INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Child abuse and neglect deaths in Indiana shot up 28 percent during the state’s 2008 fiscal year, ending four straight years of declines, according to a report released Thursday by the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Twenty-four children died from abuse and 22 from neglect during the 12 months that ended June 30, 2008. The 46 deaths were 10 more than in 2007 but less than in earlier years. There were 57 deaths in 2004, 54 in 2005 and 53 in 2006.

“It is really disheartening,” said Sharon Pierce, president of the Villages of Indiana, whose divisions include the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse.

DCS spokeswoman Amy Miller said it was hard to explain the increase. Reports of child abuse and neglect, including those that did not result in death, have been steadily increasing, she said.

The report did not identify the children but provided the circumstances of each of their deaths. Three children, ages 13, 14 and 16, died in two separate successful or attempted murder-suicides in which their mothers also died.

Two siblings, 8 and 11, died in a train-van collision when their mother tried to outrun a train to a crossing. The mother also died and two other siblings suffered nonfatal injuries. In another neglect case, a 9-year-old not wearing a seat belt died in a car crash after his father, who was driving, ingested alcohol, cocaine and marijuana.

However, the number of deaths linked to drug or alcohol use fell to nine in 2008 from 14 the year before, the report said.

Pierce noted that 15 of the children who died, or about a third, had come to the attention of state child protection workers before they died. She said she did not want to blame DCS for any shortcomings, but the state should pay attention to that statistic as it evaluates whether to return children to their homes.

The 2008 report also revealed the following:

— Fifteen deaths resulted from abusive head trauma and five each from gunshot wounds, traffic crashes and asphyxiation.

— Fourteen of the children who died were infants and 19 others were 3 or younger.

— Indianapolis and Marion County had 11 abuse or neglect deaths in 2008, more than any other county, followed by Gary and Lake County with seven and Fort Wayne and Allen County with four. No other county had more than two.

Posted 4/2/2010