being shaken, dropped or thrown against something. Five died in one house fire intentionally started by their parents.

The panel noted some broad trends over the six years it has collected data. For example, neglect deaths have been more common than abuse deaths, and over the period, male children have been more likely to be the victims than females.

Fathers or mothers' boyfriends were responsible in 26 percent of deaths, while mothers were responsible in 40 percent.

[Last modified January 4, 2006, 01:06:11]