Latest news with #ChildSafety
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Charges filed against Utah man who allegedly messaged missing 15-year-old before her disappearance
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — As police continue to search for , 15, a third man has been charged in connection with her disappearance, as he allegedly messaged her online before she went missing. Samuel Mitchell, 41, of Herriman, Utah, was charged in Salt Lake County with five counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, a Second-Degree felony, and one count of enticement of a minor, a Class A misdemeanor. Mitchell was previously when police obtained a search warrant for his phone, and he was . PREVIOUSLY: Florida suspect in missing teen's disappearance self-surrenders, police arrest additional suspect According to charging documents, Mitchell was communicating with Alisa through online messaging app Discord. She reportedly told Mitchell that she was a minor, and their conversations were sexual in nature. Mitchell reportedly was planning to meet up with Alisa, but he cancelled due to illness. In addition to Alisa, Mitchell was allegedly communicating with another 15-year-old girl living in Utah. Police also reported that he had multiple files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in his possession, including photos and videos of the other 15-year-old girl and another 12-year-old girl. Utah prosecutors have requested that no bail warrant be issued for Mitchell, alleging that Mitchell would be 'a substantial danger to other people in the community,' including his victims and other minor children. PREVIOUSLY: Utah man, 41, messaged missing 15-year-old girl days before she disappeared: Documents have also been charged in connection with her disappearance. , 35, of Miami, Florida is facing six charges, including aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation. He was Wednesday May 28 after he self-surrendered. William Glines, 37, of Texas City, Texas is , including attempted aggravated exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation. As of writing, he has not been arrested. Menard and Glines are both accused of communicating with Alisa through social media and encouraging her to send inappropriate photos and videos. Even after learning that the girl was underage, both men allegedly continued with the sexual conversations and asked the victim to send them inappropriate photos and videos. Utah prosecutors have requested that no bail arrest warrants be issued for both suspects. PREVIOUSLY: Men from Texas, Florida charged in connection to disappearance of 15-year-old Utah girl On , South Jordan Police stated that it will continue its efforts to locate Alisa and follow other leads. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Alisa Petrov has been asked to call 801-840-4000 and reference South Jordan Case #SJ25-11568. Alisa Petrov, 15, was dropped off at school in American Fork, Utah, on April 21. Instead of going to school, family members said the teenager boarded a train toward Provo, Utah. Family members said nearby security footage shows the teenager walking away, and she hasn't been found since. She is said to be about 5'3″ tall and weigh about 122 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. She is listed as a runaway juvenile and is said to be endangered. According to the , Alisa was last seen wearing a grey Harvard University shirt, a black hoodie, baggy jeans, and a dark backpack. PREVIOUSLY: 'We love her a lot': Father of missing Utah girl speaks after 2 out-of-state men charged in connection to her disappearance It was later reported that she may have been trying to get to Las Vegas, and another tip revealed that she may have been communicating with a man in Texas. Officials in Texas City posted on social media on May 9 to ask for the public's help in the search for Alisa. As of May 16, Alisa's family was reporting that she still has not been found. South Jordan man apprehended after fleeing from traffic stop, shelter in place order lifted Cedar City man arrested for allegedly sending sexual photos to officer posing as 12-year-old Charges filed against Utah man who allegedly messaged missing 15-year-old before her disappearance Weber County School District considering tax increase Hill Air Force Base's Mazer Chapel reopens after 2 years of renovations Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- News.com.au
Coroner to examine response to snakebite death of young boy, not child safety system
The circumstances surrounding the death of 11-year-old Tristian James Frahm will remain the central focus of a coronial inquest set to begin next month. However, in a hearing on May 12, the Coroners Court ruled that broader concerns raised by his maternal family about alleged systemic failures in Queensland's child protection system will not be investigated. Although the coroner has ruled that certain phone records from key witnesses will form part of the evidence, as they may shed light on the events surrounding Tristian's death. Tristian, who died in November 2021 after being bitten by a brown snake on a remote property near Murgon in Queensland's South Burnett region, had moved to the area in 2020 to live with his father, Kerrod Frahm, who was initially charged with his manslaughter – a charge later discontinued. Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard said the maternal family had sought to expand the scope of the inquest to examine whether Child Safety failed to remove Tristian from his father's care 'before a serious incident occurred'. Tristian's father opposed the move. The maternal family had submitted that Tristian's death was foreseeable and pointed to previous incidents involving lack of supervision, unsafe conditions, and inadequate medical care. They argued these factors should be examined in light of systemic flaws in how Child Safety assesses risk and manages cross-jurisdictional concerns. But the Ms Kirkegaard concluded that while these concerns were serious, they were not causally proximate to Tristian's death. During a pre-inquest hearing in April, Counsel Assisting the Coroner Sarah Ford outlined the harrowing events of Tristian's final hours. Ms Ford said that on the afternoon of November 20, 2021, Mr Frahm and Tristian were at the property for a birthday gathering with Mr Frahm's friends, Rachelle Dorman and Jacob Bryant. Two other boys were also at the property. Ms Ford said on that afternoon, Tristian and another boy were riding a mower on a rural property when Tristian fell off and told the boy he had been bitten by a snake. The boy returned to the house for help, and Tristian's father, Mr Frahm, went to check on him. However, Mr Frahm reportedly believed his son may have been concussed or intoxicated rather than bitten, telling police that Tristian appeared 'a little dazed or concussed.' Despite various witness recollections, some stating Tristian mentioned a snake bite - others recalled he later said it was a stick, no immediate medical assistance was sought. 'Mr Bryant recalls that Tristian was barely able to stand and was trying to half talk but was slurring his words,' Ms Ford said. Instead, the adults reportedly assumed Tristian was drunk after being told he had 'stolen some beers' from Mr Frahm's Esky. He was told to 'sleep it off' and lay down in a donga, a temporary accommodation unit, before vomiting and later rejoining the group. By late that evening, the boy was in clear distress. Two other boys staying at the property said Tristian complained of stomach pain, vomited repeatedly, and at one point fell out of the donga door. The boys attempted to wake Mr Frahm, who was asleep on a couch, and later spoke with Mr Frahm's friend, Ms Dorman, who allegedly believed Tristian was simply 'grog sick.' She told the boy to give Tristian some water and 'lie him on his side'. The following morning, at about 7am, Mr Frahm reportedly found Tristian lying face down outside the donga, covered with a blanket. 'Unable to rouse Tristian, Mr Frahm realised he had passed away,' Ms Ford said. She told the court that Mr Frahm did not immediately call triple-0. Instead, he got into a car and drove toward town, phoning his mother on the way. She made the emergency call at 8.56am, almost two hours after Tristian was discovered. Paramedics arrived to find five patches of vomit within 20 metres of Tristian's body. Two marks on his right ankle were later confirmed to be snake bite puncture wounds. An autopsy determined the cause of death was brown snake envenomation. Ms Ford told the court an expert would testify that immediate medical attention could have likely prevented Tristian's death. Ms Kirkegaard said Tristian's upbringing was marked by instability, with periods spent living with both parents and extended relatives. Child Safety had previously been notified of concerns, including possible exposure to domestic violence and emotional harm. In May 2021, six months before Tristian's death, his father was involved in a physical assault that triggered renewed departmental involvement. However, by August that year, Child Safety determined that Tristian was not in need of protection, referring the family to intensive support services. Ms Kirkegaard acknowledged the complex and painful history between Tristian's parents, noting that both sides of Tristian's family had accused each other of 'domestic and family violence, substance misuse, excessive discipline, and child neglect'. She said a systemic child death review conducted after Tristian's death identified 'missed opportunities' for child safety officers to better understand the domestic and family violence risks. However, she noted the review did not find grounds to remove Tristian from his father's care. 'The snake bite tragically occurred in the context of a young boy who was enjoying his time with family on the property, doing something that made him happy,' Ms Kirkegaard said. 'It did not occur because of his father's domestically violent behaviours.' Reports from Child Safety, police and the Department of Education indicated none of the agencies had reason to suspect Tristian was at substantial risk. The coroner also pointed to the Department of Education's review, which described Tristian's love for his father, his protective relationship with his father's partner, and his strong school attendance. 'On the evidence before me, I consider the additional potential systemic issues proposed by the maternal family lack sufficient proximity and causal relevance,' Ms Kirkegaard said. Applying a 'common sense test', the coroner said she found no sufficient causal connection between alleged systemic failings and the specific event – the snake envenomation. However, Ms Kirkegaard did accept seven issues raised by Tristian's maternal family as relevant to the inquest, including that mobile phone data from Mr Frahm, Ms Dorman, and Mr Bryant should be added to the inquest brief. She dismissed objections from Tristian's father, who argued the records were irrelevant, finding instead that the communications could shed light on the actions of the adults present between November 20 and 21, 2021 – the period when Tristian was bitten by a snake and later died. At the beginning of the hearing, Ms Kirkegaard acknowledged the young boy at the centre of the inquest. She had earlier invited family members to share reflections so the court could better understand who Tristian was beyond the circumstances of his death. 'Tristian was an 11-year-old First Nations boy with striking blue eyes who felt a deep connection with animals and loved spending time in nature. He was full of energy and adventure,' Ms Kirkegaard said. 'A young boy who, according to the maternal family's Family Statement, was known for his deep connection to the earth, and his love of outdoor activities including riding bicycles and motorbikes.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Missing in America Network uses billboards to help find Arizona children
The Brief May 26 is National Missing Children's Day, coinciding with Memorial Day. Billboards are being used across the Valley to help locate missing children in Arizona. The Missing in America Network and Phillips Law Foundation are working to raise awareness and provide hope to families. PHOENIX - May 26, 2025 marks not only Memorial Day, but also National Missing Children's Day, and billboards are being erected across the Valley to help bring missing children home. Rhonda Dequier, founder of the Missing in America Network, says the numbers of missing children surprise everyone. "Every time, every time they're shocked, yes," Dequier said. By the numbers Her organization has helped to find more than 200 missing children, but much more work remains. "Currently, as of today, there are 606 missing children in Arizona," she said. There are many reasons why children are reported missing. "The top ones we see are substance abuse, mental health issues, and then some people go missing because they want to go missing," Dequier explained. Another disturbing reason is children being lured by online predators. "Within 48 hours of every child going missing, they come in contact with a trafficker," Dequier said. The Arizona Missing Children's Task Force states that billboards are the most important way to spread the word. What they're saying "They reach people that normally don't see missing children," Dequier said. "We do a lot online, social media, and in the community handing out fliers and doing events, but some people don't see any of that. So some people are driving to and from work, and they pop up, and now they're aware there is a missing child in their area." Olivia Lemorrocco with the Phillips Law Foundation said the law group donated their billboards for the cause. "We saw a missing child online and thought, 'Let's put them on our billboard, let's do what we can to help out," she said. "I am always hopeful there's a day where we don't have to see missing children on our billboards, but I'm glad we are there to help." Dequier emphasized the impact of these efforts on families. "It gives the families hope, and that's the one thing I want to do to these families every single day is give them hope that their loved one is coming home," she said.
Forbes
23-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Who Does The Online Safety Act Exist For?
Who is the Online Safety Act for, exactly? In the U.K., where nearly every child over the age of 12 has a mobile phone and spends time consuming video content on YouTube and TikTok, the ideas and experiences they are exposed to matter. Yet, in focusing on the sites that host them, are we missing a trick when it comes to the broader tech ethics and real-world impacts we're seeing on not just children but society as a whole? Children's Online Safety Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash With research from Ofcom showing that 59% of 13 to 17-year-olds surveyed had seen "potentially harmful content" online in the previous month, putting in place rules for websites, social media sites, and gaming platforms seems like a no-brainer. Mirrored in the U.S. by the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, platforms and organisations from Instagram to Minecraft have a duty of care in blocking, removing and remedying the impacts of what young people are exposed to. Yet, their role in protecting children's online experiences isn't the only one. Content creators and commenters, who generate everything from ideologically influential to harmful content, are also responsible for the information shared and engaged with, as well as the algorithms and forums that promote and enable it. While the idea of policing content and prohibiting free speech is a tricky one, the consequences of their role is also worth considering. While online challenges can seem innocuous, reports of young people dying as a result of their participation are increasingly common. That. And online bullying is just the tip of the iceberg. Hateful, violent and abusive material - inciting racist, homophobic and misogynistic beliefs - abounds, influencing children's perceptions and behaviours towards people with different lived experiences from their own. Netflix's much-lauded show, Adolescence, paints a harrowing picture of the real-life consequences for its victims. Yet, the impact of digital content can be internalised too. Content glorifying eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide has been too accessible, and with age restriction barriers being fairly simple to skip around, to pornography too. Here, sexual abuse and violence are normalised, deepfakes ride roughshod over the concept of consent, and cyber-flashing is made easy through ephemeral content. In the process, children's relationship to their own mental and physical wellbeing, as well as healthy, intimate relationships with others, is profoundly warped. With the technology owners purposefully embedding functionality that breeds addictive scrolling to maximise engagement (and profiting from the ad revenue it generates, creating accountable roles within organisations alongside the threat of legal and financial consequences is a start. Yet, with individuals and groups still creating content without consideration of the consequences, further legal measures beyond the Online Safety Act are required to account for the wider system at play. Until then, the onus is on caregivers and schools to navigate a digital world they didn't grow up in or learn through, and manage the current and future consequences we're only starting to understand the social ramifications of. With their lives and professions equally under strain as a result, gauging the perspectives, experiences and hopes of both the children and the adults in their lives will be fundamental to understanding and enabling an internet that enables young people to grow healthily, learn safely and thrive in society. With early efforts from Ofcom focusing on pornography sites, children will still be suffering the consequences and teachers and parents will continue to bear the brunt of the technology industry's efforts and legal system's inadequacies in ensuring young people are safeguarded from humanity's worst proclivities.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Baby Car Seat Market Forecast Report 2025-2030, with Profiles of Goodbaby, RECARO Kids, RENOLUX, Newell Rubbermaid, InfaSecure, DCUK, Britax, DIONO, Dorel Juvenile, Clek and Matrix Car Décor
Baby Car Seat Market Dublin, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Baby Car Seat Market - Forecasts from 2025 to 2030" has been added to offering. The global baby car seat market is expected to reach a valuation of $3.105 billion by 2030, experiencing growth from $2.353 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 5.70%. Safety concerns and increasing incidences of child-related road accidents are significant factors driving market growth. Market Trends: Rising Road Accidents and Child Safety Concerns: Increased awareness of child safety and necessary protective measures in vehicles is propelling the adoption of baby car seats. Innovative Product Offerings: Car Seat and Stroller Combos: These dual-function products provide convenience for modern families, boosting market appeal and growth. Regional Market Insights: North America: This region is poised to lead the market owing to rising sales of passenger vehicles, a growing emphasis on child safety, and stringent regulatory frameworks. United States: The U.S. market is expanding significantly due to strong regulatory mandates and consumer demand for safety-certified car seats. Major industry players include Goodbaby International, RECARO Kids S.R.L, Mothercare plc, RENOLUX, and Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 142 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $2.35 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $3.11 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.7% Regions Covered Global Report Coverage: Historical data from 2022 to 2024 & forecast data from 2025 to 2030. Analysis of growth opportunities, challenges, supply chain, regulatory framework, and trends. Competitive positioning and strategy, with revenue growth assessments across various segments and regions. Company profiling, including strategies and key developments. Global Baby Car Seat Market Segmentation: By Type Infant Car Seat Convertible Car Seat 3-in-1 Seat Booster Car Seat By Installation Type Rear-Facing Car Seats Forward-Facing Car Seats By Weight Below 50 lbs 50 lbs-100 lbs By Distribution Channel Online Offline By Geography North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa Companies Profiled Goodbaby International RECARO Kids S.R.L Mothercare plc RENOLUX Newell Rubbermaid Inc InfaSecure DCUK LTD (UPPAbaby) Britax DIONO, LLC Dorel Juvenile Group Clek Inc. Matrix Car Décor For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Baby Car Seat Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
