Comments on: The Sad Life & Death of an Aquatot https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/ Using investigative research combined with primary audio including 911 calls, interviews and trial testimony, Morbidology takes an in-depth look at some of the world's most heinous murders. Thu, 07 May 2026 04:07:14 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Maisy https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-20528 Thu, 07 May 2026 04:07:14 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-20528 In reply to Holly.

That’s what I was thinking, also.

]]> By: Maisy https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-20527 Thu, 07 May 2026 04:05:57 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-20527 So sad and horrible! You can see in the photo that the kids weren’t happy being with their father.

]]> By: Maisy https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-20526 Thu, 07 May 2026 04:03:16 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-20526 In reply to Abby.

Not all men beat their wives in the 1950s and some jerks beat their wives and/or girlfriends these days. Don’t kid yourself!

]]> By: NCB https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-19780 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:27:03 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-19780 In reply to Fred Garvin.

That was great. You long for those days when you beat you wife then she runs away with other man before stealing all your money and no one bats an eyelid. You beat your kids whenever you like and when they grow up,they abuse you in return and no one bats an eyelid.

]]> By: Fred Garvin https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-11960 Thu, 22 Aug 2024 22:18:57 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-11960 Ah the good old days when you could beat your wife and kids and no one would bat an eye. I long for those days.

]]> By: Holly https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-5793 Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:16:34 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-5793 In reply to Judieth Jackson.

I think they meant “aspiring swimmer.”

]]> By: Judieth Jackson https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-3733 Fri, 08 Oct 2021 06:25:47 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-3733 Should spring swimming = sprint? swimming

]]> By: Myriam https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-3661 Tue, 21 Sep 2021 04:01:22 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-3661 Sad, very sad. Saw movie Skirts Ahoy several years ago. Became familiar with the Aquatots at that time. Watching the movie, I thought the children were abnormally emaciated and then I googled them and was saddened by the abusive life they had at the hands of their father (and mother enabling the monster father). Recently read the May 1955 court report Tongay vs State of FL. I was appalled what the kids had put up with since birth. Starvation, being held under water for long periods of time, etc. I’m angered that with all the people who were privy to the abuse of the children didn’t raise questions. But being the late 40s early 50s people didn’t speak up like they do today. Back then, it was no one wanted to interfere with parental decision making. Thankfully, we have come a long way. Although it’s now been almost 70 years my heart breaks when I see her sweet little face. BTW, there was a third child in this family that drowned in the bathtub at 18 months of age…… this is when the authorities should have started looking into this man’s abuses toward his children.

]]> By: Abby https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-3316 Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:54:48 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-3316 In reply to Stacie Goodrum.

If he was beating his children he was beating her too. Remember, thus was the 50s.

]]> By: Ray https://morbidology.com/the-sad-life-death-of-an-aquatot/#comment-2945 Fri, 02 Apr 2021 09:28:11 +0000 https://morbidology.com/?p=2992#comment-2945 From the text: “In 1950, Russell staged a performance in the Mississippi River wherein he followed his two children, then aged two and five, in a boat as they swam up the river. Kathy swam five miles while Bubba swam the entire length of the river.”

You think Russell swam the entire length of the Mississippi? The Mississippi River is 2,320 miles long. I think you mean he swam the entire length of the laid-out course of 22 miles. Quite impressive for such a young boy, nevertheless.

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