MONTGOMERY COUNTY — The woman who kick-started an investigation into a child abuse case is being honored for her work.
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Hazel Durham sprang into action in November 2024 when she spotted two young children wandering, injured, and clearly in need.
The 9-year-old girl told Durham that she was trying to escape her home.
She got the children out of the road and called the police for help.
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An investigation found that their mother’s boyfriend, Kyle Knox, had locked them in a room for months, and the mother, Kayla Shepherd, never checked on them.
The room was full of trash, debris, and evidence of extreme physical abuse to the 8-year-old boy.
A judge sentenced Knox to 40 years behind bars for more than 100 child abuse charges.
Shepherd was sentenced to five years behind bars for child endangerment.
County Prosecutor Mat Heck announced Durham as the 2026 Champion of Children Award Winner.
“She did what I asked of everyone. See something, say something. Be the one with courage,” Heck said.
“If I hadn’t asked that child, that little boy, he wouldn’t be here today,” Durham said. “I just thank god I did something, but no, I’m not a hero.”
Heck said that the Child Advocacy Center, known as CARE House, serves an average of 100 children who are victims of abuse a month.
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