Two men are behind bars for allegedly committing unrelated sexual crimes against children in Elkhart.
The alleged heinous acts serving as a reminder for parents to remain vigilant.
We spoke with the Elkhart Police Department to find out how parents can prevent these types of incidents from happening to their son or daughter.
A spokesperson for the police department warned parents that often the person committing the crime is already close to the family.
52-year-old Cornelius Owens Jr. of Elkhart has been charged with six felony counts of child molesting as well as sexual misconduct with a minor after an underaged teen accused Owens of being the father of her child.
39-year-old Christapher Myers was arrested for allegedly molesting a child.
Jessica McBrier is a public information officer for the Elkhart Police Department and says the people accused of these crimes are often close with the family.
“Parents can be watching out for signs of grooming, an adult having a really focused or excessive interest in their child, being overly physically affectionate with their child, their child suddenly having money or toys.”
McBrier provided tips for parents to help look for possible signs of sexual abuse
“Frequently it will be changes in behavior such as anxiety and depression, particularly in older children. Acting out, an unreasonable or a new fear of certain places or not wanting to be around a certain person.”
She says it's important to keep a dialogue open with your kids at a young age with age-appropriate information on what they need to watch out for.
“Distinguishing between good touch and bad touch. Letting the child know that they will not be judged if they come forward and talk about what happened to them.”
Often the abuser is a family member or friend, so it's important for parents to keep their guard up.
“Asking them what is wrong, what's going on. Knowing who is in your child’s life, who they are spending time with.”
If you suspect a child is being sexually abused, McBrier says call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556 or police immediately because it’s always better to keep your child safe, than be sorry you overlooked what seemed like a small issue.