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10 of the Evilest Stepmothers in the History Books

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Stepmothers have long been depicted as the “evil” figure in fairy tales and folklore. But while most stepmothers are loving and nurturing, history has seen its fair share of those who have abused and mistreated their stepchildren. This article will look at 10 of the most infamous stepmothers to have ever lived, exploring their stories of cruelty and wrongdoing.

1. Tracey Wright

Lauren Wright, a six-year-old girl, suffered a tragic death on May 6, 2009, in Welney, UK. Her life was filled with pain from the moment she was born, as her mother abandoned her during a holiday in Turkey. As a result, her father, Craig, was granted full custody when they returned to the UK. Unfortunately, in 1999, Craig married Tracey Scarff, a school playground supervisor, and things worsened. From the day Lauren and her father moved in with Tracey and her two children, Lauren was consistently subjected to hatred and discrimination from her stepmother, who showed love and affection only to her own children. Sadly, Lauren’s father was aware of the abuse but chose to turn a blind eye.

2. Tiffany Moss

In 2019, Tiffany Moss made history as the first woman in the state of Georgia to receive a death sentence without legal representation. She was convicted of starving her 10-year-old stepdaughter, Emani Moss, to death and then burning her body in an attempt to conceal the evidence. Her husband, Eman, who was serving a life sentence for his involvement in the crime, later testified against Tiffany in exchange for a reduced sentence. Emani’s body was discovered in 2013, weighing only 32 pounds and having died in her bed.

3. Heather Leavell-Keaton

Heather Leavell-Keaton was envious of the attention Nathalie DeBlase, her stepdaughter, was receiving, and as a result, she separated Nathalie from her grandmother. Heather’s jealousy turned into physical abuse, including putting antifreeze in Nathalie’s sippy cup. On March 20, 2010, Nathalie became violently ill from the antifreeze and began screaming in pain. Her father, John DeBlase, and stepmother responded by duct-taping her hands and feet and placing her in a briefcase, where she suffocated to death. The couple disposed of Nathalie’s body in the woods. They also became concerned when their three-year-old son, Chase, began asking about Nathalie’s whereabouts.

4. Jessica Ann Cox  

Jessica Ann, a 39-year-old mother, was arrested in 2013 on several charges of abuse. The charges included handcuffing, torturing her stepson, and withholding food for three days. The stepson testified that Jessica burned their skin with cigarettes, beat them with a rolling pin and hammer, and then forced them to take a cold bath with ice cubes. The punishment was extremely severe.

5. Elisa Baker

Zahra Baker was born in the Australian city of Wagga Wagga on November 16, 1999. Due to her mother’s depression, she was handed over to her father, Adam Baker, after her birth. Zahra lost her hearing and left leg at age five due to bone cancer. In 2008, she, her father, and his new wife, Elisa, moved to the US. In 2011, the police received a report from Adam that Zahra was missing. He also mentioned that he had received a ransom note for his boss’s daughter and that his property had been set on fire the day before he reported Zahra’s disappearance to the police.

6. Heather Jones

On November 25, 2015, a domestic disturbance was reported at the Jones’ home, and the police were called to investigate. During the investigation, it was revealed that the couple’s seven-year-old son Adrian had been missing for a significant amount of time. A search warrant was issued for the couple’s property, and human remains were found in the barn. DNA tests confirmed that the remains were those of Adrian. The district attorney revealed that Adrian had been subjected to horrific abuse and neglect, and his body was fed to pigs. Officials in the case described it as the worst abuse they had ever encountered.

7. Danielle Miller

In 2016, a case of child abuse was reported to the police in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, by a concerned individual whose identity was not revealed. The person stated that for three months, they witnessed a young boy being physically and verbally abused by his stepmother, Danielle Miller. Upon investigation, it was revealed that Danielle hated the boy because he was not her own and subjected him to inhumane treatment. This included restraining him with tape on his legs for hours, forcing him to eat hot sauce and laxatives, and making him wear a soiled pull-up all day if he went to the bathroom in it. She also left him alone in the car while she and her biological children went fishing.

8. Monique Bothuell

On June 14, 2014, Charlie Bothuell reported to the police that his son, Charlie V, was missing. The case quickly gained national attention, and after two weeks, Charlie appeared on the news program “Nancy Grace.” During the program, the police announced that they had found Charlie V alive in the basement of his father’s home. Due to the national attention, both Charlie and his wife and stepmother, Monique Bothuell, were arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect.

9. Misty Stoddard

It was reported that an eleven-year-old stepdaughter passed away from brain damage. Medical professionals stated that such damage is often caused by oxygen deprivation. Further investigation revealed that the stepmother had tied the young girl to a wooden plank and taped her mouth, resulting in the painful and ultimate cause of death from brain damage.

10. Melinda Drabek-Chritton

In February 2012, a concerned individual reported to the police after observing a young girl walking in the streets of Madison, Wisconsin, barefoot and wearing only pajamas despite the cold weather. Upon investigation, it was revealed that she had suffered physical and sexual abuse. As a result, her father, Chad Chritton (42 years old), her stepmother, stepbrother, Melinda Drabek-Chritton, and Joshua Drabek, were arrested and faced trial. During the trial, the victim testified that she was confined to a basement equipped with an alarm and motion sensor, subjected to beatings, denied food, and forced to consume her own excrement.

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