Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Child Abuse Deaths on Military Installations

Newswise — Pediatric researchers today called on the Department of Defense to investigate the rates of child abuse homicides at military installations across the nation. The appeal from the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute was prompted by results of its study showing children in jurisdictions with military bases were twice as likely to be killed by a parent or caregiver than other children in the state.

The findings were presented in Washington, D.C., at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.

The study examined all North Carolina resident cases of child abuse homicides from 1985 to 2000 in children 0 through 10. The deaths were identified by individual record review. Four military installations (Ft. Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station) are in the two counties with the highest rates. Child abuse homicide was defined as the killing of a child by a parent or other person responsible for its health or welfare. Military cases were those whose victims were children of one or both parents on active duty.

“In this study period, the long-term patterns of child abuse homicides are not coincidence,” says Marcia Herman-Geddens, DrPH, senior fellow at the Institute and adjunct professor at the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. “They suggest problems in and around North Carolina military families and military communities that predictably result in a consistently higher number and rate of child abuse homicides than in non-military communities.”

In the study period, the state had 378 abuse homicides of children from birth through age 10, for a rate of 2.2 deaths per 100,000 children. Cumberland County (Ft. Bragg and Pope Air Force Base) had an annual abuse homicide rate for children of military families of approximately 5.0 per 100,000 (ages birth to 10) over the same period. Rates also were higher than the state average for non-military children, suggesting community-wide problems and needs.

In Onslow County (Camp Lejeune/New River Air Station), the average child abuse homicide rate for children of military families was approximately 4.9 per 100,000 during the study period. Again, the rates county-wide were higher than the state average for non-military children.

Herman-Geddens adds that “although military bases have many laudable programs and interventions to reduce child abuse and other family violence, strategies with sufficient effectiveness may be lacking, missing, inadequate and/or undermined by other influences on military and civilian families.” She warns that “action could and should be taken at the local, state, and national levels to reduce child homicides.”

Aside from a national study of all military installations in the nation, the study strongly recommends:

· The Department of Defense must initiate a data collection system for victims of family violence that captures all pediatric and adult cases. The data should include appropriate epidemiological detail and be available to the public for prevention research.

· Current prevention, treatment, and support services available to military families should be examined for effectiveness and expanded with a coordinated response to family violence to reduce spousal and child abuse.

The North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute is a non-profit, independent organization based in Raleigh. Since 1983, NCCAI has worked to make the state a better place in which to be a child and to raise a child. Information is available at http://www.ncchild.org.

41 comments:

Catonya said...

I lived in Wichita Falls, TX for a long time before returning to Oklahoma. Shepphard Air Force Base is in Wichita Falls. A few years ago, a young boy (can't remember his exact age, 5 - 7yrs old maybe) was found in the dishwasher of his family home which was inside the base. He had been sexually assaulted, tortured, murdered, then his body ran through a full cycle in the dishwasher- officials speculated the killer had done that to wash away evidence.
After the initial report on the local news- nothing else was ever reported on it. very hush hush.

not sure why I'm leaving this comment except that this entry reminded me of that.

(may God watch over the children)

Anonymous said...

i dont know if anyone is still looking at this or still investgating this case but i knew chris he went to school with me in sheppard afb. i still cant believe this happened and its been 10 years and still it haunts my mind. plz if someone has any updates plz email me maria08_89@yahoo.com thank you

Anonymous said...

For those who were referencing back to the Christopher Morris case. This happened on September 25th, 2000. I was raised in Wichita Falls and no longer reside there because of being in the military now. I have often wondered what ever happened. It seems like the case just became cold or like nobody cared enough to continue on with the investigation. How can someone lock themself in a dishwasher. This is just like a murder that took place at Ft. Stewart in the Fall of 2008. I say murder for the following reason. A young girl went home from school to find her mother dead in the closet. The mother was bound and had a plastic bag wrapped around her head. But, the military repeatedly said this was a suicide. Seems fishy too me.

Brittany Scholz said...

Hey all, I am Christopher's cousin, my name is Brittany Scholz. I am also looking for any and all updated information on the case. If anyone hears anything contact me on facebook, or email me brit3_06@yahoo.com Christophers murder has yet to be brought to justice.

Thanks for your prayers.

alexandra_awna said...

Hello my name is Ashley Morris I am Chris MOrris's sister. It brings me happiness that people still think about Chris and still care about bringing whoever did this to justice. I pray that one day we will know what happened until then my family will never be whole. After that day eveyrhitng changed, no one in my family is the same. We go on with our lives with this in the back of our minds everyday and no one can possibly know what its like unless you have gone through something like this yourself. So please, if anyone knows anything about what happened that day dont be afraid to contact my family or the police. All we want is closure, to be able to move on with our live. my email is anm7@pct.edu if you can remember anything, anything at all no matter how small you might think it is please email me.

Anonymous said...

I had joined the af in 2000 as a medic and happened to be on that ambulance that responded. Very tragic.

Anonymous said...

I am Christopher's mother...I miss him each and every day!!! Like my daughter Ashley said...our family has never been the same since. I can't believe that whoever did this could live with themselves...they have no idea what a precious soul they took away that day. If anyone has any information about what happened please call me at (570)506-6634. And for all his friends that are still remembering him...thank you so much...it means a lot to all of his family.

Unknown said...

Hello All, I'm Courtney Bouldin, I know it was a long time ago. I lived in Wichita falls as well... I was in Christopher's class. I remember it like it was yesterday. All these years later it still brings chills to me. I missed him then and I still miss him today. I think about it still to this day. I never heard much about it after that day but I'm happy to know its never been forgotten. Even if its something that's not a happy memory, I remember him, and that's not a bad memory. Love and Respect to his family.

Anonymous said...

I've got no info, wish I did. My heart ached for that poor kid. My own were close to his age. I think about him still. There are things in life that have no real connection to you but still impact you. His death was that for me. To his parents, family and friends you still have my condolences. He's not forgotten.

Anonymous said...

hello, I lived in Wichita Falls when Christopher Morris was found back in 2000. I thought of him today and my internet search lead me here. Its 2016 and I still hope they find who did this to him. It was sad.

Anonymous said...

It is very disappointing that this has yet to be solved. What happened to Chris runs in and out of my head over the years. My family and I lived in the same base housing village when this happened. I remember that morning when the cops were all gathered by the gate as my school bus drove by. My house was just in the street over.The case petrified my mom so bad that she kept me in a house lock down. There was no going to a friends house, the park, or anywhere without her. I didn't know Chris personally but the story still terrifies and baffles me to this day. So much about this case does not make sense and it leaves an uneasy feeling knowing that so many questions are still unanswered. My family's prayers and hopes of closure goes out to the Morris'.

Anonymous said...

My name is kelly and i lived a street away from were christopher was murdered. I had played with him and i can still remember his sister. I believe his family moved onto my old street shortly after. I was 9, I am now 25..and thinking of him today.

Unknown said...

To the family of this child. I can't imagine your anger and grief, but please keep this in the media. We need to keep his memory alive so that we can bring justice for your family. He deserves justice as well. Create a FB page, share information, solicit Investigation Discovery to come do a story. We support your efforts and want to help you find closure.

Unknown said...

can you find the webpage?

Anonymous said...

I was in Sgt Morris's hvac class on this particular day. He was my instructor for the block of training that was being taught. I remember this day and the confusion and heartache it caused within my class and the local military community. I remember the investigators coming in and pulling each of us from the classroom for questions. I think about this from time to time and look it up online to see where the case has gone. It's September of 2017 and I am still sad to see there are still no answers.

Danny Lawless said...

Was thinking about Chris today as I thought about John Tower Elementary. I remember doing a karate showcase in the talent show with Chris. I lived on Venus Court, and my family and I remember that day. Jan 2018, prayers that answers are found.

Silvia John said...

Oh no..!! How can that be. People have become so much cruel now a days. None pay attention and affection to each other. Though there are some other people who are kind and responsible and also give services to the people. Their information are available in this active texas military bases.

Shelby Buford (Conner) said...

This case still haunts me to this day ❤️ It’s been almost 19 years and it still goes unsolved I feel as though should be done to get this solved. I see all these cold
Case shows and I just want to find a way to get Christopher’s case opened. I knew the family
I grew up with Chris and our dads were close. I named my son Landon Christopher after him so his memory lives on ❤️ Still missing him and send love to his family ❤️❤️

Unknown said...

I was stationed at Sheppard when this happened to Christopher. We lived two houses from the Morris family on Century St. I'll never forget that day. It was fall break for kids. The weather was spectacular. Kids were outside all over the place. Then around noon that day the laughter of kids playing was shattered by police sirens. To this day (9-1-19) I still wonder if there was anything or anyone I saw that day that might have had something to do with Christopher's death. I just cannot remember anything that was out of place. God bless Christopher and his family. I truly hope one day there is closure.

shredworld said...

Thinking about you chris. Its almlst november 2019 and you popped up in my head today. Old classmates. I also lived on century street and walked by his house on the way to school. Keep this alive

Unknown said...

There is a post on reddits unresolved mysteries page. I made some remarks but i may have mis spoken about this case. If indeed i did, please forgive me. I was just answering from what i remembered.

Unknown said...

You dont know me but your sons case is now on reddit in the unresolved mysteries section. It has raised a lot of questions and speculation. I would like to follow up on this case. If you would be open to questions, please reply and i'll see what i can do.

Unknown said...

Has his case ever been solved? It is now on reddit in unresolved mysteries. You have a lot of people interested in his case but we cant find a lot of information on it. How closely were his bullies looked at?

Unknown said...

1/2/2020

Unknown said...

1/2/2020

Unknown said...

Can anybody tell me the names of some of the kids that were giving him problems? 1/2/2020

Anonymous said...

You want the names of 11 year old kids? That is highly inappropriate to be asking. Who are you? Leave this to the military police it's not ur business to be asking from names of kids who were 11 at the time

Anonymous said...

Im not a native of wichita falls. We moved here 9 years ago and heard about this story a couple years ago. Im just now finding out more about this case and have always wondered about it. Im so sorry for your loss. This is heartbreaking. My condolences and prayers go out to his family. I hope this child receives the justice he deserves. No child should ever have to go this way. ��

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Unknown said...

His sister put a post in a FB group called Buried Cold Cases
Little -known unsolved murders & missing persons cases

Anonymous said...

Still unsolved 12/28/2020

Anonymous said...

Be that as it may, they are not 11 anymore chief, and the MPs have had more than 20 years to solve it... Somebody better start asking questions.

Anonymous said...

Hello, I am just researching the case and was wondering if you had any information on it. I really hope whoever did this crime gets punished. sending my prayers.

Unknown said...

Just a general statement about giving information to these emails people are providing here in the comments... Be mindful because you don't know who exactly you're sharing information with. You could be sharing information with the very people who are trying to cover this up. If it is anybody within the family, be positive that is who you are speaking to. Or go to the police. Otherwise you sending random information out to complete strangers is not going to do anything to help Christopher's case. It might even be dangerous to share what you know with the wrong person keep that in mind and have a good day

Unknown said...

Shelby, I just heated of this case on a pod cast where Christopher's sister was speaking. Maybe you could help with the few questions I have....Why was he not in school that Monday? If school was out for everyone did u see him that day? Did officers ever question you or your other friends? I'm not pointing a finger just wondering if officers did their job. And the biggest question why he wasn't at school. Thank You for answering me and SO so very sorry for your loss Praying Justice will prevail

Anonymous said...

I know what happened

Anonymous said...

It is very weird how this blog post has turned into a memorial page for Christopher. It almost makes you wonder if the people commenting and leaving email addresses are legitimate.

Anonymous said...

Do tell…

Anonymous said...

Local media member is a good friend of mine in Wichita falls.
This case went in front of a grand jury in December.
Indictments are coming down within the next couple months .

This is about to be crazy!

Anonymous said...

Chris lived underneath us for a time. I also dated his sister not long after. His mother was engaged to my now-uncle before that. Pertaining to Chris, I remember thinking at the time, "What a tragedy". How right I was.

Anonymous said...

The comments seem fake.