FALSE ALLEGATIONS IN THE NEWS
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This archive of news articles includes publications that discuss wrongful allegations of child abuse or neglect, medical conditions that present as symptoms of abuse, news regarding child protective services, policy changes, stories about reunification, events and other topics. For any content-related inquiries or suggestions regarding articles in this archive, contact us here.

‘Shaken baby syndrome’ and the flawed science in our criminal courts
Jennifer Del Prete has been behind bars for more than a decade for murdering 14-month-old Isabella Zielinski. Del Prete was convicted of first-degree murder after the jurors in her Illinois trial heard testimony about “shaken baby syndrome,” or SBS.
Radley Balko
The Washington Post
2/21/14

Many Experts Have Discredited Shaken Baby Syndrome. So Why Is Maria Mendez Still in Prison?
The story that distraught Maria Mendez told doctors and detectives at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center seven years ago has never varied, not even on the day she rejected a chance at probation by refusing to say she'd killed her grandson.
Beth Barrett
LA Weekly
11/7/13

Painful memories persist for parents
A lot has happened since the Pekin Daily Times ran a story last year about Michelle and Dave Weidner, the Peoria couple who faced criminal and Department of Children and Family Services investigations due to an erroneous diagnosis from a doctor at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria that their son, Jacob, had a skull fracture.
Valari Hyatt
Pekin Times
10/18/12

UIS Innocence group to publicize false abuse charges
Laura Nimke spent her career teaching children how to speak up about child abuse and how to tell the difference between good and bad touches. As a child abuse prevention specialist, she took pride and preventing children from being abused.
Chris Stroisch
The State Journal-Register
6/24/12




