10 | Take Care, Kid

Summary

Blunt Force Trauma – Episode 10: "Take Care, Kid"
Podcast Host: Troy Taylor (EchoSpace)
Date: June 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

This pivotal episode features a tense, emotional conversation between key individuals close to Faith Ely, focusing on the inconsistencies and heartbreak surrounding her death. Instead of typical narrative, the episode unfolds mainly as a raw dialogue—a mix of confession, accusation, and plea for truth—between Ryan (a central figure present during Faith’s last moments), Faith’s family, and another unidentified speaker. Central to the episode is the push for accountability: if Faith didn’t die by suicide or a hit-and-run, what is the real story? The host serves primarily as a facilitator of this confrontation, emphasizing the necessity of truth for justice and healing.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Addiction, Guilt, and Redemption

• The conversation opens with talk about addiction and how personal failings don’t exclude love for others, but that ultimately, individuals are responsible for their recovery ([00:37]).
• The theme of "the need to turn around and face the truth" is invoked repeatedly, relating both to Ryan’s personal life and to the events surrounding Faith’s death.
• Religion and hope surface, with a speaker urging that Jesus, not despair, provides hope ([01:12]).

Demand for the Truth

• Family members press Ryan to break from old patterns and reveal what he knows:
  • "We don't know the truth if the truth isn't being spoken." ([01:50], Speaker B)
  • "Faith was not hit by a car. And Faith did not jump out in front of one." ([05:22], Speaker B)
• There’s mutual acknowledgment of rumors, accusations, and shifting blame among those present in the house that night ([04:18]).

The Night of Faith’s Death

• Ryan recounts the night, describing a fight between Faith and his mother, Faith leaving, and later finding her on the side of the road ([07:24], [07:33]).
  • He tries to elicit help from passing vehicles, with a moment of mistaken communication ("somebody hit my dog or my Doberman") ([07:48]).
  • Ryan’s account is challenged for its omissions and inconsistencies:
    • "I think you have more of the answers than you want us to know. ... You already hit on it when you said it was the fight." ([08:55], Speaker B)
    • The medical examiner’s report is cited: lacerations and injuries would have rendered Faith unable to walk far from the house ([09:43]).

Shifting Narratives, Lingering Doubt

• Ryan admits to minimizing details and questions whether Faith’s injuries (broken ribs, lacerations) could have come from the fight ([11:49], [12:03]).
• He resists being labeled as Faith’s killer but struggles to articulate what he distinctly witnessed ([12:57]):
  • "Am I sitting here talking to my daughter's killer, or am I sitting here talking to my daughter's witness?" ([12:57], Speaker B)
  • "A witness." ([13:05], Ryan/C)
• There is tension over the exact sequence and locations of the fight, how drunk or impaired the key figures were, and whether other injuries were caused afterward ([14:15]-[15:47]).

The Need for Official Confrontation

• Ryan is urged multiple times to talk openly with State Trooper Tim Baker, who investigated the case and administered Ryan's polygraph ([17:52], [20:11], [23:46]).
  • "I would highly recommend that you have a conversation with Trooper Baker [...] You choose." ([17:52], Speaker B)

Truth, Consequences, and Legacy

• The family pleads with Ryan to break the cycle of denial, guilt, and ambiguous blame, emphasizing faith, forgiveness, and the opportunity for redemption ([18:53]-[22:35]).
  • "Take your own bag if you want. Want to change your life around." ([22:11], Speaker D)
  • "Stop doing the same things you've always done. Instead of running away from the consequences, how about stopping and turning around and facing some stuff?" ([22:17], Speaker B)
• The speaker appeals to Ryan’s future and his children: "Think about it for your kids. They are what matter." ([24:02], Speaker D)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[...] just because you have an addiction doesn't mean that you don't love your kids [...] But the addiction is strong." — Speaker B, [00:37]
• "Faith was not hit by a car. And Faith did not jump out in front of one." — Speaker B, [05:22]
• "I can tell you right now, I know for a fact she did not commit suicide. And she was not hit by a car." — Speaker B, [03:48]
• "Am I sitting here talking to my daughter's killer, or am I sitting here talking to my daughter's witness?" — Speaker B, [12:57]
• "She would have been dead within 30 seconds of her spleen being lacerated." — Speaker B, referencing the medical report, [09:43]
• "I'm not trying to dismiss anything, any actions or any accountability about her. I'm trying to let go of this and I feel like I can't." — Ryan/C, [06:46]
• "We're not going to let go until we know for a fact what happened." — Speaker B, [06:59]
• "Y'all made your choices and I can't do anything about that. Faith was a grown adult. She made her choices. But she's dead now. You're still here. And you can make a choice. Make one." — Speaker B, [20:43]
• "Truth is what sets all everybody free." — Speaker D, [24:38]
• Closing: "Take care, kid." — Speaker B, [25:33]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:37: Addiction, guilt, and appeals for self-reflection.
• 01:12: Religious hope and calls for facing uncomfortable truths.
• 03:48: Categorical rejection of the "suicide" or "hit by car" narrative.
• 07:24-09:43: Ryan’s stumbling recollection of the night of Faith’s death and confrontation with the medical facts.
• 12:57: Sharp questioning of Ryan’s role: "killer or witness?"
• 14:15-17:29: Contradictory stories about the fight; struggle with memory, intoxication, and guilt.
• 17:52, 20:11, 23:46: Urged to speak with Trooper Tim Baker.
• 22:17-22:35: Final encouragement: face consequences, seek redemption.
• 24:02-24:38: Emphasis on family, legacy, and the hope for closure.
• 25:33: Signature send-off: "Take care, kid."

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Episode Tone & Style

• Emotionally charged, confessional, and at times accusatory.
• Language is raw and direct, reflecting the pain and unresolved grief of Faith’s family and the defensive, wounded posture of Ryan.
• The dominant atmosphere is one of desperation for answers and the undercurrent of the tragedy’s impact on everyone involved.

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For Listeners

This episode is a crucial turning point in the series—moving from broad speculation into confronting those at the heart of the case. It starkly illustrates the messiness of truth, memory, and accountability following violent loss. For those invested in Faithe Ely’s story, it’s a deeply human episode that refuses to shy away from pain or ambiguity, and makes clear that closure—legal, emotional, or spiritual—remains elusive until the truth is fully revealed.

Transcript

[A]

Please note, this podcast contains references to physical and sexual assault and graphic depictions of violence. Listener discretion is advised. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily align with the opinions or beliefs of the host or producers.

[B]

You gotta turn around, Ryan.

[C]

I'm trying. I'm trying, trying so hard.

[B]

But you know good and well that just because you have an addiction doesn't mean that you don't love your kids or you don't love your family. But the addiction is strong. It hasn't. One doesn't have anything to do with the other. And lots of people have varying addictions of all kind and at all levels. It's up to you to get the help to break that.

[C]

Tried to go like I wasn't going to be there if I didn't come here first.

[B]

The devil is one that tells you there's no hope. Jesus is the hope.

[D]

There you go.

[B]

There's a reason why you were pushed to come here, to reach out. There's a reason. You got to be the one to accept that. You got to be the one to say, you know what? I'm not going to run anymore. I don't. I don't want to do the same thing I've always done. It's time that I turn around and I start facing some things and I start telling some truths.

[C]

Feel like we all know the truth, but it's a matter of moving on.

[B]

You can't move on from something like this. We don't know the truth if the truth isn't being. Isn't being spoken.

[D]

Right.

[B]

And as long as everybody else is continuing to let you be the one to take the fall and as long as you're willing to lay there and let some, let everybody do it for something you may not have done. What happened to fake that night? It was the fight,

[C]

Sam.

[B]

Then maybe having a sit down conversation. Yeah. With Trooper Baker and with the lieutenant and having that conversation with them and throwing. Letting them know this is what happened. This is what I know happened. If it was an accident, then it was an accident. Nobody actually, Nobody thinks it was on purpose or planned. Yeah.

[D]

Premeditated.

[B]

Nobody thinks that. Never did.

[D]

And we're more than willing to.

[B]

But you tell them

[D]

through, through it all. But there's, there's got to be. There's got to be some truth that's given. But I'll reiterate. And none of us can sit or that are sitting here today think that you could or you'll think that she, she died on Purpose.

[B]

I can tell you right now, I know for a fact she did not commit suicide. And she was not hit by a car.

[D]

And that's forensics and science. You know, we can't, we can't argue that. We can't say, oh well, maybe she did. Because it literally says she did not. She could not. So then it's where has that left us for four years? Damn near four years. But okay, well then there's only three other people that house that know what really happened.

[B]

And two of them are pointing at you.

[C]

Right.

[D]

And yet. Yeah, you've reached out.

[B]

Do you, do you really understand that?

[C]

I totally understand.

[B]

Done wrong.

[C]

That she's done wrong has turned their backs on us. I understand. I get it. And it's because of their own filth and greed. I feel like. I feel like it's because of the filth and greed that, the guilt that they wanted to point fingers at me in the first place and they know that I didn't do it, but they want to say that I did because of, because of my past and because of things. Because of the way I've moved since she's been gone till now. And it's taken me up until I realized my life is over if I don't come and tell you.

[D]

And I feel like if there's any

[C]

other questions, then I feel like God is the only one to have the answers.

[B]

Take the time, time that you need to think about what we've talked about today. There's far more. There's far more. But I. I can tell you Faith was not hit by a car. And Faith did not jump out in front of one. She's.

[C]

She's literally said those things to me, but I never thought she would be like she did.

[D]

Just, just like you said it to her. And you're, you're still here. You know, we say things when we're mad and we're angry and we tell. Tell each other that because we know it hurts somebody. It'll hurt somebody. So you know, just, just do the right thing.

[B]

You know, you decide.

[C]

One more. No, I feel like I told her to kill herself. And I feel like she used that to teach me a lesson. And this is my lesson.

[D]

You can scratch that. She didn't make you pay. You know, she didn't make your words true, but by teaching you that lesson. Cuz that's not a lesson that, that she, she did to herself. So you can let that one go.

[C]

I'm not trying to dismiss anything, any actions or any accountability about her. I'm trying to let go of this and I feel like I can't. Nobody else can.

[B]

We're not going to let go until we know for a fact what happened.

[C]

I'm putting. Couldn't hurt the spot. What I'm in her spot. I'm in Faith's spot. And the only thing I feel like I can do to make my life right in order to save everything and everybody that I give a about is to tell the truth. And that's why I'm here.

[B]

So what's the truth?

[C]

That is the truth.

[B]

What, what, what was the truth? Because you brought up the suicide thing. That's not the truth.

[C]

Fight was the only thing that I know about. And when I found her, she was on the opposite side. When I walked up the road, I walked down against truck. It was getting dark. She was walking truck. And as I come up on her, she was the last house on the

[B]

side of the road.

[C]

I thought she was a bag of trash. And I ran across the street. Nobody would stop. I tried to get plenty of people stopped. Nobody was stopped. This one truck stopped. And he thought that I said, somebody hit my dog or somebody hit my Doberman or something. So that's what we do. And told my mom. I stood up there in the house that she was closest to was, you know, it was far enough that they didn't hear me right away, but screamed as hollered as loud as I could. You know, I'm so far away. When he finally came outside, I didn't want to leave her there. I didn't want to touch her. So I couldn't do anything but scream, talk. And the one person that stopped thought I said, somebody get my logo. And that's what he would told me how. And that's when she came up there. I understand there's questions, but I don't. They're questions that I don't have.

[B]

I think you have more of the answers than you want us to know. I think you have the answers. I think you know what happened. I think you already hit on it when you said it was the fight. You already made one step. Keep going. The fight didn't kill her. And then her, she just got up and walked down at the end of the road and placed herself down there. You're making some steps. That it was the fight that killed her. She got up and she walked down the street. Didn't kill her.

[C]

I feel like she let out while she ran,

[B]

which is so crazy because according to the medical examiner, all the lacerations on her spleen from her broken ribs. It is physically impossible for somebody to get back up and take off down the road. She would have been dead within 30 seconds of her spleen being lacerated. Somebody picked her up in 10 minutes

[C]

time, and she had to have been

[B]

picked up in 10 minutes time from the last time you saw her walking down the road. Somebody picked her up, maybe not 10

[C]

minutes, but, you know, give or take,

[B]

in 10 minutes, within 15 minutes, within 4/10 of a mile, somebody picked her up, beat her to death later on the side of the road. And then you found her. No, you're right, no. And then you wonder why it is that anybody else has a hard time not believing everybody pointing the finger at you. So tell the truth. You were there.

[C]

I was not there.

[B]

You were there that evening.

[C]

Oh, I was there. But I'm saying I wasn't there when you think placed on the side of the road. Understand? I told them that's because of what I seen, and it's because of what everybody else has seen is why they think that it was neither. For them, it wasn't.

[B]

It wasn't just what everybody else has seen. Everybody else who was there at the house with you that night, who are saying it was you.

[C]

I couldn't do that. I couldn't do that.

[B]

So who have you told? Who have you told what you saw? Who have you told what happened that night? Because the only thing you've been saying is you started off with, well, she was hit by a vehicle. No, she was.

[C]

But it's because I minimized the side, and that's. And I didn't learn that minimizing things is good. Cause, you know, it's a. It's a sign of guilt.

[B]

So you're saying the fight, she was actually killed in the fight?

[C]

I feel like the fight assaulted in her bleeding out, and I feel like she ran, and I feel like that's.

[B]

Well, I'll tell you what, Ryan. The next time you want to have a conversation, I'll be more than happy to sit down and have that conversation with you. But I'd like to have some truth come out of you. Give me a little bit more. You were there. You was there that night.

[C]

But I wasn't there when she got killed. Since she died there, I watched her with my own eyes. Everybody else that was going to the

[B]

house they seen her baby in, those same people are saying that you're the

[D]

one that did her, right?

[B]

So am I sitting here talking to my daughter's killer, or am I sitting here talking to my daughter's witness. Who am I talking to? We all loved her. But I want to talk to somebody who knows what happened, is willing to tell me what happened. So am I talking to my daughter's killer, or am I talking to my daughter's witness? Which one are you talking to? A witness. What did you witness, Ryan? You witnessed a fight, and you minimized the severity of the fight. So she got into a fist fight with your mother, ended up with nine total broken ribs, several lacerations on her spleen, internal bleeding. And she got up and walked down there and fell.

[C]

They were rolling around. I couldn't tell you exactly.

[B]

See, that's the other thing, because that's not what your mom said. It was not in the driveway. It's on the porch. And they fell off the porch.

[C]

At that time, I was still wiping beer out of

[B]

the time it took for them to get into a scuffle, fall off the porch, onto the ground and get up. You. It took you that long to get beer out of your eyes?

[C]

And I couldn't see what was going on until, you know, until they were getting out towards back into the truck.

[B]

So the fight started on from the inside of the house to the end of the truck.

[C]

I don't know where exactly where it started at. I just know where. Where I started, where I started at. And they started at. I was coming out the door. They were on their way towards the door driveway. A month ago or so. Like, some of the scratches could have possibly been from the fight.

[B]

You want to say that the scratches that were on her, you want to say, you know, that was from the fight?

[C]

Yeah, but I don't. I don't know because I could, you know, I didn't examine her. She left. She was already leaving. I mean, I know she had a busted lip. That was all. That was all I could see.

[B]

While you're still wiping beer out of

[C]

your eyes,

[B]

by that point, you're outside. So this fight started inside the house.

[C]

That. Where she dumped a deer in my eyes. Eyes was inside the house. We were right inside the front door, sitting on the couch, and she. She was sitting here facing me, and I'm facing her. And we were down like this, talking, and she said something, and she spilled me in my eyes. And she got up, walked out the door. Yes, my mom went out the door after. That's all I know.

[B]

Until you got outside. So when you got out the door, where were faith in your mom

[C]

going? Towards the driveway.

[B]

Still enough. Still fighting.

[C]

I have a bad memory. Like, all this stuff. So it's Like, I couldn't tell you detail for detail. We were on drugs with drinking during the day, you know, pretty much all that day we were drinking. So I don't feel like we were drunk enough for her to fall. And I don't feel like she was. I don't feel like she fell. I feel like. I honestly feel like somebody hit her or picked her up. Hit her and then picked her up and then put her there. Yeah, that's what I feel like in my home.

[B]

Hit her with what?

[C]

I don't know. Trailer tires. I'm not sure.

[B]

Was no vehicle involved?

[C]

I was told. I wasn't told anything. So I was all new to you. This is pretty much just like. So I don't. I don't.

[B]

Your mom didn't tell you anything?

[C]

I've not talked to my mom hardly. I don't. We don't hardly speak to each other at all. She's completely pulled at, you know, she's not. We're not really a part of each other's lives anymore.

[B]

I would highly recommend that you have a conversation with Trooper Baker. You know him. He's the one that gave you that polygraph test and had that conversation. He's talked to your mother several times. I would highly recommend you have that conversation with him so you can get in the know so that you can be fully brought up to speed as to what all is on. But I can tell you unequivocally that Faith did not kill herself and Faith was not hit by a vehicle. Faith was killed at that house. And there was three of you there. One of you know, and I believe all three of you know exactly what happened. And two are pointing at you. You choose.

[D]

That's probably why you need to talk, to.

[C]

Understand

[B]

you want to get on the path to redemption and forgiveness. Start getting on the path to truthfulness. Truthfulness and facing what has happened. That's the first major step. And I'm telling you, once you've made that step, the rest of the steps fall in place. It becomes easier. Every step you take. It's the hurdle right?

[D]

There's. It's going to come to an end where somebody's. Somebody's gonna go down for it.

[B]

But it's coming.

[D]

Everybody in your personal circle, your family circle, your friends circle, they all point at one person.

[B]

And you didn't fight it.

[C]

That's immediately what everybody did in the first place.

[B]

You didn't get into. But you ain't been saying nothing to defend yourself neither.

[C]

I know it's because I've been Automatically accused.

[B]

That doesn't mean that you should take accountability for something you didn't do. If you didn't do it. But you know what happened. Say so.

[C]

Don't know. I wish I did. I wouldn't have been questioning myself as far

[D]

as.

[B]

I would have that conversation with Trooper Baker. I would think about it. You really want to turn your life around? You really want to be any kind of assistance when it comes to finding out what happened to Faith? That's the first main step to take.

[C]

I'm sorry we never get the chance to meet. I'm sorry we never get the chance to talk. I'm sorry you never got the chance to know me before.

[B]

Y' all made your choices and I can't do anything about that. Faith was a grown adult. She made her choices. But she's dead now. You're still here. And you can make a choice. Make one. Make a choice. And I don't want to see you go and get accused of something and convict it. Cuz it's coming for some you didn't do. But more than that, I don't want to see your whole. Your soul go to hell. I just don't. Because it's not worth it. It's not worth it. Our time on this planet is a puff of smoke in the grand scheme of eternity. Where do you want to spend it? He's the redeemer. Jesus is the redeemer. You choose. I can't make that choice for you. You choose. You choose. If you're going to continue on with everybody else blaming you and you not saying anything. Or you can choose to tell the truth. I can't do nothing about that. You're a grown adult.

[D]

Take your own bag

[B]

if you want. Want to change your life around.

[D]

Yeah, she said they were.

[B]

And to think for things in your life to go differently than they have been. Stop doing the same things you've always done. Instead of running around doing stuff and then run away from the consequences, how about stopping and turning around and facing some stuff?

[D]

That's the only way. That's the only way.

[B]

Once you've done that, everything else falls into place. Ryan, I am telling you there's no way I can put it in any plainer terms and make you understand. It does work. He does work. He works. He does. He is. He is and he will. You choose. He waiting on you. You choose. Nobody can make that choice for you.

[D]

Take it all in. You have new info now and what you did prior. So you got some things to really think about.

[B]

Talk to Trooper Tim Baker. If you don't want to go alone, you let me know and I'll go with you. But talk to that man. Telling the truth.

[D]

Think about it for your kids. They are what matter. They will matter. Don't. Don't go down with the name that. That you didn't rightfully.

[B]

Then think on it.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

And hopefully we'll hear from you soon. But we have to go now.

[D]

I appreciate you. Appreciate you wanting to. To sit down and talk, really, you know, and we just. We just want answers. That's it. And just somebody to say, hey, it was an accident and it wasn't supposed to go down like that, whatever it is, because truth is what sets all everybody free. But I really appreciate you coming and talking with us. I know that was a lot for you. There's a lot for us. Oh, that's. We're gonna get them one way or the other. One way or the other, we're gonna get. So you just be careful.

[B]

Take care, kid.

[A]

Faith's case is still open, and her killer or killers have not yet been brought to justice. If you know anything about Faith, her death, or those who may be responsible, we'd like to hear from you. Please visit EchoSpace Media Tips and either leave a voicemail or send us a message. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram. Unforcedrauma Podcast. If you're enjoying this podcast, please consider our subscriber option on Apple Podcasts or [e-mail] Echospacepodcasts where you get access to early episode drops, ad free episodes and bonus content across all of the Echo Space shows. If you'd like to keep up to date with progress on Faith's case, please visit and follow the justice for Faith Ely Facebook page. You'll find a link to it in the episode Notes. Blunt Force Trauma is a production of Echo Space, written and hosted by Troy Taylor. Executive producers are Troy Taylor, Mark Tarulli, and Fred Scherzer. Our main theme song is Lose My Mind by Maya Davidoff, and the show also contains audio content from Moby Gratis.