MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On average, six children are killed by abuse from a parent or guardian in Memphis ever year.
It is a troubling fact organizations here are desperately trying to change.
Friday, a flag was raised at the Memphis Child Advocacy Center for a fallen angel, Ryleigh Scarborogh.
Scarborough was just 4-months old when police say her own father, Nathan Scarborogh, beat her to death last week.
Police said Scarborogh did it because the child wouldn’t stop crying.
“The injustice that took little Ryleigh away is so horrendous. That it is beyond words,” Dr. Katherine Lawson with the group Victims to Victory said.
“It’s heartbreaking for the community, law enforcement, the child advocacy center. We’re all heartbroken over this,” Deputy Chief Mike Ryall with the Memphis Police Department added.
The Child Advocacy Center said the flag they raised does not include victims of incidents like drive by shootings and hit and runs.
It just includes victims of close, domestic crimes.
So far this year, five children have been killed by abuse or neglect.
The numbers have fluctuated over the past several years. Last year there were four. In 2013, there were seven.
The deadliest year in the past decade was 2008 with 14 children killed.
Memphis Police said it is up to each one of us to make sure we never reach a number like that again.
“That is uncalled for,” Ryall said. “We have to do better as a community.”
“The key is taking action when you see something that doesn’t look right. We are all mandated by law in Tennessee to report any suspicions of abuse or neglect,” Virginia Stallworth with the Memphis Child Advocacy Center added.
Since 2005, 64 children have been killed by parents or guardians by neglect and/or abuse.
