Starved Teen Forced To Drink Hot Sauce - Killer Threw Up In Court Seeing Victim’s Final Photos

Bada bing, bada boom. Some houses have a small storage closet. underneath the stairs. It's like a. little Harry Potter room. It slopes down. on one end. You can't properly stand up, especially if you're tall. You could. probably just walk in, stick your elbows. out, spin around without touching. anything, but that's about it. There's. not even enough room to lay down all the. way flat on the floor. There's usually no windows, no sunlight, no ventilation. It's a tiny space. I. mean, you're lucky if you get a light. bulb. And once that door is shut inside.

that tiny little closet, it starts to. feel incredibly claustrophobic. It's. stuffy. It's dark. You don't hear. anything. July 2022 in a cookie-cutter. suburban neighborhood in Michigan, where. all the houses look exactly the same and. they're just perfectly lined up in rows. In one of those perfectly suburban. homes, underneath the stairs, in the. small storage closet, there's a camera. set up in the closet. A camera. And it's. recording.

The door slams open and an individual is. seen walking in and spreading out a blue. plastic tarp onto the ground. I mean, it's a pretty small space, so. the tarp can cover pretty much all of. the carpeting. And then they step out of. frame. And when they come back into the. closet, they're dragging something. heavy. It's almost like if you were to put a. Christmas tree down on the floor and. drag it by the tip. It's clear that. they're struggling with whatever it is. They're leaning back. They're grunting. And then slowly another figure emerges.

The individual is dragging a young boy. by his arms onto the blue plastic tarp. The young boy looks barely responsive. He's skinny. I mean, skinny to the point. that being dragged looks like his arms. are about to pop off. He doesn't look. like he can even support his own weight. He looks like he's been starved for a. very, very long time. He looks. malnourished. He's dropped onto the blue. tarp right in front of the camera, almost as if he's staring into the soul. of the camera. He's awake?

His eyes are open, but it doesn't seem. like he's very responsive. It doesn't. seem like he's registering the full. extent of the events. He's not talking. He's just moaning here and there. His. bones are protruding out. He's not. wearing any pants, just an adult diaper. And his hip bones, his knee joints, they're all so prominent. They They're. sticking out and they look like they're. going to pierce through his skin. The individual is posing him on the blue. tarp, positioning him so that the camera. can get a better view of him.

When they're satisfied with the frame, they stand up and they just watch him. laying there, helpless, weak, moaning. for help. You're pathetic. But I already knew that. You know, you owe me the biggest apology. in the world. The young boy is seen on camera taking. short, shallow breaths through his. mouth, kind of like a fish out of water. struggling to breathe. The individual. leans down with a dirty scowl on their. face and they grab the little boy's lips. and pinch them shut. They watch excitedly as he struggles to.

breathe. and his chest starts moving up and down. slowly, almost to the point where it's. unclear if his chest is even moving. anymore. His body seems to relax. And they say, "See? You didn't need to. breathe through your mouth like that, dummy.". They get up, slam the door shut, leaving. the boy in the diaper in the small. closet underneath the stairs. Even if he. was able to get up and try to run out of. there, there are alarms on this door. There's motion sensors right outside. There's cameras all throughout this.

house, even in the restroom, that he's. barely allowed to use unless it's to be. tortured. There was no way out. He was. being held captive and he would die in. that closet that night. 15-year-old Timothy would be held. captive, tortured with hot sauce, ice. baths, and forced starvation for a year. But why? And who is on the other end watching him. through the cameras?

We would like to thank today's sponsors. who have made it possible for Rotten. Mango to support World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that is first. to the front lines. They provide fresh. meals to survivors of disasters and. humanitarian crises. They have served a. total of more than 350 million meals.

around the world. This episode's. partnerships have also made it possible. to support Rotten Mango's growing team. of dedicated researchers and. translators. And we would also like to. thank our listeners for your continued. support as we work on our mission to be. worthy advocates of these causes. As. always, full show notes are available at. rottenmangopodcast.com. And just a few quick disclaimers. This. case deals heavily with food. restriction, abuse against the most. vulnerable age group, and it briefly. touches on SA. If that is something that. you feel is way too heavy for you to. play, please go take care of yourself,

take a bath. I can see you in the next. one. This case was incredibly trial. heavy as well, mainly because the types. of answers the prosecutors were getting. by those that were testifying. I mean, it is absolutely unhinged. So, we poured. through all the trial videos that we. could find and it was hours upon hours. of information. Some statements, responses, and questions have been. shortened for length and condensed for. clarity. We do not have access to any. private or withheld information, so the. full statements in its entirety are.

easily accessible to anyone online if. you wish to watch those. So, with that. being said, let's get into it. Shanda is. called to testify in court. She sat. there nervous, emotional. Her hands are. in her lap. Are you nervous? Yes, sir. Is this stressful? Yes, sir. Very stressful. She was here to talk about her son who. had just been sadistically murdered. They placed three photographs onto the. witness stand, photos of her son shortly. after he died. And Shanda immediately.

throws her hand to cover her mouth. She. gags. She hunches over to the side and. starts throwing up. Her 20-year-old son, Paul, has been. arrested. And her 15-year-old son, Timothy, has been murdered. The pictures Shanda were shown of her. own son were so horrific that the judge. made sure that they did not get out to. the public. I didn't allow pictures to be shown in. open court of Timothy as he was uh when. he died because I didn't want.

people to remember him like that. He has banned them from being released. Timothy was dead at 15 years old. weighing just 69 lb. He had been starved to death. How long do you think that you can sit. still without moving at all? How long do. you think you can sit still without. moving at all with your hands in the. air, your arms suspended above your. head? Like 10 minutes. I don't even think I. could last I think 10 minutes is very.

ambitious. Yeah. Maybe a minute. Timothy was standing there, sweating. His arms are in pain and he was told. that he needs to stand, his legs. shoulder length apart, his back. straight, with his arms held above his. head for as long as he can manage. He's losing strength. I mean, the. circulation's getting bad. He feels like. his arms are about to fall off, but he. cannot put them down. He knows that he. cannot because at his wrist and around. his waist, there are devices attached to.

him. These devices are motion sensors. If he were to move even a centimeter, even an inch, these motion sensors would. go off. They would start ringing these. high-pitched alarms directly into his. ears, but that's not even the worst. part. The worst part is if he moves and. these alarms go off, he's going to get. tortured. He knows this. So, all day he has to. stand for as long as he can with his. arms above his head. All these cramps. He's sweating in pain. He's sweating in.

fear and it's psychological torture. He's just staring at the wall. He. doesn't know how long he has to do this. But he knows that he can't outsmart this. little sick game. because there's no way that you can do. this forever. At some point, you're going to move. At some point, something's going to itch. so much that you have to put your arm. down. At some point, your legs are going. to give out. He played this game a lot to the point. where he actually did outsmart the game. once. He realized that the motion.

sensors were not that sensitive. If he. moved ever so slowly, like 1 mm at a. time, just tiny incremental movements to. the point where he could slowly put his. arms down, the motion sensors would not. go off. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't. get punished. because there were cameras everywhere. There were cameras in every single. corner of Timothy's life. Any place that. he had access to in this building, there. were cameras set up. The tiny little. storage closet underneath the stairs.

that he slept in, every time the door. would open, there'd be a. the camera would move and it would track. him. The camera would track his. movements. There was a camera placed. directly outside that storage room door. Just in case he left the room, there. would be motion sensors and cameras. going off alerting the people watching. him. There were cameras in the living area. directly outside of the little closet in. the stairs. There were cameras on the. stairs to lead to the outside, to the. real world. There were cameras. everywhere and all of them were actively.

watching Timothy. There was no escape. And every day, everything in Timothy's. life was controlled. I mean, every. single little thing. He was not allowed. to leave the house. He was not allowed. to go to school. He was not allowed to. socialize. He was not allowed to live a. normal human being life. All of his. bathroom breaks were timed. 60 seconds. for urine, 120 seconds for anything. more. It got to the point where Timothy, whether it was from the abuse or the. torture, he became incontinent. He was.

unable to hold his urine anymore. He was. forced to wear adult diapers, and those. were not frequently changed. He would be. yelled at and tortured if he soiled. himself. And even Timothy's food and eating. schedule and water, they were timed and. controlled. Well, it wasn't timed. He. never knew when he was going to get his. next sip of water. He only had a few. sips a day. He never knew when his next. piece of stale bread was coming, but it. was all controlled. He didn't have a. single choice in his life. And when he wasn't being punished or.

tortured, he would be shoved into that. tiny little room under the stairs with. no light, and he would be forced to get. on his knees, sit facing the webcam. pointed at his blue tarp on the ground, which is his bed, and he would be. trapped there for hours. He was not allowed to lay down. He was. not allowed to sit down, stand up, stretch. He would just be on his knees. staring at the camera. Like kneeling on the ground? Kneeling. No books, no mattress, nothing. Just him.

and that little webcam. He would be kept. in there until he would be used for. torture. The door would slam open, he. would be dragged out. Everything in his. life was monitored. Even in that room, the webcam was pointed directly at him, and he knew that he was being watched. He was forced to sit on his knees even. though no one was there with him. He was. terrified to even rest a little bit or. lean up against the wall. He wasn't allowed to itch his nose, rest. his arms when they started getting numb.

He had to remain in that stress pose for. the entirety of the day. Otherwise, the torture would begin. Even Timothy's sleep schedules were. monitored. So, if he was seen dozing off. on the webcam, he would be punished. Timothy was heading into sleep. deprivation territory. And there were a. few times that Timothy would break these. rules. One time he was so hungry, he snuck. upstairs as quietly as possible. He. opened up the fridge and saw a pound of. raw hamburger patties sitting on the. shelf, and he was starving. He grabbed.

the package, ripped off the plastic, and. started shoving fistfuls into his mouth. He had to hurry so that he wouldn't get. caught. I mean, he would get caught, but he had. to hurry so that he could keep eating a. little bit more. You say it was raw meat? Raw meat. Another time it was raw bacon, uncooked. bacon from the fridge. And the most recent time was he found. his way into the freezer and ate an. entire bag of frozen chicken nuggets, still frozen, straight out of the. freezer. That's how hungry he was.

Another time Timothy was caught trying. to sneak a bite of a stale burger bun, and he was forced to throw it up because. that wasn't for him. How dare he eat. something that wasn't for him? This is Timothy's life. And anytime. Timothy would be caught breaking these. rules, he would be dragged into the. bathroom, and the bathroom was like the. worst part of his life. Timothy would be. forced into an ice-cold bath. That's not. even an exaggeration. There would be ice. thrown into the bath. There was an ice. maker in this house specifically for the. purpose of filling Timothy's bathwater.

with. The shower curtain was taken off so. Timothy could be watched. And on the. bathroom counter, laid out like a. surgeon's little instrument tray, were a. bag of black zip ties, a motion sensor. camera, a piece of stale white bread, and a jar of hot sauce. Elijah's Extreme Regret hot sauce. Elijah's Extreme Regret is the name of. the hot sauce? Yes. Now, there is a ranking for heat. It's called the Scoville scale. A bell.

pepper from the supermarket is zero. Scoville heat units. I mean, it's almost. slightly sweet when they're in season, but it's still a pepper technically. A. jalapeno pepper, that's maybe at most. around 8,000 Scoville units. And from. there, different peppers have different. ranges of heat. So, the higher you go up. on the Scoville scale, the more that. you're going to feel it in your temples, the more that you're going to feel it in. your throat, your stomach. But two of. the hottest peppers in the world are the. Trinidad Scorpion and the Carolina. Reaper pepper, and both of them are at. about 2 million Scoville units.

Jalapeno pepper, 8,000. The. police-issued pepper sprays, they. actually start at around 2 million. units. So, imagine just like spraying. pepper spray into your throat. It's not. going to be a pleasant time. I mean, to. consume that level of heat, Elijah's Extreme Regret hot sauce could. be considered very high on the Scoville. scale. On the side of the bottle it. reads, "Packs the fire of the two. hottest peppers in the world, Trinidad. Scorpion and the Carolina Reaper pepper. Your tongue will burn from the sting of. the scorpion. Your eyes will tear up as. sweat pours off your head. Your throat.

feels the burn of the Carolina Reaper. going down. The pain becomes unbearable. You feel like you just ate a burning hot. coal. That's when you realize extreme. regret.". It is made, like I said, with the two. hottest peppers in the world. This hot. sauce is a combination of both of those. The IM team and I actually ordered a. bottle of it from Amazon just to. understand the case better. And I mean, we had a tiny, tiny dollop of it. It was. enough for us to start sweating. It was. not a pleasant experience. I would say. that we collectively had less than a.

teaspoon together. We were really safe. about it, too. We made sure that we. already had food in our stomachs. But for Timothy, he would eat it on an empty stomach. And he would eat a lot of it. Globs of. Elijah's Extreme Regret hot sauce were. poured onto three pieces of bread, coating the bread, soaking each of the. slices. You know when you make French. toast, you grab the piece of toast and. you just submerge it in that eggy. mixture? That's what this bread looks. like, but with hot sauce. And they were shoved into Timothy's.

face. Eat it. That's all you're getting. Hurry. Got to be quick. Mom's coming home. The police were finishing up the very. first interrogation of 20-year-old Paul, who was being accused of abusing his. 15-year-old little brother, Timothy. Ferguson. Paul is sitting there with his. feet up on the chair. His knees are. pulled into his chest. And. interestingly, he looks very skinny as. well, which he claimed was due to his. overactive metabolism. Tell us about.

your home life. The investigator, they want to get to. know Paul, understand him, and maybe the. way that he thinks about things and the. way that he does stuff. Tell us about your home life. Paul hadn't always lived with his mom, Shanda. I mean, Shanda, in fact, he. hadn't talked to his mom, Shanda, for. years before moving in with her. Shanda. and Paul's biological dad, Eric, they. had gotten a divorce. Paul and Timothy, the brothers, they stayed with their. dad, Eric, along with two of their other. siblings. But in 2020, Paul moved all. the way from Oklahoma to Michigan to. move in with his mom. In 2021, Timothy.

would move from Oklahoma to Michigan to. live with his mom. So, at this point, at. his mom's house, there were five of. them. We had mom, Shanda, her new. husband, Adam, their new half-brother, G, who's 7 years old, and Paul and. Timothy. So, the authorities ask, "What. was life like in Oklahoma before moving. to Michigan to be with your mom?". Hectic. They were living with their stepmom's. nieces, so there were eight people. living in a four-bedroom house. Paul had. to share a bedroom with Timothy at his.

dad's house. So, they're they're pretty. close. You know, these are not brothers. that didn't grow up around each other. Paul stated that their biological dad, Eric, was evil. He said, "My father. spanked me with a belt so hard in. Oklahoma that my butt was bruised." He. said his dad would have them do wall. sits, where they would have to lean. their back up against the wall, squat. down like there's some sort of chair. And it sounds somewhat doable, but it. burns like hell, okay? Paul said that. his dad had him doing that while holding. two cans of chicken noodle soup. "I could hardly go to school the next. few days because I had to walk and my. limbs were so stiff.".

Allegedly, Eric, the dad, had convinced. all of the kids that Shanda, their mom, left because she didn't love them. And. so, when Paul finally moves back in with. her mom in 2020, he's 18 years old, he. asks his mom, "Is that the truth?" And. she said, "Absolutely not.". He said, "My mom loved every single one. of us, but my dad's controllish, freaky. nature was just He didn't want her to. have any contact with the kids and. screwing up all of his control." She. loved every single one of us, but my. dad's controllish, freaky nature was.

just. he didn't want her having any contact. and screwing all of his control up. Okay. Paul further ranted to the investigator. about his father, about the fact that. when Paul turned 18, his dad started. demanding he go find two jobs and give. up 50% of the paycheck to him so that he. could pay for rent and food. He wanted. Paul to be fully independent, and if he. didn't, he would get kicked out. So, that's what ended up happening. Paul was. kicked out at 18. He had nowhere to go. He called his mom, Shanda, who he hadn't. talked to in years. He thought that she. hated him, and that's why she left. She.

took him in with open arms. And Paul. loves his mom now. And he loves living. with her. He's got his own room. He's. got a part-time job as a dishwasher at. Applebee's, and he doesn't have to give. up 50% of his paycheck like his dad made. him do. And unlike he used Yeah, and unlike my. step my father, she doesn't take force me to give her. half of my paycheck. He forced that on. me. And I was working basically minimum. wage. Paul continues, "The thing is that.

my mother can't even face my father. right now. She doesn't want to call him. because the one thing that she and I. both know is that he's going to hurl. every ounce of blame that he can at her. She's nothing like him. That much I. know. She never does anything to be. harsh.". It's interesting because Paul lived in. Shanda's house with his full brother, 15-year-old Timothy, and 7-year-old. half-brother, G. And he treated them so. differently. Paul would force Timothy to. open his mouth, and he would yank his. head back, and just pour giant clumps of.

ghost pepper hot sauce straight down his. throat when his mom was at work. Or, he. would force him to submerge his entire. body into an ice bath for an alarming. amount of time. But he told investigators that baby G, the 7-year-old, is, and I quote, "A miracle child. He's. a blessing to this world.". He's a little miracle child. Fair enough. He is a blessing to this. world. Yeah. Paul went in depth about how much he. liked being at his mom's house over his. dad's. Why? There was a thing back in.

Oklahoma where I had to I had problems. with emotional. release. I I was so terrified of him. that I didn't ever want to release any. of the negative emotions I ever had. around him. Here, I can release my. anger. And I do it in the right ways. I Tell me. about the hot sauce, Paul. I know it was. used as both punishment and it was put. on the bread. Yeah, but the thing is, it. still hardly did anything for my. brother. It still hardly did anything.

for him. Yeah. There would be times. where it would do something for me. because I had accidentally rubbed my eye. after I had put it on there. It was ow. Wait, he said that that's ouch. Yes. And it did nothing to the brother. No. Wow. Is that really the only thing that. he had to eat these days? Or would he. get other things to eat? From the bread. and the rice, other than that, not that. I know of. So, for how long do you think that he. just ate rice, bread, and hot sauce? Maybe for weeks? A month?

Did you see a decline during those four. weeks? Losing even more weight or being. less responsive? Like, what changed when. you moved on to just feeding him hot. sauce and bread? Um I think it was that there would be. times that it would take him a moment to. respond. At first, I thought it was him. acting, but then I was getting. concerned. I think a week or so, maybe. his responses were delayed. So, it seems like Paul can move to. Michigan, release his anger, and Timothy. was clearly being punished. But, why?

Like, what could a 15-year-old possibly. be punished for? During the interrogation, Paul stated. that he had to share a room with Timothy. when he lived at their dad's house, and. he absolutely hated it. He stated that. Timothy hated getting up to use the. restroom at night, so he would just wake. up, walk from the bed a few steps to the. left, open up the closet door, and pee. into the closet. Sometimes, he would. walk to the dresser, open up a drawer, and pee into the drawer. Sometimes, he. wouldn't even get up from the bed, and. he would just urinate in the bed in his. pants. He was what Paul called a problem.

child. If you asked Paul, he would state that. Timothy was a problem starter. He could. never sit still. He would take apart. anything that he got his hands on. His. desks at school, he would disassemble. them. He got a school-issued Chromebook, and he took it apart. Paul would likely say that he destroyed. things. I mean, Timothy would be very. reactive to loud noises. In a way that. I guess, if you're ignorant and. unsympathetic, could be perceived as. being overly dramatic. But, Paul found it very frustrating that. Timothy didn't think or behave just like.

him. For example, Timothy was in the. bath one time at his dad's house. He. fell, hit his chin on the edge of the. bathtub. Timothy didn't say anything to. anybody. After his bath, he just walked. into his brother's room, and there was. blood everywhere inside of his mouth. He. had completely bitten through his. tongue. He did not show any signs of. pain. He didn't even think to bring it. up to anybody. Why? You know, why can't. you just say something? Why can't you. just sit still? Why do you have to pull. the outlet covers off, screw with the. light fixtures, rip off the paint from. the walls, pull the studs out of the.

wall? Why do you have to do any of that? Sometimes, Timothy would take apart. batteries, double-A batteries, which is. very dangerous, by the way. If any sort. of moisture or oxygen gets into a. lithium-ion battery, it can cause a heat. reaction that could start an explosion. It It's pretty bad. Paul likely processed this all as. Timothy is a problem child that needs to. be punished. He needs to learn that's. not acceptable. But, if you asked the teacher at. Timothy's school or his doctor, they. would likely tell you that Timothy was.

diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar disorder, autism, and a sensory processing. disorder. He was on various medications. to try and help him navigate life a bit. easier, and there were additional things. that Timothy and his parents could or. should have focused on to pay extra. attention to, but otherwise, Timothy was. a quote precious little guy, according. to his teachers. The school counselor stated Timothy was. sweet, caring, cooperative, and. hungry? At school, teachers stated Timothy had a.

tendency to eat whatever he could get. his hands on. He always seemed really. hungry, even in elementary school, to. the point where teachers were worried. about Timothy. They would stuff his. backpack with food every single Friday. because they were concerned that he. wasn't going to have enough food at home. on the weekends. They called CPS to investigate Timothy's. dad multiple times, but it didn't appear. as if anything really came out of it. But, it wasn't just a food problem. Teachers stated Timothy always came to. school smelling very, very bad. They. said, "I was really worried for him. He. would come to school smelling.

like he was without a home. His clothes were multiple sizes too big. for him, and when everybody was already. past the potty training phase, like way. past it, cuz you're talking about like. fifth grade, Timothy would have. accidents in class. But, other than that, teachers stated. Timothy was a lovable little boy with. this beautiful smile. They said that he. constantly joked around in class. He ate. lunch with the other kids. He had. friends. But, it seemed like nobody loved him. It's weird, okay? So, it's not that he. came to school and was like, "Nobody.

loves me." But, his teachers, they. noticed things. They said, "He had this. um insane people-pleaser mindset." It. seemed like he was starved for. attention. Like, he would literally do. anything for the teachers to just say, "Good job." To compliment him just once. or even show him like the smallest ounce. of approval. He seemed to live for that. And elementary school teachers, they. typically take that as an indication. that these kids are not getting that. love, attention, and security at home. And there was a rumor at the school.

This is purely a rumor as of right now, but there was a rumor at the school of. former conduct by Paul towards his. little brother, Timothy. Wait, this is surfacing This is in the. school? Yeah. By May of 2021, Eric, Timothy's. biological father, decided that he was. done. He couldn't quote handle Timothy. anymore. So, he called up his ex-wife, Shonda, and allegedly stated, "Listen, these are the two options. He either. goes into foster care or he goes with. you.". And just like that, Timothy was dropped.

off with a clear Ziploc bag of. medications, like filled a gallon-size. Ziploc filled with different medication. bottles, at Shonda's front door, and he. would be reunited with his older. brother, Paul. It's stated that Timothy arrived at his. mom's house, quote, "a little chubby.". And just 13 months later, July 2022, a. 911 call would be placed. Shonda Vandark. was panicked. I mean, truly panicked. "Hello, I woke up to go to work, and yet. my son's not breathing. I went to go.

check up on him before, and he's 15. He's been on a hunger strike. He's. really thin. He hasn't been eating. lately. I woke up this morning, and he's. not breathing. There's brown stuff. coming out of his mouth. It's It's. brown, and it's gurgling out." Paul is. heard in the back saying, "It smells. bad.". During the call, Shonda is heard doing. what sounds like chest compressions. 1 2. 3 4 13 22 26 all the way up to 40. Law enforcement, they rush over to the. house. I mean, it's this plain little. suburban house at the end of the.

cul-de-sac, and a 43-year-old mom, Shonda, is in yoga pants, athleisure. attire, one of those big headbands to. keep your hair out of your face when. you're working out, and she's at the. front door panicked. She's putting her. head in her hands, wiping her tears from. her cheeks every few seconds, fidgeting. with her phone. She can't sit still for. even a moment. But, it's understandable. Her son had just been declared dead. Shonda explains to the police that she. woke up to get ready for work and found. her 15-year-old son, Timothy, unresponsive. Her other two sons, Paul. and G, were home, and she was She was.

freaking out. She knew that Timothy had. been on some sort of hunger strike. recently, but she always assumed, you. know, he's a teenager, he's being. stubborn. And And her husband, Adam, Timothy's stepdad, recently had a. stroke. He He's still alive, but he had. to He had to leave. He had to move in. with his parents, and all of Adam's. financial and physical help was gone. So, she'd been working nonstop. She. hadn't been as focused on the kids as. she probably should have been, but she. was trying to put food on the table. I just I had no clue how bad it was.

Oh my god. I mean, she was a wreck. She told officers that she stupidly. didn't think that a hunger strike was. this bad. You know, it's a teenager, they're being stubborn. She realized. last night because his face looked so. thin. And she said, "How How could I. have missed that? He was wearing a. hoodie, for crying out loud. I just. didn't His face didn't look like that.". What the heck? How could I have missed that? He wore baggy. baggy I mean, he He was wearing a. hoodie, for crying out loud, and I just. didn't.

His face didn't look like that. He was always wearing baggy clothes, and. Shonda thought that all teenagers were. just into baggy clothes right now. She told officers, "That's why I asked. him to eat last night because his face. started looking a little thin, and I'm. like, okay, enough." I asked him to eat. last night because his face started. looking a little thin. I'm like, okay, enough. And he wouldn't show And I'm. like, "Let me see. Hold your shirt up.". And he wouldn't hold his shirt up. He. wouldn't do anything. This is all happening at the scene? Yes. They're waiting for the medical examiner. to arrive, and they've secured the.

scene, but Timothy is beyond being. helped by paramedics. He's dead. She's outside at the front door with a. police officer. And she's having a full-on breakdown. He. He's really skinny, and I didn't notice. until this morning because he wouldn't. like I I asked him if he was okay, and. he wouldn't answer me. He had fallen out. of bed. You said he fell out of his loft bed, so. like think of a higher bunk bed, at. 5:30? Yeah. Are you sure it wasn't. earlier? I wasn't super awake. I heard a thump.

And I came down, and he's. kind of laying on his side, kind of. like, "What the heck?" And. um. And I picked I uh. I I reached out, and he. He. I'm sorry. That's all right. I'm sorry. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. I reached out, and. he pulled himself up and I asked him if. he's okay and I asked if he hit his. head. He said no, I think in my my my. knees and my chest. I think. He couldn't. obviously he couldn't tell me how he. fell. Oh.

Oh my god. Shonda stated that she went back. upstairs to get ready for work after she. found her son fallen out of the bed. He. said it's fine mom, I'm fine. So she. goes back up and before she leaves for. work, she goes to check up on him again. and he's not breathing. The officer tries to calm her down. Best. thing to do right now is to surround. yourself with family. We're going to get. victim services down here to help you. through this grieving process, ma'am. Please, because he's really good at. hiding stuff. That's part of the reason. that his dad couldn't handle him because. he was lying about stuff. He's he's.

really good at hiding stuff. He's That's part of the reason his dad. couldn't handle him is cuz he kept lying. about stuff. But his dad texted me last. night and said I can't handle him. anymore. I have to send him to live with. you and I'm like, yeah, sure, absolutely. Shonda said that she had been horrified. when she saw Timothy get out of that car. that day with just a giant gallon-size. Ziploc bag of medications. Timothy was a. zombie when he came to live with her 13. months ago. A zombie. Timothy asked her. if he could stop taking the meds and she. safely got him off. And she felt. frustrated that Timothy's dad, her.

ex-husband, put him on all these. medications just so he could be less. present in the kids' life. His parenting. style was medicate so I don't have to. deal with it. But this was going to be a new chapter. Things were going to get better. But now he's dead. Why was that? Why did your ex-husband. not want to care for Timothy anymore? He he was lying to him, destroying. things. Is he hard to deal with? I I don't think so, but I'm stricter. than his dad, so I don't know if that I. mean, the lying has been a problem, but.

nothing major, nothing crazy. He's. tripped down the stairs a couple of. times, just half the flight, and then. later he came back and admitted that he. did it intentionally. He's All teenagers. lie. tripped down the stairs a couple of. times, like just half the flight. And then later he came back to me. admitted he did it intentionally. But. I've asked him, I'm like, "Are you. trying to hurt yourself?" He's like, "No, I just want to see what would. happen." It's that's the way he a lot of. time he he wants to see what would. happen if he does stuff. Oh my gosh. She told officers that last night she. tried to get Timothy to eat, but he.

didn't want anything but buttered toast. So he had a few bites and then he went. to bed. But. is interesting. The officers on the scene immediately. noticed a few things that just. that just weren't adding up. The first was Shonda's voice. It was. weird. The officers noticed that when. Shonda is answering questions, she had a. stern voice, almost like a teacher. giving out instructions. But the second. that she's done responding, she starts. making wailing noises. For example, they. would ask her if anybody else is in the. house and she tells them that her two.

sons are in there and she has to clarify. which one of her sons is asleep. Her. 7-year-old is asleep, her 20-year-old is. awake. And she says, "No, the. 20-year-old's awake." And then she. immediately starts wailing without. skipping a beat. So it's like, "No, the. 20-year-old's awake. Oh my god.". You have another son inside the house? I. have two. Are they sleeping still right now? One of them is, yeah. The 20-year-old's. awake. He's 20? No, the 20-year-old's awake. Okay.

Or sometimes she would have her face in. her hands or her palms pressed into her. face and her body looked like she was. trembling, crying, sobbing, but her. voice would be really clear. and not shaky at all. Aside from her voice, Shonda would keep. switching topics. She'd be talking about. where she works and then suddenly she. would cry. She would cry out, "I love my. child, but yeah, oh my god, why did this. happen?". I work I work in White Cloud. I I love. my. way. I'm a I'm law clerk to the circuit. court judge up there. I love my child,

but yeah, oh my god. Which officers felt. was maybe a bit understandable since she. was in a state of shock, but it was just. weird. Sometimes Shonda would kind of. answer the question in a strange manner. So one officer asked her where Timothy. sleeps and she stated in the loft bed. You see the pillow and the blanket and. stuff? I'm sure that's Yeah. You see the pillow. and the blanket and stuff? Or she'd be. crying because, you know, she just found. out that her child is dead. But when. another officer enters the house, she. apologizes to him. "I'm sorry, it's a.

little cluttered down there, but I'm. sure y'all have seen a lot worse.". Uh medical examiner's going to be coming. here in a little bit. it's a little cluttered down there, but. You're fine. I'm sure y'all have seen a. lot worse. Okay. Um. It just all felt peculiar. Another really curious thing that they. noticed was while they were waiting for. the medical examiner to show up, they. all went upstairs. So now upstairs. there's two police officers, Shonda and. Paul, the 20-year-old son in the living. room. Shonda walks up to Paul and says,

"I knew I should have made him eat. But. did you notice he was covering up with. big clothing?". Before her son Paul can respond, she. says, "You didn't notice, never mind. I. love you, dear, but you never notice.". I knew I should have made him eat, but. he just wouldn't. Did you notice he was covering up with. big clothing? You didn't notice, never mind. I love. you, dear, but. you just you never notice. Shonda is then pulled aside by one. officer and the other officer turns to.

Paul and asks him, "Did you know that. your brother was on a hunger strike?". Shonda stops mid-conversation with that. other officer, walks over a few steps, looks at Paul. "Did I tell you or not? I. don't I don't know if I did or not.". Paul says quietly, "I don't think that. you did.". The police state "Because he's all skin. and bone." And Shonda says, "I know. How. did he Well, he Paul doesn't communicate. with Timothy much, hardly at all. Like. they say hi, but they don't Yeah.". Did she say Did you know that he was.

in this hunger strike? I think I told him. Did I tell you or not? I don't know if I. did or not. I don't I don't think you. did. Cuz he's he's skin and bone. I. know, but I just How did he He's he's. really. Well, he he he doesn't communicate with. Tim hard at all. Like they say hi and. they don't Yeah, he's. It was just odd. The whole family. dynamic in that house, it was weird. So. you think like at that time the police.

already picking up this is very, very. bad. Very strange, very weird. But what the police were really. concerned about was when medics arrived. and told them, "None of this is making. any sense." Timothy was so malnourished. that he was at the zero percentile of. his age's weight. He had bones. protruding from his skin. The medics. doubted that he could even walk well or. support his own weight. There were. bruises and sores all over his body and. he was freezing. Freezing cold to the. touch. His skin was almost translucent. in color. It seemed like his body was in.

a state of hypothermia when he died. In. July in Michigan where temperatures are. almost in the 80s. And his body is completely stiff, which. meant his body had entered into rigor. mortis, which usually starts at around. like the 2-hour mark after death. Shonda's timeline, it just didn't make. the most sense. And the only one who had the knowledge. to know that Shonda's version of events. had a giant plot hole was Paul.

Because there's no way Timothy fell off. his loft bed and died that morning. Because by that point, he had been. trapped and held captive in the tiny. little closet underneath the stairs. There was an 18-minute gap from when. Shonda found Timothy dead to when she. called 911. And the prosecutors, they. wanted to know why. So Shonda takes the. stand and they want to know a lot of. things about Shonda to be honest. Like. why she lied about feeding Timothy toast. the night before his death when the. autopsy showed that she did not feed him.

buttered toast the night before his. death. I mean, it's such an odd thing to. lie about. They asked, "You told the detective that. you realized how skinny Timothy was the. night before and you threatened to take. him to the ER if he did not eat this. piece of toast. That's not true, is it?". "No, sir. I have no idea why I said. that. I was traumatized.". "Why didn't you tell the police. immediately what was going on?". "I was so freaked out. I was I'm sorry. I don't remember what my line of. thinking was at the time. I wish I had. an answer for you, but I don't. I was. exhausted. The night before he passed, I.

had less than an hour of sleep and I was. frightened. I had just lost my son. I. have no idea why we waited like that. I. don't know. I can't imagine waiting, but. apparently it happened. I don't know.". "Do you remember Paul asking if you guys. should call 911?". "I remember performing CPR and he did. help me out a little bit when I got. tired and took over a little bit, but I. mean, I can't imagine ever saying no to. that. I I don't remember him asking. because I was the one that called.". And that's okay if Shonda doesn't. remember. It's okay because we know.

exactly what happened before she called. 911 in those 18 minutes. Because the. cameras that were set up to watch. Timothy were recording. also watching Shonda. Oh my goodness. So. let's play the clip then to refresh. Shonda's memory. We only have audio, but. it is clear that this is the moment. Shonda finds Timothy unresponsive. Timothy was not in the loft bed like she. lied about. He was in the tiny closet. underneath the stairs where he had been. forced to live for the past few months. Shonda calls Paul for help. Which side.

note, the audio is not very panicked, nor is it fast-paced, nor is it really. clear. It It's um. I would say it's not chill, but it's. surprisingly calm for how high stakes. the situation is. Shonda is heard calling Timothy pet. names. "Baby doll, come on. Come on. Paul, come here. What's wrong? I don't. feel him breathing or anything. Go get a. towel real quick. Oh my god, this can't. be happening. Come on, Timmy. He's dead. Timothy. Sorry, you got to move." Oh my god.

Timothy. Come on, buddy. Timothy. No, no, no, no, no, no. This. can't This can't happen. Timothy. Hey. Is he okay? He's not breathing. He's not breathing. What do you doing? He's not doing. anything. It's okay? Yeah. He's cold, man. Yeah, I know he's cold, but he's not. He's not stiff yet, so it's okay. Paul. starts administering CPR, but he states. brown smelly liquid bile is coming out. of Timothy's mouth. It sounds like Paul.

at one point wants to use something to. either clean up the bile or get what's. in Timothy's mouth out, but Shanda tells. him not to because it's hers. What's hers? We don't know. We don't. have the video. We just have the audio, but it sounds like she's saying, "Oh, no, that's mine. Don't use that.". Oh, the towel Oh, the whatever rag or. whatever. Oh. But that's crazy. Yeah. like Paul also does not want to continue. administering CPR, but Shanda is just. heard saying, "I don't understand." Paul.

responds, "Me, either. Should we call an. ambulance?" "No, not yet. Come on, Timothy. Come on, buddy. Gosh, this is. horrible. Come on, sweetie. Come on, buddy. You have your belt? Put it on. him. I just want to make it look like he. was in that loft bed. I have to lie. about that.". "You have to tell them that he was on a. hunger strike, that he wasn't eating.". At one point in the clip, Shanda states. that because Timothy's eyes are not. shut, that means he's not dead. The judge had access to the footage and. he side-eyes Shanda multiple times while.

he's watching it because it is so. interesting. We hear about moms that. will lift up 6,000-lb cars to save their. child, but according to the audio clip, Shanda won't even perform CPR on. Timothy, her son, herself. But that is not even the most damning. piece of evidence that was found in that. house. A micro SD card was inside of a. camera that was placed inside the small. storage room underneath the stairs. There was video footage of the night. that Timothy passed.

No way. It is too much for even the jury. to see, so an officer who was tasked. with watching the video then came to. court to tell the jury what he saw. It. was from the night of Timothy's death. where Timothy was dragged into the small. room with the blue tarp. The person. dragging him by his frail arms. was his own mom, Shanda. Her last words to him, other than. "You're pathetic, but I already knew. that. You owe me the biggest apology in. the world." was "See, you don't need to.

breathe through your mouth like that, dummy.". Shanda was a defendant in a murder trial. in the very courthouse that she worked. in. Shanda was a count clerk at the. courthouse. So, these are her coworkers? Yes. That's crazy. Yeah. In a way, it was easier for. investigators since they could just ask. around to see what Shanda's colleagues. thought about her. How is she? She was um. She had a service dog that she would.

bring to work. Apparently, she had low. blood sugar. The service dog could smell. her blood sugar level when it's dropping. and warn her so that she could drink. some juice. And that dog would come to. the courthouse every day while she's. working. The dog was fine. But the. coworker said about Shanda, "Shanda was. never professional at work. She was. always on her phone or her laptop or or. iPad, and it seemed like she's checking. out cameras in her house. I mean, the. whole thing was odd." One coworker. stated that the cameras had the ability. to talk through it, like a ring camera. So, she would click a button and start. screaming into her iPad in the middle of.

the day. I mean, she was never without. that iPad at work. Like, they heard her. screaming things like, "No, you can't. have more food. You already have what's. provided to you. No, you can't leave. your room.". At certain times. crazy. This is happening. In the court. Yeah, in the courthouse, technically, yeah. Nobody had questions? Nobody's. like, "That's weird." They thought it. was weird. Maybe she's so blatant and. people was like. Yeah, there's no way that she's abusing. them. Maybe this is just a way to keep. an eye Maybe you could call her a. micromanaging parent. At certain times,

it sounded like she was talking to a dog. more than a little human being. The. coworker also stated that Shanda. referred to her kids, Paul, as the. 20-year-old. as either the middle child or the. problem child. The only child that she. ever referred to by name was her. 7-year-old son, whose name we're not. going to say. I also think that a big part of the. reason that people did not suspect. anything from Shanda was, and a big part. of the intrigue for this case, is that. Shanda is intelligent by all means. I. mean, she's graduated top of her law. class. She passed the bar exam. Everyone.

from her class remembers her being. highly intelligent, but also being a. giant bully. They said she was mean. I. mean, an interesting thing to note, the. bar exam has a section that tests your. problem-solving and common sense. abilities. So, she's not only book smart. because Shanda only missed one point on. that portion of the exam. So, she's not. just book smart. She obviously has. strong problem-solving logical. capabilities. So, people just assumed. maybe she's just extra strict on her.

kids. It's said that Shanda's upbringing was. incredibly rough. Her parents got. divorced when she was really young, and. for a while Shanda and her sister, Paige, were sent to live in foster care. for 2 years. They were allegedly. physically abused in foster care. Now, this is kind of feeling like déjà vu, but they were starved, given only small. bites of bread and sips of water or. milk, forced to take ice baths, and. beaten with ping pong paddles. Eventually, Shanda's mom would get. remarried and Shanda went to go live.

back with her and her new stepdad. Her. sister, Paige, called her a. self-entitled, controlling, possibly a. sociopath. When their mom died, Paige said that. Shanda started having with her stepdad. She was a teenager. So, obviously, we. blame the stepdad, but still, there was. a lot going on because when Paige gets. pregnant, Shanda is so jealous that. Paige got pregnant first, that Paige got. pregnant out of wedlock. She's very. upset about that, that she punched Paige.

in the stomach causing Paige to. miscarry. Your sister and this type of Yeah. assault is At the point that. unbelievable. Shanda was arrested, they. hadn't talked in decades. It seemed like Shanda was upset that. Paige got pregnant before her and. believed that she would be a better mom. than Paige would ever be, which is wild. And to nobody's surprise, Shanda was not. a great mom. Her track record is beyond. alarming. The kids remembered growing up.

that Shanda would just plop down on the. couch and write, quote, books. And one. of Eric's kids, so this is her. ex-husband's kid from a previous. relationship. One of Eric's kids said. that when she was young, Shanda gave her. a book about how much Shanda liked being. spanked as a kid. There's a police. report filed on this. So, I'm assuming. it was not like a, "Welcome. authoritarian punishment." but more in. nature. There was another time that Shanda.

allegedly showed the children explicit. videos. CPS eventually got involved. Shanda lost. custody of all of her kids. She'd be. forced to move out of the house. She was. so upset about this. She went up to her. husband, Eric, and asked him, "Can you. reverse your vasectomy so that we can. have another child?" He rejected and she. was not happy about it. Side note, her new husband, Adam, who. divorced her once Timothy died, he said, "You know, Shanda and the kids did have. a little bit of a weird relationship.

sometimes, especially when the boys were. younger. She would have them sit on her. lap when they were preteens and. she would hug them for very long amounts. of time.". I mean, she's just hugging them, but it. was for so long that Adam would start to. feel. I don't know, a little uncomfortable. I'm not sure what that means, but Shanda. did have a very strange relationship. with Paul. Some would liken it to that. of a manipulator and her little. punisher. Whatever she told him to do, he would do it. Whether he wanted to do. it or he felt forced to do it, that's up.

for debate. And there are very, very few methods of. torture that don't leave physical scars. Two of the most popular methods include. waterboarding and sleep deprivation. Waterboarding sounds like the more. intense of the two where you're tied up. to a board, your hands, your legs, they're tied up, so you can't move. You're on a board and that board shifts. downward on one side, like a seesaw. So, now you're laying on your back with your. feet pointed upwards towards the sky and. your head is lowered. A rag is placed.

over your head to cover your nose and. your mouth, and then water is repeatedly. poured onto the towel. The result is, to. put it simply, you feel like you're. drowning because you are. You are. drowning, but so slowly and so painfully. that you don't actually die. At least. they make sure that you don't die. It's stated that when the water is. pouring down on you, your instinct is to. hold your breath in. Like, that's what. you think is going to happen, right? You're like, "Okay, once they pour the. water, I'm just not going to breathe.". But your brain instinctively makes you. breathe in and it feels like the water.

is poison and it's stinging the entire. inside of your skull. Your brain is on. fire. Just to give you an idea of how. bad it is. The Pentagon banned the. military from using waterboarding in. training to train you to resist. interrogation of captured. And it was. stated by a military official, "Waterboarding teaches failure in the. military.". No one succeeds. They can't teach a strategy like that. Literally, it's absolutely so painful. But some people who had the unfortunate. luck or experience of experiencing um.

both waterboarding and sleep. deprivation, they said sleep deprivation is worse. They said it's so much worse than that. And Shanda felt like she was being. tortured. She had chronic insomnia and. her kids are constantly keeping her up. at night. Shanda had placed a camera. inside of Timothy's tiny little closet. of her room, and if the camera detected. any motion, it would notify her phone. Like, a notification would pop up, "Motion detected." And Shanda had a. really hard time going back to sleep.

once she woke up, and she refused to. silence her phone at night. She told. Timothy, "If you move at all at any. point in the night, the ringer will go. off on my phone and I'm not going to be. able to go back to sleep, and so you're. going to be punished for it because. you're keeping me up all night.". If Timothy woke Shanda up, Shanda would. not let him sleep for the next two to. possibly three nights. She would force. her other son, 20-year-old Paul, to. torture Timothy to the point that he. could not fall asleep. If she felt an.

ounce of pain or discomfort, she wanted. Timothy to feel it 20 times harder. Shanda texted Paul, "He's moved around, so he has the cuffs in the front of him. instead of behind him. I put the cuffs. back behind him. I'll have to deal with. less than 2 hours of sleep today, but. I'm not letting him get away with this.". The next 48 hours, Shanda would watch. the cameras and if she saw Timothy blink. for even a moment too long, she would. text Paul, "He's sleeping. Go wake him. up. Go dump cold water on him.". She would watch these cameras at work.

Shanda lost a ton of sleep at night. making sure Timothy didn't go to sleep. that night. To her, that's the price she. has to pay to make sure Timothy gets his. punishment. At work, Shanda would obsess over the. cameras. Before work, she would tell. Timothy he has to stand in the stress. pose on his knees with his arms up. behind his head. If he so much as moves, it's over for him. Then at work, she would text, "If he. behaves, I will let him lie down for a. couple of hours today. But if he doesn't. behave, he's going to stay up all night.

tonight, tomorrow, and Friday night.". Paul would text her back, "He just laid. down again. Please go get him up. Feel. free to dump some cold water on him and. even if he sits upright before you get. there or as you get there, I honestly. don't care if you get a little rough. with him. Are you going to go get him? Please go ahead and turn on the AC. You'll be warming up with your blankets. and that'll make sure that he doesn't. stay too warm.". "Okay." But sometimes, Paul would be the. one to text his mom first. He'd be home. alone with Timothy and he'd text, "Mom, I'm ready to slam him into the ground.

He wet the bed and he's covered in. urine. Would you say a 5-minute shower. with the curtain open so I can watch?". Wait, what does that mean? We don't know. Whether he means so he can watch him. probably shower in ice cold water so. it's torturous or watch for other. reasons, it's unsure, right? Shanda. texts back, "Sure, a 5-minute shower. where he can scrub and you can watch is. fine as well, but it has to be a cold. shower.". 5 days before Timothy's death, Paul. texted his mother, "I'm ready to kill. Timothy. He left his peed-in and.

pooped-in diaper in the freaking. bathroom and I stepped in it.". She texts back, "Ew, lots of hot sauce. for that.". "I've cleaned my foot, but I'm already. at my limit.". "And where's he currently?" "On the wall. downstairs.". "He can have bread with hot sauce on it. Does need bread, though." "I already. gave him four pieces of bread earlier. I. know he's not walking fine, but he's. still doing a whole wonky walk.". What does that mean? Saying that he. seems very frail and unresponsive. Now,

July 5th, 2022, the day before Timothy's. death, there's a lot of phone activity. between Shanda and Paul. Shanda texts. Paul from work, "Forgot to tell you this. before I left. Timothy was doing his. fake stumbling and falling last night, of course, so I decided to prove once. again how fake it is. I asked him if he. would stop doing that if he could eat a. whole pizza by himself, and he said, 'Yes, of course.' And then I told him. how obvious it was that it was fake and. he had just proven that yet again. And.

of course, he just looked down and. didn't respond.". Shanda texted again, "If you want him to. sit in his room with his hands on his. head, that's fine, but Timothy does not. get to lay down all day. Maybe we should. leave the light on, that way it'll be. harder for him to fall asleep. I can't. believe he keeps getting worse and worse. with his stupidity. Now he's refusing to. answer me, so go throw some cold water. on him as well.". "Please do the water now. He's being. beyond stupid. I can't work like this. when he's doing this. Why is he doing. this to me? Am I not going through.

enough already? Feel free to go dump more cold water on. him. He moved over, so he's not laying. in the cold water that you dumped on him. earlier. Go dump more cold water.". He's doing it, she's watching it. Through the cameras. Paul texts, "I know you're trying, Mama, but he's just too selfish.". She texts him, "Please hurry with the. water dumping on him, though. He thinks. he's getting away with something." "I. know, Mom, I'm crushing up the ice.". There are a lot of texts between Shanda. and Paul about how worried Shanda is. about G, her 7-year-old seeing Timothy.

in this state. She really, really babies. G and it's very interesting. It seems. like she babies the youngest or whoever. thinks the highest of her. And when you're 7, I mean, every kid. thinks that their parent is like a. superhero when they're 7. But Shanda. goes on to ask about if Paul thinks. Timothy is faking all of this, faking. being sick and weak and unresponsive. She texts, "Is he seriously trying to. make us believe that he can't. communicate? Ugh, he's full of it. Can you please. force him to respond to you just to make. me feel a little bit better? Be honest.

with me. Are you worried about him at. all or is this just a bunch of BS like. it's been for me days? It's the same old BS. So you're not. worried at all, Paul? Nope. If I wasn't. so angry, then maybe, and that's a big. if.". "Okay, let me rephrase that question, then. Do you honestly believe that we. should be worried?". "I don't know. I'm just tired of him. being such a nuisance.". "Could you please stay on his case? It. looks like he's trying to go to sleep. and I don't have time to yell at him. from work and actually, I got to get. stuff done here. Why don't you go ahead.

and run another cold bath and stick him. in it. You'll have to stay downstairs in. the bathroom with him, though.". This is the day before? The night before. So they know he's in. that condition. He's dying. Yeah. But they're like throw. him into ice water. Don't let him sleep, throw him into ice. water. Paul texts, "How is that going to help?". "It's going to make him miserable. Try. to force him to talk to you. We both. know that he can.". "His eyes do have a slightly glazed. look." "You can make your eyes glaze. over by staring for too long. Yeah, it.

looks like he's been staring at. something too long. You said he smirked. at you?". Paul responds, "Never in my life have I. ever wanted to beat someone so bad.". Shanda texts, "Crazy idea. Heat up some. pizza rolls and take one downstairs and. offer it to Timothy and see what he. does. Put it right in front of his. mouth, but be ready to yank it back if. he tries to eat it. Hold it right in. front of his lips. How much do you bet. that he's going to try and eat it?". "A lot.". "Please make sure you keep bugging him. so he doesn't try to go to sleep like.

that. Maybe force his mouth open and put. some hot sauce in there considering. everything that he's put us through.". "K K. Does he blink when you smack him. on the side of the face? I don't mean a. hard smack.". "Yes." "He swallowed. Yeah, he's fine. He's just being an absolute butt head.". Paul is instructed to put Timothy into. an ice bath when he's already, like we. said, barely responsive. Shanda's at. work watching all of this through her. cameras and she texts him, "He just. adjusted to make himself more. comfortable. Perfect. He thinks that he. can outlast us.".

Paul says, "He's doing this to tick us. off and make us give up and at this. point, I'm ready to beat him within an. inch of death and go to work.". "And that is exactly what he wants you. to do. He will not outlast us. I can. promise you that. This is getting beyond. pathetic. He will not win this. Not. going to happen. Might be time to dump. more cold water. Just make sure it. doesn't go outside the tub and maybe. force him to drink some more.". "Crazy thought. Tell him if he actually. sits up by himself and stays sitting up, he'll get some pizza rolls. Don't tell. him it's only two rolls and I'm okay if. you keep them frozen rather than cooked.

He's determined to be a pain? Fine.". "And question.". "He's ticklish, isn't he?". "Yeah." "Go tickle him mercilessly.". "When you go to remove the shower. curtain, please remove everything else. from that bathroom that he could mess. with. He's not getting diddly squat to. mess around with tonight.". What does that mean? She doesn't want. him to have toys, I guess. And um she's. actually telling him to get rid of the. shower curtain so that he doesn't try to. cover his body with it.

For warmth, heat, but also because, you. know, you're vulnerable when you're not. clothed. Paul texts, "Okay." "And he needs cold. water dumped on him at least one more. time before I get home.". "Yes." "He's still breathing, right? I. just have to ask. He's doing enough to. make you paranoid even though I know. it's fake. It just further confirms how. fake he's being and how horrible he's. being. And you know, if this is just a. matter of him being tired, he could have. gotten enough rest sitting and laying. there. He'd be fine right now. It just. further confirms how fake he's being and. how horrible he is. I wonder how it'll.

feel to have hot sauce on your private. parts. I'm not saying touch him down. there, not at all, but dripping a little. bit down there, is that horrible?". Paul says, "I don't know and I don't. care.". "Does that mean you're willing to try. it?" "No.". "Okay, well, I need you to lose the. attitude with me, Paul, at least. I. didn't do anything here. You need to. lose the attitude, sir.". This is text message? Yeah. Shanda gets home and Timothy has. been in that ice bath from 2:00 p.m.

to 11:00 p.m. One of the last texts that she sends. Paul that day is when she's already home. and now Paul has gone to work at. Applebee's. It's at midnight and after. this is after she takes Timothy out of. the ice bath after 9 hours of being in. there and it reads, "Please set your. alarm for 6:00 a.m. I ended up dragging. him back to a small room because I. wasn't going to risk him having access. to the tub or other things overnight. He's still trying to be stupid, but I'll. tell you more tomorrow while I take you. to work describing all the different. ways that I can prove that he's still.

faking. He's still doing it, though. It's beyond ridiculous.". Paul stated in his initial interrogation. with the police that Timothy took. advantage of his mom. He stated, "After. Adam, the stepdad, stroke. and side note, they were paycheck to. paycheck. Um well, not even. They were. really behind on bills. Like the. family's finances were falling apart. But Paul is now saying that Timothy. somehow took advantage of that. He said, 'Timothy would take advantage of that. situation. We were all stressed and he.

would take advantage of that. Anything. he could find, he would take advantage. of his entire life except I think maybe. when he was like still a baby. He would. find some way to take advantage of. whatever he can. He didn't elaborate further. The. investigator asked, "What was he allowed. to eat?" Like what was he allowed to. eat? We stopped the food restrictions. recently because we had noticed he's. thin. We wanted to get that back on. We. didn't want any of this. We never wanted. him to be injured or hurt. I loved him. so much. When you say we, are you.

talking about your mother? Yes, she. loved him. We wanted what's best. The. thing is he was stuck in the past. And what were the restrictions? We made sure that it was still something. that gave him enough calories and. everything. Rice or bread and like I. said last week he got pizza. Okay. The. detectives knew that the pizza thing was. a lie. There was text message proof. where they all ordered pizza and Shanda. texted Paul, "Make sure the pizza is out. of reach.".

What were the food restrictions in place. for Paul in the first place? Why were. they there? Sneaking food over and over and over and. it wasn't just that he was hungry. At. some point it was just that he wanted. something sweet. At times he would be. taking stuff that had plans for actual. food. What were the what were they in. place for like in the first place? Sneaking food over and over and over. We. we've tried everything. We were nice. We. tried different consequences but he just. he could never listen. Why was it that. he couldn't have any meals? He was.

sneaking food. A lot. Yeah, we over and. over and over. There would literally be. times where I would be sitting on the. couch playing and then I'd look up and. he's there grabbing something. Tell me about the hot sauce. What. dictates whether or not there's hot. sauce on the bread that he's eating? It was normally a thin layer just to. make sure that it wouldn't be too much. because. from what I know. the ghost or the California Reaper is. what 2,000 Scoville or 200,000 Scoville?

Right. So you're giving him the bread as. a meal. What's the purpose of the hot. sauce then? I know it was punishment but I don't. think that it was that useful because. like I said, he had no feelings in his. tongue. I know it was punishment but honestly I. don't think it was that useful because. like I said, he had no feeling in his. tongue. He. He totally bit a hole in it at one point. and didn't even feel it. Was he eating. this bread with the hot sauce or was he. Yeah. And who is buying the hot sauce. and from where? From Amazon or Walmart online. She.

bought it but my mom asked me if I could. help pay for it. But like I said, my. mom's been amazing. She's never demanded. money. What is this relationship? This is so. weird. Hot sauce is not something that should. be used to punish a child for eating. food that they're not supposed to eat, Paul, or for disrespect. We know those. things aren't okay. I know that. We just tried so many. different things. We were just running. out of the options of trying to find a. punishment that actually worked and even. that did nothing and we still kept.

trying. We gave him food. She even told. me to give like make sure that he gets a. good amount. She would tell me on random. days but other than the hot sauce. punishment, it was always bread and. rice. She cared. She never wanted this. She She loved him. We wanted what's. best. Paul stated sometimes Timothy would just. force food back up because I guess he's. rebelling so he would throw up his own. food and the investigator was. speechless. The investigator said, "Honestly, you ever think because maybe. it's painful the hot sauce so he threw.

up?" I know at one point that he was. actually refusing to eat. We would give. him his food and he would just be. stubborn and sit there and just slowly. slowly it's regular bread, nothing else. on it. Just chow down to the point where. it's basically he's trying to waste time. so that he could be upstairs longer. Well, where did he spend most of his. time? In his room. So he's chewing slowly so he can not be. in that room in a stress pose. It was. basically he's trying to waste time so.

he could be upstairs. Where did he spend most of his time? In his room. We we wouldn't make him. stand. Sometimes we would have him. kneeling like on his knees like this. facing one of the corners but. What was that for? For punishment. Yeah, I don't even know. what it was for at this point. I'm not. sure if. Does your mom feel bad at all about. giving him just bread and hot sauce and. locking him in the closet? Yes, she. hates it. She hates it. She never once.

enjoyed it. Yes, she hates it. And she hates it. She. never once enjoyed it. Who's idea was it to give a cold bath as. punishment? It's my mother's. I wasn't sure if it. was going to be effective punishment or. not. Shanda convinced Paul that Timothy was. faking being injured from their torture. At one point a few days before Timothy's. death, Paul sent his mom a few pictures. of Timothy and he raised the alarms. He. was basically like, "Mom, I think he. needs to eat a real meal soon." The.

police show him the pictures that he. sent his mother. And then you sent a. picture of his leg. That's basically. gone, right? No wonder he can't stand. Yeah, but the thing is before yesterday. and I think even the day before he could. walk. He might need a little support. every so often like he'd put his hand. against the wall or grab the railing of. the stairs but after a couple seconds he. would let go and he'd be fine. It was. never anything major. There's a text from Paul to Shanda that. reads, "Mama, he's already pushing. everyone of my buttons. The whole. shaking and I need support crap.".

Shanda texts Paul. He doesn't shake it. all for a while when he's standing there. and then apparently remembers he thinks. he should be shaking and starts doing it. again. Paul tells the investigators, "He would. do things that would scare the crap out. of us to make us believe that something. was wrong. I mean several times he faked. seizures. I've seen it.". He would do something that would scare. the crap out of us to make us believe. that. something was wrong and. and several times here.

he faked seizures. I've seen it because. and I've also seen what happened because. back from Oklahoma. he had seizures from medication. problems. Okay. Paul explains why he gave Timothy the. pizza roll the day of his death. To test. him, he said. I had offered him a pizza. roll. because I was I wanted to truly test. whether he was faking or not. And at first he didn't he didn't move. I'm like, "Okay, maybe this is" but then. he moved and went to try and grab it. I'm like, "Okay, I don't I don't even.

know. I don't know anymore." Well, he. wasn't faking it, Paul, because he died. Do you feel good about any of that. stuff? No, of course not. I can't, right? I can't I can't even live with. myself. The investigator shows Paul. another picture of Timothy. It was. apparently of Timothy in the bathtub the. day of his death and the photo was. zoomed into his face and this photo has. not been made public. What's the deal with this photo in the. bathtub and his face? He'd been taking a bath and I went in. there to check up on him at one point. and he's just kind of laying there and.

I'm like, "Buddy, are you okay?" He. didn't respond but he's looking around. and he was breathing. That much I know. He was breathing. And yeah, I probably should have said. something about the ER at that point. though. That certainly sounds stupid. Is. this when she told you to smack him in. the face to see if he was faking it? I was trying to see what was going on. Trying to see if he would even respond. I was scared. Did you ever hate your brother? I did, yeah, but every time I would come. back and apologize. The bruises on him. were not me. I know that much because I.

know that I would never try to actually. injure him. Side note, there were bruises on. Timothy's skull when he passed. Paul. stated that he did slap Timothy's face. in the bath to see if he was coherent. and responsive but he believes the. bruises are from when Paul was dragging. Timothy into the bathtub for the ice. bath and Timothy was so weak he couldn't. even walk on his own. He fell, tripped, hit his head on the edge of the tub. And. about that incident, Paul says, "I don't. know what exact region he hit his head. because by that time I heard the thought. and I was literally about to turn around.

because I had to stop for a moment to. breathe. I was frustrated." What did he. do that you had to give him a cold bath? I think it was that he not only. peed but also pooped and and my mother. wasn't too happy because it absolutely. reeked. Yeah. Paul tries to defend Shanda and. his own actions by basically stating, "We used to cuff him." Like they had leg. handcuffs and they used to cuff him to. furniture and he said, "We stopped the. leg cuffs though because we noticed that. his legs were swelling so we stopped.

that because we didn't want his legs to. become irreparable." The authorities. ask, "How smart is your mom?" "She's. incredibly intelligent, magna [ __ ] laude. She's highly intelligent.". Have you ever thought about that? Have. you ever thought, "How can a woman. that's this smart, this intelligent, graduate from law school, how could she not know what's happening? How could she think this is fake? How. does she not know she's starving? How. does she not see that he's wasting away? And you here, you're telling me that.

you've got some some mental health. issues but you graduated from high. school and it's very obvious to you that. he's smelling he's got malnutrition, right? It's very obvious to you but your. mom who is not seeing that and she's a. she's a law school graduate and she's. very smart. Do you see what I'm looking. at here? She's a liar. She's lied to you. about so much stuff.". How could Paul not see that? Maybe because to Timothy, Paul and. Shanda were the only ones in his life. Literally, they were his whole world. I. mean it's a horrible world but they were.

in a way all he had for 13 months. His. whole life revolved around them. He. wasn't allowed outside. He had no. friends. He couldn't go to school. This. is all he had. But Paul had a regular. life outside of being this punisher. He was a YouTuber. What's up, everybody? It's P for U Plays here. Um. today I'm actually going to try and get. a like face cam, I guess you could say, while playing Minecraft. He told the. during his interrogation he likes. playing with Legos, video games, anime,

and making videos. Being able to build. and be creative is just something that I. absolutely adored. And it was also. something that I like doing for YouTube. I have a YouTube channel. It's not. popular by any means, but it's something. I been very inspired by. I was inspired. by Preston Plays and the recently passed. Technoblade. He has these videos where. he doesn't show his face on YouTube, or. at least not for this series. He does. have a few videos where show his face. But, um he posts text up on the screen. That's a story that he wrote, a fanfic.

But, it's kind of like the words pop up. and nobody's talking, his face isn't. showing, and we just kind of read the. words. And this series, it revolves. around a half-dragon, half-human named. Dynasty. And the dragon form is called. Dynasty, the human form is called Paul. But, the story of Dynasty is. fascinating. In a way it seems to be. inspired by Paul's personal life. And. hopefully I'm not being too presumptuous. with this, but the backstory to Dynasty. is Dynasty's dad is absolutely evil and. ends up selling his soul to the devil. The dad is described as a quote.

stubborn, stuck-up bastard who never. thought of himself as a bad person with. wicked, heartless ways. But, then there. are two versions for Dynasty's mom's. backstory. In one version, Dynasty's mom. dies early on in Dynasty's life. And. Dynasty's evil step cousins that he. lives with, are we seeing some parallels. here? Are shapeshifters that shapeshift. into his dead mom to mess with him. They. insult him and say, "I never loved you.". while they take on the form of his dead. mom. He ends up being so upset and.

revealing his natural powers that he. burns the house down in dragon form. In another version of this story, Dynasty's mom was quote a cruel woman. who beat him daily. At first with her. hands, but then after seeing it no. longer had any effect, she began using. steel chains. When Dynasty turned 12, his mother began using his body to make. money by letting other women have fun. with him, leading him to develop an. enormous fear of quote females. Three.

years passed and it was continued like. this. Every day was the same. Get. beaten, get R-worded, repeat. There are scenes in his fanfic where the. mom is trying to beat him. She comes. into the room with a chain and says, "Hey, you little. You know what time it is?". She knocks him unconscious and he, Dynasty, is trembling on the ground and. she says, "Don't worry. My best customer. comes tomorrow.". There's this one part where he breaks. free with a group of girls that fall in. love with him and he slams his mother. into the ground, snarls in her face, and.

he's about to kill her and she says, "Do. it. Go ahead, kill me." He snarls, jumps. off, and like these are the words from. the story. I'm not saying he's snarling, right? He snarls, jumps off, in a deep, rumbling voice he snarls at her, "No, I'm not like you." And his mom is seen. being cuffed and shoved into a cop car. Which is all kind of fascinating. I. mean, it could mean something, it could. mean a little bit, it could mean a lot, it could mean nothing. But, it's always. interesting to see if someone gets.

inspiration from their own lives. Paul told investigators about his mom. I know she's a good person. I just don't. know if this is something that is both. of our faults. If we should have done. something sooner. I mean, I know we both. could have. I do know that my mother. she's not perfect, but she's not a bad. person. At the very end of the. interrogation, the detective asked Paul, "I'm going to step out. Do you need. anything? You need to use the restroom? Need a drink of water?". Paul looks up at him and says, Do you.

have something I can like snack on? I have slight hypoglycemia problems, so. what kind of snack are you talking? Like chips, I don't I don't know what to. give me. Really anything that's soft. Maybe chips, yeah. That is ironic. Yeah, after like an hour and a half. interrogation about how he starved his. brother. Yeah, Paul is very divisive in. all of this. Some people think that he's. just another child that Shonda had. control over and his ultimate punishment. was being turned into an abuser by his.

own mother. Now, some people have a. problem with that because he actually. went to Shonda's when he was 18. Mhm. So, it's like it wasn't like he was. abused his whole life and just under her. influence the whole time and then became. this adult abuser. But, let's just go. down this path. Some stated that Shonda. physically tortured Timothy, but. psychologically tortured Paul. Used Paul. to torture Timothy physically, ordered. him around in text messages to harm his. own brother. They said, "Paul is a. victim. Anything he did was recorded by.

her. Of course he's a victim.". There's a part of the investigation that. some netizens bring up where the. detective interrupts him while he's. mid-sentence and says, "I want to stop. you just for a second." And Paul. immediately presses his shoulders. forward, like carving himself inward, kind of like you would with anxiety. And. he apologizes, "Sorry." Netizens say it. sounds like both parents were abusive. and this guy thought it was normal. He. wanted his mom to love him because he. was kicked out by his dad, so he did. what she wanted. He clearly has no idea. what love truly means. Codependency,

manipulation, and brainwashing. At another point in the investigation, Paul says, "I hate myself, okay? If I. could take his place right now, if I. could give him back his life, I would do. it in a dadgum heartbeat." Some people. said that the way he talked about his. mom in the interrogation was like a cult. member slowly waking up. There's even a. YouTube video that he posted of himself. playing Minecraft and there's a moment. in the video, or a few moments, and and. it's kind of chilling, where he looks. down at his phone and says, "My mother. just texted me something about my little. brother." So,

he sounds super stressed out, but he. tries to get back to playing the game. A. minute later we hear someone yell off. the screen and it sounds like, "Ow, hello?". Paul says, "Hey, Timbo. Could Could you. Sorry, guys. Geez, not sure if you heard. that, but that was one of my little. brothers. I deeply apologize. I probably. should have asked them politely to keep. it down before I came up here.". My mother just texted me something about. my little brother.

Sorry. That guy said I don't actually have an. office. Hey, Timbo, could you Sorry, guys. Geez. Not sure if y'all heard that. That was. one of my little brothers. I deeply. apologize. I probably should have asked them. politely to keep it down before I came. up here, so. Then a few minutes later Paul gets. another text message. He reads it. His. expression quickly changes. He looks.

stressed out, he starts touching his. face almost in like this. soothing gesture and he quickly ends the. video. Oh, you know, we're going to. support you this way or that way, but. oh. Was it his mom texting him to do. something to Timothy? He looks. incredibly distraught if it is. But, other netizens disagreed and stated. that Paul was just as evil as his. mother. They said, "Because he's 20,

he's a full-grown adult. I mean, there. are a lot of people in this world that. are abused by both their parents and. they don't help kill their brother.". And Paul and Timothy's half-sister came. out to say she lived with Paul before. and he was the biggest bully that she. had ever met in her entire life. She. fully believes Paul was involved in this. and was fully complicit on his part, not. coerced at all. She said even before. moving in with Shonda, he was. questionable. She stated the family. wanted to get him tested for. psychopathy, but because he wasn't 18. yet, they can't get a diagnosis for. being a psychopath. And some of Paul's.

family members have stated that he was a. relentless tormentor of Timothy without. any coercion from his mother. Paul even. stated in his interrogation that his. brother Timothy was quote motor and. speech impaired. So, why would he even. think that his brother was faking not. being able to talk to them the day that. he died? Also, Paul worked at a fast food spot. A. lot of people argued he could have. easily snuck food home for Timothy if he. was that scared. Paul would also tell an investigator, "I.

accept responsibility for what happened. Timothy. I was a willing participant in. administering punishment to Timothy. It. made me feel powerful. I wanted to hear. mama say that she was proud of me. The. power got to my head. I was drunk on. power. I hate myself. If I didn't do the. punishments, mama would yell at me. Adam, the stepdad, would have never let. things get this far. I'm basically a. murderer as well. If I did, just throw. me in prison for the rest of my life. If. I was a part of it, I deserve it.". And then a lot of netizens are just kind. of somewhere in the middle. They said,

"I think he needs to be punished, but. nowhere near like his mother. She. controlled that home and he was afraid. of her. I hope a lot of his time in. custody will be in a mental institution. and if he ever gets out, he will need a. lot of help learning how to take care of. himself.". During the interrogation, the. investigator asked Paul, "Why did your. mom ask you to put pants on Timothy. before the cops came?". He said, "Because she didn't want to. seem like she's bad. That we weren't. neglecting him. And even if that's what. somehow ended up like, it wasn't. intentional. I just hate it. I know she.

doesn't want to be the bad guy. She. never wanted this. We loved him so. much." Paul posted on Facebook for his. birthday in April of 2021, "For my. birthday this year, I'm asking for. donations to No Kid Hungry. I've chosen. this nonprofit because their mission. means a lot to me. No Kid Hungry works. to ensure that every child in the US has. access to healthy food where they live.". This is during the time that he was. torturing the brother. Yeah, we don't. know if he was being starved yet, but he. had been there together.

In about a year, the police would be called and his. brother would be found starved to death. in that home. Some netizens that struggle with. dissociative amnesia have stated they. spend a lot of their time looking for. clues. Because oftentimes they're just. left with giant gaps in their memory. So, all they can do is try to fill in. the blanks. One citizen stated, "I have. clocks everywhere and there are times. when I can see that the time is past but. I struggle to fill in the blanks. It's. just not there. I know time is past but. I cannot tell you anything about it. You. lose minutes, hours, days, months, even.

years without knowing what you're. missing. Your memory is essentially like. Swiss cheese with missing bits that are. either brief flashes or just like total. blanks. That is what Shanda Vander Ark was. claiming she had. She stated that after. her husband Adam's stroke she developed. disassociation to the point of having. giant gaps in her memory. So. dissociative amnesia. And she also. stated that she had chronic insomnia. I. had I have severe attention deficit. hyperactivity disorder combined type. I also have sensory processing disorder.

and OCD. And then after my husband's stroke as a. result of my husband's stroke cuz I. viewed him I I I wasn't in the room when. he had the stroke but I it was I was. there right afterwards. And so I developed post-traumatic stress. disorder with disassociation from that. The only medication that I was on was. for the ADHD. A huge part of the trial. is Paul's testimony against his mother. After the initial interrogation Paul. took a plea deal and in return well it. wasn't necessarily a plea deal. He got a little bit of like a agreement.

that the prosecutors would not ask above. the sentencing limit for his crime which. would be first degree child abuse. He. was going to testify against his mom and. in return Shanda also turned on Paul. Essentially they're both pointing the. finger at each other. When they're both in the courtroom. Shanda doesn't even look in Paul's. direction. Suddenly the mom that loved. her children more than anything can't. even stand to share the same air as her. precious son that she cared so deeply. about. She just sits there and every. time Paul says something bad about her.

she starts dramatically scribbling on. her notepad and whispering to her. attorneys. Was there ever any other time. where she instructed you to make Timothy. throw up? Yes. About how many times did she instruct. you to do that? Um. three or four. Which side note Paul also very casually. testifies and throws it out there that G. is not Adam's son.

Yeah everyone just like. We don't know. Mhm. Paul testifies that he quote has. something similar to Stockholm syndrome. where he will do anything to make his. mother proud. He states I suppose I. believe that mother knows best. if you have the right one. Paul confirmed to the jury and the judge. that Timothy spent most of his days in. that small room under the stairs with. nothing but a blue tarp. Usually on his. knees with his hands on his head and if. he moved Shanda and Paul would get an. alert on their phones which meant that. they would need to go punish him. For. what reason? Nobody knows. The.

prosecutors asked Paul about his mom. Shanda asking him to put hot sauce on. Timothy's private parts to which Paul. responded he never actually followed. through with it because it was quote. beyond cruel as everything was. But later Shanda would be on the stand. and the prosecutor would ask her whose. idea was it to get the hot sauce and. administer it to your son? The idea was originally Paul's. Shanda states that she does sometimes. put hot sauce on things that she doesn't. want her dogs to chew on but when asked. by the prosecutors if she ever poured it.

down her dogs' throats she said no. because I don't give my dogs human food. You can't do that with service dogs. Cuz remember she has blood sugar. problems so she has a service dog. So it never occurred to you forcing the. use of hot sauce on a dog but you. thought to use it as a form of. punishment for your 14-year-old child. It was Paul's idea but yes I was at my. wit's end at the time. Shanda tells. prosecutors that she put locks on all. the refrigerators because Timothy ate. all the food. He would sneak the food. and then he would eat it. Sometimes he.

would even forget to close the. refrigerator door and it would spoil. everything inside. She uses the fact. that Timothy was starved to the point of. sneaking into the kitchen risking all. sorts of punishment to eat a pound of. raw hamburger beef, raw bacon and frozen. chicken nuggets frozen as a reason that. she had to lock up the food and deprive. him of a basic necessity for life. Side note I don't think by the point. that Timothy passed he would had the. strength to walk up the stairs at that. point. I don't even think let alone he. could open a refrigerator door.

I did the lock to protect him because he. could have he could have killed himself. eating those chicken nuggets. I didn't put the locks on after he did. the hamburger or the bacon but the. chicken nuggets it's raw chicken. The prosecutor looks at her for a. moment. Chicken nuggets are cooked. aren't they? They're pre-cooked frozen. chicken nuggets. Are they? I didn't even think about. that. He started eating again so then you. decided he's been on a hunger strike. he's eating again so now we better lock. up the food. No I did the the locks to. protect him because he could have.

he could have killed himself eating the. chicken nuggets. I didn't put the locks on after he did. the hamburger or the bacon but the. chicken nuggets he could it was raw. chicken. Chicken nuggets are cooked aren't they? They're pre-cooked. Are they? I didn't even think about. that. Well it's okay if he has a frozen pizza. roll or two. He sits up right? Yes sir. Mhm. But the day of Timothy's death Shanda. had texted Paul don't tell him it's only.

two pizza rolls and I'm okay if they're. frozen rather than cooked. The prosecutor says then why did you. send this message if you're so worried. about him eating frozen food? I don't know. The prosecutor brings into evidence. texts from Shanda to Paul asking Paul to. smell Timothy's breath. The text reads. Hey check his breath I can almost. guarantee he's eaten something. He was. chewing on something when he walked. downstairs. You and I will be talking. about this on a later date when we're. both home. Paul's response yes he grabbed some. chips I know. So he wasn't allowed to. eat chips.

Well you didn't say make sure he didn't. get into the frozen chicken nuggets. because it might kill him. You said find out what he's been into. and Paul says he's been into chips. Right? That's what it says yes sir. So I. imagine the next text message then is oh. great that's fine he can have some. chips. Well no the point of it was he was. sneaking things he knew better. Couldn't. have chips. It wasn't that he couldn't. have chips it was that he would sneak. things. It was dishonest. How would how. would he earn getting chips? He didn't. have to earn them all he had to do was. ask.

I was trying to teach him not to sneak. he snuck. It wasn't just food he would. sneak in the garage he would sneak toys. He he um snuck around and messed with. his his baby brother's homeschooling. materials. I've got like flash cards and. stuff for him. He messed with those and got them all. out of order. He's a kid. Shanda kept arguing with the prosecutor. that she never locked her pantry and. stated she had a giant cupboard in the. kitchen filled with canned food that. Timothy would get into regularly. So you're okay with him getting into a. bunch of canned food now. I mean he got.

into it all the time. So what did he do? Did he go to the. drawer get a can opener open up the can. put it on the stove warm the stuff up? No he didn't. He would just eat it. straight out of the can. It was weird. And your response to all of this rather. than seeking some professional help for. him because of these eating issues he. apparently has is to restrict even. further access to food then watches. every move on camera or motion sensors? My response was to prevent him from. being deceitful and sneaky. Did it ever occur to you that this is.

not the way to deal with a person who's. been on a hunger strike? Locking up their food locking up their. access to food punishing them when they. when they try to take food? Did did did. that ever occur to you with your your. brilliant legal mind. as it was that that wasn't a good idea? I don't know. I don't know what I was. thinking. April 27th Timothy is no. longer allowed anywhere near the fridge, freezer or pantry or any other place. where food is. Now it sounds like he can't even get. into his cab- cabinet full of canned.

goods right? I mean that's what it says. I we never put it there was never a lock. on that. But he wasn't allowed near it. Right? If that's what it says I don't. The prosecutors then presented another. text message exchange that she had with. Paul that referenced pouring Tabasco. down Timothy's throat because he ate a. cup of raw pancake powder. Raw pancake powder? Like maybe um the batter I mean. Do you remember this text message? Vaguely. I don't remember the Tabasco.

because I never called I said Tabasco? The text read put Tabasco in his mouth. and make him swallow lots of it. Do it. every 30 minutes till you leave. That's. what you said. I don't remember that being a part of. it. I remember part of the conversation. but I don't remember that part of it. We. didn't have any Tabasco sauce that's why. it doesn't make any sense. hot sauce but we didn't have Tabasco. sauce. That's. Okay so the punishment for. eating pancake in a cup is to is Tabasco. or some type of hot sauce in the mouth. Is that right? Sneaking something.

dangerous. Um if that's what I mean. if you're asking what he was punished. for it would be for for sneaking. for his well-being. Yes sir. That's why. you were having the text exchange. because you're real concerned for him. Yes sir. Those pancakes in a cup if I. remember correctly it it's been a while. but they had eggs in them. Raw eggs. Another text message from Shanda to Paul. reads yeah it's fine today you can do. his bread with hot sauce at any time. though preferably sooner rather than. later. Put more hot sauce than yesterday.

please he must eat at least three slices. with hot sauce and then may have more as. long as they all have plenty of hot. sauce. Something to note Shanda also looks. super annoyed the whole time the. prosecutor reads her messages like her. own messages in court. She seems. offended not that she said those things. but like he dares to read them out loud. in court. And Shanda stated that she never tried. the bread herself with the hot sauce. because and I quote I have a very weak. stomach I didn't want to throw up. She. stated the hottest thing that she could. handle were jalapeno cheddar Cheetos.

Yeah. She also stated that Timothy liked. hot sauce. That's why they had to. specifically not even go to the store. and buy a hot sauce but order a. specialty super spicy hot sauce from. Amazon which they're not cheap we had a. box of three for $30. Yeah. And they're small bottles. They're. tiny bottles. And she said, "It's. because Timothy liked hot sauce. So, if. they needed to punish him with hot. sauce, they needed to get extra hot hot. sauce. That's why.".

It's also presented in court that. Timothy snuck the bun of a hamburger to. eat, and Paul was forced to shove his. fingers down Timothy's throat, making. him throw it up. April 29th, what did he eat? I ate my. burger already. Paul's response, he ate the crust. Do you remember what your response was? I don't remember. I heard it the other. day, but I don't remember sending that. Go try to make him throw up, please. That was your response, wasn't it? If that's what it says. Don't remember? We'll put that one in. the don't remember category?

Like I said, I. unfortunately between January and the. time he passed away, I don't have a lot. of memories in general. So, the crime he. committed here, just so we're clear, wasn't wasn't. sneaky frozen chicken nuggets or a bag. of chips. It was eating the crust of. what sounds to be an already half-eaten. burger or an eaten burger. And your response to that is, "Go make. him throw up, please." Then the. prosecutors start asking the. hard-hitting questions. This is after. seeing Shanda quote throw up after. seeing the pictures of Timothy. They're asking, "Those three photographs. depict your son hours after you.

supposedly gave him a warm bath.". Because she lied and said she gave him a. warm bath. "Did he look like that when. you put him in the warm bath?". The prosecutor is basically asking, "Why. would you gag for the jury when you saw. Timothy every day and you gave him a. warm bath before he passed? You're. acting like you didn't know how bad his. condition was." Mhm. And the prosecutor. continues, "Did he look like that when. you put him in this warm bath?". Did he look like that when you put him. in the warm bath, but for the fact that. he was alive? I did not look at him, sir. He was 15. I tried to give him his.

privacy. It may sound lame, but I I. intentionally look away. That's That's. why Paul did most of his baths because. he's 15, and I didn't think that was. appropriate. Which doesn't make sense considering. there were cameras everywhere in that. house, including the bathroom that. Shanda would religiously monitor. So, suddenly Shanda cares about his privacy? Side note, there's evidence that Shanda. would force Timothy to clean the garage. with nothing but a shirt on, completely. nude from the waist down, which. completely goes against what she's. testifying in court. But her excuse to.

that, cuz she's got excuses to. everything, is, "Well, nobody else was. in the garage with him when he was. cleaning naked. He was by himself, and. the garage door was down.". The prosecutor continues to grill her. "So, you didn't put him in the bathtub. last night?" No, he was already in the. tub when I got home. Did you get him out. of the tub? I don't remember. Maybe. later that night, I would assume so. Later that night? How long was he in the. tub? Well, night to me is like anytime. after work, so. After the bath, it's believed that. Shanda dragged Timothy out of the tub.

and threw him into the closet room for. the night, where he would ultimately. die. The prosecutors asked, Did you set. Did you push him down onto the ground so. that he was laying and facing the. camera? If that's what it shows, then yes, sir. Did you position his face towards the. camera? If that's what it shows. And did you tell him that he owes you. the biggest apology on the face of the. earth, and then maybe he can go use the. restroom? If that's what it shows, sir, but I. don't remember any of this. And did you. tell him, "You don't need to open your. mouth every time you breathe, dummy.".

and then hold his mouth shut? I don't know what I said, sir. I mean, I'll take your word for That's what the. video. Oh, you don't have to take my word for. it. Let's play the video for you. Sir, that's not necessary. The. prosecutors continue grilling her. "Would you stick your dog in an ice. bath?" That would never occur to me. And. having big dogs, I don't bathe them at. home anyway. I use dry shampoo or I take. them somewhere else to be bathed. I'm. not talking about giving them a bath. I'm talking about using ice bath as a. form of punishment for your dogs. I. don't have space to do that, so I. wouldn't do that because I don't have.

the kind of space for that size dog. Are. you saying that if you had a large. enough tub, you would want to punish. your dogs by putting them in an ice. bath? I mean, I can't imagine doing that. Side note, this is really sad, but. Shanda's dogs were treated really well, and that's not the sad part, but it must. have been really tough for Timothy to. see that his mom treated her dogs better. than he was treated. The dogs always had. food left out just in case they got. hungry. She had giant containers of food. as backup. She kept the dogs in good. hygiene, sent them to the groomer, wiped.

their ears, made sure they had daily. walks. Meanwhile, Timothy, her son, a. little human being, got nothing. Shanda was also confronted by the. prosecutors about lying to the police. about feeding Timothy slices of buttered. toast the night before he passed. And. her responses to all these questions are. variations of, "I hear what you're. saying, but I don't remember saying it. I don't remember, sir. If that's what. you say it shows. If that's what the. video shows. If that's what the text. reads.". So, you don't remember saying any of. these things to the police?

If you say I did it, then I guess I did. it, but I don't remember, sir. There are a few times that she actually. remembers something. I know, crazy, okay? It was either her remembering. something good that she did or. justifying herself or even excusing. herself. When the prosecutor showed her. a text message she sent to Paul talking. about how Timothy should sleep in the. garage, she said, "I actually remember. that message." You were going to have. him sleep in the garage for a night. I. actually remember that text message, and. I was vent I was frustrated. I never. would have done it, but I was. frustrated. I I type really fast, and I.

I admit I have a bad habit of saying. stuff when I'm upset. And then calm him down later, and it be. in totally different. But I do remember. that, and it it never happened. It didn't happen? What didn't happen? Did Did Did You didn't make him sleep in. the garage? No. In another incident, Shanda was shown. the evidence that she knew how bad. Timothy's condition was because Paul had. sent her pictures a few days prior to. his death with a message that says, "He's bone thin, Mama. I think we should. feed him." Shanda responds to Paul in a. text message, "Trust me, I know he's.

thin. That being said, he told me a week. and a half ago that he wanted to be thin. to make me feel bad for punishing him. So, yeah, while I want to fix it, he's. going to get most of his calories from. plain bread and rice for now for pulling. that. He'll get plenty of calories, but. not get to enjoy them.". Shanda would stick to her lie that she. had no idea how bad her son's condition. was even when presented with all this. evidence. The prosecutors asked how she. didn't know if she had the pictures, and. she said, My kids are most of them are. slim. Paul is 6'1" and then 130. He. doesn't even hit the 134 for a 5'8".

person. And I lose weight extremely easily, so. So, it never occurred to you to go back. to that text message Paul sent you. because you said you were at work and. see the picture and check what condition. he's actually in? No, sir. With me, when something is out. of sight, it's out of mind. Once I. scroll, I don't scroll back on text. messages. So, the prosecutor is like, "Out of sight, out of mind applies to. Timothy as well. Isn't it true? Timothy. had just become nothing more than an. annoyance for you, and he wasn't even a. human being in your eyes.". That is absolutely not true.

Netizens thought it was because Shanda. remembers everything bad that Timothy. ever did did, but she only remembers. everything good that she's ever done and. nothing bad. They also stated that it's. very convenient that she doesn't. remember anything, but she has the. cognition and logic to come up with lies. that protect her. Also, she was very. quick to throw Paul under the bus during. all of this. And when she was asked. about the leg cuffs, she said, "I was. aware that Paul had them. If you look at. my Amazon, Paul had the option to do. payment on there as well as mine. Paul.

had actually ordered those under his. account." Ordered what? Ordered the leg. cuffs. What is leg cuffs? Leg handcuffs that he was Yeah. Experts. who study deception stated that this is. very standard practice for liars. So, instead of just answering the question. yes or no, they always create this smoke. screen of like, "You can check my phone. You can check my account then. Like you. can check my Amazon." in hopes that you. don't actually check it. They're trying. to give themselves a sense of. credibility. But it's like, just say yes. or no. She also lies on the stand and states.

the leg cuffs used on Timothy were. Paul's, and the hot sauce was all Paul's. idea. You know, there are texts that. literally read from Shanda to Paul, "The. transaction is handcuffs and leg cuffs. for Timothy from Amazon. Figured it'd be. okay to get those right away till we. talk about the sensors and stuff.". And even when Shanda is shown of Timothy. during the trial, she throws up, remember? Like we were talking about. But netizens have pointed out the. reaction is so quick. It's almost like. she covers her mouth before she even. looks at the pictures for too long. It's.

like her brain didn't even process the. pictures yet, but she It feels like she. planned the reaction. One netizen simply. commented, "Fake puke." Another. commented, "Her lawyer really said, 'Get. up there and act like your life depends. on it because it does.'" And she thinks. she ate. Another reads, "She never cries. for her son. She only cries when she is. undeniably shown to be cruel and. torturing her son. She only cries for. herself." Some had a slightly more. nuanced take, and they said, "Her face. reminds me of one of my grandpa's saggy. butt cheeks.".

Or one comment just reads, "She's so. inbred.". Which is wild. Now, side note, when. Shanda turned herself in, she had a. bottle of apple juice in her hand. And. the officer is trying to handcuff her to. take her to the jail to book her. And. she leans her head up against the wall. at the police station. "This is for my. blood sugar, you know, cuz it crashes. I. need the juice. I can let you hold onto. it right up until the jail, but the jail. won't let you bring it any kind of food. or nothing. So, if you want to drink it, you can always drink it right now.". I'm just worried that I won't be able to.

keep it in my stomach. I haven't been. able to stomach anything the last couple. of days. I don't know. I I I guess I can. try. We'll see. Well, then I have to handcuff you, but. I'll do it in front of you because I. know you're not going to have any. problems. Like meaning he's going to. handcuff her hands in front, not in the. back. Mhm. And she says, "I don't have. the strength to do anything anyway.". Also, while testifying, Shanda told the. jury, "I was traumatized. I didn't eat. for my first month in jail.".

Which is ironic, to say the least. I was traumatized. I actually didn't. come out of the first month I was in. jail. It was. I wish the Lydia that used to work for. the public defender's office visited me. and she she said it was it was pretty. obvious that. I was under severe trauma. I didn't eat. for my first month. Shanda's other two. children, so the full siblings of both. Timothy and Paul gave their impact. statements. Their sister stated, "When. Timothy died, I couldn't stop. regretting. I regret not hugging him.

more. I regret not putting aside my. differences with Shanda and Paul just to. check on him. And that's my biggest. regret that I couldn't protect him when. he needed me most. I want the world to. know that Timothy was wanted. If not by. her, then by me. He was loved by me.". Their older brother stated, "I thought. things were different than when I was. younger. I thought she had changed for. the better. Tim Tim wasn't surrounded by. people that loved him when he died. And. if I had known that, nothing would have. stopped me from rescuing him. Thanks to. Shanda Vander Ark, I only get to cradle.

a bag full of ashes now. In all my life, I only knew of one thing that my little. brother didn't like. He hated goodbyes. If he had to say goodbye to anyone, he. would cry. And he would hold you and he. would say, "Don't go.". And now I'm the one crying and I never. got to say goodbye.". Judge Kessel gave a very long statement. before sentencing Shanda. She was. charged with first-degree murder and. child abuse. He stated, "I don't believe. you intended to kill him. I think you. intended to continue torturing him for.

as long as you possibly could. Why? I. don't know. For what reason? I don't. know. There is something broken in you. I don't know what that is, but that. doesn't negate what you did here. So, besides remembering him like that, I'm. not going to let you hide in the. darkness anymore. People know what you. are now. They know what you did. You're. not able to hide in that darkness. anymore. Timothy won. And he won because. we know what you did to him and it's not. hidden. We know who you are.". Shanda was sentenced to life in prison.

without the possibility of parole. Paul. has pled guilty to first-degree child. abuse and his sentencing will be held. February 26th of this year. So, in like a week. And that is where we are with this case. What are your thoughts on this? I mean, just yeah, I don't even know what to. say. So, please stay safe and I will see you. guys on Wednesday for the next episode.

Bye.