The Indiana Department of Child Services reported an increase in child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2024, according to its annual statewide review.
DCS investigated 276 child deaths last year where abuse or neglect was suspected, or where a child under the age of three died suddenly or unexpectedly. That number is up from 261 investigations in 2023.
The agency determined that 59 of those deaths were directly caused by caregiver abuse or neglect. Of those cases, 18 deaths were attributed to abuse and 41 to neglect.
Young children continued to be the most at risk. More than 70 percent of the victims were three years old or younger, a trend that mirrors national data.
In the immediate area, Knox County recorded one child death due to neglect in 2024, while Greene County reported one death caused by abuse.
Statewide, Marion County had the highest number of child fatalities linked to abuse or neglect at a total of 10 for 2024.
The report also found that one in four children had previously been involved in a substantiated DCS case. Most of the deaths occurred inside the child’s home, and biological parents were most often identified as responsible.
Investigators noted that common caregiver stress factors included financial strain, unemployment, and substance use, according to the Indiana Department of Child Services.
