Child abuse is an issue that remains shrouded in darkness, perpetuating unimaginable suffering for countless children worldwide. There are certain cases so awful they are heard about around the globe, and this shocking case is definitely one to hear about.
The Law & Crime Network shared a story from an episode of The Case I Can’t Forget. Jody Thompson, a police officer from Poteau, Oklahoma, says that his life changed forever on April 27, 2015. Jody was born and raised in Poteau his entire life and currently lives in the home that he grew up in.
Jody and his wife, Genie, have been married since 1999 and have two sons together. They both did not anticipate having more than two sons, but life had another plan for them.
On April 27, 2015, Jody got a call over the radio through dispatch about a young boy who had gone over to a neighbor’s house and told her that he thought his parents were trying to kill him.
Even though Jody was off-call at the time of the dispatch, he decided to assist the on-duty officer. Jody said, “Once I went into the house I seen this young boy, his hands were still tied together. He was grossly underweight, you could see his collarbones, and you could see every single rib in his body. He had cuts on his body, and bruises from head to toe.”
Jody soon found out the little boy's name was John. After Jody took him to the hospital, John was put in the intensive care unit due to the state of his injuries. Jody did not leave his side.
More from LittleThings: Barack Responds To Michelle's Statement That She Didn't Like Him For 10 Years Of Marriage
Both parents were charged with two counts each of child abuse by injury and neglect. They both were sentenced to 35 years in prison. John was put into a foster home but didn’t stay there long.
Jody couldn’t get John off his mind and decided to adopt John into his family. The day he brought John home, his wife told him that she was pregnant again. A few months after they brought John home, his biological mother had a daughter in jail. Jody and his wife picked her up and adopted her as well, making their family even bigger and full of love.
To view John and Jody’s whole story, click the video.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
