Records allege Utah man beat stepson to death (Update with heartbreaking details)

Associated Press ^ | May 13 | PAUL FOY and JENNIFER DOBNER

[DJ MacWoW]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Newly released police records show a Utah man held in the slaying of his 4-year-old stepson became increasing violent toward the boy in the days leading up to the child's death, then disfigured the boy's face before burying his body in a canyon.

Police unearthed Ethan Stacy's body Tuesday, just 10 days after investigators say a Virginia judge sent the boy to spend the summer with his mother in Layton, about 25 miles north of Salt Lake City.

Investigators said they obtained photographs and video images of the boy's worsening condition from his mother's cell phone, starting shortly after the boy arrived.

The injuries resulted from the stepfather, Nathanael Sloop, "engaging in a systematic and progressively more violent pattern of abuse toward Ethan," Layton police detectives wrote in interview summaries.

[DTogo]

Some crimes call for Vlad's type of cruel and unusual punishment: Vlad III "Tepes" (the impaler) Dracula (1431 - 1476)

[Hoffer Rand]

I agree.

My daughter and I were talking about that this morning. I think they should give Dad a large hammer and at least 30 minutes of privacy with each of these monsters.

[DJ MacWoW]

The Dad had custody. This was a visit for the summer with Mom. I think that I read that in the first story.

[DJ MacWoW]

I really wonder how the police restrain themselves when a nasty fall down the stairs would be so easy.

[seemoAR]

“When a 4 yr old dislikes an adult, there is usually a good reason”. I was only giving you a good reason. Been there, done that, got the T shirt. :0)

[DJ MacWoW]

My parents divorced when I was 6 and I got more than a t-shirt.

[MrEdd]

Including the judge.

[seemoAR]

You are lucky. My 2 kids have very had little to do with me since their dear mother located a sugar daddy in 1979. Children will believe their mother when they are young. My 33 year old daughter is finally beginning to see thru the lies. She has no memories of living with me. My 36 year old son is also showing signs of losing the blinders around his eyes.

Mommy Dearest has been married 3 times since she left me. Her sugar daddy husband died of a heart attack 2 or 3 years after she married him.

[DJ MacWoW]

I wasn't lucky and didn't mean to imply that I was. What actually happened was we "kids" were put through the wringer and didn't even get a lousy t-shirt.

My parents divorced in 1956. Before it was "popular". It turned out that neither of my parents were a prize. He married 3 more times. And they confused us because we never knew what game they were playing ("He just introduced Mom as his wife?!"). I have a video my son took when he visited my parents with his young family. They're sitting on a couch at my Dad's, chatting up a storm with my father saying things like "Baby, do you remember blah blah blah?" It gets worse but I won't bore you. lol

[reagan_fanatic]

That poor child. My heart hurts for him.

I hope that stepfather burns in hell.

[DJ MacWoW]

Without repentance, he will.

[GOPJ]

There’s a special place in hell for animals like this. That being said, the rest of his life here on earth should be made a testing ground for the next.

Lots of former abused children in prisons - hope they "enjoy" having this monster around.

[GOPJ]

There’s a special place in hell for animals like this. That being said, the rest of his life here on earth should be made a testing ground for the next.

Lots of former abused children in prisons - hope they "enjoy" having this monster around.

[seemoAR]

I feel very sorry for the damage that was done to you. Selfish people never seem to care their actions will scar other people. If it feels good, do it. The truth will win every time. It sometimes takes a very long time.

[DJ MacWoW]

Selfish people never seem to care their actions will scar other people.

What is incomprehensible to me is what was done to this little man by his "stepfather". It takes a special kind of "sick" to punch a 4 year old in the face. And then mutilate a young child's body. I hope that the police have enough evidence that these two "people" never see the light of day again.

[Timber Rattler]

Update on this case: Mom gets 20 years.

Utah mother gets at least 20 years in son's death

[DJ MacWoW]

20 years isn’t enough.

[Timber Rattler]

No, it isn’t.