Nathan and Stephanie Sloop are facing charges in the murder of her son Ethan Stacy, 4, after his body was found severely beaten and burned buried near a Colorado ski resort. Text messages between the couple reveal the calculated and horrific abuse.
The body of Ethan Stacy, 4, was found in a shallow grave near the mountains in May, 2010 after his mom Stephanie Sloop and stepdad Nathan Sloop reported him missing. Authorities quickly found out the little boy had died at the hands of his stepfather — after only staying with the couple for ten days.
Ethan arrived to his mom’s house in Utah, where she lived with her then-fiance Nathan. He had been living with his father, Joe G. Stacy, in Tazewell, Va., but was forced to move across the country after Joe lost his son in a custody battle with Stephanie.
Just ten days after arriving in Utah, little Ethan was dead. Police found his body in a shallow grave in the mountains in 2010 covered in dog food, and his face had been beaten beyond recognition.
Ethan Stacy’s Horrifying Abuse
Between April 29 and May 8, 2010, the toddler had experienced beatings, burning, drugging, isolating, starving and refusing to seek medical attention, according to court documents obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Stephanie and Nathan both face capital murder charges. They also face charges of obstructing justice, intentionally inflicting serious injury on a child, and desecration of a dead body, according to Deseret News, although Nathan is the only one who is facing the death penalty.
During court testimony on March 27, the prosecution argued that Ethan had died at the hands of his stepfather, and that Nathan Sloop had a “reckless indifference to human life.” Tapes from his interviews with police were played, and Nathan said he would slap Ethan, make him stand with his nose against the wall, and had even pushed him into scalding water.
The defense argued that Ethan died from an overdose of medication on Tylenol, Benadryl and a decongestant — not abuse.
Stephanie & Nathan Sloop’s Text Messages Revealed
Text messages between the couple were released that reveal the calculating abuse the poor child endured.
“I told you we had a pit bull on our hands, but they learn,” Nathan texted Stephanie on May 3, 2010.
“Just like Mommy LOL,” she replied.
“I told you we had to break his ego,” Sloop texted.
“He is broke that’s for sure,” Stephanie replied on May 5.
“Had to figure out how to keep him in his room,” Nathan wrote back.
Such a tragic case. We hope justice is served for the horrifying crimes.
Do YOU think Nathan should get the death penalty HollyMoms?
— Christina Stiehl
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