During Canada’s Victoria Day long weekend in 2014, 20-month-old Ryker Michaud-DaPonte was scalded over 25% of his body by a hot cup of instant coffee. Over the next three days, Ryker’s mother, Amanda Dumont, and her boyfriend, Scott Bakker, carried on with their lives as if nothing was wrong. They not only refused to take Ryker for medical treatment, but they went so far as to lie to Amanda’s family members, telling them they had taken Ryker to a doctor for his severe burns. Only when they found Ryker dead in his crib on May 21, 2014 did the full extent of their lies – and Ryker’s injuries – come to light.

This is the story of a happy little boy whose three older sisters adored and doted on him and whose family called him “Ryker Roo.” It’s also the story of the two adults who were responsible for baby Ryker’s care but were too self-absorbed, lazy, and likely drug-addled to bother taking him for medical treatment that had a 95% chance of saving his life. 

This is part one of the maddening story of Ryker Michaud-DaPonte.

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