Child Molestation and Abuse:

Can We Protect Our Children?

Anyone tuned in to the news lately has noticed a significant increase in the amount of crime reports involving children. Has there been an increase in the amount of crimes against children, or are we as a society just now aware of the crimes that have been occurring and gone unnoticed?

Take for example, one of the most recent stories being discussed today. An accused child molester and his parents were arrested under suspicion of murder. The victim: six year old Christopher Barrios. Let's take a look at this again: A child molester and his parents? The accused, 32-year-old George David Edenfield, and his father sexual molested young Barrios while Edenfield's mother looked on and masturbated. They then murdered him, wrapped his body and disposed of it in a nearby dumpster.
What kind of world do we live in where a child molester would receive assistance from his parents to molest and murder an innocent child and try to get away with it?

Then there's the case in San Antonio, TX, where 19-year-old Valerie Lopez and her boyfriend 28 year-old Jerry Salazar were arrested and are facing charges of the murder of Lopez's 18 month old daughter and three month old son. The children's bodies were found decomposing under the house the couple rented, after neighbors repeatedly called police to complain of the foul smell coming from the property. Lopez claims a lack of medication and Bipolar disorder may be to blame.

Let us not forget the unbelievable case of poor nine year old Jessica Lungsford who was raped in 2005 by the neighbor who lived down the street, convicted sex offender John Evander Couey. She was tortured and suffered a horrendous death as she was buried alive. Police found her in a leaf-covered grave, her head tied in two plastic bags; she's believed to have suffered from asphyxiation as well.