Episode 75: Rica Rountree (Part 3)

Over the past 2 weeks, I told you the story of 8-year-old Rica Rountree, who DCFS left in her father’s home despite clear evidence that she was being abused. After Rica died on January 26, 2019, investigators found disturbing cell phone videos of Rica’s abuse and arrested her father’s girlfriend, Cindy Baker. After Cindy was convicted, Rica’s father, Richard Rountree, was also arrested for his part in his daughter’s death. In this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Rica’s mother, Ann Rountree, who is relentless in her mission to protect other children from suffering her daughter’s fate. This is the story of a sweet, kind little girl who could make anyone smile and who loved her dolls like they were her own children. It’s also the story of the failure of Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services to protect yet another vulnerable child from targeted and obvious child abuse. This is part 3 of the horrific story of Rica Rountree.Links discussed in today’s episode:Justice 4 Rica Jae Rountree Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/justice4ricajaeJustice 4 Rica Jae Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/justice4ricajae/ Justice 4 Rica Jae Foundation website: https://justice4ricajae.orgLabyrinth Made Goods website: www.labyrinthmadegoods.comIllinois House Bill 3821 (HB3821/2021): https://legiscan.com/IL/text/HB3821/2021 Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpodYou can also follow the podcast on: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sufferthelittlechildrenpodcast Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpodTumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/sufferthelittlechildrenpodPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpodTikTok: 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. Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! (www.patreon.com/STLCpod) This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine. For more stories like this one, visit https://sufferthelittlechildrenblog.com.Music for this episode is from https://audiojungle.net. Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711Google 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-16Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-childrenSpreaker: 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_siteSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KEiHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/ ...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support.If you see something, say something. https://childhelp.org