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September 18, 2013
5-day Forecast Tulsa World  
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13 killed in Washington shooting rampage

A defense contractor employee went on a shooting rampage Monday inside a building at the heavily secured Washington Navy Yard, spraying bullets in the hallways and firing from a balcony onto office workers in an atrium below, authorities and witnesses said. Thirteen people were killed, including the gunman.

 
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OSU will investigate claims made in Sports Illustrated series

Citing a strong appetite for its "Dirty Game" series on Oklahoma State football, Sports Illustrated released the fifth and final chapter a day earlier than originally announced.

 
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BNSF to invest $125 million in state projects

BNSF Railway Co. announced Monday it is spending $125 million to expand and improve its system in Oklahoma. Projects will include a new bypass connection at the Cherokee rail yard in west Tulsa and extending a siding area on the carrier's tracks near Mannford.

 
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Shooting At Navy Yard

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Albums of autumn: 22 new and upcoming music releases to get excited about

As summer fades, so do the songs and sounds of summer. But that gives way to a fall music bonanza.

 
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Oklahoma Crisis: Child Abuse and Neglect


Jessica Martin, a DHS child abuse investigator at the Justice Center, said she is not sure how many child deaths she has seen. "There have been so many," she said. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World

Overview:
In Oklahoma last year, there were 8,110 abused or neglected children -- 83 percent neglected, 12 percent physically abused and 5 percent sexually assaulted.

About 4,700 of those children were removed from their homes, bringing the total number in foster care to 8,974 children.

The Tulsa World has been scrutinizing the Oklahoma Department of Human Services after several high-profile child deaths from abuse and the filing of a federal class-action lawsuit alleging failures in its child welfare division.

In the past year, Oklahomans have read about weekly arrests of adults accused of harming children.

Some are horrific - children being whipped, forced into sexual acts, scalded in unattended hot bath water, beaten and shaken to death.

Those are cases the public knows about because an arrest has been made.

"For every one of those you read about, there are hundreds of others suffering from abuse and neglect you never hear about," said attorney Barbara Sears, who represents children in deprived cases.

With about 30 referrals a day coming into the offices of Tulsa County's front-line child welfare workers, the media reports represent between 1 percent to 5 percent of cases, officials estimate.

This page will feature ongoing coverage including individual abuse and neglect cases and efforts to reform the agency.
HEADLINES

DHS looks into growing number of kids in custody   9/9/2013

State Department of Human Services officials are working to figure out why the number of children in state custody has significantly increased, putting additional strain on the department's progress to rehabilitate child welfare in Oklahoma.
Child-neglect charges filed in pot-in-car case

Child-neglect charges filed in pot-in-car case   8/30/2013

A “large amount of smoke” reportedly was coming from inside the car, which had a child passenger.
Man gets life without parole for infant daughter's death

Man gets life without parole for infant daughter's death   8/19/2013

Gregory Antwon O’Neal of Tulsa was convicted of child-abuse murder in the death of a 2-month-old.
Child-neglect charges filed in case of alleged filthy, bug-filled house

Child-neglect charges filed in case of alleged filthy, bug-filled house   8/12/2013

DHS investigators had received 'horrifying information regarding the condition of the home.'

Man accused of driving drunk with child in his vehicle   8/9/2013

The charges allege David Andrew Black was intoxicated when he was stopped July 20 by police in the 700 block of East Rogers Boulevard.
Grandmother also arrested in child-neglect case alleging filthy house

Grandmother also arrested in child-neglect case alleging filthy house   8/8/2013

Janet Friend, 57, “was a primary caregiver for the children,' an arrest report says.
Child-neglect charge filed in case of Bixby children found wandering in street

Child-neglect charge filed in case of Bixby children found wandering in street   8/1/2013

The two girls, ages 3 and 5, told police they were left home alone and were walking to a park.
Sand Springs man arrested on child sexual abuse charges

Sand Springs man arrested on child sexual abuse charges   7/29/2013

Michael Wayne Eckfeldt, 36, is alleged to have abused 6-, 7- and 12-year-old girls.
Tulsan gets more than three consecutive life sentences for child-sex crimes

Tulsan gets more than three consecutive life sentences for child-sex crimes   7/29/2013

Phillip Steven Borden was found guilty of rapes, lewd molestations and forcible sodomy.
Child-neglect charges filed after children found alone in hot apartment

Child-neglect charges filed after children found alone in hot apartment   7/19/2013

Police found the children — a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old and a 2-year-old — in an apartment on Tuesday.
Child endangerment arrest made after children left in hot apartment

Child endangerment arrest made after children left in hot apartment   7/16/2013

The mother of the 5-, 4- and 2-year-old children was jailed Tuesday evening.
Shoplifter piled 13 pounds of merchandise on 2-month-old, charge alleges

Shoplifter piled 13 pounds of merchandise on 2-month-old, charge alleges   7/9/2013

The new mother, now charged with child neglect, got a deferred sentence in the shoplifting case.

Man pleads guilty to bringing underage girl from Mexico for sex   7/9/2013

Antonio Calderon-Garcia admitted that he brought the girl from Texas to Tulsa.
Vinita child-porn maker's sentence changed because of '85 percent' confusion

Vinita child-porn maker's sentence changed because of '85 percent' confusion   7/8/2013

Brittiny Linne Dick was sentenced to 68 years last week, but that was changed to 51 years today.

Another Munchausen case filed in Tulsa County   6/20/2013

Tonya N. Thomas, 26, is charged with “child abuse by Munchausen syndrome by proxy.'
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HOTLINE
To report suspected child abuse or neglect,
call 1-800-522-3511.
STATS
Oklahoma child abuse and neglect
Fiscal year 2011

66,541: Reports to the Department of Human Services

29,468: Cases accepted for an assessment or investigation

8,110: Oklahoma children confirmed to have been abused or neglected

9,344: Tulsa County reports to DHS

4,362: Tulsa County cases accepted for an assessment or investigation

1,023: Tulsa County children abused or neglected

WHAT THE LAW SAYS
The state law puts the responsibility of reporting on all individuals who suspect the abuse or neglect of a child. The statute specifically mentions medical personnel, teachers and "other" persons.

It states "no employer, supervisor or administrator shall impede or inhibit the reporting obligations of any employee or other person." The law forbids any retaliation against a person for making a "good faith" report.

A person failing to report abuse or neglect could be charged with a misdemeanor.

DHS staff have found some employers, primarily child-care centers and schools, have policies requiring only supervisors make a report. However, this violates the law.

"We rely on the public to let us know what is going on," said Julie Merritt, DHS Tulsa County director in child protection services. "Those rules and policies at schools and day cares do not absolve the teacher or provider from making that referral."

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