Pod Insights Casefile True Crime Case 304: The Staudte Family About this episode *** Content warnings: Self-harm ***
When 60-year-old Mark Staudte of Springfield, Missouri, fell ill in early April of 2012, he suspected he just had a bad case of the flu. But the situation quickly turned critical, and Mark was soon found dead in his bed. A medical examiner concluded Mark had died from “natural causes”. Yet, when other members of the Staudte family started experiencing the same symptoms as Mark had, it was clear something was seriously amiss…
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Narration – Anonymous Host https://www.instagram.com/caseys.snaps/
Research & writing – Milly Raso
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas http://mikemigas.com/
Music – Andrew D. B. Joslyn http://www.andrewjoslynmusic.com/
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1:49 Speaker 00 Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at any time you need support, please contact your local crisis center. For suggested phone numbers for confidential support and for a more detailed list of content warnings, please see the show notes for this episode on your app or on our website.
2:17 Speaker 00 Twenty-six-year-old Shaun Stoughty's Facebook page was an extension of himself. He once shared a post on the social media website that read: "I don't know how I would live if I was not on Facebook." Multiple times a day Shaun would post whatever random thoughts popped into his head, from asking if platypuses could be kept as pets, to musing about celebrities. He quoted his favourite television shows and summarised recently-viewed episodes of Malcolm in the Middle. He was also notably introspective, writing: "Starting next week, I'm going to act totally normal."
3:01 Speaker 00 Shaun had been diagnosed with autism, a developmental disorder that impaired his ability to communicate and interact. He'd also suffered from seizures since birth, which prevented him from living independently. Attempts to house Shaun in an assisted living facility hadn't panned out, and he was unable to work due to being easily overwhelmed. As a young adult, Shaun still lived at home with his parents and three younger sisters in the city of Springfield, Missouri. Shaun's autism made it difficult for him to understand social cues and other people's behaviour. Although those who knew Shaun thought he was nice and friendly,
3:44 Speaker 00 he could come across as impolite or insensitive to neurotypical strangers. He was aware of how his condition impacted others, lamenting on his Facebook page: "I'm not a bad person, I have social problems. All I want is to live a normal life."
4:05 Speaker 00 Every so often Shaun posted about his home life, anything from how his family's cars were getting their tyres pressure-checked, to venting about his dirty bedroom carpet. Then, in early April 2012, Shaun's Facebook posts took on a new focus. He began sharing how his father, Mark Stoughty, had started acting strangely. As Shaun only had several online followers and they rarely engaged with his content, these posts drew little attention.
4:40 Speaker 00 Despite this, Shaun continued to provide daily reports about his father's increasingly odd behaviour. According to Shaun, Mark Stoughty was suffering mental problems that were also weakening his body. Quote: "My father is slowly starting to have problems with driving and accomplishing anything. When he drove a car, the car swerved a little bit. I had to help him keep the car direction straight and properly turning."
5:12 Speaker 00 In another post, he claimed his father was so insane that Shaun didn't want to be friends with him anymore.
5:20 Speaker 00 On Saturday, April 7, Shaun posted: "My father is slowly getting sicker. His voice is slurred, his walking is wobbly, his body is more tired than normal. He is sleeping in bed longer than us. He may collapse under his weight at any time."
5:41 Speaker 00 The next day, Shaun wrote that his father had spent half the day in bed and was struggling with basic physical tasks. Then, on Monday, April 9, Shaun announced: "My father died. He lived a full life. The cause of death is a stroke. His funeral is this week. His belongings now belong to my sisters."
6:31 Speaker 00 Shaun Stoughty wasn't the only one who had noticed Mark's declining health. Two days before Mark's death, he'd attended a recording session with his band, a blues outfit called Messing With Destiny. As the band's lead singer and guitarist, Mark had to project excitement and enthusiasm in order to put on a great show. This came naturally to Mark because music was his life's passion. It had even drawn him to his wife, Diane, who was a church organist, and the couple endeavoured to pass their love of music down to their children.
7:09 Speaker 00 Messing With Destiny was gradually gaining success, booking semi-regular gigs in neighbouring cities and making a small amount of money.
7:19 Speaker 00 So during their evening recording session on Friday, April 6, Mark's bandmates were dismayed to see him uncharacteristically distracted, confused and slurring his words. They didn't think Mark was drunk, but wondered if his poor diet, lack of exercise or other unhealthy vices might have caught up with him. Mark also had bipolar disorder, a mental condition hallmark by drastic mood swings and manic episodes. Perhaps he was just going through a rough period.
7:56 Speaker 00 Mark stayed hydrated and went on several walks outside, hoping to shake whatever ailed him. Despite losing his appetite, becoming increasingly lethargic and even vomiting, Mark didn't go to the doctor, nor did his family push him to seek medical treatment. It seemed like he just had a bad case of the flu, nothing that he wouldn't overcome in time.
8:24 Speaker 00 Saturday, April 7 was Mark's 61st birthday and he went to a friend's house to celebrate. His friend was troubled by Mark's yellow complexion. Diane Stoughty checked on her husband throughout the night, but he was too fatigued to say much at all. By Sunday, April 8, Mark was so sick that he couldn't go to church. His absence was surprising as the Stoughtys were devout Christians and prominent members of their church community.
8:58 Speaker 00 The rest of the family went without Mark, who stayed behind to rest. Sometime after they returned home, they found Mark in bed, unconscious and unresponsive.
9:11 Speaker 00 Diane called emergency services, but there was nothing they could do. Mark was dead.
9:22 Speaker 00 A ring of blood had dried around Mark's mouth. Other than that, he looked normal and had no signs of injury.
9:31 Speaker 00 Diane Stoughty was able to detail her husband's final hours, which culminated in him suffering three seizures on Sunday. He had never had a seizure before. The last one occurred 45 minutes before Diane found Mark not breathing. She said she'd wanted to call 911 sooner, but Mark had insisted that he didn't want to go to hospital. Diane explained that Mark had diabetes and was developing Alzheimer's, which was gradually destroying his mental functions. This was in addition to liver problems he'd acquired from drinking alcohol in excess.
10:13 Speaker 00 Mark was also a long-time cigarette smoker and would sometimes smoke cannabis.
10:20 Speaker 00 Upon observing Mark's body and taking his lifestyle and health into account, the county medical examiner concluded that the 61-year-old must have died of natural causes. They didn't think it was necessary to perform any tests or an autopsy. Diane Stoughty announced Mark's untimely passing on her Facebook page, telling the couple's devastated friends that her husband of 27 years had reached his eternal home.
10:52 Speaker 00 She quoted from the Gospel of John: "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me."
11:03 Speaker 00 Mark was cremated and his ashes scattered at a lake. The remaining members of Messing With The Destiny performed a musical tribute for Mark at his memorial service and played his favourite song of theirs, titled "Darkest Hour".
11:20 Speaker 00 Mark's daughter Rachel paid tribute to her father with a poem by influential German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
11:30 Speaker 00 "Over the hilltops is calm; in all the treetops you feel hardly a breath of air. Though little birds fall silent in the woods, just wait, soon you'll also be at rest."
11:49 Speaker 00 Mark's death was a huge blow to his family's dynamic. By all accounts, the Stoughtys were happy and full of love, support and understanding. Mark was a devoted stay-at-home dad, as all of the Stoughty children were reliant on their parents in their own way.
12:09 Speaker 00 Oldest child and only son Shaun lived with them on account of his health. 24-year-old Sarah, a university graduate who had accrued a large student loan debt, was struggling to find a job. 22-year-old Rachel was studying art history at college while pursuing her love of painting and music. The Stoughtys' youngest child, an 11-year-old girl, case file will refer to as Tia, had learning difficulties.
12:42 Speaker 00 Mark and Diane were very proud of their children. Diane referred to them as little professors, as each was an expert in their own special interests. Fifty-one-year-old Diane was the family breadwinner. She was a cardiology nurse who primarily worked from home assessing insurance company claims. At times, her income was not enough to support the family of six, so Mark took on odd jobs for extra cash.
13:15 Speaker 00 Prior to Mark's passing, the Stouties lived in a small home in Springfield suburban west. Their house needed a lot of work and the neighbourhood had some problems. Shaun Stouty often vented about this on his Facebook page, going so far as to write: "I need a better house to live in."
13:38 Speaker 00 His father's modest life insurance payout of $20,000 helped the family relocate to a larger house in a nicer area.
13:48 Speaker 00 Shaun was delighted by the move. He posted about it online, writing:
13:55 Speaker 00 "I am going to move out of a neighbourhood of hell to a neighbourhood that has a low crime rate, has good people, has good schools, and has properly built houses."
14:07 Speaker 00 In late April, Shaun opened a new Facebook account in preparation for his fresh start. He continued posting near-daily updates about whatever piqued his interest. But, over the following months, his online activity lessened. Shaun acknowledged this on Saturday, August 4, 2012, writing that he was sharing fewer posts than he had previously. Then, he stopped posting altogether.
14:42 Speaker 00 By September 2012, five months after the unexpected death of Mark Stoughty, his family had settled into their new home. Then, on Sunday, September 2, the Stoughtys arrived at their weekly church service with another notable absence. Twenty-six-year-old Shaun was unable to attend as he was bedridden after suffering flu-like symptoms for weeks. He could do little else but rest and stay hydrated in between long painful bouts of vomiting, head and muscle aches, and appetite loss.
15:20 Speaker 00 When the Stoughtys returned home from church, they found Shaun unconscious on his bedroom floor. A ring of dried blood had formed around his mouth.
15:32 Speaker 00 Just like his father months earlier, Shaun had died unexpectedly after enduring a mysterious illness. On this occasion, the county medical examiner performed an autopsy. It revealed that Shaun had a congenital kidney defect, signs of brain damage and a stroke, as well as damage to his central nervous system. Given Shaun's history of seizures and other health issues, the medical examiner assumed that the young man had been struck down by a pre-existing condition. Shaun's death was officially ruled as being due to “prior medical issues”.
16:15 Speaker 00 The sudden deaths of Mark and Shaun so close together left the local community reeling. Friends of the Stoughtys were shocked that a loving, pious family could have such awful luck. Two days after Shaun's death, Diane Stoughty posted a short tribute to her son on her Facebook page.
16:37 Speaker 00 “It's been hard for me to come up with the right words,” Diane wrote. “But here goes. On Sunday, my oldest child, Shaun, died. Although he had been sick lately, we thought he was getting better.”
16:55 Speaker 00 Diane went on to thank those who had been keeping her family in their prayers.
17:02 Speaker 00 “May we have a portion of the peace Shaun now enjoys.”
17:09 Speaker 00 Everyone was devastated for the now family of four, who grew noticeably reclusive after Shaun’s death. His remains were cremated, but unlike his father, there was no funeral or memorial to honour his life.
17:26 Speaker 00 Diane Stoughty seemed to be taking the loss of her husband and son in her stride. She focused on taking care of her three daughters, Sarah, Rachel and Tia, and threw herself into her music and church commitments. The local community rallied around Diane, who responded well to the guidance and support provided by her pastors. Even Diane’s daughter, Rachel, was struck by how well her mother coped in the aftermath of Shaun’s inexplicable death.
17:59 Speaker 00 Rachel posted on her Facebook page: “Don’t think I’ve seen mum so chilled out like this in a long time.” But, this moment of calm was short-lived.
18:17 Speaker 00 Nine months after the death of Shaun, the Stoughty family was hit with more misfortune. 24-year-old Sarah Stoughty had been found unconscious in bed after suffering severe flu-like symptoms. Diane bundled her eldest daughter into her car and rushed her to the hospital. By the time Sarah arrived at the emergency department, her condition was so dire that she was swiftly admitted to the intensive care unit.
18:50 Speaker 00 Doctors soon discovered that Sarah wasn’t just dealing with the nasty strain of the flu. Her kidneys had shut down, her pancreas was failing, and her brain was hemorrhaging blood. Sarah had suffered a total body collapse. She’d had numerous strokes and seizures, and most likely wouldn’t survive. Multiple tests were performed, but the cause of Sarah’s illness remained a mystery. Diane Stoughty took to Facebook to inform her friends of her family’s latest tragedy. She wrote: “Asking for prayers, as my daughter Sarah is in critical condition in the ICU tonight.”
19:37 Speaker 00 She followed this up with an image that featured the biblical verse: 'Rejoice in our confident hope, be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.'
19:50 Speaker 00 As news of Sarah Stoughty's ordeal spread, Springfield Police received a troubling phone call. The man on the other line said he wished to remain anonymous, but claimed to be a pastor at the Stoughtys' church. Upon hearing about Sarah's illness, he'd become overwhelmed with concern.
20:13 Speaker 00 Through his work, he had encountered many people who'd experienced considerable hardship and loss. However, he had never come across a family who had endured so much indiscriminate death in such a short time span as the Stoughtys'. He brought up the close timing of Mark and Shaun's deaths, which had been excused on account of their respective histories of poor health. But now, the otherwise healthy Sarah was fighting for her life in a similar scenario. The pastor had been counselling Diane Stoughty, and was struck by her lack of emotion in relation to it all.
20:57 Speaker 00 He had come to believe something was seriously amiss in the Stoughty home.
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25:31 Speaker 00 Police went to speak with the physicians treating Sarah Stouty. They had performed multiple tests to identify what was impacting her, but everything medical or genetic was ruled out. Although there was no trace of alcohol, illicit drugs, or poisons in Sarah's system, a doctor remarked that her condition was very suspicious.
25:55 Speaker 00 A nurse had more to add. Sarah was barely clinging to life, but her mother Diane had only visited her a couple of times. Moreover, Diane's behaviour was described as inappropriate. She joked and laughed with hospital staff about her daughter's condition and said that she planned to go on a vacation to Florida soon, regardless of Sarah's status.
26:22 Speaker 00 Police came to learn that Diane had also acted strangely after her husband and son's deaths. According to friends of the Stouties, Diane treated Mark's memorial service like a party. She displayed no outward expressions of grief and seemed more concerned about being the perfect host than making sure guests were catered to. When a neighbour saw the coroner's van outside the Stouty home after Shaun's death, she rushed over to check on the family. Diane answered the door and the neighbour asked if everything was alright. Diane responded casually: "Oh, yeah, my son died."
27:07 Speaker 00 Online, Diane barely mentioned her husband and son beyond brief obligatory death notices. Within days, she was back to posting positive Bible quotes and silly memes.
27:22 Speaker 00 As detectives began re-examining the deaths of Mark and Shaun Stouty, Diane agreed to be interviewed, unaware that any investigations were taking place.
27:34 Speaker 00 She was first asked about Sarah. Diane explained how a week earlier Sarah had complained of a mild headache and stomach upset, which resulted in her vomiting a few times. To Diane, Sarah's illness didn't seem that bad, as she had seen worst cases of the flu. Sarah spent most of her time in bed, only emerging to vomit into the toilet. She had no appetite, but was able to take fluids.
28:05 Speaker 00 Diane said Sarah's usual schedule consisted of her staying up all night with friends and sleeping during the day, so she hadn't noticed anything was seriously off until Sunday. That morning, Sarah was bedridden and unable to attend church. The rest of the family went without her. When they returned home at around 12:30pm, Sarah was still in bed, seemingly resting. Hours passed before Diane went to check on her again. By then, Sarah was unresponsive.
28:42 Speaker 00 Diane carried Sarah out to the car and rushed her to the hospital. Despite being a trained nurse, Diane was mystified as to what had caused Sarah's illness. All she could say was that it had done a number on her.
28:59 Speaker 00 When asked if Sarah might have harmed herself, Diane said that was a possibility. Sarah had bipolar disorder like her father and had threatened self-harm in the past.
29:12 Speaker 00 But Diane asserted that her daughter's behaviour had been fine lately. She'd also checked Sarah's medication and it appeared normal, ruling out the possibility that she had overdosed on it. Diane suggested that Sarah might have "gotten into the cleaners", meaning that she could have intentionally consumed poisonous household cleaning products. Diane was asked to be more specific. She responded with a laugh. "What do I have? I can't see her taking soap. Yuck."
29:50 Speaker 00 Diane was then asked what she thought happened to Sarah. She fell silent for a moment before replying with an exasperated sigh. "I really don't know. I've been trying to rack my brain to figure out what happened. I really can't think of anything. I don't know. It just doesn't make sense."
30:17 Speaker 00 Diane was told that further tests would be carried out to establish what exactly happened to Sarah. When asked if she thought anything suspicious might be found, Diane responded: "I have no clue. I don't even know what to look for. I mean, if they're looking for some kind of chemical that she may have taken, I can't think of what it would be." And if the tests did come back confirming the presence of a chemical, how would Diane explain that? She shrugged her shoulders and answered: "I don't know."
30:55 Speaker 00 Mark and Shaun Stoughty were both cremated, but Shaun was autopsied beforehand. As part of that process, the medical examiner had taken samples of Shaun's tissue, blood and hair. The samples were stored for a certain amount of time post-mortem, allowing for additional testing to take place if necessary. Although Mark wasn't autopsied, samples of the dried blood around his mouth had been collected and similarly stored. The interviewing detective asked Diane:
31:32 Speaker 00 "Is there any reason that from samples taken, that there might be some sort of correlation? Some kind of link? Something that might be similar between them?" Diane gently shook her head and replied: "I don't know."
31:50 Speaker 00 The detective pressed on: "And if there was, what would your explanation be?" Diane repeated: "I don't know." The detective then abruptly asked: "What was Mark's life insurance policy like?"
32:10 Speaker 00 Diane divulged that Mark's $20,000 life insurance payout had helped pay for a nicer home. Diane intended to use Shaun's $15,000 payout for bills. Sarah's policy would net Diane a further $15,000. Her other two daughters' amounts were the same. Diane was asked what she would spend Sarah's life insurance payout on.
32:39 Speaker 00 "I have no clue," she replied.
32:43 Speaker 00 By now, Diane's mood had shifted. She'd become solemn and contemplative, allowing for long moments of silence before answering questions. When asked if there was anyone that would want to harm her family, Diane claimed that Mark had a lot of weird acquaintances who were into drugs. "As for her kids," she said, "I can't imagine anybody trying to harm them."
33:13 Speaker 00 Diane was encouraged to open up about her marriage with Mark. She eventually admitted that it wasn't good, saying that Mark had a binge drinking problem, a cannabis habit, and had been unfaithful to her.
33:29 Speaker 00 Diane could never bring herself to kick him out, as she feared he would take his own life.
33:36 Speaker 00 "When Mark died, it was actually a relief. I just don't tell people that," Diane admitted, before adding: "Despite all his faults, I still loved him."
33:52 Speaker 00 Suspecting Diane was holding back information, the interviewing detective appealed to her religious beliefs. Referring to her as a "God-fearing woman", he asserted that the right thing to do was to speak honestly and ask for forgiveness. He told her: "I think you're a very good lady with the right intentions. Everybody reaches a tipping point or a breaking point. Maybe certain decisions are made that normally wouldn't be made. Oftentimes, the best way to ask for forgiveness is to talk about it and give an explanation."
34:34 Speaker 00 Diane expressed fear of going to jail. She was told to put that thought aside and to just focus on showing remorse and seeking forgiveness.
34:46 Speaker 00 Finally, after two hours of questioning, Diane flatly admitted: "To put it really short and sweet, I knew they were drinking Antifreeze."
35:00 Speaker 00 Antifreeze is an additive that lowers the freezing point of a water-based liquid. It is used in vehicles to stop the water in the engine cooling system from freezing during winter months. Commonly known as engine coolant, Antifreeze can be purchased at motoring supply shops and gas stations, and is a common item found in residential garages. It is extremely hazardous when ingested.
35:27 Speaker 00 It only takes a small amount of antifreeze to poison the human body, with the symptoms appearing gradually over several hours. The impacted person can feel or appear inebriated and suffer from headaches, fatigue, lack of coordination, grogginess, slurred speech, nausea, and vomiting. As the body breaks down the antifreeze, the chemical can interfere with kidney, lung, brain, and nervous system function, with organ damage occurring 24 to 72 hours after ingestion. It results in rapid breathing, erasing heartbeat and convulsions, concluding with loss of consciousness and death.
36:13 Speaker 00 Diane Stoughty was asked how she knew her family members were drinking antifreeze. She replied: "Because I saw them drinking it. I didn't know what else to do. I really didn't." Diane admitted that she had reached a breaking point. She claimed she didn't want to hurt her family. She was just mad. She was tired of working hard to provide for them while they took advantage of her and showed little appreciation.
36:45 Speaker 00 In Diane's words, Mark was a deadbeat who stayed home drinking, smoking, and enjoying his music. Diane had grown to hate her husband and said he lashed out violently at her and their kids.
37:00 Speaker 00 She couldn't stand being with him any longer, so she killed him. She did the same to Shaun because she was fed up with caring for him. She described Shaun as "more than a bother, more than a pest, who was always interfering in everything she did." Shaun's autism prevented him from holding down a job. Diane felt he was being willfully disobedient in his inability to contribute to the household.
37:33 Speaker 00 She felt the same towards Sarah. They often argued about how Sarah didn't try hard enough to get a job. Diane killed Sarah because she didn't want to wind up paying off her student loan debt.
37:49 Speaker 00 She felt very differently about her two youngest children, Rachel and Tia. They treated her well and caused no grief, so Diane hadn't poisoned them. She put it bluntly: "I'm not a perpetual killer, I'm just stupid. I regret doing it, I really do. I've screwed up everybody. I've screwed up my whole family."
38:16 Speaker 00 Diane had researched online and learned about the harmful qualities of antifreeze. It was easy to acquire and because of its sweet taste and a lack of odor, easy to disguise. No one would suspect Mark, Shaun or Sarah had been poisoned with antifreeze unless medical personnel knew to look for it, as its symptoms were similar to many normal ailments. Furthermore, the chemical's raw components were easily missed in an autopsy because they weren't part of normal toxicology screenings and required advanced testing to detect. Diane ordered bottles of antifreeze online
38:57 Speaker 00 and poured a couple of teaspoons into Gatorade for Mark and Coca-Cola for her children. She served the lethal concoction to her unsuspecting victims over a period of several weeks. The poison took effect within days, but often just resulted in mild flu-like symptoms. When Diane's target didn't die quick enough, she increased the dosage of antifreeze until it had its desired effect.
39:30 Speaker 00 Following Diane's shocking confession, detectives arrested her and began seeking more information about the Stoughty family dynamic. Sarah was still in hospital, and 11-year-old Tia was traumatised by her family's ongoing suffering. Yet, there was still one other sibling who could provide some insight. 22-year-old Rachel Stoughty agreed to speak with police. She was unaware that her mother had admitted to poisoning her father, brother and older sister. In contrast to Diane's account, Rachel said that Mark was a nice dad who fostered his children's independence.
40:13 Speaker 00 She admitted that her parents argued a little bit over money, but no more than any other married couple. Sometimes Diane took issue with Mark's friends as they drank and smoked. Rachel recalled her parents breaking a table during one disagreement, but overall they were close and had a pretty good relationship. She saw no abuse, and the only bad thing she had to say about her father had come from her mother. As for Shaun, Rachel said he was extremely low maintenance. All he needed was a puzzle or comic book and he was “a happy camper”.
40:55 Speaker 00 Shaun was independent and content being alone, hardly the imposing past Diane had made him out to be. Rachel didn't consider him to be a burden at all. He had a good relationship with his siblings, especially Sarah. Rachel said that when Shaun was sick, everyone took turns looking after him, though their mother primarily cared for him during the day while she worked from home. Diane gave him Coca-Cola as it was one of the few things he could stomach. When asked about her mother's reaction to Shaun's passing, Rachel said Diane wished they could have done more for him.
41:38 Speaker 00 She felt like a failure as a mum, because it was one thing to lose your husband, but far worse to lose a child.
41:47 Speaker 00 Rachel remembered when Sarah fell ill too. The toilet was right across from her bedroom, and at night she could hear Sarah going in to vomit. Rachel tried to convince Sarah to eat, but she had no appetite. She could manage to drink though, so Rachel and Diane would bring her fluids. Things eventually deteriorated to the point where Sarah couldn't get up off the floor. When she lost consciousness, Rachel helped carry her out to the car and take her to the hospital. According to Rachel, Diane expressed guilt over Sarah's predicament too, lamenting that she should have taken her to the hospital sooner.
42:34 Speaker 00 Rachel also recalled the time Sarah had threatened to self-harm. It was during middle school, and Rachel was certain it was only a cry for help. Since then, Sarah hadn't expressed any suicidal thoughts. She had been a high achiever at college and was otherwise doing well. Rachel admitted that Sarah wasn't trying very hard to find work, though her options were limited. She had degrees in French and history, and her interests lay in teaching or translating French, but there weren't many opportunities in Missouri, as most students learnt Spanish.
43:16 Speaker 00 It was normal for Sarah to spend the day on her computer, watching videos online, instead of helping out around the house.
43:25 Speaker 00 Rachel was more frustrated with Sarah than her mother seemed to be. Although Diane was disappointed by Sarah's lack of effort, she was patient with her. Rachel had never seen them arguing.
43:40 Speaker 00 Diane would bring up Sarah's unemployment during normal conversations, but it was never in a heated way, more so a gentle nudging.
43:51 Speaker 00 Rachel admitted that she'd found the situation with her father, brother and sister weird. She worried that their terminal condition was hereditary and she would catch it next. Diane had reassured her, saying that Mark had a heart problem, Shaun's death was due to his seizures, and Sarah's illness was out of the blue.
44:16 Speaker 00 Diane led Rachel to believe that she would be fine.
44:23 Speaker 00 After Rachel had revealed all of this, a detective told her kindly:
44:29 Speaker 00 "What has happened is your mum has admitted to killing your dad and your brother, and trying to kill your sister with poison. I know it's hard to process and a hard thing to even think about, but she basically spelled it out to us how she did this and the reasons for doing it."
44:49 Speaker 00 Rachel sat in shock as the truth set in. She then began to sob as the detective asked: "Did you have any suspicions that mum was doing anything?"
45:02 Speaker 00 Rachel tearfully explained that she knew her mother was frustrated, but she had no idea that she wanted to harm their family.
45:13 Speaker 00 Meanwhile, a search of the Stoughty home uncovered evidence pertaining to Diane's crimes, including a bottle of Prestone brand antifreeze engine coolant in the garage. Next to it was a six-pack of Coca-Cola. Examination of a laptop revealed that between searches for Christian sheet music and funny cat videos were many others relating to fatal essential oils, poisons used in suicides, herbs that cause stroke, and where to purchase rat poison. The same laptop was used days after Mark Stoughty's death to determine lethal doses of over-the-counter pain relief medication for adults weighing 48 kilograms.
45:58 Speaker 00 This was Shaun Stoughty's weight.
46:02 Speaker 00 Officers searched a bedroom and noticed a purple notebook sitting on top of a shelf. The word 'journal' was printed across the front cover, and the pages inside were full of handwritten musings about the day-to-day happenings of the Stoughty family. An entry dated Monday, June 11, 2011 stood out. It read:
46:29 Speaker 00 "Sometimes I wish I could avoid the future and keep looking to the past. It's sad when I realise how my father will pass on in the next two months, and how Shaun, my brother, will move on shortly after. And yet, it's really helpful. I'm being warned, so I have more time to prepare and cope. Also, I get to have Dad's car when he's gone. It'll be tough getting used to the changes, but everything will work out."
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50:19 Speaker 00 On her Facebook page, Diane Stoughty once posted the quote: "Never miss an opportunity to tell your child 'I love you'."
50:29 Speaker 00 Despite this, only one Stoughty child received the bulk of her affection.
50:36 Speaker 00 Diane's third-oldest Rachel was her perfect golden child. Unlike Shaun, Sarah and Tia, 22-year-old Rachel was uncomplicated. She didn't face the same struggles as her siblings and was a successful overachiever. She excelled in school, spoke four languages, and played multiple musical instruments. She loved maths, chemistry, art and poetry. Diane plastered her Facebook page with praise directed at Rachel, while her other children barely rated a mention. It was clear Rachel was Diane's favourite and the pair shared a remarkably close, best-friend-type bond.
51:21 Speaker 00 They understood one another and confided in each other.
51:26 Speaker 00 Rachel also confided in her personal diary, a journal with a purple cover that she kept on a shelf in her bedroom. Mark and Shaun were killed nearly a year after the entry Rachel made predicting their deaths, well over the two-month deadline she had anticipated. Yet, the fact she even knew about them beforehand was surprising.
51:52 Speaker 00 And a search of Rachel's purse uncovered a poem she had written after Sarah was hospitalized. It read: "Once upon a time, there were six, and now there are only three. Only the quiet ones are left: my mum, my little sister, and me."
52:14 Speaker 00 In Diane's police interview, she had insisted that no one else knew what she'd done. During Rachel's interview, she was asked directly if she had any involvement in her mother's scheme. Rachel had shook her head no and cried.
52:32 Speaker 00 Following the discovery of Rachel's diary, police conducted another interview with her. They kept word of the find to themselves and instead just asked how she felt about what her mother had done. Rachel said she was confused and shocked, explaining: "No one expects to have somebody that they know do that. I mean, who judges who can live?" Detectives then asked: "Did your mother ever say anything to you about any of your family members being in bad health and that they were going to die in the near future?"
53:10 Speaker 00 Rachel said that her mother had spoken about Mark smoking and drinking. She said if he kept it up, then he wasn't going to make it to the age of eighty. Rachel claimed that Diane had never mentioned anything about Shaun or Sarah's future.
53:28 Speaker 00 Rachel was shown a banal entry from the Purple Journal found in the Stoughty home. She confirmed the diary was hers and that she had written the entries within. She was then shown the entry where she predicted Mark and Shaun's deaths.
53:45 Speaker 00 Rachel thought for a moment before explaining that she had a dream around that time that Mark and Shaun would die. She claimed she told her mother about the dream.
53:57 Speaker 00 "What did you tell your mother?", the police asked.
54:01 Speaker 00 Rachel started to sob tearlessly as she replied: "That it would be quick and easy, that they'd be in heaven soon and we could move on."
54:16 Speaker 00 Rachel continued to open up, stating matter-of-factly: "I didn't know when my mother bought the antifreeze, but I knew she'd been doctoring drinks with that." Although the interviewing detective was stunned by Rachel's admission, he remained cool and kept asking questions. Rachel admitted that her mother had confided in her about her intention to kill the others.
54:43 Speaker 00 She offered more insight as to how the plan came to fruition. After Diane settled on antifreeze as her murder weapon, she purchased it online. This was because antifreeze sold in stores has an added bittering agent to prevent accidental ingestion. Diane kept a small amount of antifreeze hidden in a container under the kitchen sink. She would tip out two inches or so of whatever drink she'd poured for Mark, Shaun or Sarah, and then refill it with the poison.
55:17 Speaker 00 By this point in Rachel's interview, she'd admitted to knowing that her mother was intending to kill family members, but maintained that she'd acted alone. Yet, when explaining how Diane researched by reading a book about poisonous plants, Rachel initially said "we would", before quickly correcting her answer to "she would". Detectives suspected they weren't getting the full story. They told Rachel that they'd seized the laptop she and Diane shared, and asked what they'd find on it. Rachel admitted that she had once searched "how to kill someone". The interviewing detective then asked a risky question,
56:02 Speaker 00 not expecting to receive the answer he was looking for.
56:07 Speaker 00 "Your mother would pour some of the drink out, and then she would put the antifreeze in the drink, and then give it to your father. How often did you do that?" After thinking for a moment, Rachel replied coolly: "Once." The detective was stunned. When he pressed Rachel to be honest, she clarified her answer: "Three, four times."
56:38 Speaker 00 This gradual drip feed of information formed the basis of Rachel's confession. She would initially give a broad, uncertain or deceptive answer before being grilled with follow-up questions. Eventually, she gave detailed, consistent answers that aligned with the facts of the case.
56:59 Speaker 00 She was first interrogated about her father's death. "It was a trade-off," Rachel said casually. "Mum would do it, then I would." Rachel mixed the drinks for her father twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, for several weeks. She didn't have a clear schedule with her mother, who typically administered her poisonings in the afternoon, so they often overlapped and served many poisoned drinks to mark a day.
57:31 Speaker 00 As Rachel's story unraveled, it was clear she'd participated in the poisonings more than just the three or four times she had initially admitted to.
57:42 Speaker 00 Mark didn't fall sick at first. Diane reassured Rachel, telling her, "It will take time."
57:52 Speaker 00 It was several weeks before Mark finally became ill.
57:57 Speaker 00 The women continued to poison him with higher doses. By the end, Mark's drinks consisted of half soda or Gatorade and half antifreeze.
58:08 Speaker 00 Diane and Rachel went through upwards of five bottles of antifreeze in their efforts to kill him. Despite having previously praised her father, Rachel now claimed that Mark was killed because he was turbulent and abusive. This was at odds with her own diary, where Rachel had written that her father would, quote, "Rather cut off his own arm than hurt us." Nevertheless, she went on to write that her father was still "more of a hindrance alive."
58:41 Speaker 00 Rachel said she mixed a drink a day for Shaun and one every so often for Sarah, but mostly used bottles of Coca-Cola or Gatorade that Diane had premixed in advance. When asked, "Why did you guys want to kill them?", Rachel replied indifferently.
59:03 Speaker 00 "Shaun, I accepted that Mum wanted him gone, but I really didn't think he was necessary."
59:11 Speaker 00 After further pressing, Rachel admitted that she found Shaun annoying. As for Sarah, Rachel said, "I really actually wasn't aware that Mum was getting Sarah. I knew about Shaun, I knew about Dad, but I didn't know she was going to go ahead with Sarah." As usual, Rachel's lies didn't hold up under further scrutiny. She soon admitted that she had known about the plan to kill Sarah a month beforehand. As to why they wanted Sarah dead, Rachel explained, "Other than the fact that she basically lived in the back bedroom and didn't have any gumption to get a job, I'm not certain.
59:56 Speaker 00 Mum probably has her own issues with her."
1:00:01 Speaker 00 The detective asked, "What about you?", Rachel took a deep breath before replying, "She's annoying, yes, but I don't know."
1:00:14 Speaker 00 Rachel eventually admitted that she found Sarah very nosey and they fought all the time. She added bluntly,
1:00:24 Speaker 00 "Back in middle school, Sarah would touch me. I mean, she grew out of it later when she got on the medicine, but she still argues. She still has really inappropriate jokes. She really had no purpose."
1:00:40 Speaker 00 Rachel clarified that the touching she was referring to was both physical and sexual, but Sarah acted like she couldn't remember it.
1:00:51 Speaker 00 Despite the seriousness of these allegations, and the fact that Rachel was implying deep prolonged trauma had motivated her to kill Sarah, she never referred to it again. Investigators thought it was convenient that Rachel said Sarah had no recollection of it either. As Rachel was a proven liar, they believed she'd made up the shocking accusation to make Sarah's murder appear understandable. It still didn't provide any justification as to why she'd participated in killing Mark and Shaun beforehand.
1:01:28 Speaker 00 Rachel made yet another revelation. She claimed Sarah was in on the murder plot too.
1:01:37 Speaker 00 Police were incredulous. If Sarah was aware of and involved in the plan to poison Mark and Shaun, then she would know not to accept any drinks herself, especially once she started developing symptoms.
1:01:53 Speaker 00 Rachel said that when Sarah fell ill, she asked them, "Am I going to die, or will I die soon?" Rachel and Diane would reply, "I don't know." Sarah didn't ask or accuse them of poisoning her, despite allegedly knowing that they had done it twice before. Nor did she reach out to anyone else or seek help on her own volition. In Rachel's own words, Sarah was very afraid of death and often talked about not wanting to die.
1:02:30 Speaker 00 Detectives felt that these actions didn't align with the narrative that Sarah knew what her mother and sister were up to. Then there was the question as to why Diane and Rachel had taken Sarah to the hospital for treatment. Rachel revealed this wasn't done due to any sense of care, compassion, or a desire to save Sarah's life. It was Rachel's idea because she, quote, "didn't want another one to die in the house, because houses are nasty after somebody's died in it."
1:03:06 Speaker 00 After Shaun died, Rachel moved into his room and was plagued by nightmares. She said it was awful that she kept sensing a ghostly presence in the space, and she didn't want to experience that again when Sarah passed. Rachel's fear seemed genuine. She was uncharacteristically nervous and shaky when discussing the haunting in Shaun's room.
1:03:31 Speaker 00 She had also written about it in her diary immediately following Shaun's death. Quote: "Yet, I feel your gaze lingering over me. I close my eyes and try not to think of the ghosts of copper and bleach. On my tongue, I try not to think of shuddery breaths or how easily a soul evaporates, leaving nothing behind but a hollow husk curled up on the floor, eyes vacant and dull, arms extended. But, what were you reaching for?"
1:04:05 Speaker 00 As for the youngest, stouty child, Tia, Rachel admitted that she and Diane had planned to kill her after Sarah. The motive was similar to Shaun. Tia's learning disabilities were a burden, and they didn't want to look after her. Rachel remarked: "I know there's no way in hell I'd be able to take care of Tia. I can't take care of me, so how could I ever take care of her?"
1:04:37 Speaker 00 Following Rachel's harrowing confession, police re-interviewed Diane. Upon learning that her daughter had confessed, Diane made full admissions that she and Rachel had planned, researched, and committed the crimes together. Neither woman expressed a genuine remorse or regret. Nor did Diane show any hint of sadness for sacrificing Rachel's promising future in favour of grooming her to be her partner in crime.
1:05:11 Speaker 00 By the time Diane and Rachel's deadly plot was exposed, Sarah Stoughty's condition had changed dramatically. Although hospital staff had given her a 0% chance of survival when she was first admitted, in a miraculous turn of events, she was slowly recovering.
1:05:32 Speaker 00 Both Diane and Rachel were surprised to learn of Sarah's survival, though not relieved. Rachel had even nodded her head and said "yes" when asked if she still wanted Sarah to die.
1:05:47 Speaker 00 But Sarah's ordeal wasn't over.
1:05:51 Speaker 00 The strokes and seizures she'd endured left her with severe neurological damage. She had to relearn to walk and talk.
1:06:01 Speaker 00 When Sarah was well enough, she agreed to a police interview. She hadn't yet been informed that her mother and sister had confessed to poisoning her. Investigators wanted to get to the bottom of Rachel's claim that Sarah had known about their crimes. Sarah was told that police had been investigating why she had fallen sick. "What do you think we found out?", detectives asked. Sarah replied: "I don't know." When asked if she thought anyone would try to hurt her, Sarah said: "No, all I know is that I got sick."
1:06:43 Speaker 00 Sarah was then informed that her mother and sister had admitted to making her unwell.
1:06:50 Speaker 00 Sarah went on to recount an experience she'd had after Mark and Shaun died. One day, she found her mother's personal diary. Sarah opened it and found an entry Diane had written about Mark and Shaun's deaths. To Sarah's shock, the entry also referred to her own death. Unnerved, Sarah confronted her mother, but her concerns were dismissed and she was warned not to go looking in the diary again.
1:07:23 Speaker 00 Sarah said this hadn't alerted her to the fact that her mother or sister were responsible for making Mark, Shaun, or herself sick. Sarah flat-out denied being involved in any part of the scheme, and nothing that was uncovered suggested she'd known what was going on. Detectives believed Sarah, but in any case, her brain had been seriously damaged by the antifreeze. It was obvious from their conversations that her mind was foggy, and she didn't fully comprehend what was being asked. Given Sarah's condition and the lack of evidence pertaining to her guilt, detectives ended
1:08:05 Speaker 00 these inquiries with the belief that she was an innocent victim. Diane Stoughty was ultimately charged with two counts of first-degree murder for Mark and Shaun, as well as one count of first-degree assault and one of armed criminal action for the crimes against Sarah. Rachel Stoughty was charged with the same offences. In May 2015, three years after the poisonings began, Rachel pleaded guilty as part of a deal. In exchange for testifying against her mother at trial, Rachel would be eligible for parole one day.
1:08:47 Speaker 00 At her sentencing, Rachel read an apology she had penned to her sister Sarah. In it, she claimed she was haunted by the reality of loss, and grieved knowing that her guilt wasn't a passing phase.
1:09:03 Speaker 00 "Your suffering could have been prevented, and I hate myself for not being there for you. Things will never be the same, but I can try to change to become a better person. I want you to know that you are an inspiration to me. Thank you for showing me what I can be."
1:09:24 Speaker 00 Rachel Stoughty, who was now 25 years old, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 42 years. In January 2016, Diane Stoughty also accepted a plea deal. She agreed to plead guilty to all but the armed criminal action charge in order to avoid potentially receiving the death penalty if the case went to trial. She was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without parole. Since her incarceration, Diane has changed her story yet again.
1:10:03 Speaker 00 In a 2022 interview with ABC's 2020, Diane claimed that she was completely innocent. She said that her husband was associated with dangerous people who had put out a hit on him. Someone from within that circle was responsible for poisoning him. She even went on to claim that she had been poisoned at one point, though she offered no explanation as to how Shaun and Sarah came to be victims as well. A case detective clarified: "There is nothing whatsoever to show that anybody was involved in this case, other
1:10:41 Speaker 00 than those mentioned already." If Rachel Stoughty hadn't incriminated herself in her diary, there was a very real possibility that her involvement in the poisonings would have never been uncovered. A clinical and forensic psychologist told A and E that the diary entries were evidence of how much control Diane exerted over Rachel. It had reached the point where Rachel was fully convinced of her mother's scheme, believing it was "just the way it has to be." Therefore, she journaled about it as if it were any other mundane experience she was dealing with in her life.
1:11:28 Speaker 00 As a result of Sarah Stoughty's permanent neurological damage, she now lives in an assisted care facility and has a state-appointed guardian. Sarah was unable to care for her youngest sibling, Tia, who was consequently placed in foster care.
1:11:45 Speaker 00 In a statement read aloud in court, Sarah said, "I prefer to be a survivor than a victim." She intends to fulfill her dream of traveling to France and becoming a translator. In the meantime, Sarah campaigns to raise awareness of antifreeze poisoning.
1:12:06 Speaker 00 Following Sarah's ordeal, she struggled the most with how much she missed her father and brother. She lives her life believing their spirits protect her.
1:12:18 Speaker 00 "Mark and Shaun are like angels watching over me, and every once in a while, I have dreams that they visit me." Although Sarah was angry when she found out her mother and sister had poisoned her, she has since moved past this feeling. "I forgive them for what they did, because forgiveness is the right thing to do."
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