Imagine if this happened on your street — a quiet neighborhood where everyone knows each other’s kids, but not everyone looks out for them like they should.

Last week, police were called to the residence of a local woman, who had been reported missing by her parents. They found something unimaginable: the decomposing body of a 17-year-old girl sealed inside her bedroom with windows and doors taped shut, left there since before Christmas.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Across the nation, cases like this are becoming alarmingly common, underscoring serious gaps in child protection mechanisms that previous administrations have failed to address effectively.

The buried detail here is how long it took for anyone to notice something was wrong. Neighbors reported strange smells and noises but were reassured by officials and neighbors who knew the girl's family.

As a mother, I can’t help but think about what this means for our children, growing up in a world where such neglect is possible right under everyone’s nose.

The fear that grips me thinking of my own child makes it hard to type. What kind of future are we leaving them?

It's time for us all to be vigilant and proactive about the safety of our kids, not just in our homes but within our entire community.