Suffer the Little Children

On May 25, 2017, two-year-old Maddilyn-Rose Stokes was rushed to the hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, unresponsive and suffering from infected third-degree burns that had been inflicted in the family’s bathtub five days prior. Her parents, Shane Stokes and Nicole Moore, had not sought medical care for their little girl’s worsening condition, calling emergency services only when she stopped breathing. Several hours later, Maddy was dead.This is a story of bad decisions, selfishness, mental illness, and medical neglect. It’s also the story of a tiny, defenseless toddler who suffered unimaginable pain for five days with severe, untreated burns covering a fifth of her little body, which finally succumbed to the resultant infection running rampant through her bloodstream. This is the horrific story of Maddilyn-Rose Stokes.Huge thanks to today’s sponsors:Smile Brilliant provides teeth whitening and oral care products customized just for you! Visit their website here.On the Heromakers Podcast, hosts Laurie Nichols and Ann Chow have great conversations with many incredible people who are making the world a little bit better. Visit the Heromakers Movement website here. Shout-out also to Malice, whose podcast promo you heard at the top of today’s episode!Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, TikTok, and Pinterest. My Linktree is available here.Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like Maddy’s, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or your favorite podcast listening platform.Emgp4sTXkqPAQJ9Gml13Become 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

17 Mar 202141min

Last week, I began telling you the story of 2-year-old Damian Sutton, who spent six days on life support after dying in Children’s Hospital in Detroit from a head injury incurred while in the care of a man pretending to be his mother’s boyfriend. After the man, Ronald DiMambro Jr., was convicted of Damian’s murder, a Brady violation led to Ron being granted a second trial.In this episode, I’ll tell you the rest of Damian’s story, and you’ll also hear my interview with Damian’s maternal grandmother, Tara Thompson, who Damian called “Nana.”This is part two of the gut-wrenching story of Damian Sutton.Huge thanks to today’s sponsor:Smile Brilliant provides teeth whitening and oral care products customized just for you! Visit their website here.Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, TikTok, and Pinterest. My Linktree is available here.Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like Damian’s, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or 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

10 Mar 202130min

In episode 49, I told you the story of 20-month-old Quortney Kley, who was sexually abused and murdered on February 25, 1997 by her mother’s boyfriend, Cayce Williams. After an unthinkable nine year court process, Williams finally accepted a plea agreement in 2006, pleading guilty to murder and predatory criminal sexual assault in exchange for a 48-year prison sentence. However, due to a glitch in Illinois law that has since been corrected, Williams was only required to serve half of his sentence, and on February 25, 2021, after 24 years in prison for the rape and murder of a baby, Cayce Williams walked free from the Dixon Correctional Facility.In this minisode, I’ll cover the recent developments in Quortney’s story, including her killer’s parole, his current whereabouts, and how his release has affected Quortney’s family. I’ll also talk about the absolute necessity of amplifying the voices of Quortney and her family to drown out the voice of her killer. Visit the Justice for Quortney Kley Facebook page here.Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Tumblr, and Pinterest. My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like Quortney’s, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, I Heart Radio, YouTube, or 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

6 Mar 202130min

On August 21, 2013, 26-year-old Ronald DiMambro Jr. called 911 to summon an ambulance to his family’s lavish home in Washington Township, Michigan. Ronald said a little boy in his care, 2-year-old Damian Sutton, was having an asthma attack, but later that evening, after giving a detective multiple versions of his story, Ron confessed to shaking the toddler and was charged with felony child abuse. After Damian died on August 27, Ron’s charge was upgraded to murder.In this episode, you’ll hear the story of a little boy with enormous blue eyes whose light was snuffed out by a man pretending to be his mother’s boyfriend, and you’ll hear how that man’s barbaric actions dragged Damian’s family through not one, but two murder trials. Next week, you’ll hear my interview with Damian’s maternal grandmother, Tara Thompson, who Damian called “Na-na.”This is part one of the gut-wrenching story of Damian Sutton.Huge thanks to today’s sponsors:Jay Shifman created the Choose Your Struggle Podcast to educate listeners on the issues of Mental Health, Substance Misuse & Recovery, and Drug Use & Policy, and in doing so help end the stigma around these topics. Visit his podcast website here.Smile Brilliant provides teeth whitening and oral care products customized just for you! Visit their website here.Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, TikTok, and Pinterest. My Linktree is available here.Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like Damian’s, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or 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

3 Mar 202149min

In episode 50, I began telling you the story of a three-year-old girl named Poppie Van der Merwe, whose utterly preventable death shocked the nation of South Africa. After multiple reports that Poppie and her five-year-old brother were being abused, social services became involved, but the family moved to avoid the investigation. Three weeks later, Poppie was dead, and in this episode, I’ll go over the events that followed the arrests of both her stepfather and her mother.This is the story of the murder of a blonde, blue-eyed little doll whose smile stole the hearts of an entire country. It’s also a sadly familiar story of the failure of an agency tasked with protecting children despite countless warning signs and multiple reports from those close to the family. This is part 2 of the heartbreaking story of Poppie Van der Merwe. Francois Nolte’s short film based on Poppie's story, Porselein, can be viewed here. (https://filmfreeway.com/Porcelain013)Huge thanks to today’s sponsor:Smile Brilliant provides teeth whitening and oral care products customized just for you! Visit their website here.Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, TikTok, and Pinterest. My Linktree is available here.Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like Poppie’s, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or 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

24 Feb 202154min

In this episode, I cover my first ever South African case, that of three-year-old Poppie Van der Merwe. Poppie and her five-year-old brother were frequently seen by teachers, doctors, neighbors, and others with bruises and other injuries. When social services became involved, her mother and stepfather moved the family overnight to avoid the investigation, and the physical abuse escalated exponentially. Three weeks later, Poppie was rushed to the hospital, unresponsive, and declared dead on arrival.This is the story of the murder of a tiny, blonde-haired, blue-eyed doll whose smile stole the hearts of an entire country. It’s also a sadly familiar story of the failure of an agency tasked with protecting children despite countless warning signs and multiple reports from those close to the family. This is part 1 of the heartbreaking story of Poppie Van der Merwe. Huge thanks to today’s sponsors:Every bag of gourmet coffee purchased from Free Lunch Coffee provides 10 meals to hungry children! Visit their website here.Smile Brilliant provides teeth whitening and oral care products customized just for you! Visit their website here.Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest. Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like Poppie’s, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, YouTube, or 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

17 Feb 202148min

On February 25, 1997, 23-year-old Cayce Williams entered the emergency room at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Elgin, Illinois, carrying the lifeless body of his girlfriend’s 20-month-old daughter, Quortney Kley. Medical staff immediately called police, who arrested Cayce the same evening. Cayce was charged with several felony counts of murder, as well as predatory criminal sexual assault. Nine long years later, Cayce Williams accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced to 48 years in Illinois state prison. Due to a change in Illinois law, however, he was only required to serve 24 of those years behind bars. Now, he is scheduled to be released from the Dixon Correctional Center two weeks from this episode’s release date.In this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Quortney’s mom, Gretta, in which we talk about her beloved, stubborn, sassy baby girl whose rapist and murderer is preparing to walk free from prison on February 25.This is the mind-boggling story of Quortney Kley.Huge thanks to today’s sponsors:Every bag of gourmet coffee purchased from Free Lunch Coffee provides 10 meals to hungry children! Visit their website here.Smile Brilliant provides teeth whitening and oral care products customized just for you! Visit their website here.The Justice for Quortney Kley Facebook page can be found here.The event page for the February 24 protest outside Dixon Correctional Center can be found here.Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest. Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like Quortney’s, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, YouTube, or 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

10 Feb 20211h 14min

In episode 47, I started telling you the story of 4-year-old Averylee Hobbs, whose mother broke her skull as an infant, only to regain custody of Avery a few years later. In this episode, I’m going to tell you about the horrific and preventable end of this precious little girl’s short life, the prosecution of her mother, and the many ways Avery’s paternal grandmother is working to turn her tragic death into something positive. You’ll also hear my interview with Avery’s Mama, Tammy Risen, who was gracious enough to speak with me for the podcast. Tammy, who calls herself “A Granny with a Mission,” is truly a force to be reckoned with, and she refuses to let Avery’s death be in vain. This is a story of a mother who can only be described as evil, of domestic partner and child abuse, of ineptitude and corruption in the systems designed to protect children, and of a family who first fought to save Avery’s life, then fought for justice for her, and now fight to protect other children like her. This is part 2 of the tragic, infuriating, preventable story of Averylee Hobbs.Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode! Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here.To purchase Tammy Risen’s book, In the Best Interest of a Child, for Kindle, click here.Tammy’s public Facebook group, D.E.A.R. Developing Essential Advocate Restoration for Abused Children, can be found here.For more information about Avery, news and current events about the case, media links, and information about The Avery Statute, visit the Justice4Avery website here.Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest. Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like Avery’s, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, YouTube, or 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

3 Feb 20211h 33min