A state study has found the number of Pennsylvania children killed or nearly killed after abuse had occurred spiked recently, increases likely driven by a new definition of abuse and an uptick in its reporting in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky and Roman Catholic clergy child sexual abuse scandals. The state Human Services Department released a report Thursday into fatalities and near fatalities during 2015 and 2016. It shows both types of reports were up after being fairly level for years.