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 story is a listener's suggestion.

Thank you to Judith for bringing Elena's story to my attention.

This would be the last episode for 2025.

This wasn't the planned episode, but my day job has really taken it out of me.

Plus, my mental health hasn't been the best, if I'm honest.

The recent Bondi shootings had me momentarily worried about some good friends in the area,

but thankfully everyone was okay. But it was a real reality check on humanity. I thought mass

shootings, terrorist attacks such as these were something that happened oceans away.

To have this happen only two hours away, close to those I love, it was hard.

My heart goes out to those affected, and to everyone affected by those who make us and our families feel unsafe.

Please choose love. Please look out for each other.

I wish everyone a happy and loving Christmas and New Year.

I will see you all in 2006. August 2016, Watkins, Minnesota. Five-year-old Elena

Erdall vanished from her home. Hours later, her father discovered their truck and a family

friend also missing. The shocking truth behind this case left

...