Martina McBride - Concrete Angel

Angelika "Angie" Arndt

This is the story of 7 y.o Angelika "Angie" Ardnt.

Angie had been removes from her bio parents when she was a toddler and had since been from foster home to foster home.  She had finally found a place called home with her new foster parents Donna and Dan Pavlik. Angie had been diagnosed with ADHD. She had improved at home and at school and had handled the transition into kindergarten just fine. Despite that, Angie was sent to RLDTC or Rice Lake Day Treatment Center to help prepare her for first grade and to monitor her new medications. When Donna sent her foster daughter to RLDTC on April 24, 2006 I'm sure she had no idea that she sent her to her death.  Now before I get into the story, you have to keep in mind that Angie was diagnosed with ADHD, which means she was a little harder to handle then most children. But that in NO way gave this "treatment" facility to treat her like they did.

Less than two hours into her first day, Angie was placed, by staff, in a special isolated "cool down" room for hitting her own chin with her hair. When she continued to fidget, she was placed in the prone position for 85 minutes. If you are not familiar with the prone position, it is a position in which you are laid out. Over the next few weeks, Angie spent 20 hours in cool down and 14 hours in the prone restraint. The behavior that got her in cool down, she would wiggle in her chair or fall asleep. Another thing I want to point out, the meds she was on caused drowsiness.

These are what was reported to be Angie's final hours. How scared these poor little girl must have been. After blowing bubbles in her milk threw a straw, Angie was placed in cool down. During time out, Angie couldnt sit still in her chair so she was taken to a "special" cool down room with no windows or furniture other then the cool down chair. Staff reminded Angie that cool down time didnt start until she sat still and in proper position. Instead, Angie curled up in the chair began to cry and appeared to had fallen asleep. After about five minutes, Angie woke up and began to swing her legs back and forth in the chair. Staff warned her that if she didnt stop they would have to place her in a control hold for "saftey". Angie continued to swing her legs and cry, staff reported she made an aggressive move while in the chair, so they took her down into the prone restraint. One staff person by the name of Bradley Rideout, who weighed about 250lbs. placed his body across her lower back and held her face down. Other staff held her arms and legs. Angie remained in this position for over an hour.

In a report written by RLDTC following Angie's death, staff reported that Angie stayed on the floor making cooing noises after they freed her. They left her there for about five minutes thinking she had fallen asleep, but when she failed to respond to questions the staff rolled her over and discovered that her lips were turning blue. 911 was called and Angie was rushed to the Ped's ICU of Children's Hospital and Clinics in Minneapolis, MN. She was placed on life support and pronounced dead the next day.

The autopsy found that Angie died from complications of chest compression asphyxia, she received a grave anoxic brain injury which resulted in brain death. She had hemorrhages of the pancreas, colon, stomach and duodenum from abdominal trauma from the hold. Her death was ruled a homicide because of the restraint impaired her ability to breath. Bradley Rideout plead no contest. No one from the management or ownership was held responsible for the restraint policies. And although Rice Lake Day Treatment Center was closed, the owner, Northwest Counseling and Guidance was allowed to keep it 11 other facilities.

In reality, this little girl died because she blew bubbles in her milk. This facility knew she had ADHD. If you are not familiar with ADHD, it is impossible for a child who suffers from this disorder to sit still. It wasnt that she was being bad or disobeying on purpose, she was doing what this disorder caused her to do. All her foster mother wanted was help getting Angie adjusted to going to first grade, and monitoring her meds. These "treatment" centers want you to believe that your child it 100% safe. And maybe sometimes they are, but those other times these people are NOT trained to care for children who suffer from certain disorders. PLEASE, PLEASE, do your research on ANY treatment center that you are sending your child too.

R.I.P Angelika Arndt. 

**DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN**

Alijah James Mullis

This beautiful little angel is Alijah Mullis. You look at this photo and your heart melts. How precious is this baby? He was born to Travis Mullis and Caren Kohberger. From jump Travis was troubled. He was fired from his job at Walgreens because he had issues yelling at the customers and co-workers. He had two children from a previous relationship, which he signed over all parental rights. But despite all that, he was all Caren needed. And thus Alijah was born. What would follow, I doubt anyone could have guessed.

On the morning of January 29th, 2008 Travis and an 8 y.o girl were the only two up. He asked the little girl if she wanted to go to the playground to play. She said "yes". What child doesnt want to go to the playground? Although her intentions were to play, Travis' intention were a bit more dark. His intentions were to have sex with her. This little girl was having none of that and refused to pull her pants down, and after he tried to pull them down himself, she said "no, take me home". Good for her.

Back at the trailer, Caren hands her 3 month son Alijah to his dad, after the statement was made that he had to get out of the house or he will hurt one of the kids. Wow, that is such the person to hand your infant too.

***Before I go on, it gets graphic, so consider yourself warned***

Fast forward a few hours. Couple Jessie Zaro and wife, Esmeralda were out looking for wildlife, but what they found instead will stay with them forever.  They originally thought it too be a doll. The legs and feet were visible, the arms rested up by the head. But the "doll" they saw was not a doll at all, instead it was a dead baby. The couple place a chilling call to 911. And police were able to determine who the baby was and his presence due to phone calls made by Caren to area hospitals asking if her baby and boyfriend had checked in.

After being on the run, Travis was finally turned himself in, and told cops he was ready to talk. I am sure they were not expecting to hear what he was about to tell them. 

Travis' account:

Because of what happened days earlier with the 8 y.o little girl, he was worried about being evicted by her mother. Travis had reached his breaking point. His infant son was crying, he couldnt get him to stop. The only way to get him to stop was to kill him. (Not hold him, feed him or change him.) He said he put his hands around Alijah's throat and applied pressure with his thumbs. He heard him gurgling, he stopped. But Alijah started crying again. This time he put his son the the concrete part of the berm, and stomped his son's head. Not once, not twice, but three or four times, until he felt the baby's skull collapse under his shoe. Then he got scared. So he throw the car seat and throw it, then grabbed Alijah but the legs and threw him in the same direction. "I had to get it away from me. I was scared of it." That's from his mouth.

Travis was charged with capital murder. And the state will be seeking the death penalty. If ever there was a person who deserved to be there, its this piece of shit! His attorney is an equal piece of shit, for taking the case and saying stupid shit like, Travis is not guilty of capital murder, he did not intentionally kill his son. Wow. Really? Well what did "daddy of the year" think was going to happened when he stomped on the head of a 3 month baby three or four times? How wasnt it intentional, he tried to choke the baby.  UPDATE: From what I gather Caren Kohberger will also be charged with child endangerment for handing Travis Alijah after he said what he said about leaving the house.

It's stories like these that make you wish you could reach out and touch these parents. I have no doubt that Travis will receive the death penalty. All I can say is now Alijah is with God and the angels. Sleep well baby boy.

Rowan Bracci

This beautiful baby boy is Rowan Bracci. He was here on Earth for a very short period of time. At 16 months, his "mother" decided that he was "possessed". His story as reported:

In January, 19 y.o Amber Bracci admitted to beating her baby boy in the head days before he died. She went to check on Rowan and found he was limp. She called EMS. Two days later, baby Rowan would die.

The doctors say Rowan retina's were detached, there was severe hemorrhage behind his eyes, doctors says they couldnt count the vessels.  Now she is blaming her boyfriend. She claims she loved her son with all her heart. Imagine the pain that this beautiful little boy suffered at the hands of the one who was to love him the most. Imagine how scared he must have been, not knowing, not understanding why she was doing this to him. Doctors say Rowan died as a result of closed head trauma. 

Amber and her boyfriend are both being charged with homicide by child abuse. He posted bond. The fact that bond was even set is beyond me. Hopefully, they will never see the light of day. I pray that Rowan will get justice. R.I.P sweet baby Rowan, you are in a far better place. With God.