NEW YORK, NY January 17, 2006 —Child abuse reports in the city are skyrocketing and more children are being removed from their homes by caseworkers who suspect abuse. The increase comes in the wake of the brutal death of Nixzmary Brown - the 7-year-old who was allegedly beaten and tortured by her step-father.

The administration for Children's Services says between January 12th and January 14th, 888 reports were made to the state's abuse and neglect hotline -- nearly 80 percent more than the same three-day period last year.

Most of the calls came from police, doctors and teachers, who are required by law to report suspected abuse. 71 children were also placed into foster care, that's more than double the same period last year.

Some child welfare advocates call this a foster care panic and say when this happens the risk of children wrongly removed from their homes increases. They also warn unsubstantiated reports could overwhelm the system. ACS says the upsurge was expected. Commissioner John Mattingly called it a good thing and says staff and overtime have been increased to handle the extra cases.