Episode 137: Bradley McGee (Part 2)

In last week’s episode, I told you about two-year-old Bradley McGee, who was returned to his biological mother and stepfather, Sheryl and Tom Coe, even though they abandoned him in a shopping mall as an infant and failed to comply with the reunification tasks they were assigned by Florida’s child welfare department, HRS. Bradley died on July 28, 1989 after a potty-training accident led his stepfather to hold Bradley by his ankles and slam his head into the toilet bowl over and over, causing fatal head injuries, while Sheryl watched and smoked a cigarette.

In this episode, I’ll tell you the rest of Bradley’s story, picking up where I left off last week after the prosecution at Tom’s trial rested its case. You’ll also hear my conversation with Bradley’s sister, who was a year old when Bradley died but is still committed to keeping her big brother’s memory alive.

This is part two of the horrific story of Bradley McGee.

Photos related to today’s episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod

You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

My Linktree is available here.

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. Pledges of $5 or more per month access ad-free versions of my regular Wednesday episodes (starting with episode #88). Pledges of $10 or more per month access a small but growing collection of Patreon-exclusive bonus minisodes!

You can also support the podcast at Ko-Fi.com/STLCpod.

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

For more stories like this one, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.

Music for this episode is from Audio Jungle.

Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spreaker, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast listening platform.

Episode 136: Bradley McGee (Part 1)

In 1987, four-month-old Bradley McGee was abandoned at a shopping mall and placed into foster care. He spent most of his life thriving and happy in the Lakeland, Florida home of his foster family. In 1989, despite reports of abuse from multiple family members and others, Bradley was placed back into the custody of his mother and stepfather, Sheryl and Tom Coe. Just two months later, two-year-old Bradley was dead.

This is the story of yet another toddler murdered over potty training when his stepfather punished him for having an accident by dunking his head repeatedly and viciously into the toilet bowl. It’s also the story of a little boy whose death prompted sweeping changes in Florida’s child welfare system. 

This is part one of the horrific story of Bradley McGee.

Photos related to today’s episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod

You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

My Linktree is available here.

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. Pledges of $5 or more per month access ad-free versions of my regular Wednesday episodes (starting with episode #88). Pledges of $10 or more per month access a small but growing collection of Patreon-exclusive bonus minisodes!

You can also support the podcast at Ko-Fi.com/STLCpod.

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

For more stories like this one, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.

Music for this episode is from Audio Jungle.

Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spreaker, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast listening platform.