Episode 56: Samiah Downing (Part 1)

Four-year-old Samiah Downing was visiting with her father and his girlfriend in Adelanto, California in December of 2012 when police received a report from a witness that something very bad had happened to Samiah. Police interviewed the couple, and within hours, authorities received information that led them to a shallow grave in the California desert, where they discovered Samiah’s body with unimaginable injuries. The story that emerged was a horror of daily beatings, confinement, and diabolical torture, including the water deprivation that ultimately led to Samiah’s death, and later, the arrest and conviction of three people.In this episode, I will tell you the story of Samiah’s life, her death, and the nearly nine-year criminal case that ensued. Next week, you’ll hear my interview with the prosecutor in Samiah’s case, San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Justin Crocker, who spent years pushing toward justice for the sweet, happy four-year-old girl with the big brown eyes. This is part 1 of the tragic story of Samiah Downing.To watch the segment about Samiah on Gina Silva’s Fox 11 investigative series The Children Are Dying, click here.Huge thanks to today’s sponsor:Smile Brilliant provides teeth whitening and oral care products customized just for you! Visit their website here.Shout-out also to the Stolen Lives podcast, whose promo you heard at the top of the episode! Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, TikTok, and Pinterest. My Linktree is available here.Visit the podcast's web page at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.  Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! This podcast is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like this one, visit Suffer the Little Children Blog.Music for this episode is from www.AudioJungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or your favorite podcast listening platform.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support.