(132) Utah's Child Abuse Epidemic

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is a worldwide epidemic. Children are the most innocent among us, and more needs to be done to protect them. Today's episode hurt me to write. I shouldn't have to tell these stories. Please give this one a listen. Share it with your friends and family. Society needs to understand what a problem child abuse is.

SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/the-last-meal-podcast

Instagram/X: @lastmealpod Contact: [e-mail]

Music: BLACK FLY by Audionautix | http://audionautix.com Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Heroes (Instrumental Version) by Enlia | https://enliamusic.com Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Attention on Prevention Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-16-joann-otten-grandmother-of-victim-of-sbs/id1578568202?i=1000610594650

Sources: https://www.ksl.com/article/41897285 https://www.deseret.com/2016/10/18/20598532/utah-legislator-proposes-public-registry-for-felony-child-abusers/ https://www.deseret.com/2017/1/29/20605031/miley-s-bill-calls-for-felony-child-abuse-registry/ https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/i-knew-right-away-her-father-had-hurt-her-really-bad-i-found-him-standing-in-the-doorway-holding-a-lifeless-baby-i-thought-she-was-dead/ https://le.utah.gov/interim/2023/pdf/00003165.pdf https://www.ksl.com/article/45351216 https://www.abc4.com/news/mother-and-boyfriend-charged-with-child-abuse/ https://gephardtdaily.com/local/officials-9-year-old-head-slammed-locked-up-threatened-mother-her-boyfriend-arrested/ https://www.abc4.com/news/northern-utah/father-arrested-4-month-old-death/ https://gephardtdaily.com/local/ogden-father-arrested-for-alleged-child-abuse-homicide-in-death-of-infant/ https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/04/utah-man-sentenced-to-7-months-jail-in-death-of-his-daughter/ https://www.ksl.com/article/51224168/ogden-father-charged-with-killing-4-month-old-daughter https://people.com/convicted-youtuber-ruby-franke-left-journal-detailing-abuse-of-children-11684467 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Franke https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68353302 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MKNgVX6u34 https://www.biography.com/crime/a65924884/ruby-franke-story-and-conviction https://www.washco.utah.gov/departments/attorney/case-highlights-media/utah-vs-franke-hildebrandt/ https://www.saltlakecounty.gov/district-attorney/press-release-archives/2025/child-torture-and-attempted-aggravated-murder-charges-filed/ https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/07/10/salt-lake-city-child-torture-charges-sim-gill/ https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/two-utah-healthcare-workers-charged-with-attempted-aggravated-murder-child-torture https://people.com/utah-couple-accused-of-attempted-murder-and-torture-of-3-year-old-11769997 https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article310334025.html https://iml.saltlakecounty.gov/IML https://www.ksl.com/article/42807493/salt-lake-man-sent-to-prison-for-2014-child-abuse-death https://www.sltrib.com/news/courts/2016/11/03/utah-man-admits-inflicting-fatal-injury-to-girlfriends-child/ https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/saltlaketribune/name/xander-toliver-obituary?id=23676890 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125151324/xander-cody-toliver-memmott https://corrections.utah.gov/inmate-services/offender-search/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1IL2_lXT8U https://kjzz.com/news/local/father-brother-agree-to-plea-deals-in-death-of-12-year-old-gavin-peterson https://kmyu.tv/news/local/dcfs-reveal-they-knew-about-gavin-petersons-family-for-years-before-his-death https://www.abc4.com/news/crime/stepmother-gavin-peterson-sentenced/ https://childwelfaremonitor.org/tag/gavin-peterson/ https://dhhs.utah.gov/featured-news/capta-statement-gavin-peterson-october-10-2024/ https://krdo.com/news/2024/07/31/biological-mother-speaks-of-red-flags-prior-to-gavin-petersons-death/ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/292991508/gavin-hansen-peterson https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13978103/gavin-peterson-new-details-starved-death-locked-home.html https://kutv.com/news/local/tyler-peterson-sentenced-to-prison-for-his-role-in-death-of-12-year-old-brother-gavin