Suffer the Little Children Podcast - Episode 105: Brooklyn & Lorenzo Velasquez (Part 1)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มี.ค. 2022
- When first responders arrived at the Velasquez family home in Superior, Arizona on the evening of March 26, 2018, they encountered an unfathomable tragedy. Two young children had been locked into a car for over thirteen hours in the Arizona heat, and by the time help arrived, two-year-old Lorenzo Velasquez and his nine-month-old sister, Brooklyn, lay dead on the floor of their great-grandparents’ home. Immediately, police doubted the story they were given by the children’s mother, 21-year-old Brittany Velasquez, who was quickly arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
This is the story of a pair of young, innocent siblings who were fundamentally failed by both their mentally impaired mother and the state’s child protection system. It’s also the story of a loving, multi-generational family who did everything they could to prevent the tragedy that ultimately befell them.
This is part one of the heartbreaking story of Brooklyn and Lorenzo Velasquez.
Links discussed in this episode:
KidsAndCars.org: www.kidsandcars.org
Washington Post article, “Fatal Distraction”: www.washingtonpost.com/lifest...
Episode 9: Ame Deal: www.spreaker.com/episode/4466...
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This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
For more stories like this one, visit sufferthelittlechildrenblog.com.
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I used to firmly believe that I would never forget my child in a car either; it was impossible. Until I almost did. She was fine, and again, I almost did. That was the day I sold my high horse.
Bless you, sweetie. It's not easy to face when we realize we are just as human, and just as flawed as everyone else. I felt that way. My daughter is fine, an adult, with 4 beautiful kids of her own. I didn't almost leave her in the car, but I almost left her alone in her crib one morning. I was very young when my daughter was born, only 17. But that makes no difference. The really awful, and still horrific thought.. was that my family was going for the day to Holly Beach, Louisiana. For the 4th of July. My little house was an oven when we got home that evening. Had I somehow left her, and spent that day .. it doesn't bear thinking about. My mom would have saved the day, but that doesn't help much.
The key word is “almost” did… of course we all ALMOST have… never not one time did I ever forget my child was in the car for more then 2.3 seconds. I will absolutely never understand how a mother can forget not one but TWO children in a vehicle for 12 hours?! Don’t be hard on yourself… “almost” is no where near the same thing as you did.
@@itsjust_Q Thank you, honey. That's actually comforting, and kind. Something we could all use more of.
@@darlisataylor2764 this mom shaming culture is horrible. Moms have enough to deal with. This mother had to have had an additional mental illness because we have motherly instincts that do not allow us to forget our children and I will never agree with “could happen to anyone”… no, no it couldn’t
I agree. I never forgot, but it is so common. My car now beeps and alerts every time you take the keys out to check the back for passengers and packages. Hopefully, alerts like tips might be enough of a reminder to save lives.
Holy crap. Someone who is willing to change their opinion when presented with new information. Like I didn't love you enough already...
Aw, you make me blush!
Always leave your phone or purse in the back with your child/ren.. That way when you exit you look for your phone/bag you will see the children 👍✌️💖
What a fantastic idea. This one idea has the capacity to save lives, absolutely.
As heartbreaking as Lorenzo and Brooklyn's deaths are, it is especially gut wrenching for me to know those babies died on the day I gave birth to my first daughter, who's turning five this March. I'll have a special place in my heart for them from now on 🤍
The local police really stepped up for this family, very heartwarming and so tradgic that all their effort were in vain 💔 prayers for them and the first responders, as well as the the family God bless Yall 🙏
I've never heard a minute to minute description of what happens to the child, and I honestly almost threw up. RIP Angel's 🙏
It’s just so awful, but I think details like that stick with a person and make us more aware and more vigilant. My heart breaks for these poor babies!
@@SuffertheLittleChildrenPodcast yes it hits home to hear the details and sometimes hearing the difficult parts is the extra push it takes to keep another parent from having this tragedy happen. If it sticks in their mind, it may be enough to remind them to be consciously aware the child is in the back seat and not forget them.
You do these angels a great service !! Have you considered doing Arthur Lebinjo-Hughes or Star Hobsens case? You are my favorite and I'd love to hear one of these little guys stories.
I would definitely love if this channel talked about those two cases. What happened to both these children is absolutely horrific and they need their stories told. However, I would also love it if this channel covered the Fiona Chafoulais case (known in French as Affaire Fiona). Despite the age of the case in the Fiona case, she needs somebody to continue the fight for her because her evil monster of a mother refuses to alert authorities of where little Fiona's body is.
@@TiffWaffles Fiona's case is really a terrible one. This poor little girl was completely betrayed by her own mother, who also put Fiona's family through 4 trials. Her story infuriates me to no end honestly.
I agree... I think it's time for me to beg for Jeanette Maples again too!
All interested in this 2 heartbreaking cases l recommend Emma Kenny chanel. She did it se well. Worning it is really heartbreaking... 😭
God have mercy on the children. Oh my God my heart is broken.
Thank you for the information regarding this tragedy, particularly the article. I'd never heard of it. I also suggest an article in Parents magazine, "You'd never leave your child in a car...would you?" It was very eye opening.
Dying from heat is a absolutely horrible and painful. As a parent of 3 kids, I can not even imagine how terrified those little babies were.
The music is perfect for this channel. It's haunting.
Thank you lain for all that you do bringing these horrible stories out in the light xoxo
I'm not even remotely surprised you knew of/mentioned the Weingarten article. I too still remember it as tho I read it just yesterday. I strongly 2nd your recommendation people wanting to truly understand this tragic phenomenon give it a read, with the caveat of being prepared for its power; it won a Pulitzer for a reason. 😥
Thank you, Laine, for addressing the issue of accidentally leaving kids in cars. I've long been interested in this phenomenon. Some might say obsessed. It's important that people understand that it truly does happen, horrifying, but ultimately..innocently. The parent, or caregiver involved, is usually irrevocably damaged in a way I can't fully grasp. Many resort to suicide, unable to come to terms with what happened. Multiple tragedies..
I’m sorry you’re sick honey. ❤ I’ve had a flu this whole week.
She did get off lightly...... I hope she gets a hysterectomy before she gets out... I'm just saying... Cuz she can have kids up to 50 years old... That is a very scary thought for me
I used to be terrified my daughters grandmother would do something like leaving her in the car. I live in Florida and its very hot here, the heat can reach deadly temps in just a few minutes. My daughters grandma is a bit flighty and absent minded if distracted, she is also abnormally concerned with what other people think so if a neighbor were to stop to talk while she was just getting out of the car, its very possible this could have happened. When she would come every Sunday to take my daughter for the day, I would casually say something like I read about a baby that was left in the car, and I would sometimes make up something in order to bring the subject up and not hurt her feelings or cause any issues, and this would be enough for her to never want to be one of those stories, especially since she didnt want to be talked about like I was talking about someone else, to her. This is so sad, such a tragedy.
Having trouble playing episodes on Spotify
I believe, %100, that there needs to be a law that will mandatorily sterilize certain people. This should be done after the person meets a series of criteria . Just think of all the children who have been forced into this world only to live a short life of extreme pain and misery.
We need extreme laws for the extreme times we are living in.
Another heartbreaking story, I’m sure.
I have a suspicion that the reason for why this 'mother' left those babies in a vehicle was because she didn't want to care for them anymore. I don't think she expected the grandparents to step outside of the house to find them. Everything she did was calculated- even down to the fake concern she had when she asked where her children were. I also have a suspicion that she wanted to pin this entire thing down on the grandparents. Of course, this is just a suspicion of mine and might not be even close to reality, but listening to the facts of this case and hearing more about the mother... it was a thought that crossed my mind.
I don't think Brittany was that cunning, honestly. Next week, when you hear my interview with her brother, it might shed more light on the situation. I found talking with him very illuminating!
@@SuffertheLittleChildrenPodcast I look forward to listening in on that episode. I see that you have posted it, so I'll go and click on it now. Thank you for responding to my comment!
Another Failure By Children's Services,which resulted once again in innocent children losing their lives🤬Another neglectful,parent who should have had her children removed,and another Family left forever Heartbroken..RIP Little Angels🙏💙💖Now Safe In God's Arms
This is why a family members had their daughter fixed when she was old enough. There's no way she could of ever taken care of a child. Her mind is that of a ten year old.
If you had one small child wich asleep I think it could be possible,but 2 children I don’t think so. R.I.p babies 🙏🙏
That part is unimaginable.
Oh, don't get me wrong -- I don't think Brittany forgot her kids in that car. She definitely did it on purpose; I just don't think she grasped the possible consequences. Since the kids did die in a hot car, however, I thought it was important to bring up the fact that it does happen by accident, just to raise awareness!
Yeah, but do you leave children sleeping in a car? Even if you are stepping inside a house or a store for a few minutes, leaving your children inside a car is extremely negligent. Besides, I've been to the State where this happened... it gets extremely hot and humid there. It would only take a matter of minutes for that vehicle to feel like a sauna.
Mind you, maybe it was just my cold Canadian blood screaming in agony and I am not used to the weather of Arizona- but one would make the assumption that you don't leave your children in a car.
@@TiffWaffles I agree iv had kids looked after my grandkids never done this, but I here in uk it’s cold most of the time they probably be screaming …
Hopefully a device is invented to set off an alarm if the seat buckle of a car seat isn’t unlocked within 5 minutes (?) AFTER the car door on the driver’s side is closed without unlocking the car seat. Just a thought.
My grandparents' new car beeps at you when you step out of it. I was told it was a reminder to check for children in the backseat. I only ride in it when driving my aunt who is disabled, so I always get out of the car first to help her out. So it might only beep because it detects someone still in the car, idk the exact settings. It scares me every time it happens because I forget about it, but I think it's a great feature to have!
💙💔💙💔
I'm not sure what to think about the mother honestly. She caused her children's death and was rightfully held accountable for it, but it doesn't seem like she intended for them to die. Either way they should never have been left in her custody given all her issues.
Exactly what I thought.
💔💙💔💙
The description of how children die in hot cars is awful... A horrifying way to die made more horrifying because it is children we are talking about. I have a mental health condition that causes me to disassociate and forget what I was doing as little as five minutes ago, luckily I have a full time carer who helps me, I also have a daughter (turning 16 this year) and couldn't imagine forgetting her but it is possible.. as much as I would like to say that would never be me.. It could of been especially when she was younger and my mental health wasn't properly managed and to a point I wasn't aware I even had big gaps of time missing.
Such a horrible way to die, I could never forgive myself mental health issues or not.
🕊️Fly high beautiful babies.🕊️ ❤ We will never forget you♥️
I dont think its fair to accuse police of "not caring"...i mean, i can see the frustration. But, what was really going on is that the police could not do much being that there werent any laws broken. Its messed up but the legal system is what it is. Bro who wrote this is very smart, does good thorough job telling her story in just such a way......???? With all the 17 attempts to save or help her is comendable but with everything they tried to instill, they didnt do much at preventing her becoming a mom, u know, knowing how whacked off she always was???
There is a announcement in walmart about making sure u didn't forget your child or dog in the car.. I live in vegas...very hot here
not to take away from these beautiful babies i wanted to reach out ive been listening to you for the last 6 months and find you amazing i was just watching a tik tok ues i kmow but ran across a story you may ne interested in its anout a little biy named tripp who was mirdered by a womans boyfriends 16 year old son theres alot more to it but aparently the adults are still roaming free and shouldnt be
Ever since cell phones have become a typical thing, child death due to being left in a car is at an all time high. I have a 28 year old daughter, 27 year old, and a 26 year old daughter, 3 grandsons 9,5, and 4. NEVER ONCE did I FORGET my children in the car. Why because my CELL PHONE WASN'T first and foremost, my child or grandson are. My parents never had children dead due to a car. It is inconceivable how since 1990, when cell phones became a big deal, THAT'S WHEN THESE DEATHS became the norm. That says a lot about human nature. I do not give excuses for forgetting a child or children in a car resulting in death. I'm sorry I don't care what a book says. The true fact of the matter is, ppl put things in front of their children, putting them in the back of their mind. Forgetting a LIFE! This is something I will never excuse, or conclude some stupid lame excuse. Bottom line. Its a sad world we live in, that we just excuse it because of brain fog. I'm sorry but a gallon of milk being forgotten is NOTHING in comparison to a childs life!! No comparison AT ALL!!
You really don't get it. No one is saying that a gallon of milk is comparable to a life. What's being said (and it's been proven) is that the brain works the same way just in different contexts. The human brain is wired for routine, it's survival. Ftr, children have been left in cars since cars were invented, you just didn't hear about it before social media. More importantly, our parents worked less hours, commuted far less miles, had less activities and essentially were far less stressed. You're dissociating, which is understandable but it's false security.
Btw, I've raised three children as a single mother, one my own and my niece and nephew. I never left them in the car either. That doesn't make me a better parent any more than your children being alive makes you one.
@@michelleprieur1 I have two children that passed away Five months apart. Not due to anything I did. I'm not an uneducated idiot. I comprehend what the comparison is in regards to. So please don't try to educate me and act like I'm a moron. I love this channel and everything it stands for as my oldest daughter was murdered by her father and he is a FREE MAN! My child got NO JUSTICE. I wasn't saying I was better then anyone else. I was elaborating that I have raised my child and grandsons and none have passed due to being in a car. When my oldest was newborn no babies died in a car, when I was a child that didn't happen. Why, because parents weren't preoccupied with their cell phones and other things that put their children on the back burner. Before cell phones were popular YOU NEVER HEARD OF A CHILD DYING IN A CAR, only until CELL PHONES WAS THAT THE CASE!! So I'm sorry, there is no foggy brain excuse. It's BS, the truth of the matter is ppl are so wrapped up in themselves that forget the very human that relies on them to live, and that is out right sickening. And sorry not sorry I am PROUD MY KIDS AND GRANDSONS didn't die in a hot car. It's something I wear with HONOR!!! But go ahead and act like your better then me, and smarter then me. You must be so pensive when you were reading my comment, which is SOLEY JUST AN OPINION, MY OPINION THAT IT!! Which I have a right to have, thank you very much!
@@michelleprieur1 furthermore before SOCIAL MEDIA, there was this crazy thing called, THE NEWS AND NEWSPAPERS, and when children DIED it was on the NEWS, no social media NEEDED!
You "don't care what the book says"? Ftr, it's an article. Out of curiosity, you don't even care that efforts are being made to prevent this? Even if you fully believe it can't happen to you, you're wrong but it's understandable, surely you would agree that if it saves one child, it's worth the effort? Before you come back with "well, they shouldn't have had kids if they can't remember them!!", please consider that all parents make mistakes. That's why we have car seats, and monitoring videos, etc.
Surely you agree that it's not terrible to try to prevent this by education and raising awareness?
I don't think that cell phones becoming a thing causes parents and caregivers to forget that children are in a vehicle, but it could be a factor. However, this sort of thing has happened BEFORE the rise of cell phones. I found a few cases from back in the 70s-90s where children were left in hot (or even cold) vehicles.
There are numerous factors for why this happens, though. One parent forgot about their child because they were so focused on work that they forgot to take their child to a daycare.
Hello
I have had 4 kids ..I was a teenager with my first(early 22 to 28 for the other 3) I will never understand forgetting your baby in the car. I am sure some people will disagree with me that is fine..this is how i think ..you have the right for your own thought sand opinions and i still respect anyone who doesn't think the way i do.
I agree with you 💯. I truly believe people do it cause they know they will likely get away with it being called an accident. I bet if they start arresting people it would stop happening so much. I had my first child when I was 17 years old. I had bad depression, extreme fatigue etc etc never have I ever forgot one of my children in the car and I forget a lot of things literally minute to next minute and I am also side tracked easily.
No offense, but talking to the maternal uncle? I've listened to the interview and initially deleted my comment, thinking i had overreacted, but I dont know how you can sympathize with the mother and take the word of anyone on her side. Being stupid isn't an excuse for killing children. I love your podcast, but you don't have to have sympathy for this woman. She should have known they would die in a car in Arizona heat. She didn't forget them in the car. She put them there. With the intention of leaving them there for hours. She had done it before. She clearly has no conscience or soul. If she's really so dangerously stupid that she's killing her own babies then she needs to be locked up forever.
Did you really listen to the interview? Because that’s pretty much exactly what Vincent said - he wanted her locked up forever, but the risk of her being acquitted at trial was too high, so the plea deal was the best shot at having Brittany locked up as long as possible. I didn’t say I sympathized with her, nor did I (or her brother) attempt to excuse her behavior; the brain issues she has are a shame, but i don’t think I ever implied or stated that those issues excused these two dead babies. Talking to a member of Brittany’s family provided a lot of insight into the way she thinks that we wouldn’t have gotten from anyone else, and being familiar with this story as long as I’ve been, I welcomed that insight. My sympathy is not with Brittany, but with Lorenzo, Brooklyn, and everyone who loved them.
I KNOW I could accidentally forget my baby in the car!! So when he was born I started putting my purse on the floor of the backseat, in front of the car seat. That way when I’d go to get my purse, I’d have to check if he was there. Such a sad story.