Episode 62 - Alex Radita (Part 1)

On May 7, 2013, police and paramedics responded to a home in Calgary, Alberta on a report of a teenager not breathing, but nothing could have prepared them for what they were about to see. 15-year-old Alex Radita, who was dead well before his father called 911, weighed only 37 pounds. He was literally nothing but skin and bones, and his body was covered with necrotizing ulcers, including one so deep it left his salivary gland exposed. After an autopsy revealed Alex’s death was caused by a septic infection secondary to extreme starvation and untreated diabetes, his parents -- Romanian immigrants who believed God, not medicine, would save their son -- were arrested and charged with first degree murder.

This is a story of a couple so hell bent on being right that they allowed their son to waste away for years rather than give him the medication and food he needed to survive. It’s the story of the exposure of massive weaknesses in the Canadian child welfare system. Most importantly, it’s the story of a bright, courageous boy who tried to smile even as he entered the final stages of starvation and the catastrophic infection that took his life.

This is the horrific story of Alex Radita.

Links discussed in this episode:

Crime Beat podcast episode, The Boy Who Fell Through the Cracks - https://globalnews.ca/news/6045854/crime-beat-podcast-boy-who-fell-through-cracks

Video of Alex on his 15th birthday, released without sound by order of the court (warning: may be disturbing to some viewers) - https://fb.watch/5jSoPm4QpB/

Huge thanks to today’s sponsors:
Gemmist makes salon-quality hair care products backed by science, giving you personalized shampoo and conditioner recommendations based on your hair data. Use my code CHILDREN to get the best hair of your life and save 20%! Click here to take their hair quiz: https://gemmist.com/?promo=children&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=Spring

Smile Brilliant provides teeth whitening and oral care products customized just for you! Use my coupon code CHILDREN to save 30% by clicking here: https://www.smilebrilliant.com/?coupon=children#podcast

Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod

You can also follow the podcast on:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sufferthelittlechildrenpodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod

My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod

Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.

Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! (www.patreon.com/STLCpod)

This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.

For more stories like this one, visit https://sufferthelittlechildrenblog.com.

Music for this episode is from https://audiojungle.net.

Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/PC:61848?part=PC:61848&corr=podcast_organic_external_site&TID=Brand:POC:PC61848:podcast_organic_external_site
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/
...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support.

If you see something, say something. https://childhelp.org