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 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 story is a listener's suggestion.

Thank you to Tina for bringing Hoss's story to my attention.

It is listeners like you that keep the podcast going.

I know I say it time and time again, but I appreciate so much every message, email, comment I receive.

It honestly blows my mind that so many of you

listen to me tell these heartbreaking stories week after week. It means so much to me that these

babies' stories aren't forgotten. March 2014, Calman, Alabama. A toddler should have been celebrating

his first birthday, but instead was rushed into

emergency unresponsive after allegedly drowning in the bathtub. But if that was the case,

then how did he come to be covered in 38 different injuries, including a fractured skull?

This is Hoss's story.

Hoss Wayne Benham was born March 11, 2013 in Calman, Alabama, to parents Crystal Ballinger

and Brody Benham.

Hoss getting his name from Hoss Cartwright, a character from the TV show Bonanza, played

with a late Dan Blocker.

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