In 2017, police in Perry, Iowa, received an anonymous phone call reporting an unresponsive teenager inside a home. When they arrived at the scene, it quickly became apparent that this was far more complex than they first of all realised and in fact, the teenage girl was the victim of prolonged abuse and neglect.
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Audio Sources:
“Marc, Misty Ray receive prison sentence for ‘cruel and evil’ actions”
“Misty Ray pleads guilty to kidnapping charges in death of Sabrina Ray”
“RAW: Adopted sister of Sabrina Ray sobs as victim impact statement is read”
“RAW: Police reveal new details in death of Perry teen”
Sources:
Associated Press, 16 May, 2017 – “Police ID Teen Found Dead in Central Iowa Home”
Associated Press, 18 May, 2017 – “16-Year-Old Iowa Girl Found Dead Weighed 56 Pounds”
Dallas County News, 18 May, 2017 – “Couple Marc and Misty Ray Arrested Following Death of Sabrina Ray”
NBC – 13 WHO, 18 May, 2017 – “Parents Arrested in Connection with Perry Teen’s Death”
NBC – 13 WHO, 18 May, 2017 – “Kids Sometimes Placed in Least Bad of all the Bad Situations”
NBC – 13 WHO, 19 May, 2017 – “Perry Teen’s Biological Dad and Stepmother Previously Charged”
NBC – 13 WHO, 19 May, 2017 – “Perry Community Gathers to Mourn Loss of Teen”
NBC – 13 WHO, 23 May, 2017 – “Perry Community Gathers to Mourn Death”
Associated Press, 25 May, 2017 – “Parents of Malnourished Teen Found Dead Plead Not Guilty”
Dallas County News, 25 May, 2017 – “Trial Scheduled for Marc and Misty Ray”
The Perry Chief, 26 May, 2017 – “Perry Community Will Gather to Host Sabrina Ray Candlelight Vigil”
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, 28 May, 2017 – “Iowa’s Foster Care System Needs Changes”
Associated Press, 31 May, 2017 – “New Charges Brought in Case of Iowa Teen’s Death”
Associated Press, 31 May, 2017 – “DHS Director to Retire Amid Criticism Over Child Abuse Cases”
NBC – 13 WHO, 4 June, 2017 – “DHS Oversight Hearing Scheduled for Monday”
NBC – 13 WHO, 5 June, 2017 – “This Hits Us Deeply”
NBC – 13 WHO, 9 June, 2017 – “Sabrina Ray’s Biological Family Seeks Recourse in Obtaining Teen’s Ashes”
The Perry Chief, 23 June, 2017 – “Royal Raindrop Tree Planted at Wiese Park In Honor of Sabrina Ray”
NBC – 13 WHO, 4 July, 2017 – “Justin Ray’s Attorney Seeking Mental Health Evaluation”
NBC – 13 WHO, 6 July, 2017 – “Iowa DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven Reveals Proposal”
NBC – 13 WHO, 16 August, 2017 – “Sabrina Ray Died of Malnutrition Due to Denial of Care”
NBC – 13 WHO, 11 September, 2017 – “Another Trial Delay Expected in Death of Sabrina Ray”
Cherokee Tribune, 15 September, 2017 – “Senator Urges Stronger Protection for Children”
Legal Monitor Worldwide, 15 September, 2017 – “One More Court-Hearing Gets Postponed”
NBC – 13 WHO, 28 September, 2017 – “Search Warrants Reveal More Details”
NBC – 13 WHO, 4 October, 2017 – “Marc and Misty Ray Now Charged with Murder of Sabrina Ray”
Associated Press, 16 February, 2018 – “Brother of Starved Iowa Girl Gets Prison for Injuring Her”
NBC – 13 WHO, 16 February, 2018 – “Justin Ray Charged with Felony”
NBC – 13 WHO, 9 March, 2018 – “Marc Ray Wants Murder, Abuse Trial Moved Out of Dallas County”
Dallas County News, 6 April, 2018 – “Carla Bousman Sentenced to 20 Years”
The Independent, 8 April, 2018 – “Grandmother who Let Teenager Starve to Death Sentenced to 20 Years”
NBC – 13 WHO, 11 May, 2018 – “Vigil Held to Honor Memory of Sabrina Ray”
The Perry Chief, 18 May, 2018 – “One Year Later, Community Remembers Sabrina Ray with Candlelight Vigil”
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, 17 June, 2018 – “Iowa’s Children Deserve Better”
NBC – 13 WHO, 30 September, 2018 – “More Than One Year Later”
NBC – 13 WHO, 21 December, 2018 – “Perry Fire Department Hopes Justice is Served”
Legal Monitor Worldwide, 26 December, 2018 – “Father of Sabrina Ray Enters into Guilty Plea in Starvation Death Case”
The Perry Chief, 17 January, 2019 – “Sabrina Ray’s Biological Family Speaks Out”
Associated Press, 18 January, 2019 – “Couple Guilty in Starvation Death”
NBC – 13 WHO, 18 January, 2019 – “Marc and Misty Ray Receive Sentences for the Death of Sabrina Ray”
The Perry Chief, 24 January, 2019 – “Marc and Misty Ray Receive Maximum Sentences”
Associated Press, 1 February, 2019 – “Last of Defendants Sentenced”
The Perry Chief, 7 February, 2019 – “Sabrina Ray Case Comes to a Close”
NBC – 13 WHO, 12 June, 2019 – “Sabrina Ray’s Grandmother Arrested”
Associated Press, 8 September, 2020 – “Iowa Teen’s Starvation Death was Preventable”
Des Moines Register – “The Short, Troubled Life of Sabrina Ray”
Misplaced Trust, An Investigation of the Death of Sabrina Ray”