It was around 10PM 12th of December, 2012, when paramedics in Sarasota, Florida, were called to a home where it was reported that a young girl had stopped breathing. When they arrived, it quickly became apparent that the case was much more complex than the caller had portrayed. Not only was the young girl not breathing, she had evident ligature marks across her body.
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Audio Sources:
“SNN: Misty Stoddard in Review”
“Misty Stoddard’s son, neighbor testify”
“Stoddard trial: Doctor testifies about injuries”
“Closing Arguments in Stoddard Case”
“Misty Stoddard Takes the Stand”
“Accused Child Killer Takes Witness Stand”
“Melissa Stoddard Trial Day 3”
“SNN: 11 Year Old Hog Tied – Father To Be Blamed For Death”
Sources:
Associated Press, 20 December, 2012 – “Father Charged with Aggravated Child Abuse”
The Bradenton Herald, 20 December, 2012 – “Sarasota Man Charged with Child Abuse After Daughter, 11, Dies”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 20 December, 2012 – “Man Faces Charges in Death of Daughter”
The Bradenton Herald, 21 December, 2012 – “Sarasota Woman Charged with Child Abuse in Death of Stepdaughter”
Englewood Sun, 21 December, 2012 – “Sarasota Father Charged After Daughter’s Death”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 21 December, 2012 – “Officials Paint Picture of Gruelling Abuse”
News & Record, 4 January, 2013 – “Teacher Recalls Girl as ‘Shining Star’”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 25 January, 2013 – “Bond Reduction Denied in Fatal Child Abuse Case”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 6 February, 2013 – “Records Offer Glimpse in to Girl’s Harsh Life and Death”
Associated Press, 15 April, 2013 – “Man Accused in Daughter’s Death Bonds out of Jail”
Associated Press, 12 June, 2013 – “Woman Charged with Murder in Step-Daughter’s Death”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 13 June, 2013 – “Murder Charge in Girl’s Death”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 26 June, 2013 – “Death Penalty Off Table”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 1 July, 2013 – “Google May Be Clue in Death”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 21 July, 2013 – “Troubling Details from Past”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 24 August, 2013 – “Before Autistic Girl Died, Dark Hints”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 20 October, 2013 – “Video Shows Girl’s Struggle”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 27 December, 2013 – “Photos Display Girl’s Decline”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 15 June, 2014 – “A Girl Sobbing, A Woman Yelling”
Herald Tribune, 15 June, 2014 – “The Girl No One Saved”
News & Record, 16 June, 2014 – “Trial to Begin in Fla. Death of Autistic Girl from Greenboro”
NBC – 8 WFLA, 23 June, 2014 – “Sarasota Step-Mother Goes on Trial for Murder”
NBC – 8 WFLA, 24 June, 2014 – “Son of Sarasota Stepmom on Trial for Murder Testifies Against Her”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 24 June, 2014 – “Tears as Trial Gets Underway”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 25 June, 2014 – “At Trial, Accounts of a Home Fractured”
NBC – 8 WFLA, 26 June, 2014 – “Sarasota Stepmom Takes the Stand in Own Murder Trial”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 26 June, 2014 – “Teacher Testifies he Contacted DCF”
Associated Press, 27 June, 2014 – “Woman Guilty of Killing Autistic Stepdaughter”
NBC – 8 WFLA, 27 June, 2014 – “Guilty Verdict in Stoddard Murder Trial”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 27 June, 2014 – “Officials Missed Opportunities to Stop Abuse”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 28 June, 2014 – “Guilty on all Counts”
The St. Augustine Record, 28 June, 2014 – “Woman Guilty of Killing Autistic Stepdaughter”
Associated Press, 15 August, 2014 – “Woman Gets Life for Killing Autistic Stepdaughter”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 15 August, 2014 – “Life – Plus Another 30 Years”
The Ledger, 15 August, 2014 – “Stepmother Gets Life for Murder”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 5 September, 2014 – “Teacher is Subject of Inquiry”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 6 September, 2014 – “Stoddard Father is Convicted”
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 14 November, 2014 – “Girl’s Father Gets 65 Years”
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/fl-district-court-of-appeal/1726328.html
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/566644-melissa-stoddard-death-case-court-documents
