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Baby's death in Albany raises child abuse concerns
Posted: 03.30.2011 at 6:47 PM
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Janaysia Stevenson
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Experts say abusers can't/won't control anger

ALBANY, GA. -- The violent death of Janaysia Stevenson is raising questions about the kind of person that could brutally murder a helpless infant and the nature of child abuse itself.

"If we don’t begin to look at counseling and follow through with these children and getting them out of these circumstances, we will continue to see this cycle of violence in our community," said Amy Boney, Regional Director of Children's Advocacy Centers.

Boney says that the alleged abuse of 19-month-old Janaysia Stevenson is an all-too-familiar story. She sees anywhere from 100 to 150 abused children come through her door every year. "The younger a child is, the more prone they are to suffer a fatality from physical abuse," said Boney.

Experts say accused abusers like 28-year-old Gregory Keith Evans have an inability – or unwillingness – to suppress their anger. "That becomes kind of a mechanism for power and control because this individual gets more power and more control in the situation because of the fear," said Dr. Cheryl Kaiser of Insight Psychotherapy.

Kaiser says the stereotype that those who commit abuse tend to be victims of abuse themselves is false. "The vast majority of people who were abused as children learn from that, that that’s bad, wrong and they don’t want to do the same thing," she added.

Despite common misconceptions, experts say child abuse knows no boundaries. It crosses all racial lines, all income levels, and can happen in any neighborhood. "Some children, unfortunately, are almost invisible in our community and some are more easily seen," said Boney.

As for Janaysia’s mother – 20-year-old Chaitia Stevenson. . .

"If the mother knows the abuse is going on and is not reporting it and is not stopping it, she is just as guilty of the marks that child is bearing," said Boney.

Boney works with Albany's Lily Pad Center, which is asking men to stand against abuse in it's 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' event on April 9th. Find out how you can help by clicking here.

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