Suffer the Little Children - Episode 186: Arianna Starkey (Part 1)

Episode 186: Arianna Starkey (Part 1)

11/27/24 • 57 min

1 Listener

Note: I'm honored to release this episode on what would be Arianna's sixth birthday.
On January 8, 2021, 27-year-old Destani Neel called 911, reporting that her boyfriend’s daughter was having trouble breathing. Although two-year-old Arianna Starkey was rushed to the hospital, she never regained consciousness, and she took her last breath two days later. Destani—a mother herself—had a story prepared for investigators, but her details kept changing, and it was immediately apparent that Arianna’s death was not an accident.
This is the story of a little girl who loved her big brother, her pink boots, and having tea parties with her Nana. It’s also the story of a mother who took out all of her frustrations on her boyfriend’s innocent toddler—and a man whose intervention could have saved his daughter’s life.
This is part 1 of the harrowing story of Arianna Starkey.
Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
You can also follow the podcast on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod
My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod
Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.
By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive rewards. Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod.
You can also support the podcast on www.Ko-Fi.com/STLCpod.
Join my Supporters' Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support
This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
Music for this episode is licensed from https://audiojungle.net.
Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/suffer-the-little-children
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/PC:61848?part=PC:61848&corr=podcast_organic_external_site&TID=Brand:POC:PC61848:podcast_organic_external_site
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/
...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.

Previous Episode

Episode 185: Preventing Childhood Drownings (with Christi Brown)

From time to time, instead of covering an individual child’s story, I tackle a broader topic, such as my past episodes about hot car deaths and medical child abuse. While the topic of today’s episode doesn’t necessarily intersect with that of child abuse and neglect, it definitely intersects with this podcast’s purpose: to protect children.
For this episode, I spoke with Christi Brown, the executive director of the Judah Brown Project. Christi is a mom who always thought she was protecting her kids from the dangers of water until her three-year-old son, Judah, died in 2016 from an accidental drowning that happened in the blink of an eye. If you think “That could never happen to me,” this episode is a must-listen.
Links related to this episode:

The Judah Brown Project website: https://judahbrownproject.org
The Judah Brown Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judahbrownproject
Send notes for Judah’s stocking this Christmas: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=866887048947117&set=a.422232596745900
Lifesaver Pool Fence: https://poolfence.com
National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA): https://ndpa.org/

Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
You can also follow the podcast on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod
My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod
Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.
By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive rewards. Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod.
You can also support the podcast on www.Ko-Fi.com/STLCpod.
Join my Supporters' Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support
This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
Music for this episode is licensed from https://audiojungle.net.
Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/suffer-the-little-children
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/PC:61848?part=PC:61848&corr=podcast_organic_external_site&TID=Brand:POC:PC61848:podcast_organic_external_site
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/
...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.

Next Episode

Episode 187: Arianna Starkey (Part 2)

Last week, I told you the story of two-year-old Arianna Starkey, whose father, Austin Starkey, failed to protect her from his homicidal girlfriend, Destani Neel. Both Austin and Destani were sentenced to prison for their roles in Arianna’s brutal death.
Arianna’s death hit her family hard, and it’s taken some time for her maternal grandmother, Christina Justice, to be ready to tell her story. In this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Christina, who told me about how she and her daughter, Arianna’s mom, Kassie, have dealt with their loss, as well as the questions that remain unanswered about the case and who their precious Ari was.
This is part 2 of the harrowing story of Arianna Starkey.
Links discussed in today’s episode: