Ben Butler was born in Carshalton but moved to a village in Cambridgeshire with his mother and stepfather at the age of two or three. He grew up believing his stepfather was his real father, and described his now-divorced parents’ relationship as “volatile”. He later returned to London, attending school in Carshalton and leaving with, in his own words, “not so good” grades in his GCSEs. He went on to work selling car parts for Audi and Volkswagen before moving through a number of unskilled jobs.¹

Butler’s criminal record told its own story. He had a string of convictions for assault, including two attacks in public on an ex-girlfriend, both of which he admitted. His background was not that of a man prone to restraint or gentleness.

Butler met Jennie Gray in March 2006 when he was out drinking at a club in Sutton. He got talking to her after her brother, who she was with, fell off a bar stool. The pair spent the night together and embarked on a casual relationship. Gray found out that she was pregnant about eight weeks later. She was a graphic designer who would later work in the City of London; Butler was, by the time Ellie was born, a stay-at-home father.

By his own account, Butler’s attitude to fatherhood was transformed the moment Ellie arrived. Before, he had described himself as a party animal who thought that babies were “f***ing boring” but he later said holding his daughter changed him. “She was just amazing. I held her in my hand. She was sucking on my finger,” he said. “With her it was different. I was really proud.” He said he had never felt that way about anything before in his life.

But what he claimed and how he behaved were two completely different things.

In February 2007, when Ellie was still a baby, she was taken to Epsom and St Helier Hospital after Butler noticed that she was “suddenly soft and limp”. The hospital team found Ellie had subdural haematomas as well as retinal haemorrhages, and she suffered seizures. It was also noticed she had injuries on her forehand and hand that were consistent with burns. She was just six-weeks-old.²

A child protection investigation was launched, and doctors and social workers concluded that the injuries were not accidental. The evidence pointed clearly to non-accidental trauma – the kind consistent with violent shaking. The Family Court subsequently found that, on the balance of probability, Butler had caused Ellie’s injuries and that Gray had failed to protect her. Ellie was removed from her parents and, in June 2007, placed in the care of her maternal grandparents.

Those grandparents, Neal Gray and his wife Linda, would become Ellie’s primary carers for the next five years. By all accounts they provided her with a loving, stable home, and she thrived under their care. For Neal Gray in particular, Ellie was not just a granddaughter; she was the child he was raising as his own.

In March 2009, Butler was found guilty of grievous bodily harm in respect of Ellie’s injuries and was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Croydon Crown Court by Judge Timothy Stow QC.

Butler did not accept his conviction. He protested his innocence throughout and, along with Jennie Gray, mounted an appeal. In 2010, their efforts bore result, although not because Butler was proven innocent, but because of shifts in medical understanding around infant head injuries. New medical evidence cast doubt on the strength of the case, and the judges ruled there was “no rational basis” a jury could reject the possibility of an “unknown cause” of Ellie’s injuries. The Court of Appeal also ruled that the trial judge’s summing up contained “serious misdirections”. On 17 June 2010, Lord Justice Moses led a panel of Court of Appeal judges in quashing Butler’s conviction.

The quashing was not a finding of innocence. It was a finding that the original conviction was unsafe in light of evolving medical science. However, the distinction was lost in what followed. The Serious Case Review later concluded that the Family Court’s decision to exonerate Ben Butler, combined with its subsequent order for agencies to be sent a letter to that effect, had a very significant impact on how agencies could protect his children from that point in time onwards. Butler’s exoneration and the judge’s statement about him being a victim of a miscarriage of justice had the effect of handing all the power to the parents.

Armed with his quashed conviction, Butler wasted no time in launching a campaign to regain custody of Ellie. Butler and Gray embarked on a high-profile publicity campaign to get Ellie back. Butler began a relentless media campaign claiming that false allegations had led to his daughter being removed from the family. He even appeared on TV show This Morning.

Behind the scenes, the legal battle was ferocious and deeply unequal. Butler and Gray were given legal aid to the tune of £1 million. The grandparents, on the other hand, spent their entire life savings of £70,000 trying to defend themselves. Neal and Linda Gray fought as hard as they could to keep Ellie safe, but they were outgunned financially and, ultimately, judicially.

In July 2012, the matter came before Mrs Justice Hogg in the High Court’s Family Division. Despite the concerns raised by police, social workers, and Ellie’s own grandfather, Mrs Justice Hogg sided with Butler and ordered Ellie returned to her parents’ care. The Family Court overturned an order which had previously protected Ellie from her parents, and went so far as to declare that any injury caused to Ellie had been “purely accidental”.

Neal warned the judge she would have “blood on your hands”.³

A Serious Case Review later found that Sutton Children’s Services felt “powerless to act” following the High Court’s ruling, and that Mrs Justice Hogg’s judgment had gone much further than simply quashing Butler’s previous conviction. In her eyes, he had been entirely exonerated as a victim of a miscarriage of justice. That had the effect of telling social services to “back off”, despite their ongoing concerns about returning Ellie to her parents.

Ellie was returned to her parents in November 2012. She was five-years-old, and she barely knew them. The contrast with the grandparents who had raised her must have been immense. When Gray arranged for her parents to see Ellie, they were stunned by her appearance. Neal remembered: “Her appearance changed. She had grown thin and gaunt. She had sunken eyes and dirty, matted hair.” She asked when she could “come home.”⁴

Ellie began attending Avenue Primary Academy in Sutton, but her attendance quickly became a source of serious concern. Teachers noticed she was repeatedly absent from school. The school’s headteacher, Alex Clark, said staff had concerns about the family and had offered the parents help which they did not accept. Butler and Gray would not meet teachers to discuss why Ellie had missed periods from school. They simply made up various excuses including “upset stomach, mum has interview, unwell over the weekend, sick in the night, and sore throat.”⁵

When Ellie did attend, staff noticed unexplained injuries. There was bruising to her forehead and an eye injury. Teachers observed the marks, raised concerns, and documented what they saw, but the power of Mrs Justice Hogg’s ruling effectively tied the hands of anyone who might have intervened. The message that had been sent to every professional in the network was clear: do not challenge these parents.

In October 2013, Ellie suffered a fractured shoulder blade but neither Butler nor Gray sought medical attention. Then on the morning of 28 October 2013, Jennie Gray left for work as a graphic designer in the City of London. Ben Butler was alone with Ellie at the family home on Westover Close, Sutton. What happened in the hours that followed has never been fully described by Butler, who has consistently denied responsibility.

At 12:46AM, Butler tried to call Gray at her office but reached voicemail and sent a text asking her to “answer”. Her colleague Tracey Bernstein said in a statement that the way Gray got up and left the office was “just not right”. Another former workmate said she had seen Gray looking “agitated” on the phone.⁶

Minutes later, Gray was caught on CCTV dashing out of her office, near the Old Bailey. She sent a text to her manager saying she had left because she was “feeling unwell”. She hailed a taxi and rushed back to Sutton. Paramedics were called about two hours later.

When emergency services finally arrived, they found Ellie on her bedroom floor. She was cold and unresponsive, lying beside a small pink child’s stool. Butler claimed she had fallen, but medical evidence suggested her injuries were caused by being thrown against a wall or hit with a “blunt weapon”. She was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, where she died.

A post-mortem examination revealed the true horror of what had been done to her. Ellie had suffered skull fractures from at least two severe impacts. Skeletal pathology evidence showed that she had suffered four distinct periods of injuries throughout her short life – evidence that the violence had not begun on the day she died.

While Ellie lay dying, or was already dead, Gray set about covering her partner’s tracks. She washed clothing stained with Ellie’s blood and helped fabricate a cover story that Ellie had fallen accidentally. The prosecution alleged that Gray and Butler made the 999 call knowing that their daughter was already dead.

Ben Butler was charged with the murder of Ellie while Jennie Gray was charged with child cruelty and perverting the course of justice. The trial opened at the Old Bailey in May 2016. Butler’s defence counsel suggested that Ellie had suffered fatal head injuries when she fell from a stool while mimicking Peppa Pig, a children’s cartoon of which she was reportedly a fan.⁷

The defence asked whether Ellie might have jumped from a bed, fallen backwards, and struck her head in the manner depicted in the show. The pathologist who had carried out the post-mortem, Professor Anthony Risdon, was unequivocal in his response. He said that he had seen a large number of head injuries in children, had never come across a scenario like that, and had never come across a short distance fall that resulted in a similar injury. He concluded that Ellie died from a “considerable blunt impact to the head”, and noted there was a “strong possibility” that four marks on her jaw were caused by gripping.

The trial also heard evidence about Butler’s character. Jurors watched recorded footage from a camera found in the parents’ bedroom which showed Ellie present in the room while her father directed an abusive tirade at someone down a phone. She was seen in her pyjamas with a thick bandage on her leg while her father shouted off-camera.

Butler’s behaviour in court did little to help his case. He stormed out of the dock after accusing a pathologist of cremating Ellie “behind our back”, shouting: “You took samples and cremated her behind our back. You hid evidence.”⁸ When he took the stand in his own defence, he delivered a tirade against both his current trial and his original 2009 conviction. “It’s a disgrace,” he told the court. “Make no mistake about it.” He accused the prosecution of using the same pool of medical experts across multiple cases, claimed those experts were incapable of impartiality, and insisted evidence had been lost. He also complained that he was being tried for “arguing with my wife” rather than for his daughter’s murder – a remark that drew little sympathy from those following the proceedings.

Gray’s position was complicated. She had admitted perverting the course of justice in helping to cover up what had happened, but denied child cruelty. She was at work as a graphic designer in the City of London when Butler allegedly murdered their daughter. The prosecution argued that her devotion to her partner had overridden her concern for her daughter. Gray told the Old Bailey she had visited Butler in prison 190 times since he was charged with murder.

Tragically, Ellie’s grandmother Linda Gray died on the first day of the murder trial, having never seen justice served. Neal Gray was understood to be too ill to give evidence. The couple who had loved and raised Ellie for years were robbed, in different ways, of the chance to see the case through.

On 21 June 2016, the jury at the Old Bailey returned its verdict. Ben Butler was found guilty of murder. Following the guilty verdict, Butler shouted out: “I’ll fight for the rest of my life. Unbelievable,” before adding: “I want to be sentenced now so I can fight in the Appeal Court.” He said: “I will fight forever to prove this wrong. My daughter was jumping in the house. I’m 100% not guilty.” Gray, from the dock, said: “Big mistake. Spend another 10 years proving you wrong.”⁹

The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Wilkie, was not swayed. He described Butler as a violent, ill-tempered, domineering man who had attacked Ellie with “lethal violence” and then arranged the scene. Butler was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years. Jennie Gray was jailed for 42 months after being found guilty of child cruelty and admitting perverting the course of justice.

The conviction of Ben Butler triggered a cascade of official scrutiny, not just of the man himself, but of the system that had sent Ellie back to him.

The Serious Case Review was published on 21 June 2016, immediately after Ben Butler’s conviction. Christine Davies, the Chair of Sutton Safeguarding Children Board, said: “The serious case review concluded that the Family Court’s decision to exonerate Ben Butler of harming Ellie in 2007, combined with its subsequent order for agencies to be sent a letter to that effect, had a very significant impact on how agencies could protect his children from that point in time onwards.”

Yet the review was itself hampered from the start. Beyond furnishing the Serious Case Review with necessary court orders, Mrs Justice Hogg and other members of the judiciary refused to cooperate with it. In response to calls for accountability, a spokesman for the Judiciary stated that if a judge errs in law or on the facts, the remedy is to appeal, and that referring a judge’s decision to an extra-judicial body would be incompatible with the principle of judicial independence.

Neal Gray, speaking after the inquest into Ellie’s death, said that any input from him or his late wife Linda during Ellie’s short life had been “ignored”. He called for a full public inquiry, telling BBC Radio 4: “I want it all open above board and I want everybody to answer. Everybody failed Ellie, completely and utterly.”¹⁰

A senior coroner later said her “preliminary view” was that the way social services had handled the case were issues that needed to be investigated.

He was accompanied by a woman identified as Miranda Casarez, who spoke frantically, telling staff that her stepson, four-year-old Benjamin Cervera, had suddenly become unresponsive at home. The ER staff immediately sprang into action. Benjamin’s body was unnaturally still, dressed only in a disposable diaper soaked with urine.

As they rushed him into a private examination room, his condition became even more alarming. His small frame was far too thin, his ribs pressing against his skin, his eyes sunken into his face. He weighed just 28 pounds – severely underweight for a boy his age. Bruises of varying shades marked his body, some fresh, others older.

A doctor exchanged a glance with a nurse. Something was wrong. This wasn’t just an unexplained medical emergency, this was something more sinister. Someone quietly instructed another staff member to call the police.

Despite their best efforts, Benjamin’s fragile body could take no more. His heart stopped, and within moments, he was pronounced dead.

Detectives arrived at the hospital and immediately spoke with Miranda Casarez. She looked tired, but her face was lined with frustration rather than grief. Miranda wasted no time voicing her complaints. She said Benjamin wasn’t her child. He was the child of her boyfriend, Brandon Lee Cervera. She told detectives she had been left to care for five children while Brandon was rarely home.

Then, she spoke about Benjamin. She described him as “bad,” saying he never listened, cried constantly, and was difficult. When a detective carefully asked Miranda if she had been struggling with postpartum depression, she shook her head. No, she said. She was just exhausted.

Miranda made shocking claims. According to her, Benjamin ate his own faeces and would reach into his diaper to consume it. She said she didn’t understand why he did it. Despite his behaviour, she insisted she had never hurt him.

Detectives listened as she explained her version of events. She claimed that she disciplined Benjamin the way any parent would – with timeouts, by making him sit on his bed. She said that she never laid a hand on him.¹¹

But the evidence in front of them told a different story. Benjamin’s body had been covered in bruises of varying stages. His tiny frame bore injuries that suggested prolonged mistreatment. When asked about these, Miranda had an explanation. She said Benjamin had inflicted those injuries on himself. She described him as a troubled child, saying he often smacked himself in the face, hit his own head, bit his fingernails and toenails until they bled. She claimed that she had told Brandon about this behaviour, but he had only responded with anger, cursing at her and dismissing her concerns.

Then, Miranda pulled out her phone and showed detectives a video. In it, Benjamin was striking himself on the head, his voice small and weak as he begged for bread.¹²

Miranda said that before he died, Benjamin had been shoving his fingers down his throat, forcing himself to vomit. She claimed that he had thrown up blood and mucus, and she had assumed it was from scratching his throat too hard.

At the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office, Dr. Kimberley Molina conducted Benjamin’s autopsy under bright overhead lights. What she found was devastating. Benjamin was “markedly underweight” with no body fat. It was clear he had been systematically deprived of food over approximately four and a half months. There was no underlying medical condition that could explain his frail state.¹³

Bruises covered his arms, legs, torso, scalp, and the back of his head. Despite Miranda’s claims, these injuries were not self-inflicted. The pathologist determined it would have been impossible for a child Benjamin’s size to cause such widespread damage to himself.¹⁴

But the most devastating revelation was yet to come. Benjamin had not died from his injuries, he had slowly starved to death. His body had simply given out, unable to sustain itself any longer.

With the autopsy confirming deliberate starvation, detectives obtained a search warrant for the family’s apartment on Eisenhauer Road. At first glance, the apartment seemed ordinary; the living room tidy, kitchen clean, master bedroom well-kept.¹⁵

But closer inspection revealed horrifying details. The refrigerator was locked. So was the pantry door and kitchen cabinets. Every source of food was secured.

Then, detectives found a second bedroom with a lock on the outside. When they opened the door, the stench of urine hit them like a wall. While Benjamin’s siblings had beds with duvets and pillows, Benjamin was forced to sleep on a bare, urine-soaked mattress. In the corner, cameras were mounted on the walls, their lenses pointed directly at the mattress.¹⁶

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Miranda’s phone, and what they found was nightmarish. One video, recorded on the day of Benjamin’s death, showed the four-year-old sitting in Miranda’s car, his frail body shaking. His voice, weak but desperate, filled the recording: “I want some bread.” He clasped his hands together, begging repeatedly. From the driver’s seat, Miranda’s voice could be heard: “No. Chill out.” This recording was taken just three hours before Benjamin was pronounced dead.¹⁷

Other videos showed Benjamin striking himself in the head while begging for bread and water, being forced to eat breadcrumbs off the bathroom floor without using his hands, and being made to drink hand sanitizer. The camera captured his reaction; his tiny frame shaking as he frantically waved his hands in front of his mouth, begging for water through sobs as the alcohol burned his throat.

In another disturbing clip, Benjamin was punching himself in the face in the back seat of a car. In yet another, he begged his father, Brandon, for food, his small hands folded in front of him as his clothes hung off his frail body.

Detectives scrolled through photos stored on the device. There were images of Benjamin with swollen, bruised eyes, his small face barely recognisable. The pictures clearly showed the slow, steady deterioration of his body. His arms growing thinner. His ribs becoming more pronounced. His eyes, once bright, fading into vacant exhaustion.

Security camera footage from the apartment showed Benjamin trying to climb up to remove locks from the refrigerator and pantry, attempting to find ways around barriers in the bedroom, and picking empty snack bags from the trash. One clip captured him crying in his locked bedroom, begging for water and milk.¹⁸

In another recording, Benjamin could be seen trying to find a way around a steel gate that had been installed in the bedroom. Another clip, recorded just four days before Benjamin died, showed Miranda speaking on the phone with his father, Brandon. Her tone was sharp, frustrated. “I can’t take it anymore,” she complained. “He starts yelling and screaming and throwing himself because he wanted bread.” She sounded more annoyed than concerned.¹⁹

When detectives spoke with Benjamin’s ten-year-old brother, he described the routine cruelty his younger brother endured. Miranda would force hand sanitizer and hot sauce down Benjamin’s throat, watching as he gagged. She played a twisted game called “flip flop,” throwing Benjamin into the air and letting him fall to the ground. There was also the “nasty water” – Miranda would scoop urine from the toilet into a cup and force Benjamin to drink it.²⁰

The brother described an incident at a park where Miranda took their soiled shoes and rubbed them on bread, then made Benjamin eat it. He was so hungry that he swallowed it without question. His brother continued, describing the punishments Miranda would inflict. She would hit Benjamin with a belt or smack him on the bottom. But sometimes, she missed and struck him on the lower back.

Perhaps most heartbreaking, the brother admitted he had been too scared to help. He had tried once to give Benjamin food, but Miranda snatched it away and threw it in the trash.²¹

The investigation continued, and detectives learned that there were efforts to save Benajmin before it was too late. One month before Benjamin died, a relative made a desperate call to police pleading for a welfare check. Officer Oliver Perez arrived to find Benjamin with a swollen face, blackened eyes, and bruising on his head, torso, and arms. The child was abnormally thin with visible ribs.

When asked about the bruises, Miranda claimed Benjamin was hurting himself. Brandon added that he had “behavioral issues” and would get up at night to eat.

Perez looked around the apartment. The refrigerator was stocked with food. He noticed the locks on the fridge and pantry doors, but according to his report, none of them were locked at the time of his visit.

Emergency medics were called to check Benjamin’s vitals, which came back normal. They asked Benjamin what happened to his eyes, and he said that he poked them. Perez was told to call CPS for further investigation, but just one month later, Benjamin was dead.

Later, Officer Perez would testify that he regretted not doing more during and after the welfare check, that he should have questioned Benjamin alone. “I believe I could have done more… I wish I could have done more,” he said.

By February 2022, arrest warrants were issued. Brandon Lee Cervera and Miranda Casarez were both charged with injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury. Despite the gruesome nature of Benjamin’s suffering, both were released on bond.

Miranda’s trial began in April 2024. During jury selection and opening statements, the prosecution wasted no time in presenting gruesome evidence. The jury was shown the haunting video of Benjamin begging for bread just hours before his death. The room was silent except for a few gasps of horror.

The testimony began with Detective Lawrence Saiz, who methodically walked the jury through dozens of photographs and videos recovered from Miranda’s phone and security cameras. The images were devastating. Over just four months, Benjamin had visibly deteriorated – his arms becoming skeletal, his face hollowing out, his skin stretching too tightly over his bones.²²

Next on the stand was Dr. James Lukefahr, a paediatrician and child abuse expert who had reviewed Benjamin’s growth charts. Before his fourth birthday, Benjamin had been a healthy child with normal height and weight tracking. Then, something changed. Dr. Lukefahr explained that abruptly after his fourth birthday, his weight began to decline. There was no medical reason for this – no underlying condition. The only explanation was starvation.

The defence argued that Miranda had cooperated fully and had taken Benjamin to doctors, believing he had behavioural issues or possibly autism. But the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence of systematic abuse and starvation.²³

Benjamin’s twelve-year-old brother testified, clutching a stuffed toy tightly in his hands. State District Judge Kristina Escalona had allowed his guardian, a great-aunt, to sit where he could see her. He refused to look toward Miranda, who stared at him with an expression that alternated between anger and boredom.

He described the punishments Miranda inflicted on Benjamin. He spoke about the hand sanitizer, hot sauce, and cups of urine she forced Benjamin to drink. He explained how Miranda would throw Benjamin into the air in a twisted game she called “flip flop,” letting him fall to the ground crying. How she would make him drink toilet water whenever she was “mad” or whenever Benjamin did something “bad.”

The boy told the jury that Benjamin was always hungry. He tried to get food, but the pantry was locked, the fridge was locked, the cabinets were locked. The only thing left out was bread. “Miranda would not feed Benji. She would feed him when my dad was there, or he would bring food,” he testified.

The defence called their own experts to challenge Dr. Molina’s conclusions. Dr. William Anderson, a forensic pathologist, and Dr. Daniel Gebhard, a paediatric expert, both disputed the starvation diagnosis. “I don’t think he necessarily died of starvation,” Gebhard said. “It’s more likely that something other than starvation caused his demise.” The defence argued that Benjamin was simply a “skinny child” and that his weight wasn’t uncommon for kids in the 5th percentile.

Then, the defence shifted tactics, bringing in Miranda’s family. Her mother, Alice, and sister, April, painted a picture of Miranda as a devoted but overwhelmed mother. Alice insisted: “She loved those kids. She was the one running that house, not Brandon. She was treated like a slave.” April described Miranda as a caring parent who played with the children, cooked, and cleaned.

The defence also called Dr. Joann Murphy, a clinical psychologist, who suggested that Benjamin may have been on the autism spectrum. However, under questioning, she admitted she had never actually reviewed his medical records – her assessment was based only on photographs and interviews.

Both sides made their final pleas to the jury. Cantrell argued that the prosecution had tunnel vision and had ignored possible underlying medical issues. But Prosecutor Thomas D’Amico reminded the jury of the locks on the fridge, pantry, and bedroom doors. He told them to remember Miranda’s own words to police, the videos, the photographs, and the evidence.

Then, prosecutor Michael Villarreal drove the final point home: “You got to meet the monster that Benji lived with.”

After less than an hour of deliberation, the jury found Miranda Casarez guilty. She showed no emotion as the verdict was read. During sentencing, her defence attorney hoped for leniency, wanting the jury to sentence her to probation rather than prison. He said she “loved being a mom” and was a “decent, quiet person.” He revealed that she had a tattoo of Benjamin’s birth date and death date on her arm.

Miranda took the witness stand, emotional and wiping away tears. She denied abusing or starving Benjamin, telling the jury: “I didn’t starve him. I didn’t force hand sanitizer. I never forced him to eat salsa.” She claimed she was under Brandon’s complete control and accused him of spanking, hitting, and dragging Benjamin through the house.

A text message was read aloud that Miranda had sent to her mother: “I don’t know how long I can take this. This fucking kid, my son can’t sleep because of this little 5-year-old that everyone thinks is so perfect. I’m done This kid needs a good one.” She denied sending the text repeatedly before claiming the words had come from Brandon, who had dictated what she typed.

During closing arguments, Prosecutor D’Amico played a video of Benjamin sitting in the dark crying “I want bread.” Miranda could be heard saying he wouldn’t get bread and needed to lie down. He sarcastically said to the jury: “Starvation will continue until the morale improves. How I was raised, if a child is hungry, you feed them.”

Miranda Casarez could have been sentenced to life in prison. The jury, however, sentenced her to 25 years in prison.

Brandon Cervera’s trial began with heartbreaking photographs of Benjamin’s small, frail body hooked up to machines in the hospital. Prosecutor Michael Villarreal told the jury that Brandon had withheld food and water from his son and failed to seek proper medical care. “Day in and day out, Benji is begging for food while Mr. Cervera does absolutely nothing,” he stated.

Brandon’s defence attorney, Jodi Soyar, argued that Benjamin did not starve to death and disputed the pathologist’s findings. She said Benjamin was born premature and his parents were told he would have health problems. She also noted he had been seen by more than 10 medical professionals in the lead-up to his death.

During the trial, Dr. Molina doubled down on her ruling that Benjamin had starved to death. She showed his growth chart and pointed out that he had no growth within the last 10 months of his life. “When looking at adults and assessing starvation, we can look at just weight loss, but when looking at children, it’s not just about weight loss but failure to grow,” she testified. When he died, he had little to no body fat and his intestinal tract had no food in it.

Text messages between Brandon and Miranda were entered into evidence. In messages from August 12, Brandon told Miranda that Benjamin had been begging for bread all day. Miranda replied telling Brandon to give him more bread. Brandon then responded: “He don’t need to eat dinner.”

The tragic videos were once more played for the jury. In one captured just days before he died, Benjamin nervously asked his father for something to eat, his hands folded in front of him as his clothes hung off his frail body. He begged for bread, water, or milk, crying: “I want some bread.” As the video played, many jury members had to look away. Brandon remained expressionless.

In another video, Brandon closed Benjamin in his bedroom and told him to “shut the fuck up.”

Despite the evidence, after nearly seven hours of deliberation, the jury found Brandon Cervera not guilty on all charges. As the verdict was announced, Brandon sobbed. He was allowed to retured home a free man while Benjamin remained in the ground.²⁴

Watch our documentary on this case:

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Audio Sources:

“Hampton police said body found during search for Noah Tomlin”

“FULL VIDEO: Update given on Noah Tomlin’s investigation”

“Fate of Julia Tomlin to be decided today in court”

Sources:

ABC – 13 WVEC, 24 June, 2019 – “Search Continues”

ABC – 13 WVEC, 24 June, 2019 – “Mother of Noah Tomlin Appears in Court”

ABC – 13 WVEC, 24 June, 2019 – “Still Hopeful”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 24 June, 2019 – “Search for Missing 2-Year-Old Hampton Boy Continues”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 24 June, 2019 – “Hampon Police”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 24 June, 2019 – “Mother Arrested”

The Charlotte Observer, 25 June, 2019 – “Toddler Vanished”

Daily Press, 26 June, 2019 – “Search for Missing Two Year Old”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 27 June, 2019 – “Mother of Missing Hampton 2 Year Old”

Daily Press, 27 June, 2019 – “Search Shifts to Landfill”

FOX – 8 WJW, 27 June, 2019 – “Virginia Police Chief on Missing Toddler”

ABC – 13 WVEC, 29 June, 2019 – “Community Holds Vigil”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 29 June, 2019 – “Hampton Mother Charged”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 30 Jue, 2019 – “Buckroe Community Holds Vigil”

Daily Press, 2 July, 2019 – “Mother Appears in Court”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 3 July, 2019 – “Police Find Body”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 3 July, 2019 – “Community Heartbroken”

ABC – 13 WVEC, 5 July, 2019 – “Noah Tomlin’s Grandmother”

ABC – 13 WVEC, 15 July, 2019 – “Noah Tomlin’s Grandparents”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 15 July, 2019 – “Noah Tomlin’s Grandparents Share Memories”

The Virginia-Pilot, 21 July, 2019 – “Protecting Children”

Daily Press, 4 August, 2019 – “Here’s What we Know”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 17 October, 2019 – “Suspected Blood Stains”

Daily Press, 19 October, 2019 – “New Evidence Sent to Lab”

ABC – 13 WVEC, 28 October, 2019 – “Noah Tomlin’s Mother Charged”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 31 October, 2019 – “Julia Tomlin Charged”

CBS – 5 WKRG, 1 November, 2019 – “This Child was Tortured”

CBS – 17 WNCN, 10 December, 2019 – “Case Against Mom”

Daily Press, 10 December, 2019 – “Officer Recalls Finding Boy’s Remains”

Daily Press, 11 January, 2020 – “Mother’s Trial”

ABC – 13 WVEC, 16 July, 2020 – “New Trial Date”

ABC – 13 WVEC, 13 December, 2021 – “Noah Tomlin’s Mother Pleads Guilty”

CBs – 13 WTKR, 13 December, 2021 – “Hampton Mom Pleads Guilty”

Daily Press, 26 July, 2022 – “Tomlin Sentenced to 55 Years in Prison”

Their mother, Vivian Saucedo, had been married to Huntsman’s cousin. Frankie and Shaun had been in foster care when their mother was pregnant with Delylah. Then in 2013, their mother took her life by stepping in front of a car at just 33 years old. Their father, Shaun Sr., briefly cared for all three but was arrested in early 2014 on drug and weapons charges. Knowing he’d likely face prison time, he left the children with Huntsman without informing their grandparents, hoping to keep them out of the foster system.²⁵

At the time, Huntsman lived with her husband, Chris Criswell, and her own children, including a teenage son and ten-year-old twins, making for an already busy household. Soon after the children arrived, Gonzalo Curiel, a 16-year-old friend of Huntsman’s son who’d been kicked out of his father’s home, began spending time there.

Initially, his visits seemed harmless, but they grew frequent and then extended into overnight stays. Curiel was being groomed by Huntsman, leading to her husband Chris moving out and filing for divorce. The household dynamic shifted further when Huntsman’s teenage son was sent to juvenile hall following a robbery conviction, and Curiel moved into Huntsman’s bedroom.²⁶

It took more than a year for the children’s family to track down Huntsman. They’d never met her and had difficulty reaching her by phone. Shortly after Thanksgiving in 2015, Huntsman and Curiel made a disturbing decision, packing up and driving north with Huntsman’s children and Frankie. Noticeably absent were Delylah and Shaun. During the drive, Frankie asked Huntsman about her siblings, and Huntsman replied that she’d “put them up for adoption,” a sudden and suspicious explanation.²⁷

The unsettling mood in the car was intensified by a foul odour wafting from a large plastic storage bin in the back of the vehicle. The children couldn’t fully understand its meaning, but the odour lingered as an ominous reminder. When they arrived in Redding, northern California, Huntsman and Curiel unloaded the bin and other items into a storage unit, where the smell began to dissipate in the vehicle.²⁸

Locked away, the horror of what was hidden inside the bin waited in that cold, anonymous storage space, yet to be discovered.

Once arrived in Quincy, the family moved in with a friend of Huntsman’s brother. She reconnected with a friend, April Lorenzo, and while here, they told her that Frankie was mentally disabled and forced her to stay out of sight. April noticed that Frankie wasn’t allowed to eat and when they went for a walk, she was forced to walk barefoot on a steep, rocky, trail. After the family left, April called child protective services to share her belief that Frankie was being abused.²⁹

When CPS and a sheriff’s deputy arrived at Huntsman’s apartment on Main Street, they quickly spotted her vehicle parked outside. As they approached, they made a shocking discovery inside the locked car: Frankie, wrapped in a blanket, shivering in the cold air. But the scene only grew more disturbing.³⁰

The little girl’s body was covered in bruises and scars. She was severely malnourished, her fragile bones visible under her skin. Her injuries were untreated and severe, including a broken collarbone and finger, a dislocated jaw, and some missing and loose teeth. When detectives questioned Huntsman about Frankie’s condition, she blamed the injuries on Frankie herself, while Curiel claimed ignorance.³¹

Frankie was rushed to the hospital, where doctors noted her severely low weight of just forty pounds. She was found to have open sores, lice, and endured a five-hour surgery to repair her fractured shoulder. Meanwhile, detectives took Huntsman and Curiel in for questioning. After being read his Miranda rights, Curiel initially admitted to having a role in Frankie’s injuries. But as he began to understand the seriousness of the situation, he grew cautious, ultimately asking for a lawyer and ending the interview.³²

With no further delay, authorities arrested both Huntsman and Curiel—Huntsman going to jail, and Curiel, just 17, sent to a juvenile detention facility in Butte County. The horror of Frankie’s condition was only the beginning. That afternoon, Huntsman’s mother called police and asked where Shaun and Delylah were, but detectives were taken aback; they had no knowledge of any other children.³³

When they spoke with Huntsman, she told them that “some agency” had taken custody of the children, but Curiel was more forthcoming. He said that the two children were dead in a storage unit in Redding. Detectives arrived at the facility off Tarmac Road and opened up the storage unit rented by Huntsman. As the detectives stepped inside, an overwhelming stench hit them up the face. They had hoped Shaun and Delylah were still alive, but the smell told them otherwise.

Towards the back of the unit was a duffel bag and a blue storage bin. It was evident that this was where the stench was coming from. The bin was sealed shut with duct tape around the lid. The detectives opened up the container and found the decomposed bodies of Shaun and Delylah.³⁴

During the autopsies, it was determined that Shaun stood at 45 inches tall and weighed just 29.5 pounds, while Delylah measured 37 inches and weighed a mere 18.75 pounds—so low that it was off the charts.

Dr. Mark Super, the forensic pathologist, concluded that both children had died from blunt force head injuries compounded by severe malnutrition. Their bodies were covered in bruises, exhibiting both old and new injuries. Dr. Super observed that their internal organs were significantly smaller than expected for their ages, a clear indication of malnutrition. “The body starts to take protein away from the organs,” he explained, highlighting the severity of their condition.³⁵

Delylah’s autopsy revealed a blood clot on her brain, indicating trauma, as well as swelling in the brain and a nearly healed fracture in her right humerus. Additionally, her lungs were inflamed, and she was beginning to develop pneumonia. While the primary cause of her death was attributed to head trauma, her malnutrition played a critical role in her overall decline.

In Shaun’s case, the pathologist found a blood clot between his scalp and skull, along with a healing broken rib. His body bore numerous bruises on his arms, legs, penis, torso, and head, painting a grim picture of the abuse and neglect he had endured.

Huntsman and Curiel were charged with two counts of murder, three counts of torture, one count of child abuse and two counts of conspiracy, one to commit torture and one to commit child abuse. During the investigation, it was revealed that child welfare authorities had visited Huntsman four times in the past year to investigate neglect allegations.³⁶

The complaints centred around issues like poor supervision, improper feeding, lice infestations, and filthy living conditions. Among the callers was Huntsman’s own mother, Joy, who called child protective services multiple times. During one visit, Joy found all the children infested with lice while Huntsman did nothing to remedy the situation.

Despite Joy’s desperate calls for help, the young children continued to endure a life of neglect and poverty, crammed into a cockroach-infested one-bedroom apartment with scant food and little supervision. Initially, there were no reports of physical abuse, but that changed when Shaun confided in a social worker that Curiel had spanked him and his sister with a belt. Huntsman dismissed these warnings, claiming Curiel was simply a neighbourhood kid she was helping care for.

The troubling circumstances surrounding Huntsman’s household drew scrutiny on several occasions. One report indicated that the children were left home alone, raising safety concerns. On another occasion, Frankie’s school alerted authorities, citing signs of malnutrition. School officials noted that Frankie always wore the same unkempt clothing, was infested with lice, and displayed clear signs of neglect. During lunchtime, she would pile food onto her plate and eat quickly, indicating severe hunger and food insecurity. In stark contrast, Huntsman’s biological children appeared to be in much better condition.

When social workers visited Huntsman’s home, they discovered that no legal guardianship had been established for the children. Although Huntsman expressed her desire to care for them, the absence of legal documentation complicated matters further. As the Department of Social Services continued its investigation, they learned that the children’s grandparents were actively searching for them, unaware that they were living with Huntsman. During conversations with social workers, Frankie offered a heartbreaking insight into her situation: “Nobody else wanted to take us, so she took and adopted us.”

In August, another troubling report surfaced. A caller alleged that Delylah had been tied to the bed as punishment for urinating in her pants. When a social worker visited, the home was found to be extremely cluttered and filthy, with cockroaches crawling along the bedroom walls. During this visit, the social worker noted bruises and scratches on Shaun’s head, while Frankie sported a shaved head from repeated lice treatments. All the children had bloody legs from scratching bug bites. Despite these signs of distress, the children told the social worker they felt safe, and the case was closed.

On a subsequent visit, the social worker found the children dressed in long sleeves and pants on a warm day but felt it inappropriate to ask them to lift their clothing. After two unsuccessful attempts to follow up with Huntsman, the case was closed.

Another report came in October, alleging that the children were left alone at night and had a lice infestation. This caller reiterated concerns about Delylah being tied to the bed and the inappropriate relationship between Huntsman and Curiel. Alarmingly, this incident did not prompt a visit from a social worker.

As the weeks passed, social workers struggled to reach Huntsman. They left three voice messages, knocked on her door three times, wrote a letter, and checked the benefits database to see if the family’s address had changed. Child Protective Services was not the only agency that had visited the household; the Salinas police had been called twice in six months regarding child abuse allegations. On the first visit, no one answered the door. The second time, they found one child asleep and the other two doing homework.

In February, Tami Joy Huntsman pleaded guilty to two counts of murder as well as torture and abuse. During the court hearing, more details about the case were revealed. It was believed that Delylah and Shaun were murdered after Frankie stole a bagel on thanksgiving. The children had been starved, and on Thanksgiving, Huntsman had received a free turkey for her family. And indeed, her biological children and Curiel sat down and ate the turkey, but the Tara children weren’t allowed any. That night, Frankie took the bagel which led to a fatal beating of all three children. Frankie was almost beaten to death, but Delylah and Shaun weren’t so lucky. Frankie had made a full recovery, although she had psychological scars that would last a lifetime.³⁷

Gonzalo Curiel stood trial in April of 2018. Evidence was presented from his cell phone, showing photographs of Frankie naked in the shower. The Tara children were often locked in the small bathroom where they were beaten with golf clubs and shower heads. Huntsman’s biological children testified against him, detailing the abuse Shaun, Delylah and Frankie had endured. Frankie also testified, relaying how they were often locked in the bathroom naked and sprayed with cold water. She recalled how Curiel broke her jaw by punching her, and said that her arm was broken as Huntsman held her down and Curiel spanked her with a belt.

Curiel was convicted of all of the charges against him. Huntsman returned to court in May, and she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Curiel was sentenced to three life terms but because of his young age, he could seek parole in 2040.

Watch our documentary on this case at YouTube:

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Audio Sources:

“Hero deputy who rescued tortured Salinas girl testifies”

Sources:

The Daily Beast, 15 December, 2015 – “Who Killed these Preschoolers?”

The Sacramento Bee, 15 December, 2015 – “Tip Led to Discovery”

The Hamilton Spectator, 16 December, 2015 – “Best Mom I Can be”

San Francisco Chronicle, 16 December, 2015 – “Grisly Discovery in Redding Locker”

The Daily Beast, 17 December, 2015 – “How Everyone Failed the Storage Bin Kids”

The Daily Cardinal, 17 December, 2015 – “Murder Charges Planned After Children Found in Locker”

The Sacramento Bee, 17 December, 2015 – “Murder Charges to be Filed”  

Contra Costa Times, 22 December, 2015 – “Monterey County DA Files Murder Charges”

Associated Press, 27 January, 2016 – “2 Plead Not Guilty”

Monterey County Weekly, 22 February, 2016 – “Accused Salinas Child Murderer”

The Monterey County Herald, 25 February, 2016 – “Crime and Courts”

Monterey County Weekly, 23 February, 2016 – “State Report Details”

The Monterey County Herald, 25 February, 2016 – “Child Welfare”

Monterey County Weekly, 29 February, 2016 – “Accused Child Murderer Turns 18”

Monterey County Weekly, 3 March, 2016 – “Salinas Child Murders Inspire Legislative Action”

The Monterey County Herald, 24 March, 2016 – “Child Protective Services”  

Alameda Times-Star, 1 April, 2016 – “A CPS Failure”

Monterey County Weekly, 17 August, 2016 – “Death Penalty Sought”

The Monterey County Herald, 9 January, 2018 – “Child Murder Case”

East Bay Times, 11 January, 2018 – “Monterey couple”

Monterey County Weekly, 28 February, 2018 – “Tami Huntsman Pleads Guilty”

International Business Times, 12 January, 2018 – “Stolen Bagel”

Plumas County News, 26 March, 2018 – “No Death Penalty”

The Monterey County Herald, 10 April, 2018 – “Child Abuse / Murder”

East Bay Times, 11 April, 2018 – “Monterey County Man on Trial”

The Monterey County Herald, 13 April, 2018 – “Huntsman’s Cousin Testifies”

The Monterey County Herald, 14 April, 2018 – “Former Huntsman Friend”

The Monterey County Herald, 17 April, 2018 – “Huntsman’s Mother Testifies”

The Monterey County Herald, 18 April, 2018 – “Officer who Found Bodies”

The Monterey County Herald, 20 April, 2018 – “Jane Doe Testifies”

The Mercury News, 24 April, 2018 – “Monterey County Man”

Monterey County Weekly, 18 May, 2018 – “Tami Hunstman Sentenced”

East Bay Times, 12 July, 2018 – “Monterey County Man Sentenced”

Malachi Lawson, born in 2015 to Alicia Lawson and a former boyfriend, faced unique challenges as a nonverbal child with developmental disabilities. Alicia, a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School, immediately entered the workforce, securing a job at McDonald’s to support herself and her young son. Soon after Malachi’s birth, Alicia formed a relationship with Shatika, who quickly became a second mother figure in Malachi’s life.

Melissa Johnson, Malachi’s aunt, fondly recalled his infectious smile, noting that he had a remarkable ability to uplift those around him. According to Melissa, whenever the animated series Paw Patrol aired on television, Malachi’s imagination soared, and he would enthusiastically pretend to transform into one of his favourite characters.³⁸

Despite Malachi’s cheerful demeanour, his domestic life was tumultuous, leading to his removal from the care of Alicia and Shatika in 2016. Placed into foster care, he found solace and guidance under the compassionate care of Jil Jackson. When he first came into Jil’s care, she said that he was “very frightened, very timid, very scared, very shaky” but as time went on, he developed into a happy little boy who enjoyed playing with her other children. Jil recalled how Malachi was one of the sweetest babies that she had ever fostered, and that she had loved him as if he were her own son. She commented: “He would sit on my bed and just play with his fingers.”

However, after spending less than a year with Jil, she received a phone call informing her that Malachi would be returned to Alicia, and Shatika. Then, on August 1, 2019, he was reported missing. Promptly responding to the 911 call, the police were informed that Malachi was last seen wearing a white tank top, khaki shorts, and black flip flops. Police disseminated photographs of Malachi along with a detailed description, noting his dark braided hair, a missing front tooth, and potential characteristics indicative of being on the autism spectrum. Alicia also informed detectives that he walked with a limp due to a previously broken femur bone.³⁹

While releasing the information on Malachi’s disappearance, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison announced: “We are asking for the community’s help to bring about Malachi’s safe return. We are utilizing all of the resources available to us.” He asked that if anybody had any information about Malachi’s whereabouts, to contact the Missing Person’s Unit.⁴⁰

The community rallied together, mobilizing in large numbers to aid in the search for Malachi. They meticulously combed through the neighoburhood before expanding their efforts further afield. A few blocks from Malachi’s grandmother’s residence lay Powder Mill Park, a densely wooded area. Every nook and cranny was examined, including drains, bins, and any other possible places a child might be trapped, yet there was no trace of Malachi.

Darkness descended on Baltimore, causing many of the searchers to return home for the night. Nevertheless, there were a dedicated handful, who searched all throughout the night. By the next morning, the FBI had been called in to assist, as detectives began to fear that Malachi was the victim of a kidnapping, although they hadn’t obtained any evidence to conclusively prove it. In an effort to try and trace Malachi, detectives brought his mother, Alicia Lawson, to police headquarters to be interviewed.

After intense questioning, Alicia finally broke down and confessed that Malachi was not missing; he was dead and had been disposed of in a dumpster. She disclosed that approximately nine days before reporting Malachi as missing, he had an incident where he soiled himself at home. Shatika placed him in the bathtub, and while they were washing the soiled clothing in the sink, they discovered severe burns on Malachi’s lower body.

According to Alicia, the burns were so extreme that they could see pieces of skin floating in the water. In a misguided attempt to avoid potential legal consequences and the loss of custody, they opted to treat Malachi’s burns at home over the next nine days. Alicia explained that fear stemming from their previous interactions with child protective services influenced this decision.

Alicia said she woke up on the 1^st of August to find Malachi unresponsive. She said that she wrapped him up in a blanket and then took a Lyft across the city to an apartment building on the 5500 block of Haldon Avenue. Here, she put Malachi’s body into a trash bag, and then placed him into a dumpster. Detectives immediately descended on the area, and found Malachi’s badly burned body inside the dumpster.

Police Commissioner Harrison announced: “Last night after extensive interviews with Malachi’s mother, she confessed that her son was not missing but deceased. She subsequently gave detectives the location of the child’s remains. The biological mother and her partner will be charged with child neglect resulting in the death of a minor later this afternoon.”

Malachi’s remains were transported to the medical examiner’s office, where the gravity of his injuries became apparent—he had suffered burns spanning from his waist to his feet. Subsequently, both Alicia and Shatika were arrested and faced a slew of charges, including neglect resulting in the death of a minor, first-degree child abuse, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, and making false statements.

During a bail review in court, Shatika’s defence attorney, Roya Hanna, sought to shift blame onto Alicia for Malachi’s tragic demise. Hanna argued that Shatika had been preoccupied on the phone with her mother when Alicia allegedly placed Malachi into a bathtub filled with scalding water.

According to Shatika, she wanted to bring Malachi to the emergency room, but she couldn’t because she wasn’t his biological mother. Instead, she said that they tried to treat the burns themselves for more than a week. She claimed that both she and Alicia were afraid that Malachi may have been taken away from them, or that they may have faced charges.

Her defence attorney maintained that Shatika’s 911 call was not fabricated, that she didn’t know that Malachi had died, or that his body had been removed from the home. She claimed that Alicia had kept that information secret from her, and that she had only learned of Malachi’s fate when detectives informed her of her wife’s confession. Hanna commented: “She didn’t want to do anything maliciously.” The judge ultimately denied bail for the couple, ordering that they remain behind bars.

With Alicia and Shatika behind bars, detectives continued in their investigation. There was something that wasn’t adding up; Alicia claimed they didn’t know that Malachi was in scalding water until they turned around, but the pain from the water would have caused him to scream and climb out of the bathtub. The couple had claimed that the hot water in the bath tub had always been scalding, and that the cold water needed to be turned on to cool it down. Detectives descended on the family’s apartment, and tested water from the bathroom, but found that at “no time did the water temperature ever exceed luke warm.”⁴¹  

When the findings were made public, Shatika had an explanation. She said that after Malachi was burned, she called the landlord and asked them to adjust the hot water temperature in the bathtub so that it wouldn’t be able to get as hot.⁴²

Continuing the investigation, a vigil for Malachi took place on August 7th. The weather shifted dramatically, with clouds gathering and thunder resonating, setting the sombre backdrop for hundreds of individuals who assembled in front of 4533 N. Rogers Avenue in Woodmere, Northwest Baltimore. Among the attendees were Malachi’s family and strangers touched by his tragic story. Elizabeth Jackson expressed her sorrow to The Sun, stating, “It’s heartbreaking for one because it’s a little kid. He was gone too soon.”

Baltimore minister Lady Moses, who preaches at New Life Fellowship Church, stood alongside Malachi’s former foster mother, Jil, during the gathering. Leading prayers and singing, Lady Moses offered solace to the grieving crowd, affirming, “I’m just here to give my respects to the family and to let them know if they need me for anything, I’m available to them.” Several detectives who worked on the case, including Commissioner Harrison, were also present.

Commissioner Harrison delivered a brief speech, acknowledging the profound tragedy and emphasizing community unity in the face of such evil: “The worst thing that could possibly happen to a family in the community is the loss of a child, but, conversely, the best thing that could happen to a community is when a community gets together to rally up against the evil that took a child.”

Harrison also noted that Malachi’s vigil was taking place on National Night Out, an annual campaign that encourages communication between police and the community. He then added: “Now let’s take what we see now and turn this into more than just one night. Let’s turn this into every week, every month, all year long.” Moments later, balloons were released into the sky, as the crowd gathered to hug Jil.⁴³

In the wake of the memorial, questions were raised about why Malachi was returned to Alicia and Shatika by Child Protective Services. Jil commented in the media that if he had of been left in her care, then he would still be alive: “I wish Child Protective Services would have left him in my home. The court made a decision. I would have loved to have him. You get attached to the baby, but what could I do?”⁴⁴

The Baltimore City Department of Social Services publicly announced that they were initiating a “thorough, internal review” of their handling of Malachi’s case. Concurrently, as this investigation unfolded, Malachi was laid to rest. On August 12th, mourners congregated at the Mount Zion Apostolic Faith Church for a memorial service. Throughout the service, attendees sang along to the beat of a drummer playing uplifting music, a fitting tribute to Malachi’s love for music.

The funeral took on a comic book theme, with a local woman crafting a comic book titled “FINAL ISSUE” in his honour. The poignant creation depicted a young boy adorned in a cowboy outfit, featuring the words “heaven is cool” and “hey, I’m okay” boldly emblazoned on the front cover.⁴⁵

Inside the comic book, mourners could read about how “superhero Malachi Lawson” loved Paw Patrol and Mickey Mouse. It also contained photographs of Malachi throughout his short life with a poignant reminder: “Remember… an angel never dies.” Following the service, Malachi was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in a plot that was donated by The Charm City East Moose Lodge 70.⁴⁶

There was no movement in the case until 10 August, 2021, when Alicia Lawson appeared in court, where she pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse resulting in death. During the hearing, her defence attorney, Gregory Discher, said that his client had suffered depression, anxiety, and nightmares since Malachi had died. He said the Judge Melissa Phinn: “Although Alicia Lawson never intended for Malachi to be scalded in hot water, she understands that she should have immediately taken him to the hospital for medical treatment. She accepts full responsibility. Ms. Lawson would give anything to go back into time and do things differently by immediately seeking medical treatment for Malachi, regardless of the consequences to her.”⁴⁷

Judge Melissa Phinn ultimately sentenced Alicia to life in prison, with all but 30 years suspended and five years of probation. Two years later, Shatika Lawson also pleaded guilty to one county of child abuse resulting in death. She had reached a plea agreement that would cap her punishment at life in prison with all but 33 years suspended, but allow her defence attorney to argue it should be as low as 18 years of active incarceration. Her sentencing phase was scheduled for December 6.⁴⁸

When Shatika returned to court, she said to the judge: “I’m going to mourn about him forever. He was a part of me: my morning, noon and night.” Judge Jeannie Hong described the murder of Malachi as “unfathomable” commenting how he was “thrown away in a dumpster like trash.” She announced: “I can’t even imagine the pain that Malachi must’ve gone through in those seven to eight days. What happened was not human.” She then sentenced Shatika to 30 years in prison, plus five years probation.”⁴⁹

The findings of review into Child Protective Service’s handling of Malachi Lawson have not yet been released.

In April 2002, Ronnie was vomiting again and was suffering from dehydration. Caseworkers removed Ronnie from his mother because of her “failure to follow medical advice” which included failing to seek medical help and not giving him a recommended drink called Pedialyte. Ronnie was placed into the care of his grandparents, where his father, Ronnie Sr., was also living.

Just the following month, Ronnie was back in the hospital because he had lost a substantial amount of weight. While in the hospital, doctors discovered that Ronnie had fractures in one arm and one leg that were around three weeks old. Ronnie was removed from his family but the Florida Department of Children and Family Services. As per the police report: “The injuries are clearly nonaccidental.”

Ronnie was sent to live with Faye Bing, his foster mother, and she welcomed him as part of the family. He was just like a brother to her two daughters, and she taught him to walk. She described Ronnie as a playful and happy child who always laughed. Nysheera and Ronnie Sr. were allowed to visit their son at his home; Nysheera reportedly followed him around the house while Ronnie Sr. sat on the couch paying him no attention.

For the next two years, Ronnie remained with Faye, and she had expressed her desire to adopt him. However, on 14 December, Ronnie was returned to his parents after they completed parenting courses. The family lived in an apartment on Humphrey Street, and according to neighbours, they often heard blazing rows. Teia Davenport, who lived in the apartment above them, recalled how she frequently heard shouting, fists banging on doors and objects being thrown against walls.

Faye continued to visit Ronnie, driving up from Bradenton. Each time, Ronnie cried in her arms but he refused to talk. Concerns started to surface for Faye, particularly when she noticed what looked like a burn mark on his forehead and a bruise on his cheek during a visit in early January. Additionally, she observed that Ronnie seemed to have lost weight. Following her visit, Faye promptly communicated her worries to Ronnie’s caseworker.

The caseworker arrived at the family’s home and saw bruises on Ronnie’s face, a scratch and a possible burn on his cheeks and forehead. They also saw that he was repeatedly vomiting and regressed in his speech and toilet training.⁵¹ When the caseworker addressed the issue with Nysheera, she attributed Ronnie’s injuries to a fall, an explanation that the caseworker ultimately accepted.⁵²

On the 13^th of Janaury, Faye’s sister, Tammie McAdams, joined her on her visit. She was taken aback by Ronnie’s condition, commenting: “He was nothing but head; all his weight was gone.” During the visit, Ronnie appeared to be sick, and Faye was informed that he had been released from the hospital three days earlier for some kind of an illness. Faye was allowed to take Ronnie out in the car for a little bit, and he vomited in her vehicle.

Faye and her sister contemplated the idea of driving Ronnie back to Bradenton, but the fear of potential accusations of kidnapping from his parents loomed large. They grappled with the concern that the police might not believe that Ronnie was being abused by his parents. They were also wary that such an act might jeopardize Faye’s custody of her other foster child. Ultimately, they chose to abandon the idea.

On the 22^nd of Janaury, 2005, Nysheera and Ronnie Sr. were at a Bible study group that was held at the home of their friends. They brought Ronnie along with them, and put him on the couch where he fell asleep. Some time later, they noticed that Ronnie was unconscious, so they rushed him to the hospital. Upon his arrival, paramedics attempted CPR but Ronnie remained in cardiac arrest. It was determined that Ronnie couldn’t breath on his own, so he was placed on life support.

Six days later, Ronnie died. During his autopsy, it was uncovered that his cause of death was blunt force trauma t the back of the head. He had sustained three severe blows that resulted in internal bruising as well as trauma to the brain. According to the pathologist, the vomiting spells Ronnie had been experiencing was caused by the severe head trauma.⁵³

Both Nysheera and Ronnie Sr. were arrested and Nysheera disclosed some disturbing information. She said to detectives that after Ronnie was returned to their care, she saw Ronnie Sr. hit him several times on the back of the head. On one occasion, he threw Ronnie at her, and punched his head multiple times while she was holding him. She said on another occasion, he slammed Ronnie against a wall.

According to Nysheera, it started with play fighting. She said that Ronnie Sr. smacked Ronnie three times on the back of the head. She said that she told him to stop, but he responded and said he didn’t want his son to grow up “soft.” She described another time when she came out of the shower and found Ronnie crying “after another beating.” Ronnie Sr. then hit Ronnie several times in the back of the head and said that “the baby jumped at him.”

Ronnie Sr.’s sister, Shanita Powell, confirmed Nysheera’s account, telling detectives that her brother “was trying to teach him how to fight.” She said that Ronnie was concerned his three-year-old son “might be gay.” Even Sheldon Bostic, who was Ronnie’s Bible-study group had witnessed the abuse too, but excused it as doing “what other fathers do – slap box.” He said that Ronnie always commented he didn’t want his “son growing up to be pushed around.”⁵⁴ He further added that Ronnie Sr. said he didn’t want his son to be a “sissy.”

On the 2^nd of February, Nysheera and Ronnie Sr. were charged in connection with Ronnie’s death. His father was charged with felony murder and aggravated child abuse while his mother was charged with child abuse neglect. In the wake of the charges, questions were raised regarding Ronnie’s return to his biological parents. Andrew Ritter, a Department of Children and Families spokesman said that the agency was “thoroughly reviewing” the handling of the case.⁵⁵

During that period, Hillsborough Kids Inc., the nonprofit organization responsible for managing foster care services under a contract with the state Department of Children and Families, was already under scrutiny. Merely a week prior, the agency’s executive director had resigned abruptly, drawing attention to his handling of administrative and financial affairs. The agency had also been compelled to account for the death of another child under their care in Alabama, as well as the unfortunate incidents where a former foster child drowned in a Tampa swimming pool, preceded two years earlier by her sister’s similar tragedy.

In a preliminary review of Ronnie’s case, the state Department of Children and Families criticized the caseworker who had accepted Nysheera’s explanation for Ronnie’s injuries. They said: “If the caseworker had recognized the warning signs, actions to protect this child could have prevented this death. The review also found that there were several other issues that had been missed. Ronnie’s parents hadn’t been given psychological evaluations, even though medical professionals had recommended one at least for Nysheera.⁵⁶

Moreover, Ronnie’s parents never actually attended Positive Parenting, a recommended basic child-rearing skills program. The review found that caseworkers had underestimated the Risk that Ronnie was facing after he was removed from his foster mother and reunited with his parents. Despite the fact Ronnie came to foster care with serious injuries, Nysheera and Ronnie Sr. were not sent for anger management or other services specifically designed for people who may be violent.

The caseworker who had visited Ronnie after Faye reported her concerns, Linda Miller, was suspended without pay and her supervisor, Dorcas Walker, was suspended with pay. They had both worked at Northside Mental Health Center which was partnered with Hillsborough Kids in working with local foster children under the overall contract with DCF.

According to the DCF review, Miller should have reported at least two of Ronnie’s injuries to the state’s abuse hotline. However, the review also noted that doctors who treated Ronnie for various reasons during his stay with his parents did not see signs of abuse. The review ultimately found that Miller’s inability to recognize signs of abuse and neglect contributed to Ronnie’s death.

Ronnie Sr. was ordered to stand trial for the murder of his son, and the trial began in July of 2005. The prosecution portrayed Ronnie Sr. as a man who wanted more of his wife’s attention, who complained about not having enough sex since the birth of Ronnie, and openly questioned whether Ronnie was actually his.

The defence, on the other hand, tried to shift the blame to Nysheera. They claimed that Nysheera’s account of what happened was nothing more than an attempt to save herself. He said she had given conflicting accounts of the abuse that was inflicted on Ronnie, and questioned her decision to withhold the truth from detectives.

Nysheera testified for the prosecution, and said that Ronnie Sr. had always been abusive towards their son. She said that she didn’t say anything because she was afraid of getting into trouble. According to Nysheera, she couldn’t recall much about the six weeks she had spent with her son after he was allowed to return home, but she could remember Ronnie Sr. beating him to death.⁵⁷

She testified: “Ronnie came in the kitchen. He was upset, and he slammed the baby up against the wall.” The next day, Ronnie was acting “strangely.” She described how they took him to a friend’s house for a Bible study, and Ronnie spent most of the day asleep on the couch. They had just ordered pizza for dinner when she noticed that something was wrong with her son. She recollected: “We was quoting Scriptures and stuff, and I looked over at my baby and saw he wasn’t breathing.”

John Haffner, a paediatrician, told the jury that when he examined Ronnie when he arrived at the hospital that day, he was taken aback by how skinny he was. Testing showed that Ronnie had sustained two serious head injuries before he fell unconscious. Haffner testified: “I noted in my notes that the injury was suspicious.”

The evidence against Ronnie Sr. was overwhelming, and after just three hours of deliberation, he was found guilty of the second-degree murder of his son and aggravated child abuse. Outside of court, Ronnie Sr.’s father, also named Ronnie, commented: “Oh man. I raised my son in the right way. We played football, went fishing, went to wrestling matches, boxing, all that.” He suggested that Nysheera should have been the one who was blamed, not his son. His grandmother added: “Ronnie ain’t never done anything bad. But you know how the devil is. He takes the good ones.”⁵⁸

In August 2005, Ronnie Paris Sr. was sentenced to thirty years in prison. Before the sentence was handed down, he begged for leniency, telling the judge: “I loved my son dearly. I wish I could hold him here. I never did anything to hurt by baby or abuse my baby in any way.”⁵⁹ Nysheera Paris was sentenced to five years’ probation for culpable negligence in the death of her son.

23rd October 2023 · Episode 227

Morbidology the Podcast - 227: Ethan Stacy

51 Min · By Emily G. Thompson

Nestled within Davis County, Utah, Layton stands as a vibrant city, intimately connected to the bustling heart of Salt Lake City. This commuter's haven, with its approximately 80,000 residents, has carved its place on the map. However, in spring of 2010, citizens of Layton awoke to find police officers scouring throughout the neighborhoods. They were searching for a little boy who had inexplicably vanished in the middle of the night.

Audio Sources:

“Stephanie Sloop pleads guilty to murdering son”

Sources:

News & Politics Examiner, 11 May, 2010 – “Amber Alerts”

Salt Lake City Examiner, 11 May, 2010 – “Body of Missing 4-Year-Old Boy Found”

The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 May, 2010 – “Missing Boy Found Dead”

St. Paul Pioneer Press, 11 May, 2010 – “Utah Man Beat Stepson to Death”

The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 May, 2010 – “I Just Wanted Him to Grow Up”

Salt Lake City Examiner, 12 May, 2010 – “Authorities Release Details Surrounding Abuse”

The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 May, 2010 – “Documents Detail Ethan Stacy’s Horrific Final Days”

Associated Press, 13 May, 2010 – “Divorce Case of Slain Boy”

The Deseret News, 13 May, 2010 – “Affidavit Reveals Disturbing Details of Ethan Stacy’s Last Days”

The Deseret News, 14 May, 2010 – “History of Abuse Emerges in Ethan Stacy Case”

News & Politics Examiner, 15 May, 2010 – “Ethan Stacy Update”

The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 May, 2010 – “Thousands Mourn Ethan Stacy’s Death”

The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 May, 2010 – “Friends Say Ethan Stacy Was Mom’s Pride and Joy”

The Salt Lake  Tribune, 18 May, 2010 – “Ethan’s Grieving Dad”

Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 20 May, 2010 – “Ethan’s Law”

The Billings Gazette, 23 May, 2010 – “Hundreds March in Utah”

News & Politics Examiner, 27 May, 2010 – “Ethan Stacy Latest News”

Associated Press, 28 May, 2010 – “Mother, Stepfather Charged in Boy’s Death in Utah”

The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 June, 2010 – “Mother Wants Her Marriage Dissolved”

Salt Lake Examiner, 15 July, 2010 – “Sloops Appear in Court”

News & Politics Examiner, 2 November, 2010 – “News Outlet Reveals Letters from Slain Boy’s Mom”

News & Politics Examiner, 8 February, 2011 – “Ethan Stacy’s Mom Calls Reporter”

Associated Press, 27 March, 2013 – “Attorney Says Boy Died from Overdose”

The Davis County Clipper, 27 March, 2013 – “Sloop Admits to Desecration, but Denies Murder”

FOX – 13 KSTU, 27 March, 2013 – “Disturbing Details Revealed in Ethan Stacy Murder”

The Davis County Clipper, 4 February, 2014 – “Nathan Sloop Pleads Guilty”

Standard-Examiner, 5 February, 20014 – “Ethan Stacy’s Father Says There’s No Justice”

Standard-Examiner, 17 November, 2014 – “Stephanie Sloop Blames Drug Abuse”

The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 January, 2015 – “Stephanie Sloop Should Never Exit Prison”

2nd October 2023 · Episode 224

Morbidology the Podcast - 224: Sebastian Kalinowski

52 Min · By Emily G. Thompson

In August, 2021, detectives in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, were investigating a case where a teenage boy reportedly fell unconscious while in the bathtub. As they initiated their inquiry within the family residence, a peculiar discovery awaited them: surveillance cameras strategically placed in every corner of the house. It was around 6:15AM, when they observed something on the banks of the river. As they got closer, they recoiled in horror to see that it was the body of a man, nude except for his socks. The body was transported to the medical examiner’s office where it was found that he had sustained 14 stab wounds to his back, as well as others to his chest and side. His throat had also been slashed with such ferocity that his head had almost been severed. The body was identified as 47-year-old Edward Baldock, a Brisbane council worker. Investigators first of all wanted to establish the timeline leading up to Edward being found on the Brisbane River. They determined that he had left his home in the suburb of West End at around 7PM on Friday evening. He had caught a taxi to the Caledonian Club where he spent the night drinking with his friends. He left at around 11PM, but what happened between that time and the following morning remained a mystery. As investigators were trying to establish a timeline, they examined evidence found at the crime scene. Alongside Edward’s body were his shoes. Inside one of these shoes, they found a bank card belonging to 24-year-old Tracey Wigginton. She was arrested that afternoon, and instead of deny any involvement, she readily confessed to murdering Edward along with her 25-year-old girlfriend, Lisa Ptaschinski, and two of her friends: 24-year-old Tracey Waugh and her girlfriend, 24-year-old Kim Jervis. As Wigginton was confessing, both Waugh and Jervis went to police with details of the murder, and both placed the blame directly on Wigginton. According to Wigginton, she was a vampire that fed on human blood.... 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞: https://morbidology.com/the-lesbian-vampire-murder-of-edward-baldock/

In August, 2021, detectives in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, were investigating a case where a teenage boy reportedly fell unconscious while in the bathtub. As they initiated their inquiry within the family residence, a peculiar discovery awaited them: surveillance cameras strategically placed in every corner of the house.

Sponsors:

Factor: Thank you to Factor for sponsering this episode! Take away the stress of cooking and get Factor’s delicious meals delivered right to your door. Get 50% off your order at: https://factormeals.com/morbidology50

Zocdoc: Thank you to Zocdoc for sponsoring this episode! Zocdoc is the only free app that lets you find and book doctors who are patient reviewed, take your insurance & are available when you need them. To find a & book a top rated doctor today, visit: https://zocdoc.com/morbidology

Audio Sources:

“Live: Sebastian Kalinowski’s mother and stepfather sentenced for teenager’s murder”

Sources:

Bradford Telegraph and Argus, 16 August, 2021 – “Police Appeal for More Information”

The Daily Mirror, 16 August, 2021 – “Boy, 15, Killed in House”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 16 August, 2021 – “Stunned Neighbors Speak of Disbelief”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 19 August, 2021 – “Mum of Huddersfield Schoolboy”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 15 September, 2021 – “Everything That Happened in Court”

The Daily Mirror, 13 June, 2022 – “Boy Whipped with Extension Cable”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 13 June, 2022 – “Murder Trial Hears Caring Sebastian was Timid”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 13 June, 2022 – “Harrowing Tortured Endured”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 14 June, 2022 – “Mum Accused of Murdering Sebastian”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 14 June, 2022 – “Sebastian Kalinowski’s Stepdad”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 14 June, 2022 – “Three Accounts”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 16 June, 2022 – “Mum Accused of Murdering Son”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 18 June, 2022 – “Sebastian Kalinowski’s Teachers”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 19 June, 2022 – “Killer Huddersfield Stepdad”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 20 June, 2022 – “Jurors Shown Harrowing Footage”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 27 June, 2022 – “Heartbreaking Final Moments”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 28 June, 2022 – “Huddersfield Boy Sebastian Suffered 81 Injuries”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 29 June, 2022 – “Sebastian Kalinowski’s Mum Cries”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 30 June, 2022 – “Killer Stepdad”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 1 July, 2022 – “Killer stepdad Andrezej Latoszewski claims tragic Sebastian Kalinowski ‘manipulated’ things to make him look bad”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 4 July, 2022 – “Sebastian Kalinowski ‘pretended to cry,’ killer stepdad Andrezj Latoszewski tells jury”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 5 July, 2022 – “Andrezj Latoszewski clutched crucifix and sobbed”

Evening Standard, 6 July, 2022 – “Woman Accused of Torturing Son”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 7 July, 2022 – “Agnieska Kalinowska Told Latoszewki She Would Marry Him”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 18 July, 2022 – “Agnieska Kalinowska’s emotional message to killer stepdad”

Evening Standard, 22 July, 2022 – “Mother and Partner Guilty of Murdering Son”

Braford Telegraph and Argus, 3 November, 2022 – “Mother and Stepfather Jailed for Life”

The Daily Telegraph, 3 November, 2022 – “Distressing Footage”

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 3 November, 2022 – “Sebastian Kalinowski’s Dad Faces Son’s Killers”

11th September 2023 · Episode 221

Morbidology the Podcast - 221: Anthony Avalos

59 Min · By Emily G. Thompson

Numerous safeguards are established to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children. In an ideal world, these systems work the way they are supposed to. Unfortunately, however, the child protection system is infallible, and when it fails, children are the ones left to pay the ultimate price.

Numerous safeguards are established to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children. In an ideal world, these systems work the way they are supposed to. Unfortunately, however, the child protection system is infallible, and when it fails, children are the ones left to pay the ultimate price.

Sponsors:

Zocdoc: Thank you to Zocdoc for sponsoring this episode! Zocdoc is the only free app that lets you find and book doctors who are patient reviewed, take your insurance & are available when you need them. To find a & book a top rated doctor today, visit: https://zocdoc.com/morbidology

Babbel: Thank you to Babbel for sponsoring this episode! Learn a new language in as little as three weeks with Babbel. Get 55% off at: https://babbel.com/morbidology

4Patriots: Thank you to 4Patriots for sponsoring this episode! With hurricane season fast approaching, it’s time to prepare with 4Patriot’s emergency food packages. Use the code “MORBIDOLOGY” for 10% off: https://4patriots.com/

Audio Sources:

“Anthony Avalos’ mother and her boyfriend to be sentenced in 10-year-old’s torture-killing”

“Anthony Avalos death: Boy’s mother heard telling investigators she didn’t hurt him in new audio”

“First responder who found Anthony Avalos’ body makes victim impact statement”

“Anthony Avalos death: Therapist testifies she had grave concerns about treatment of boy”

“Anthony Avalos death: Mother’s boyfriend admits to disciplining 10-year-old boy”

Sources:

WFIN – 1330 AM, 22 June, 2018 – “10-Year-Old Boy Dies in Suspicious Fall Inside Apartment”

Pasadena Star-News, 25 June, 2018 – “Child Services Returned 10-Year-Old to Lancaster Home”

East Bay Times, 26 June, 2018 – “California Boy Came Out as Gay”

Associated Press, 27 June, 2018 – “Boy Who Died Subject of 12 Referrals”

Associated Press, 27 June, 2018 – “Arrest Made in Death of Boy who had Complained About Abuse”

Daily Breeze, 27 June, 2018 – “Officials Cite Abuse”

The Orange County Register, 27 June, 2018 – “Lancaster Mother’s Boyfriend Arrested on Suspicion of Murder”

ABC, 7 February, 2023 – “Anthony Avalos Death”

Associated Press, 29 June, 2018 – “California Mother, Boyfriend Charged with Murder”

Associated Press, 4 July, 2018 – “California Boy, 10, Allegedly Abused for Days Before Death”

The Hamilton Spectator, 4 July, 2018 – “California Boy was Extensively Tortured”

The San Fernando Valley Sun, 18 July, 2018 – “Frustrations Grow with DCFS”

Daily Breeze, 21 July, 2018 – “Mourning Death of a Little Hero”

Associated Press, 9 August, 2018 – “State to Audit LA Child Welfare Agency”

The Imprint, 15 August, 2018 – “Los Angeles Child Protection Office Says DCFS Not to Blame for Death of 10-Year-Old”

CBS – 3 WTKR, 3 October, 2018 – “Couple Charged in Torture Murder”

Our Weekly, 18 January, 2019 – “Uncle Wants Custody of Antony Avalos’ Siblings”

The Orange County Register, 22 May, 2019 – “LA County DCFS Failing to Protect Children”

The San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May, 2019 – “After Killings of 2 Boys in LGBTQ-Linked Cases”

The Orange County Register, 1 August, 2019 – “Family of Lancaster 10-Year-Old Who Died”

Long Beach Press-Telegram, 20 October, 2019 – “LAPD Failed to Look into 4,000 Serious Child Abuse Reports”

Our Weekly, 15 January, 2021 – “Anthony Avalos Relatives Denied Suit”

Pasadena Star-News, 6 May, 2021 – “DA Drops Death Penalty Bid”

Associated Press, 13 April, 2022 – “LA Counselor Who Didn’t Report Child Abuse Gets Probation”

CE Noticias, 6 May, 2022 – “L.A. County and Father of Death Latino Boy Reach Plea Agreement”

Associated Press, 11 May, 2022 – “Tentative $32m Settlement in Abuse Death of California Boy”

Pasadena Star-News, 25 January, 2023 – “In Alleged Torture”

Our Weekly, 2 February, 2023 – “Siblings Testify to Beatings in Death of Anthony Avalos”

The San Fernando Valley Sun, 2 February, 2023 – “Mother on Trial for Murder”

Pasadena Star-News, 6 February, 2023 – “Nurse’s Testimony”

Pasadena Star-News, 10 February, 2023 – “Young Woman Tells Court She Saw her Dad”

The Arcadia Weekly, 16 February, 2023 – “Therapist Says She Had Grave Concerns”

FOX – 6 WITI, 7 March, 2023 – “Mom, Boyfriend Found Guilty”

Associated Press, 25 April, 2023 – “Mom, Boyfriend Get life”

MailOnline, 25 April, 2023 – “California Mother and Boyfriend are Sentenced to Life”

CE Noticias, 27 April, 2023 – “The Terrible Story of Anthony Avalos”

ABC, 9 February, 2023 – “Anthony Avalos’ Teacher Shares Letter Boy Wrote Before He Died”