Protect your daughter

A recent news article titled "Jury reaches verdict in death of pregnant teen" summarizes the story of Chelsea Brooks, a 14-year-old girl who was nine months pregnant when she was murdered in 2006. The baby's father was 22. It appears that the girl's parents had received a court order for the baby's father to stay away from their daughter, because he was convicted of "violating a protection from abuse order." In addition, the baby's father was convicted of capital murder, "kidnapping, rape of a child under age of 14, ... and indecent liberties with a child."

If your pregnant daughter is a minor and the baby's father is not a minor, talk to a lawyer about the statuatory rape laws for your state and pray about whether you should press charges. If your pregnant daughter has been abused by the baby's father, talk to a lawyer about a court order for her protection. Take time to consider the physical safety of your daughter if the baby's father poses a threat. The greater the age difference between your teen daughter and the male she is dating, the more possibility that he is in a threatening or controlling position over her. Don't allow your teen daughter to date anyone more than 3 years older than herself.