In Antioch, Jasmine Davis, 15 year-old, has died a victim of child abuse. She was found dead in home. Investigators with the Antioch Police Department are conducting the death investigation. The investigation into her death has revealed that she has been subjected to beatings and has not attended school this year.
Shemeeka Davis is suspected of murdering Jasmine. Investigators are working on clarification into the legal relationship between the deceased and the defendant. Shemeeka Davis has three biological children that appeared to be well cared for. The investigation has revealed there was a treatment disparity between how Ms. Davis cared for her biological children and the poor treatment received by Jasmine and her twin brother, which are not Ms. Davis’s biological children. News stories report that Jasmine and her brother appear to have injury patterns indicative of abuse. Antioch High School records indicate that Jasmine has not attended school since October 2007 and her brother has not attended school this year at all.
Neighbors report they would hear yelling from the house, but did not suspect the children were being abuse.
There is no single factor has been identified as the cause of child abuse. In general, an interaction of multiple risk factors in the environment place children at risk to be victims of abuse. Researchers have identified abusive parents or caregivers as having risk factors such as substance abuse, low self-esteem, mental or physical disability, depression, history of abuse as a child, poor coping skills, poor impulse control, history of violent behavior or history of being raised in a group setting with no positive parental role.
All children are potential victims of child abuse, but some factors increase the risk for a child to be abused.
