This episode is brought to you by Slack. With Slack, you can bring all your people and

tools together in one place. It's your digital HQ where you can increase productivity,

enable flexibility and automate workflows. Plus, Slack is full of game-changing features

like huddles for quick check-ins or Slack Connect, which helps you connect with partners

inside and outside of your company. Slack, where the future works. Get started at

Slack.com slash DHQ.

Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at any time you need

support, please contact your local Chrysor Centre. For suggested phone numbers for confidential

support, please see the show notes for this episode on your app or on our website.

Today's episode contains violence against children that won't be suitable for all listeners.

It was a barmy afternoon in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. on Sunday,

April 25, 1971.

Alanteen Spinks left her apartment on Walla Place, South East, in Congress Heights, to visit

an aunt who lived on the other side of town. Before she left, Alanteen warned her children

they were not to leave while she was gone. Her 24-year-old daughter Valerie lived in a

different apartment within the same complex. At around 7pm, she dropped in to ask if one

of the older children could do her a favour by running out to buy some groceries from the

nearby 7-11 convenience store. She knew that mother would disapprove, but it was a trip

the youngest Spinks children had made many times before, and Valerie trusted them to take

the seven-block journey alone.

13-year-old Carol agreed to complete the errand, tempted by the offer of a free soda.

Valerie handed her little sister a five-dollar bill and instructed her to purchase a loaf

...