Kid Fears

Why someone locks three kids in a dark cellar. The story of Sherry Murphy

By Colin Allen, published on January 01, 2003

Police arrested a woman Thursday, January 9, for allegedly abusing three young boys, including a 7-year-old whose lifeless body was found in a plastic storage bin. The two other children were discovered in a dark cellar in Newark, New Jersey, the previous Saturday. The suspect, Sherry Murphy, had been watching the children while their mother served an eight-month prison sentence for child endangerment. While this shocking case is far from being a typical occurrence, the unfortunate fact remains that child abuse is a serious national problem.

"There are tens of thousands of cases in the U.S. a year," says N.G. Berrill, Ph.D., a forensic psychologist based in Brooklyn, New York. Most stem from excessive corporal punishment, defined as a combination of neglect and physical or sexual abuse. And most of these instances go unreported. Sadly, the child welfare system does not always work correctly. "I'm sure there are tons of cases—not only in New Jersey—where kids slip between the cracks," laments Berrill.

Both the nature and amount of abuse play a role in a child's future mental health. But all abuse works on the mind in a similar way, explains Berrill. "What happens is a kid is psychologically ground down. They are diminished. They are traumatized emotionally and physically."

Why do abusers strike? There is some truth to the notion that violence begets more violence. But stress—from work, relationships and even the children themselves—is also a major factor. "[Abusers] find these kids as easy targets," explains Berrill.

"Rearing kids can be stressful. If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, immediately reach out for help," he advises. The good news is that abusive behavior can be prevented through learning how to better cope with stress.

To read more on sexual child abuse click here