Children – Headline Smart

Police Sergeant Stalks Nurse at 4 A.M

Authorities say a law enforcement supervisor repeatedly contacted and followed a nurse after she finished an overnight hospital shift. PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A police sergeant is facing criminal charges after prosecutors alleged he stalked a nurse, repeatedly sent messages to her and followed her while carrying a loaded handgun during a predawn encounter. According to court documents, the allegations stem from an incident that occurred after the nurse completed an overnight shift at a hospital …

Missing 8-Year-Old Found Inside McDonald’s After Kidnapping Alert

Authorities arrested a 51-year-old man after a multistate search ended at a restaurant in Nebraska. OMAHA, Neb. — An 8-year-old Iowa boy reported missing Sunday morning was found safe several hours later inside a McDonald’s in Omaha, where police arrested a 51-year-old man who was the subject of a nationwide kidnapping warrant. Authorities said the search began in western Iowa and quickly expanded into Nebraska after investigators determined the child and suspect may have crossed …

Little Girl Found Dead With Severe Injuries

Investigators said the child suffered extensive injuries before emergency crews were called to the residence. COLUMBUS, Ohio — A mother and her boyfriend are facing serious criminal charges after authorities accused them of abusing a young girl whose death investigators described as violent and prolonged, according to court records and statements released by law enforcement officials. Police said emergency responders were called to a residence after reports that the child was unresponsive. When paramedics arrived, …

Girl, 3, Fatally Shoots 1-Year-Old Sister

Prosecutors said a loaded handgun was left unsecured inside the family home. BATON ROUGE, La. — A Louisiana father pleaded guilty after prosecutors said his 3-year-old daughter found a loaded gun and accidentally shot and killed her 1-year-old sister inside the family’s home. The plea closed a criminal case tied to the 2023 shooting death of the toddler, a tragedy that drew attention to gun storage practices involving children. Court records showed the father admitted …

Missing Child Search Ends With Mother Accused of Murder

Investigators said the mother’s original account of the child’s disappearance began to unravel during questioning. TAMPA, Fla. — A woman who told police her daughter vanished after stopping for snacks at a gas station has now been charged with murder after investigators concluded the child was killed before the reported disappearance. Authorities said the case shifted dramatically after detectives uncovered inconsistencies in the mother’s statements and reviewed surveillance footage tied to the investigation. Police initially …

Dad Accused of Suffocating Baby With Pacifier

Prosecutors allege the 4-month-old girl died after her father pressed a pacifier over her airway inside the family home. UTICA, Ohio — An Ohio father has been charged with aggravated murder and multiple felony offenses after prosecutors alleged he suffocated his 4-month-old daughter by forcing a pacifier against her mouth and nose while trying to stop her from crying. Chance Topp, 29, was indicted in Licking County on 13 criminal charges connected to the October …

4-Year-Old Dies Getting Ready for McDonald’s

Investigators said the 4-year-old girl was left alone while her father went to a nearby store. CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Cleveland-area father is facing criminal charges after investigators said his 4-year-old daughter drowned in a bathtub while he briefly left their apartment to buy nicotine patches after promising to take the child to McDonald’s. Authorities said emergency crews found the girl unresponsive earlier this month inside the family’s apartment after her father returned from a …

Toddler’s Body Found in Freezer, Police Say

Police said the child’s body was discovered after relatives contacted officers about the boy’s whereabouts. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A Flagstaff woman is accused of killing her 2-year-old son and keeping his body inside a freezer for several weeks before relatives alerted police, according to court records and investigators. Flagstaff police said officers responded to an apartment after family members reported concerns about the child’s whereabouts and the mother’s behavior. Investigators said they later found the …

American Doctor Infected as Ebola Crisis Spreads

Health officials said one U.S. aid worker tested positive after exposure in eastern Congo. WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. health officials said Sunday that at least six Americans working in eastern Congo were exposed to a dangerous Ebola outbreak, including one aid worker who tested positive after treating patients near the city of Nyankunde. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Federal officials said the immediate …

5-Month-Old Dies After Violent Dog Attack at Home

Authorities said the attack injured both a 5-month-old boy and an adult inside an Anderson County residence. ANDERSON, S.C. — A 5-month-old boy died Friday after suffering severe injuries in a reported dog attack at a home in Anderson County, South Carolina, authorities said. An adult was also seriously injured during the incident, which happened Thursday afternoon on Wilson Street. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack as local officials work to …