Here on Stolen Lives, we discuss brutal and heartbreaking crimes against children.

Themes may include child murder, torture, and sexual domestic and child abuse.

I do try to my best to remain respectful for the babies in these stories

and leave out unnecessary details that honestly, none of us need to know to understand the frustration

of why and how this ever happened.

However, if you find any of these themes triggering this podcast may not be for you.

Listener discretion is advised.

This week's episode is a listener's suggestion.

Thank you to Amelia for bringing Peyton's story to my attention.

We don't get many stories out of Vermont, and given the ridiculous actions of the authorities in this story, I am surprised we don't.

Because the doctors found Peyton and DCF failed Peyton.

They had this child in their grasp with severe injuries and they just walked away,

leaving this baby with his killer. April 2014, Winooski, Vermont. DCF attended home visit with a mother and her 14-month-old baby,

twice in one day in fact, because the baby was sleeping. The mother insisted he was healthy and happy.

The caseworker, the experienced caseworker, with 25 years under his belt, simply believed her at her word and walked away.

Only an hour later, 14-month-old Peyton Jira would be dead from trauma to his head and neck.

This is Peyton's story. Had they looked into it a little bit more, they may have found that,

you know, maybe he was, maybe he went to the hospital because he was dying.

You know what I mean?

Peyton Allen Jira was born January 10, 2013 in Burlington, Vermont, to mother Natasha LaFaise.

Who Peyton's father is, is controversial.

I have gone down the rabbit hole of rumours and town gossip.

...