By Jarrod Mills Staff Writer Apr 29, 2021 8 hrs ago As a whole, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has led the entire nation with the highest rate of child abuse cases for the third straight year in 2020. According to data from Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Community Based Services, in 2018, Laurel, Knox, and Whitley counties were in the stateâs top-20 counties when it comes to the number of children in reports to DCBS for suspected abuse and neglect. Knox County and Whitley County ranked 19th and 20th respectively, while Laurel County ranked fifth. âWe deal with these things several times a week,â Lt. Chris Edwards of the Laurel County Sheriffâs Office responded when asked about child abuse and neglect cases. âItâs very prevalent in our society and our local communities right now.â