Shammarh Jenkins was arrested for charges related to the death of 2-year-old Jayla Caton.

In Henry County, Shammarh Jenkins, 20-year-old, is charged with cruelty to children for the mortal injuries inflicted on Jayla Caton. Jayla died Saturday, November 22 2008 from severe head injuries. It appears that Jayla sustained the injuries while left in the care of Mr. Jenkins. She was taken emergently to Children’s Health Care of Atlanta. He was arrested while at the hospital with family.   

Well adjusted child-care styles are learned behaviors. Abusive adults are generally grown abused children with poor coping skills. That is not to say that all abusers were abused and all abused children will be abusers. Some people that were abused as children do not abuse their own children. And some children that were not abused as children grow up to be abusive parents. However, the likelihood of being an abuser increases significantly if an individual was abused as a child.  

While women are more likely and more frequently to be the abusers, men abuse more severely and are more likely to be sexual abusers. Children under the age of three years old are the most likely victims of abuse, because the toddler stage is a very trying time for parents.  

Caregivers with unrealistic expectations and poor coping skills are most at risk for engaging in abusive behavior towards children.