TIMOTHY MCKNIGHT - Infant - Arrested: Mother, LaTasha Cannon - Pine Bluff, AK

Pine Bluff baby allegedly killed by mother

Posted: Jun 10, 2013 6:31 PM EST

Updated: Jun 10, 2013 7:39 PM EST


PINE BLUFF (KATV) - A Jefferson County baby is dead after allegedly
being murdered by his mother. It's the second recent crime involving a
child in the county.

Just in the past month there have been two infant deaths and one
child tossed in a trash can all allegedly at the hands of their parents,
and all three out of Jefferson County. Experts say it's part of a
recent increase in child abuse cases.

"These children are helpless, they are dependent on the grown ups,
you know, it's just horrible," said Lt. Terry Hopson, spokesperson for
the Pine Bluff Police Department.

Monday authorities were called to a house on South Cedar St. after
receiving a call about an unresponsive child around 8 a.m. They found
infant Timothy McKnight who police say was allegedly killed by his
mother, LaTasha Cannon.

"We can't find where there's any trauma to the child's outward
appearance, any bruises, cuts or anything like that," said Hopson. "But
as a result, so far in our investigation we have transported the mother
to the county jail."

But it's not the first or even second time a child has been
mistreated or even killed in Jefferson County. Child Abuse Pediatrician,
Dr. Karen Farst, said it's part of a slight increase in cases of
violence against children under the age of three.

"There is still a lot of work to do to strengthen families to get the prevention message out there," said Dr. Farst.

And Dr. Farst says there are ways to prevent child abuse by knowing what the red flags are.

"A lot of times we'll see a mental health issue that hasn't been
addressed or a caregiver that's in a relationship that has domestic
violence involved," she said. "Another big co-occurring factor is
substance abuse in the home."

Police still don't know what factors lead the mother to murder her
child, if that is the case. She has been booked and charged with first
degree murder.

For more information on violence against children visit these web sites:

Prevent Child Abuse America- Prevention Tip Sheets

http://www.preventchildabuse.org/index.php/news-and-publications/tips-and-brochures


http://www.katv.com/story/22553410/pine-bluff-baby-allegedly-killed-by-mother