Bonus Minisode #3: Shae Styhl

Summary

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Suffer the Little Children – Bonus Minisode #3: Shae Styhl

Date: January 26, 2025
Host: Lane

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Overview

This Patreon-exclusive bonus minisode tells the tragic and harrowing story of three-month-old Shea Anna Marie Stile, a victim of fatal abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother, Sarah Ann Stile, in Muncie, Indiana. Host Lane recounts the progression of the investigation, the evidence of severe physical abuse, the mother’s history of violence, the criminal proceedings, and the aftermath, including the response of family and child protective services. The episode underscores the systemic failures that allowed a vulnerable infant to suffer and ultimately die in horrific circumstances.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Incident and Discovery

• [01:00] On June 8, 2019, authorities responded to an emergency at the Muncie YWCA where Sarah Stile had been staying with her baby since Tuesday. Sarah reported that her daughter, Shea, was unresponsive; the baby’s arm was bandaged, her head appeared gray.
• [02:19–02:28] “The baby had what appeared to be burns covering most parts of her body...extensive skeletal trauma, including fractures in both arms and both legs. Shea’s multiple bone fractures...were in various stages of healing.” (Narrator, Lane)
• [02:39] The child also appeared malnourished, with clear signs of neglect and injuries consistent with burns.

Evidence from the Scene and Mother’s Explanation

• [02:51–03:01] In Sarah’s room: bottles of burn spray, diaper rash ointments, icy-hot patches, blood-stained clothing and bedding.
• [03:14–03:20] Sarah claimed Shea had a facial allergic reaction and denied knowledge of other injuries.
• [03:31–03:50] Sarah explained a stroller fall weeks prior and said she used an icy-hot patch on Shea’s arm but never sought medical care due to lack of insurance, insisting hospitals were only for emergencies.
• [03:52–04:00] Sarah became argumentative and requested an attorney when confronted about the injuries.

Witness Testimony

• [04:00–04:29] Two witnesses reported seeing Shea wrapped up, unable to confirm facial injuries; Sarah said no one else had cared for her daughter “even for five minutes.”

Autopsy, Arrest, and Charges

• [04:33–05:08] An autopsy was conducted; even as the cause of death was pending, Sarah was arrested for two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death (Level 1 felony—up to 40 years).
• Bond was initially set at $50,000, later raised to $100,000.
• [05:14–05:37] Captain Joe Todd: “The charges were kind of based on what they saw and what they found and less on what she said. It’s bad...the photos that I viewed were shocking...It’s a shame what it appears this baby’s gone through that no one noticed.” (Captain Joe Todd, 05:16)

Institutional Response and Mother’s History

• [05:43] YWCA statement: “Tragedy is never easy, especially when it involves a child... board and staff have fully cooperated with the investigation.” (Watasha Barnes Griffin)
• [05:57–07:56] Sarah’s documented history of violence:
  • 2008: Battery against her older son (then 7 months old).
  • 2017: Domestic battery for attacking her mother; had mental health issues; son removed by DCS.
• Sarah and Shea had previously lived in other shelters; Shea's birth was only in late February 2019.

Autopsy Results and Legal Process

• [07:56–08:00] Autopsy revealed multiple broken bones at various stages, burns, scalding injuries.
• [08:00–08:52] Sarah spent over a year in jail pre-trial. Ultimately, she pled guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
• [08:35–08:42] “Stile testified that she suffered from blackouts and did not know or remember how the infant sustained multiple broken bones and burns.” (Prosecutor Eric Hoffman)
• [08:54] She admitted awareness of the injuries, but did not seek care.

Sentencing and Prosecutor’s Remarks

• [09:15–09:52] Judge Wolf sentenced Sarah to 40 years (the maximum), overruling her lawyer’s plea for 20 years due to mental illness:
  • Judge Wolf: “A parent has no greater responsibility than to protect her child from harm. Sarah Stile completely and willfully failed to protect her three month old infant in every single way. Shea was completely incapable of protecting herself from her abusive and neglectful mother.”
  • Prosecutor Hoffman: “I don’t recall a single case where the injuries were this extensive, this pervasive. The sheer pain must have been unbearable. Shay lived a very short life of nothing but pure hell. The defendant simply didn’t give a damn.”

Aftermath and Family Response

• [10:01–10:38] Sarah’s mother, Tammy, criticized Child Protective Services (CPS) for failing to act:
  • Tammy: “Shame on CPS. Jay County Shelter, YWCA. They could have saved her. They didn’t. They didn’t listen to me...I want answers from Child Protective Services why they failed a child, the baby. When I contacted them...I insisted on a well baby check. At no time did they follow through.”
  • Tammy stated Sarah was “severely disabled” and “had no business taking care of a child,” expressing the loss of both daughter and granddaughter.

Current Status

• [11:11] Sarah Stile remains incarcerated at the Indiana Women’s Prison; earliest release date is December 30, 2053, by which time she’ll be 67.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [05:16] Captain Joe Todd:
  • “The charges were kind of based on what they saw and what they found and less on what she said. It’s bad. The photos that I viewed were shocking to me...It’s a shame what it appears this baby’s gone through that no one noticed.”
• [09:15] Judge Wolf:
  • “A parent has no greater responsibility than to protect her child from harm. Sarah Stile completely and willfully failed to protect her three month old infant in every single way...”
• [09:37] Prosecutor Hoffman:
  • “Shay lived a very short life of nothing but pure hell. The defendant simply didn’t give a damn.”
• [10:20] Tammy, grandmother:
  • “Shame on CPS...They could have saved her. They didn’t. They didn’t listen to me.”
• [10:50] Tammy:
  • “I want answers from Child Protective Services why they failed a child, the baby. When I contacted them, I have paperwork to prove it...Of Shay, Tammy said, ‘My granddaughter was the most beautiful baby with the biggest brown eyes.’”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:00] Incident summary and police response
• [02:19–02:39] Initial findings: burns and fractures
• [03:14–04:00] Mother’s statements and witness testimony
• [04:33–05:08] Arrest and charges
• [05:14–05:37] Police commentary and YWCA response
• [05:57–07:56] Sarah’s criminal and mental health history
• [07:56] Full autopsy details
• [08:00–08:54] Legal proceedings and guilty plea
• [09:15–09:52] Sentencing, judicial and prosecutorial remarks
• [10:01–10:50] Grandmother’s criticism of CPS and emotional impact
• [11:11] Sarah’s current incarceration status

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Episode Tone

Lane’s narration is solemn, factual, and empathetic, keeping a respectful distance while making clear the outrage and sorrow at systemic failures and the magnitude of suffering endured by Shea. Quotes from law enforcement, judiciary, and especially the victim’s grandmother powerfully highlight the emotional and moral gravity of the case.

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Rest well, little Shea. You deserved so much better.

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For information about preventing or reporting child abuse, visit childhelp.org or call your area’s child abuse hotline.

Transcript

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[Lane (Podcast Host)]

This podcast contains descriptions of violence against children and adult language and is not suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised. Hi everyone and welcome to Suffer the Little Children, the True Crime podcast, giving voices back to the victims of child abuse and shining a harsh spotlight on the parents, guardians and caretakers who silence them. I'm your host Lane and this is Patreon Exclusive bonus minisode number three Shay style around 10:45am On Saturday, June 8, 2019, police in Muncie, Indiana were called to the Muncie Young Women's Christian association, or YWCA, located at 310 Charles street on a report of an unresponsive child. Sarah Ann stile, then age 32, had been staying at the shelter since Tuesday with her three month old daughter, Shea Anna Marie Stile. On Saturday morning, Sarah told a staff member at the shelter that her baby was unresponsive. The baby's upper right arm was wrapped in a bandage and the baby's head appeared gray. Shea was rushed to IU Health Bald Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Authorities, medical staff and other witnesses saw.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The baby had what appeared to be burns covering most parts of her body.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

An examination immediately after the baby's death.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Revealed Shea had suffered from extensive skeletal.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Trauma, including fractures in both arms and both legs. Shea's multiple bone fractures, according to doctors, were in various stages of healing. A police report authored by Muncie Police.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Department investigator Amy Kessler added the child also appeared malnourished. The report continued upon visual inspection of the child There were different degrees of peeling skin usually associated with burn injuries.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Police performed a search of the YWCA room where Sarah and Shea had been staying and located at least two bottles.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Of burn spray, along with several diaper rash ointments and icy hot patches.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

There were no kitchen or bathroom facilities in the room. Investigators found stains consistent with blood on several items of Shay's clothing, burp rags, the the bed sheets and other items. When questioned, Sarah told investigators she used.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Several different ointments and lotions to treat what she said was irritation around the baby's mouth and face, which she said.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Might have been caused by an allergic reaction. She insisted she knew nothing about the baby's other injuries, including a large injury.

[Narrator/Reporter]

To the infant's buttocks and vaginal area resembling a large blood blister or burn blister.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Sarah explained that Shea had fallen out of her stroller a few weeks before and that to treat the baby's injury, she put an icy hot pad on Shay's arm and wrapped it in a bandage. Sarah told police she hadn't taken her daughter to a doctor because the baby did not have health insurance and she didn't take her to a hospital because.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Hospitals were more for emergency situations.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

In the report, Kessler wrote, Sarah then.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Became argumentative when confronted with the fact that there was no way she had not been aware of these skin injuries. She asked for an attorney. At that time.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

An employee at the shelter told police that when she performed an intake interview on Tuesday with Sarah, Shay was wearing a hat and swaddled in a blanket and and the employee did not see any facial injuries on the baby. She said that during the interview, Sarah said that Shea was covered by health insurance. Another witness who saw Sarah and Shea on Friday evening said the baby was again wrapped in a blanket wearing a headband. This woman also did not see any facial injuries on Shea. Sarah told police she was the only person who had ever provided care for Shea since birth, maintaining that no one.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Else had cared for the baby even for five minutes.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

On Sunday, the day after Shea's death, an autopsy was performed at Ball Memorial Hospital, although Delaware County Coroner Rick Howell said the baby's cause of death would not be released until testing was completed. Regardless, Sarah Stile was arrested and booked into jail in Delaware county on two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level one felony that carries a charge of up to 40 years in prison. Her bond was initially set at $50,000, but on Wednesday, June 12, it was raised to $100,000, according to charging documents. Sarah deprived her daughter of medical care in the last week of her life. A Delaware county prosecutor said both counts.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Allege the neglect and death of the same child. They are simply alternate methods to charge the crime.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Captain Joe Todd of the Muncie Police.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Department said the charges were kind of based on what they saw and what they found and less on what she said. It's bad. The photos that I viewed were shocking to me, those of us who have kids and around kids, and it has an effect, he added. Not that anybody needs my advice, but keep an eye on your children, on family, on family members. It's a shame what it appears this baby's gone through that no one noticed.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Watasha Barnes Griffin, chief executive officer of the YWCA of Central Indiana, said in a statement.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Tragedy is never easy, especially when it involves a child. The YWCA of Central Indiana board and staff have fully cooperated with the investigation and we will continue to provide quality care and services to all women and children who enter our program.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Sarah Stile, who also has two sons older than Shea, had previously been convicted in 2008 of battery in Allen county for harming her older son when he was about seven months old. In that case, a probation violation landed Sarah in prison for 15 months. In 2017, she was convicted of domestic battery after attacking her mother. According to the Star Press, Sarah, along with her then two year old son, had lived in her mother's house in Bluffton. On May 4, 2017, Sarah's mother, Tammy, awoke to hear her daughter screaming at.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The two year old, telling him the baby is going to die.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

In Tammy's statement, she wrote, I told.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Her you don't talk to a baby like that. She started telling me I was going to die.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

At the time, Tammy said, Sarah was a patient at a local mental health facility and Sarah told her she needed.

[Narrator/Reporter]

To go to the hospital now and be checked out.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Tammy wrote that she assumed her daughter had too much coffee that morning and took Sarah's cup away from her.

[Narrator/Reporter]

That's when she hit me from behind in the neck, knocking me to the.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Ground, a Bluffton police officer wrote.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Sarah then hit Tammy again on the side of the head and told her she was going to kill her.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

When police initially arrived during that incident, Sarah tried to convince them her mother had fallen, causing her injuries. That excuse didn't fly when Sarah was taken to jail that day. Her her son was placed in Tammy's care pending investigation by the Department of Child Services. Three weeks after the incident, Sarah pleaded guilty as charged to a single count of domestic Battery, which was a level six felony that could have earned her up to 30 months in prison. Wells Superior Court Judge Andrew Antrim instead sentenced Sarah to time already served in the county jail, placing Sarah on probation. It's not clear who currently has custody of Sarah's sons, who would be about 6 and 13 years old now. Neither was with her while she stayed at the Muncie YWCA prior to her stay there. Sarah and Shea, who was born in late February of 2019, had stayed at a homeless shelter in Portland when the results of Shea's autopsy came back. The report revealed that she had suffered multiple broken bones at various different times.

[Narrator/Reporter]

In addition to burns and scalding injuries throughout the body.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Sarah's trial for the death of her daughter was set to begin on July 27, 2020. For over a year, she cooled her heels in the Delaware County Jail, unable to make her $100,000 bond. Then earlier the same month, it was reported that Sarah, by that time age 33, was planning to plead guilty. Although a formal plea agreement had not been submitted at that time for Judge Linda Rallo Wolf's consideration, Sarah officially pleaded guilty on July 6, 2020 to neglect of a dependent resulting in death in connection with the death of her daughter, three month old Shay Anna Marie Style. According to Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Stile testified that she suffered from blackouts and did not know or remember how the infant sustained multiple broken bones and burns on her skin.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

He said that Sarah admitted she was aware of Shea's injuries but did not seek medical care for her daughter. At the court hearing on Monday, July 27, Sarah Ann Stile told Judge Wolf.

[Narrator/Reporter]

She wished she could have been more.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Prepared to care properly for her infant daughter. Prosecutor Hoffman and Judge Wolf noted that Sarah had failed to provide appropriate medical attention for Shea's injuries. Sarah's public defender, Lewis Denny, recommended a 20 year sentence for his client due to her history of mental illness. Judge Wolf instead sentenced Sarah to 40 years in prison, saying a parent has.

[Narrator/Reporter]

No greater responsibility than to protect her child from harm. Sarah Stile completely and willfully failed to protect her three month old infant in every single way. She said that Shea was completely incapable of protecting herself from her abusive and neglectful mother. Prosecutor Hoffman said, unfortunately, in the past 17 years, I prosecuted a lot of child abuse cases, a lot of child fatality cases. I don't recall a single case where the injuries were this extensive, this pervasive. The sheer pain must have been unbearable. Shay lived a very short life of nothing but pure hell. The defendant simply didn't give a damn.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Prosecutor Hoffman had recommended the maximum sentence for Sarah, who he said needs 40.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Years of prison so we as a society can be sure she won't have any more children.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

The terms of Sarah's plea agreement dictated that she waived her right to appeal her conviction. After Sarah's sentencing, her mother, Tammy, made several comments on articles posted about it on Facebook. Tammy said that CPS had failed her granddaughter by neglecting to enforce well baby checks and that there was an open case with CPS at the time of Shay's death.

[Narrator/Reporter]

She wrote, shame on cps. Jay County Shelter, ywca. They could have saved her. They didn't. They didn't listen to me. She continued demanding answers from Child Protective Services why they failed to do well baby checks on behalf of my grandchild, adding they should be ashamed of themselves.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

In another comment, Tammy said that Sarah, who she said was severely disabled, had had no business taking care of a child and that because of CPS's failure to act, Tammy was suffering the loss of two children, not just one.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I want answers from Child Protective Services why they failed a child, the baby. When I contacted them, I have paperwork to prove it. I insisted on a well baby check. At no time did they follow through. I want answers and all I get is excuses. Of Shay, Tammy said, my granddaughter was the most beautiful baby with the biggest brown eyes.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Sarah Stile, Indiana Department of corrections number 207540, is currently housed in the Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis. Her earliest possible release date is set at December 30, 2053. If she is released on that date, she will be 67 years old. Rest well little Shay. You deserved so much better. My sources for this minisode were the Star Press, Fox 59, WOW, the Indie Channel, CBS4 Indie, the Associated Press, the Edwardsville Intelligencer and USA Today. That's it for this Patreon exclusive bonus minisode. Join me next time for another story.

[Podcast Outro/Promotions]

If you like the show, please follow or subscribe to Suffer the Little Children on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Spreaker, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast listening app. And please leave me a five star rating and a positive review on your favorite podcast platform. Visit the website at sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com you can support the show by visiting patreon.com stlcpod where you can become a patron for rewards ranging from a shout out by name on the show to exclusive gifts. You can also support the [e-mail].

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Follow.

[Podcast Outro/Promotions]

The podcast on Facebook and Instagram at Suffer the Little Children pod and on TikTok tlcpod. View photos Related to today's episode on Facebook. This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited and produced by Lane Intro. Theme music is by Dream Note Music and all music for the show is licensed from audiojungle.net for more information about preventing or reporting Child Abuse, visit childhelp.org or call your area's child abuse hotline. And remember, if you see something, say something.

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