SACRAMENTO, CA -- Child homicides from abuse and neglect have soared 300 percent in Sacramento County, according to a 2009 Child Death Review Team Report.
In 2007, there were three child homicides in the region due to abuse. But that number soared to 12 deaths in 2008.
The report was compiled by the Child Abuse Prevention Center which presented its findings Tuesday to Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
Some experts attribute the spike to the faltering economy.
"We're seeing families not able to provide for children, feeling the stress of not being able to make it," said Sheila Boxley, Director of the Child Abuse Prevention Center.
Boxley asked the supervisors and members of the Sacramento City Council to preserve funding for support and outreach services to low-income families at-risk.
Boxley said, "If funding to social services goes, we could see an even worse death report next year."
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