The hard part is is he has open gashes on his back and and scars from where you've where you lashed him. Sometimes I I feel worse than I can eat till I feel my stomach full. So, I haven't ate yet since yesterday. Usually I think I'm going to buckle with a belt. Okay. So, this time I didn't have a belt cuz he hid it. So, I used an extension cord. You were dating a police officer and that police [music] officer told you what? She said it was okay with him and she she started whipping me first. A boy gets on his bike and rides until he finds someone who will listen. He tells a stranger his mother has been hurting him, says he is afraid she will come after him, and the injuries on his back and arms say the rest. That stranger is a former probation officer and within minutes she has pulled him around the corner and called the police. Hey Jason, what's your answer? Thanks, I appreciate you about what's going on. Yeah. When officers arrive, they are dealing with a scared child who says he ran because he did not want to be hurt again. How long has this been going on? Six years almost. Okay. I've been getting smoked since I was six. Um Yeah, really young. Six years. He is not describing something that happened yesterday. He is describing something that started when he was around six years old and has not stopped since. >> I was outside and I live in this neighborhood and I got for a walk and he just came riding up to me super fast and he stopped and he was crying and he said, "Can you help me? My mom abuses me. I need help. She's going to come after me." Okay. And I looked at him and I'm like, "Oh my god." I'm like, "Yeah, come with me." Yeah. So, we're kind of hiding. Yeah. I called the police. Yeah. She does not hesitate. She sees his back, she believes him, and she gets him out of sight before she does anything else. I had him talking to me. I had been asking questions. I used to be a probation officer. >> No, he's Okay. I understand it's a long process. I was a mother. He has single parents. >> Yep. Babysits kids in her home. Got you. So, that's scary. Yep. Won't let him eat unless he does his chores. He hasn't even ate since last night. She's been abusing him for years. She smokes weed and other drinks in the house. She acts crazy. Her name is Stephanie Miller. Okay. She has a sister in Sierra Leone, Sierra. Okay. No dad. Okay. She has already done most of the work. She kept him talking, asked the right questions, and handed officers everything before they spoke a word to him directly. Now, they need to hear it from the boy himself. Got you. It sounds like you've already explained what's going on to her and it sounds like a little bit to the medics as well. I do have to ask a couple of questions though, does that make sense? From what they've told me, it sounds like is it your mom? Yes. Got you. And what was her name? Stephanie Miller. Stephanie Miller. Got you. Uh it sounds as though she has hurt you a couple of times with extension cords and other things. And that's what caused these marks on your arm and your back, is that correct? And the last time that this happened was today or last night? Today. Okay. The officer is not leading him. The boy confirms everything. We're going to We're going to try and figure out that correct address and then we're going to go from there. Does that make sense? Okay. Basically, really quick, I want to let you know um you're not going to have to deal with her for the rest of the day, okay? We're going to figure out what we can do for you from there, but you're not going to have to deal with her for the rest of the day, okay? Really quick, is there a family member in the area that we can get you to that you feel safe with? It's okay. I know this is a lot, so take your time, okay? No, she's not going to She's not going to come at all. She's not going to come near you for the time being, okay? And you don't got to worry about that right now. You're okay. Uh do you know So, is it your aunt? Is your aunt aware of what's been going on? No. No? No one is? Okay. So, we're going to try and make contact with your aunt and see if she's okay with you staying with her. Um and we're going to go from there, okay? Nobody knows. Not his aunt, not anyone. These officers may be the first people outside that house who have ever heard the full story. >> [snorts] >> What I see, I would say just let us take him down to Children's Hospital. Okay. Let them evaluate him and see what's going on. Yeah. Yeah, of course. Let me let me really quick before you leave, this is going to sound a little strange, but I'm going to [snorts] get a couple photos of your back if you're okay with that. Does that make sense? Okay. Yes, sir. Would you be okay if we did that at the medic so you don't have to take off your >> effects, okay. No, it's more private. We can do it here, okay? Uh we're going to do that, and then we're going to go from there. Does that make sense? You guys just secure his bike for us. We'll make it work. Yep, we'll make sure we get that safe for you. Uh really quick, is there anybody else in the house I'm bringing your mom? Okay. Well, there is dogs, she has four. Okay. Um just like miniature Pomeranians, and she has the lion cut. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah, and nine in total. Okay. Yeah, no worries at all. Thank you very much. All right, ma'am. Um I know he already asked, um but what's your plan of action? So, I let the couple stray dogs out for a walk, and he came riding up on his bike super fast just crying. He was like, "Can you help me with my mom? She's been hitting me and abusing me, and I'm afraid she's going to come out and hit me." And I looked at his back, and I'm like, "Yeah, come with me." And we went around the corner, and he immediately connected with them. And he keeps telling me that I asked a lot of questions. He's very open about everything. Yeah, I can feel his scars. I know. Medics are taking him to Dayton Children's Hospital. Officers have the boy's account, a witness account, and visible injuries on camera. Now they walk over to his mother. Hey, you wouldn't happen to be Sydney Miller middle here. Yeah. All right. We just spoke Yeah, he got in trouble. Okay. Where is he at? What's going on? So, he was a couple streets over. He was requesting that someone call the cops because of some of the injuries he sustained. Oh my gosh. He got a whooping. I got you. Um so, by all means, you can do the parenting that you see fit. Okay. >> The the hard part is is he has open gashes on his back and and scars from where you where you lashed him. She does not ask where he is. She does not ask if he is okay. The officer lets her finish and then tells her what he has already seen on her son's back. You are going to be currently under arrest, okay? Go ahead and drop what's in your hands. Put your hands behind your back for me, please. Yes, ma'am. I am serious. Yes, ma'am. The arrest happens right there on the street. >> Go ahead and drop what's in your hands, please. Can I not Give me a Hold on a second. Hold on. Yeah, we can put all this back in your car, yeah. Do I need my ID or anything? Uh I will I will grab your ID really quick if that's okay with you. Is there anything else that needs to go in Is there a reason you have a steak knife in your purse? It's for protection. I go hiking and stuff. Okay, that's fine. I'm under arrest? Yes, ma'am, you are. Can I call my sister to get him or like Yeah, that's fine. Do you have a handcuff key? I lost my phone. I don't need my phone cuz my sister >> That's fine. That's completely okay. If you'd like I'm No, it's okay. I'm going to take I'm going to I'm going to take the knife out, but other than that, this entire thing can go with you if you'd like. Okay. You can throw the knife away. It's It's for hiking or >> No, I understand. I'm just going to put it in your car for you if that's okay. Is it unlocked? It's okay. Can you just lock my door and >> Yeah. Is the window down? You can throw it away. It's just a knife. No, no, I understand. I'm more secure with securing your car at this point than your house. Oh. That's what I'm saying. Can you lock my car door and can you Can I make some phone calls before cuz I need to like have somebody can get my dogs. I understand. We can make We can We can We can have the Yep. We can have those phone calls. >> memorized. >> Okay, we can get the phone out for you here shortly, okay? Just your friend number. I'm being charged with something? Yes, domestic violence. At the very least, you're being charged with assault, if not more. Yes, ma'am. All right. All right, is there anything else I missed? Cuz they're going to catch it at the jail. If there's anything else I need to be charged with it. >> I don't know. This is so embarrassing. Walk to the car. The officer handles every single one of those things without losing the threat. He is not rushing her, but when she asks if she is being charged, he answers directly. Domestic violence and assault at minimum, and possibly more. What's his blood pressure looking like? 135 over 78. Officers are photographing his back. The call has moved well past a welfare check. And so, [snorts] you're saying when she does this, it's with an It's with electrical cords? I got you. Yeah. I got you. Officers are looking at a body that matches exactly what he is saying. Those marks did not come from one day. >> [snorts] >> Yes, last night. Since last night? Got you. And is that common that your mom won't let you eat for extended periods of time? Um no, it's after I finish my chores, I have like morning chores Okay. since yesterday. Chores first, then food. But he had not finished his chores, which is the same reason he has marks on his back. He had not eaten since the night before. Now, officers go back to his mother and ask her to explain it. >> [snorts] >> What's up? I don't know what all happened. She does not deny it, but listen to how she frames it. >> a little too far. He hit the belt. I usually would have whipped him with a belt. Mhm. Um and it's not I never whipped him this bad, so I I probably did go a little too far in the disciplining him, but I didn't realize he had any any Like you said, he had open wounds or something. I didn't realize he had that. And I just looked up and I noticed he had less. You know, he's always going I always thought he was leaving to go look for him. Mhm. He got in trouble and he got his PlayStation taken and his phone. Okay, what did he do to get in trouble? He wasn't doing his chores. He hates playing on his game instead of doing Okay, I got you. In her version, the boy made this worse himself. That framing is going to come up again. >> scoring on him, what was that from? Um he's an active kid. Okay, I got you. >> climbs and he hides and he I mean he was running I mean it was whips all around his body, so don't lie to me, okay? He got in trouble for Okay, is this a repetitive thing? He's been acting up since me and my ex broke up in February. Is this something he's going through or is it like kind of like a acting up really badly. Okay. way going all the way to the neighborhood of by the hospital without permission. Um like stealing. Mhm. He I mean he's just been acting up even his grades in school. Um sneaking, talking to girls. You know, that he met online that he's not supposed to talk to strangers. He's like He's He's just kind of been getting out of control and I've been doing everything I can to try to discipline him. Like Okay. being a good mom. Now, I will say sometimes discipline doesn't really work for some children. Other forms of discipline work such as, you know, talking to them in a nice manner. Some kids don't take well to physical discipline. Um so, it's just about changing up in how you do that. You can't just I mean, I'm going to flat out you It looks like you beat him, okay? Um and no child should go through that. No person should go through that, okay? She is probably not wrong about all of it, but those marks on his back are not from the last few months. They are from years. >> Um do you babysit for a living? I do. Okay. Do you have anyone coming over today? Not today. I mean, if they try to drop the kids off and I'm not here, then Right, that's on them, but Um I can't I can't call a lot of people I babysit for. Right. Okay. I'm just going to be blunt with you. Do you discipline any other children? >> No, never. Just my son. Okay, is that your only kid? >> That's my only child. Okay. All right. How do you discipline other children? I don't discipline other children. Okay, you just let them go? I mean, I I don't put my hands on them. But you yell at them or be like, "Hey, don't do that." or something like that? I tell them to sit down or turn. Turn. He's been acting up really bad cuz he's going through a lot right now. He had to switch schools. We had to move. You know, he lost a parent and he's been acting out behavior-wise. Everything is new. Okay. I got you. We He never had these problems. Like, he never behaved this way. So, I never thought to really discipline until recently. Like, I don't like spanking him, but I'm just worried about him. Like, he's still in the hospital with Yeah, so the medics are at the hospital with him right now. We're trying to get your aunt Oh, not your aunt. His aunt, your sister, to can him up. Um now, I will advise you we are going to call Child Protective Services. Okay. I don't know if he told you that or not. No. But that's the game plan right now. I just want you to be aware of that. Okay. I'm not going to put him in foster care or or That's not up to us. We don't He can go to my sister or my dad. Okay. Okay. I don't have one of those instruments. Right. I understand. And then at the very end, mother says something on camera that changes the picture entirely. And just for clarification, when you say you have hit him with a a belt before, is that Usually I spank him with a belt with a belt. Okay. So, this time I didn't have a belt cuz he hid it. So, I used an extension cord. Okay. How did you use that? I spanked him with it. Okay. Like in a whipping fashion or Okay. I got you. The woman who stopped for him is still there asking what happens next. Do you have any questions for me? You can go through with Child Protective Services. Yeah. Can I Can I check in and see how he's doing later? A couple days or You can call us, but we aren't going to probably have an answer for you. Okay. So, one or two things is going to happen. One, we're going to be able to make contact with an aunt he feels comfortable with and have her come pick him up from Children's. Okay. Good. Or Children's Services is going to get involved. Regardless, Children's Services is getting involved, but we are hopefully going to get him to a family member and not Children's Services. He said he felt comfortable with his aunt and so we're going to try and have his aunt come respond out. She said she lives in He says that she lives in Centerville. Yeah. And so that's not terribly far from Children's. So, hopefully she can come out and pick him up. What if he goes back to his mom? I know Children's Services So, that's She's not going to now, at least today. We're going to go make contact with her and Attempt to arrest her? Attempt, yeah. Oh, good. Good. There's his testimony and the marks are now >> Okay. Good. Well, I'll be happy to testify and do whatever you need me to. We appreciate it. Thank you for calling us. I'm going to call the uh aunt and see if she can't go to Children's to up this particular Okay. I'll call Joe, the paramedic, and let him know that's the plan so he can let them know. Okay. Other than that, I will take her to Green County. Um I need to call Klein really quick and cuz I need to um I need to figure out what charges she'll be okay with. Um I'd say DV. DV, assault. >> Child abuse. Child abuse are the three that I'm currently thinking of, but I want to make sure I don't forget something. I want to make sure he's cool. Child endangerment and neglect. Uh that one's Inda- Endangerment and neglect are hard sometimes. And so I don't know That's why That's why I called him. Yeah, you know, yeah. I'll And then towards that office Ma'am, you said in the car you said that you were dating a police officer and that police officer told you what? She said it was okay to whip him and she she started whipping him first. We worked together since 2007. I got you. We just broke up this year. I got you. So you're you're allowed to issue corporal punishment. You are not allowed to do that where you're drawing blood and leaving a mark and gashes like that. Ms. Miller, you are mandated to show up to court on the 29th of this month at 11:00 at Fairborn Municipal Courts. Do you understand? I'll put a copy of this will be put in your in your in your purse for you as well as those numbers you asked me to write down. I'll write down those numbers for you and the names. I'll put them in your extra phone with this copy, okay? Right at the end, Miller adds one more piece. She says she had been dating a police officer who told her this kind of discipline was acceptable and who she says participated [music] in it. That is her claim alone and nobody has confirmed it. The officer does not debate it. He acknowledges that corporal punishment exists and then draws the line she crossed, drawing blood, open gashes, marks built up over years. That [music] is not a gray area. A grand jury indicted her in August 2024 on felonious assault, child endangering, and domestic violence. She was released on bond with no contact conditions. Those conditions were challenged in court and went all the way to the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals, which sided with the trial court. The no-contact order held. In May 2025, Miller pleaded guilty to felony endangering children and misdemeanor domestic violence. Green County Judge Adolfo Tornichio sentenced her to 6 months in county jail and 5 years of intensive probation, including a mandatory domestic violence intervention program. Subscribe if you want to see more cases like this one. There is more coming.