Crime Salad
Episode: Ryder Belisle: When Custody Became a Medical Crisis
Release Date: February 6, 2026
Hosts: Ashley & Ricky

Episode Overview

This emotionally charged episode of Crime Salad investigates the tragic case of Ryder Belle Lyle, a medically fragile child with Sanfilippo syndrome, whose life depended on uninterrupted, specialized medical care. The episode delves into the catastrophic consequences that occurred when custody decisions prioritized legal procedure over clear medical warnings. Ashley and Ricky walk listeners through Ryder’s medical journey, his mother Tachi’s advocacy and struggles, the complex and deeply flawed legal proceedings, and the aftermath of Ryder’s preventable death. The story raises urgent questions about how courts handle the welfare of medically vulnerable children and the accountability of those in power when safeguards fail.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ryder’s Diagnosis and Medical Needs

• (01:26) The setting is Sedro Woolley, Washington, a quiet, rural town with scarce access to specialized pediatric care.
• Ryder was born in 2013 with unexplained symptoms; eventually diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome, type 3B, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder often likened to “childhood dementia.” (03:03)
• Medical dependencies: Ryder required constant neurological and respiratory support, feeding tube management, and round-the-clock expert care, all coordinated and managed by his mother, Tachi.
  • He became non-verbal, lost vision and hearing, and was quadriplegic by late childhood. (03:24–05:04)

“Every aspect of Ryder's survival depended on precise, uninterrupted, round-the-clock care.” – Ashley (05:04)

2. Tachi’s Advocacy & Family Strains

• Tachi, herself deaf, became a prominent online advocate (over 3 million followers) by sharing her experiences with her children’s rare diseases. (06:37)
• After years of caring for her son, family tensions rose, eventually resulting in Tachi becoming a single mother. (07:33)
• The relentless progression of Ryder's illness made daily life, appointments, and emergencies increasingly difficult due to their rural location.
• Tachi’s hands-on expertise allowed Ryder to outlive bleak early prognoses. Her relentless advocacy included fundraising, education, and community building.

3. The Question of Relocation for Medical Necessity

• As Ryder's health worsened, Tachi decided to move the family from Washington to Ohio, where specialized medical care and services were far more accessible.
• She followed Washington law, formally notifying her ex-husband Russell of her intent to relocate. Russell did not object within the required 30-day period. (15:13–15:53)
• After the move, Ryder thrived in Ohio, with better access to needed specialists and support services.

4. Escalation to a Legal Nightmare

• Despite no timely objection, Russell later sought custody in Washington courts.
• In a pivotal hearing, the court:
  • Barred Tachi from presenting evidence about abuse or Ryder’s medical needs.
  • Awarded full custody to Russell, despite his criminal history, with no testimony regarding Ryder’s medical fragility. (16:03–17:33)
  • The Ohio court was then petitioned for emergency enforcement, creating dangerous jurisdictional overlap.

“The court considered changing custody without hearing the very information meant to protect this child.” – Ashley (16:22)

• Efforts to slow down enforcement for Ryder’s safety—like ex parte emergency protection requests and requests for medical risk hearings—were denied or undermined by irregular courtroom practices. (22:43–23:51)

5. Ignored Warnings & Systemic Failures

• Multiple professionals—state case managers, medical specialists—submitted warnings:
  • Moving Ryder or interrupting his care could be fatal.
  • Services in Washington would take time to reestablish, creating dangerous gaps. (30:41–31:53)
• The court’s own guardian ad litem’s report
  • Acknowledged improved care and safety in Ohio.
  • Supported immediate return to Washington nonetheless.
• Clear medical directives from Ryder’s neurologist warned that “removing Ryder from his mother’s care would be life threatening and should be avoided at all costs.” (35:56–36:30)
• Courts pressed ahead, ultimately ordering Ryder’s transfer to Russell despite all warnings—often without Tachi present to argue or intervene due to medical emergencies. (37:48)

“The directive was authored by a neurologist: Any attempts to remove the mother from her necessary clinical care for this extremely ill child at that time would be life-threatening.” – Ashley (36:30)

6. Tragedy Unfolds

• In Russell’s care, Ryder’s health promptly deteriorated:
  • Documented decline in December 2025: increased secretions, coughing, suspicious of aspiration. (39:35–39:53)
  • On December 16, 2025 (44:45), Russell found Ryder unresponsive and cyanotic—he was in cardiac arrest, with bloody vomit and evidence of aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, and severe physiological stress.
  • Ryder died December 21, 2025. The cause: cardiac arrest likely due to dehydration and aspiration, after “prolonged inadequate fluid intake.”
• Tachi was only notified after Ryder was extubated.

“Less than a month after the courts were warned this exact thing would happen, the child was found blue, in cardiac arrest with bloody vomit, severe dehydration, aspiration in both lungs, and lab results showing his body had been under prolonged physiological stress.” – Ricky (45:20)

• After Ryder’s death, gaps in care became evident: lack of proper equipment, unsafe feeding, inadequate monitoring, and a total breakdown of communication with Tachi. (49:16–51:39)

7. Aftermath: Questions and Demands for Accountability

• The case provoked outrage and calls for investigation:
  • Disability rights advocates called this a case of “judicial homicide.”
  • Repeated, explicit life-and-death warnings were systematically ignored.
  • The phrase “custody but not care” reflected the disconnect between legal authority and medical responsibility.

“Advocates, disability rights organizations, and members of the child welfare community described the case as a profound institutional failure.” – Ashley (45:59)

• Legal experts, and the hosts, highlighted how these failures implicate federal civil rights protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the obligation of courts to follow medical guidance in such circumstances. (55:00–57:15)
• Tachi continues to seek accountability and advocates for systemic change. She battles ongoing legal and financial challenges, as she works to protect Ryder’s legacy and her two daughters.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Every aspect of Ryder’s survival depended on precise, uninterrupted, round-the-clock care.” — Ashley (05:04)
• “So the court considered changing custody without hearing the very information meant to protect this child.” — Ashley (16:22)
• “The directive was authored by a neurologist: Any attempts to remove the mother from her necessary clinical care for this extremely ill child at that time would be life-threatening.” — Ashley (36:30)
• “Less than a month after the courts were warned this exact thing would happen…” — Ricky (45:20)
• “Advocates… described the case as a profound institutional failure.” — Ashley (45:59)
• “This case raises disturbing questions about how family courts handle medically fragile children and what happens when procedure overrides medical realities.” — Ashley (54:04)

Important Timestamps

• 00:06–03:03: Setting, Ryder’s early life & diagnosis.
• 03:24–05:04: Medical details and constant care needs.
• 06:37–07:33: Tachi’s public advocacy & family changes.
• 08:34–10:19: Final diagnosis, advocacy, and family adaptation.
• 12:08–13:40: The calculus of moving for Ryder’s medical needs.
• 14:41–16:03: Legal conflict and relocation.
• 16:22–22:43: Court decisions, limited evidence, protection order failures.
• 30:41–32:24: Multiple ignored medical and professional warnings.
• 35:56–36:30: Explicit medical directive against transfer.
• 37:48–39:53: Court-ordered transfer, immediate decline in Ryder’s health.
• 44:45–45:20: Ryder found in distress; medical events leading to his death.
• 54:00–57:33: ADA and federal civil rights implications.
• 57:33–End: Tachi’s continued fight and advocacy, ongoing community support.

Memorable Moments & Final Thoughts

• The sheer contrast between Tachi’s exhaustive care and the procedural, dismissive stance of the courts is repeatedly highlighted.
• The overwhelming sense of foreboding as every medical warning goes unheeded.
• The discussion of how courts are supposed to prioritize “best interests of the child”—especially for disabled children—but failed catastrophically here.
• The passionate call for systemic change and federal oversight.

How to Support and Learn More

• Justice for Ryder Belle Lyle on Facebook — active community sharing updates and advocacy.
• Tachi Lynn on social media — firsthand accounts, ongoing family updates.
• Gofundme for Tachi — legal costs and support for her surviving daughters.
• Crime Salad Podcast Patreon & Merch — supports continued journalism and advocacy.

Tone & Language: Ashley’s narration is empathetic but unflinching, Ricky is analytical and incredulous at the failures described. Both express outrage and heartbreak at the system that failed Ryder and his mother.

Summary Statement:
Ryder Belisle’s tragic death was foretold by caretakers, doctors, and disability advocates, yet legal procedures and court decisions dismissed every warning. This episode of Crime Salad deeply examines not just the events, but the broader, haunting questions of how the law treats the most vulnerable—and what must change to ensure no other child suffers a similar fate.