Child abuse

Published
December 17, 2019

Fate of mother charged with murder rests with jury after attorneys make closing arguments

While Sharon Carrillo's attorneys contend she falsely confessed to beating her 10-year-old daughter, prosecutors say she's guilty of participating in or facilitating the abuse that eventually killed Marissa Kennedy.
Published
December 16, 2019

Defense in mother’s murder trial depicts her as victim of violent, controlling husband

Sharon Carrillo is charged with causing the death of her 10-year-old daughter by participating in months of beatings with her husband, Julio Carrillo, who pleaded guilty to murder.
Published
December 13, 2019

Mother describes woman charged with murder as a ‘child in a woman’s body’

Sharon Carrillo's parents testify that her husband coerced her into telling police that she participated in the beatings that led to the death of her daughter, 10-year-old Marissa Kennedy.
Published
December 12, 2019

In her final days, abused 10-year-old said, ‘I feel like I’m dying,’ mother told police

Those are just the latest gut-wrenching details to be presented to jurors in the murder trial of Marissa Kennedy's mother, Sharon Carrillo.
Published
December 6, 2019

Punishments ‘got out of hand’ before 10-year-old girl died, prosecutor tells jurors

Sharon Carrillo, who is being tried on a murder charge in the death of Marissa Kennedy, participated in the killing to which her husband, Julio Carrillo, has pleaded guilty, prosecutors said in opening statements.

Published
December 2, 2019

Jury selection set to begin for mother charged with fatally abusing daughter

Sharon Carrillo's murder trial could start as early as Friday, as the judge hears motions on the display of graphic photos and the abuse Carrillo allegedly suffered at her husband's hands.
Published
October 31, 2019

Watchdog report cites problems with N.H. child protection system

Systemic issues include an outdated filing system, strained relationships with other agencies and internal biases among staff members.
Published
October 27, 2019

Our View: Don’t let Maine’s children be the forgotten victims of domestic violence

The long-term effects of witnessing abuse are clear and must be addressed.
Published
October 6, 2019

Our View: Child protective services in Maine still understaffed, undertrained

Two killers are in prison, but the system that could have prevented their abusive acts is still not up to the task.
Published
October 1, 2019

Maine DHHS seeks to double number of new child protection caseworkers

A new report from the agency's Office of Child and Family Services recommends 33 additional caseworkers, on top of 33 already funded by the Legislature, to handle a growing volume of abuse and neglect reports.