Episode 156 : Ryker Michaud-DaPonte (Part 2)

Last week, I told you the story of 20-month-old Ryker Michaud-DaPonte, who suffered second and third-degree burns over 25% of his body in May of 2014. Despite the severity of Ryker’s injuries, his mother, Amanda Dumont, and her boyfriend, Scott Bakker, refused to take him for medical treatment. 

When they found Ryker dead in his crib on May 21, 2014, their many excuses and lies finally came to light. Justice was frustrated when their first trial ended in a mistrial. In this episode, I’ll go through the details of Amanda and Scott’s second trial, at which both Amanda herself and her oldest daughter testified.

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

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/STLC, and get on your way to being your best self.

This episode is also sponsored by Factor. Head to https://factormeals.com/children50 and use code children50 to get 50% off. 

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

You can also follow the podcast on Facebook, 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 $5 per month can listen to my weekly episodes ad free, while $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.

Merch is available at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com/shop.

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, Spreaker, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast listening platform.

Episode 155: Ryker Michaud-DaPonte (Part 1)

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.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/STLC, and get on your way to being your best self.

Photos related to today’s episode can be viewed in this Facebook album.

You can also follow the podcast on Facebook, 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 $5 per month can listen to my weekly episodes ad free, while $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.

Merch is available at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com/shop.

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, Spreaker, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast listening platform.

Episode 152: Jazmine Robin

Baby Jazmine Robin weighed under three pounds when she was born 11 weeks premature, and she spent nine weeks in a Houston hospital’s NICU before being taken home on July 3, 2018 by her parents, Jason Robin Jr. and Kat White. Only 11 days later, Jasmine arrived at the emergency room, suffering from head trauma, brain bleeding, broken bones, and bruising. The following day, Jazmine was pronounced dead.

This is the story of a pair of drug users who were under CPS investigation for abuse of another child when they allegedly killed their premature newborn. It’s also the story of a sweet little girl who, despite fighting hard for her life, never had a chance. 

This is the infuriating story of Jazmine Robin. 

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/STLC, and get on your way to being your best self.

Listener shout-out: Military Memories and More! (https://www.militarymemoriesandmore.com/)

My Facebook post showing Lynn’s beautiful memory frames: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod/posts/pfbid0GwsEHrufa33xgdNS7gGrAMeTcwSqSLTeGvEttvy2d1FA9ZYtxzWaGkjyki3Dg4xRl

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 151: The Kendzia Children Updates

Over the course of a seven-part miniseries that began last September called Groomed to Die: The Kendzia Children, I told you about the countless alleged crimes committed by Susan Lee, formerly known as Susan Stevenson, Susan Cook, and Susan Kendzia. I told you about Susan’s charges in the 1980s for the murders of her two adopted infant sons, Michael and Kevin, and her subsequent murder trial; the chronic, inexplicable illnesses suffered by Susan’s daughter, Shain, throughout her first 28 years; and Susan’s alleged abuse of her own children, her step-sons, the children she babysat, and the third infant she was somehow allowed to adopt even after the first two died under suspicious circumstances.

In this episode, I will provide multiple updates in this saga, including Susan’s sudden death in April of this year; the shocking results of her post-mortem tox screen; and the placement of a headstone for baby Kevin after 37 long years.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/STLC, and get on your way to being your best self.

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.

Minisode 4: Stevie Osborn Update

In episode 138, I told you the story of two-year-old Stevie Osborn, whose death on December 23, 2019 went all but unreported by the media. Stevie’s mother, Abigail Osborn, and Abbey’s boyfriend, Joseph Chilson, were investigated by the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division, which found by preponderance of evidence that both had committed neglect against Stevie and that Joe had committed the abuse that caused Stevie’s fatal head injury.

After Joe’s suicide in 2021, the Clay County prosecutor’s office decided not to file charges against Abbey. Abbey filed an appeal of the Children’s Divisions earlier decision in an attempt to remove her name from the state child abuse registry. In this minisode, I’ll give you the court’s decision on that matter, as well as previously unreleased information from that bench trial. I’ll also go over Joe’s purported suicide note, which has not been released to the public.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/STLC, and get on your way to being your best self.

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 150: Gracie Buss

On May 30, 2015, first responders arrived at a townhouse in Waterloo, Iowa, where they found four-year-old Gracie Buss unresponsive. Gracie’s mother, Kristi Buss, and her boyfriend, Chad Little, told police and medical staff that Gracie suffered a seizure and fell down the stairs. Tragically, Gracie died after three days on life support. Eighteen months later, both Kristi and Chad were arrested in connection with Gracie’s death.

At his murder trial, Chad Little’s varying stories about the incident fell apart thanks to the testimony of multiple medical professionals, friends and acquaintances, and especially Gracie’s older brother, who was eleven at the time of his baby sister’s death.

This is the heartbreaking story of Gracie Buss.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/STLC, and get on your way to being your best self.

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.