Bonus Minisode #5: Aidan Leonardo

Summary

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Suffer the Little Children

Bonus Minisode #5: Aidan Leonardo
Release Date: March 29, 2025
Host: Lane

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Episode Overview

This bonus Patreon-exclusive minisode explores the tragic death of 11-month-old Aidan Xavier Leonardo, examining both the circumstances that led to his drowning and the broader issues of child protection, parental responsibility, and the aftermath within the legal and family systems. Host Lane delves into the events in Knoxville, Tennessee, highlighting the mistakes, the mourning, the legal process, and the lasting impact on those involved.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Incident and Immediate Aftermath

• Unattended Children in the Tub

  • On January 8, 2020, Lindsay Louise Leonardo, a 32-year-old single mother, left her 23-month-old daughter and 11-month-old son Aidan unsupervised in a bathtub with 4 to 6 inches of water for "me time," which included smoking and music.
  • Lane emphasizes the fundamental parenting rule: "Never leave a baby alone in the bathtub."
    • "A baby can drown in a sink, in a puddle, in a mop bucket, even in a single inch of water." [02:22]
  • Lindsay returned to find Aidan floating face up, while his sister stood beside him.
  • She reportedly believed her daughter had turned the faucet back on, filling the tub.

• Emergency Response

  • Lindsay called 911 and attempted CPR (incorrectly performed on a bed).
  • EMTs revived Aidan's heartbeat and transferred him to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
  • First responder Jeff Bagwell described the emotional toll these calls take on emergency crews:
    • "Anytime you have a kid... they're tough, but at some point those emotions come out. Listening is probably the most important thing to do for the crews." [04:53]

• Aidan’s Passing

  • Tragically, Aidan died in the hospital just before 9:30 p.m. on January 9, 2020.
    • "Our hearts are saddened at the loss. We expect additional charges to be forthcoming." [05:50]

Legal Proceedings and Family History

• Initial Charges and Arrest

  • Lindsay was initially charged with aggravated child abuse, neglect, and endangerment.
  • After Aidan's death, charges were upgraded to felony aggravated child abuse and first-degree murder.

• Family Conflict

  • Lindsay and Aidan's father, David Brandon Dillingham, had a contentious past:
    • Both filed for protection orders against each other, citing harassment and threats, but both cases were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
      • David: "She follows me home and comes to my place of work and cusses me in front of my co-workers." [06:41]
      • Lindsay: "My relationship with David has been traumatic from the beginning." [06:56]

• Legal Defense and Mental Health Issues

  • At Lindsay's preliminary hearing, Detective Miranda Spangler testified no intent to drown Aidan was found, but serious neglect occurred:
    • "She left her baby in the tub." [09:49]
  • Defense attorney Susan Shipley argued for lesser charges:
    • "There was no evidence showing that Lindsay meant to hurt or drown him." [09:51]
    • She raised Lindsay's permanent traumatic brain injury and mental limitations due to a previous car accident.
  • The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Sarah Keith, countered that Lindsay had to know "leaving a child alone in a bathtub... is inherently dangerous." [10:47]

• Judge’s Decision

  • Judge Patricia Long Hall sent the case to a grand jury, rejecting the defense's argument:
    • "She walked out of that bathroom with her two babies in the tub. This is not an accident. It is intentional. The only thing that's not foreseeable is that her other child didn't die." [11:03]

• Final Outcome

  • On August 12, 2021, Lindsay pled guilty to reckless homicide and misdemeanor child endangerment.
  • She was sentenced to four years, with credit for time served.
  • Update: Lindsay was released from prison on December 9, 2022, and appears still to be living in Knoxville. [12:27]

Family Aftermath and Public Sentiment

• Aiden’s Sister

  • Following Lindsay’s arrest, Aidan’s older sister was placed with grandparents. Details about her current situation remain private.

• Lindsay’s Character Debate

  • Despite prior conflicts, David Dillingham publicly defended Lindsay:
    • "She's just awesome as a mother. I don't want to see her in prison. She does not deserve to be there. She's a really loving and caring person... Lindsay is not to blame for this. Even though she just made a bad judgment call..." [08:43-08:51]
    • He issued a plea to other parents: "Please watch your children very closely. Every second counts, and you can't take anything for granted." [09:08]

• Aidan’s Memory

  • Aidan’s funeral was held on January 18.
  • Obituary: "He was one of a kind and always smiling, laughing, and loving. He was a blessing to everyone who came in contact with him." [12:37]
  • David: "There are no words to describe the happiness he brought into our lives and I am proud he is my son." [12:46]

Host’s Reflection

• Lane’s Closing Thoughts:
  • "The bottom line is that an 11 month old baby is dead. The promise and potential of his entire life is wasted. A little girl has to grow up without her younger brother, a father has lost his son, and a mom with at best terrible judgment and at worst evil in her heart will be spending hard time in prison. This is a tragedy all around, no matter how you slice it. Somehow I doubt Lindsay thinks her 10 minutes of me time was worth the cost." [12:20]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parenting Safety:

  • Lane: “Never leave a baby alone in the bathtub… It’s a foregone conclusion that we would never leave a baby unsupervised in the bath.” [01:52]

• On Emergency Responder Experience:

  • Jeff Bagwell: “Anytime you have a kid, what we call kid calls, they're tough, but at some point those emotions come out. Listening is probably the most important thing to do for the crews that were involved.” [04:53]

• On Legal Responsibility:

  • Judge Hall: “This is not an accident. It is intentional. The only thing that’s not foreseeable is that her other child didn’t die.” [11:03]

• Father's Plea:

  • David: “Please watch your children very closely. Every second counts, and you can’t take anything for granted.” [09:08]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:52] – Host Lane introduces the case and parental responsibility theme
• [04:53] – First responder Jeff Bagwell’s reaction
• [05:36] – Aidan's passing and official statements
• [06:41] – Family disputes and order of protection background
• [08:43] – David Dillingham's defense of Lindsay
• [09:49] – Detective testimony and legal arguments
• [11:03] – Judicial ruling on intent and responsibility
• [12:27] – Update: Lindsay’s prison release
• [12:37] – Aidan’s obituary remembrances and aftermath

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Sources Mentioned

• WATE
• People Magazine
• WBIR
• CNN
• Facebook
• News Channel 9
• Dignity Memorial
• Knoxville News Sentinel
• New York Times

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Summary prepared for listeners who seek a clear, poignant breakdown of the episode and the tragedy of Aidan Leonardo.

Transcript

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[Lane (Podcast Host)]

This podcast contains descriptions of violence against children in 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 5 Aiden Leonardo never leave a baby alone in the bathtub. Not only is this basic rule of parenting simply instinctual but it's also one of the first things we're taught when we begin babysitting, or at the very least when we become pregnant. Babies drown very easily in bathtubs. A baby can drown in a sink, in a puddle, in a mop bucket, even in a single inch of water. To most of us, it's a foregone conclusion that we would never leave a baby unsupervised in the bath. Apparently, no one ever taught this lesson to 32 year old single mother Lindsay Louise Leonardo. Or maybe she thought her 23 month old daughter counted as supervision because she left the little girl and her 11 month old brother Aiden on their own in the bathtub on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 with about 4 to 6 inches of water. According to Lindsay's arrest warrant, the reason she left her children alone in the bathtub in their home on the 1200 block of Boyd Station Road in Knoxville, Tennessee was because she needed some me time. Lindsay stepped outside for about two minutes to smoke a cigarette and to listen to two songs. I really want to know what those two songs were. Now don't get me wrong. As a mom, I have learned that me time is absolutely vital to my mental health. In fact, experts say the same self care is an important part of parenting. Common sense would dictate, however, that making self care a priority does not equate to your health and wellness is more important than the safety of your child. After Lindsay got her fix of both nicotine and sweet tunes, she returned to the bathroom to find Aidan floating face up in a tub brimming with water and her daughter standing in the tub beside him. Lindsay claimed her daughter must have turned on the faucet, causing the tub to fill up. She told police she took her unresponsive son out of the tub and put him on her bed, calling 911 and performing CPR with guidance from the dispatcher. As most people know, you should never do CPR on a bed. It's best to perform CPR on a rigid surface like the floor. EMTs from American Medical Response arrived and rushed Aiden to to Nova Turkey Creek Medical center where they were able to regain a heartbeat. Later, Aiden was transferred to the East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Another first responder, Jeff Bagwell of the Rural Metro Fire Department, told news station WBIR, Channel 10 that cases involving children hit first responders hard.

[Jeff Bagwell (Rural Metro Fire Department)]

This is a tough call. Three year old and the one year old were in the bathtub and what we know is that the three year old turned on the water and that the children were unattended CPR performed on the child. They were able to get a pulse back. The child was then transferred. Emergency traffic to Children's Anytime you have a kid, what we call kid calls, they're tough, but at some point those emotions come out. Listening is probably the most important thing to do for the crews that were involved is to listen to them. They're coming back to work tomorrow, there's another call, there's another emergency that's going to happen. We have to immediately focus on the task at hand and not get caught up in the emotional side of it.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

At the time, Aiden was still alive. Tragically, just before 9:30pm on Thursday, January 9, 2020, Aiden Xavier Leonardo died in the hospital. Knoxville county spokesperson Kimberly Glenn said, our.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

Hearts are saddened at the loss. We expect additional charges to be forthcoming. As for now, the investigation is continuing.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Prior to Aiden's death, Lindsay faced charges of aggravated child abuse, neglect and endangerment. Knox County Sheriff's Office Family Crimes and Major Crimes detectives arrested Lindsay at the hospital on January 9 for the initial charges. After Aiden died, she faced charges of felony aggravated child abuse and first degree murder. Lindsay, who was represented at the time by Knoxville attorney Susan Shipley, was held at the Knox County Detention center on a $350,000 bond. According to court records, Lindsay had a history of conflict with Aiden's father, David Brandon Dillingham, who was 31 years old at the time of his son's death. In May of 2019, David filed for an order of protection against Lindsay on the grounds that she followed me home.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

And comes to my place of work and cusses me in front of my co workers.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

His petition was dismissed by the court because he did not prove his case by a preponderance of evidence. In October of 2019, Lindsay filed for her own order of protection against David.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

Telling the court, my relationship with David has been traumatic from the beginning.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

In the petition, she accused David of threatening to harm the children. The case was dismissed for the same reason David's was how to have fun anytime anywhere. STEP 1 Go to chumbacasino.com chumbacasino.com Got it. STEP 2 Collect your welcome bonus. Come to papa. Welcome bonus. Step 3 Play hundreds of casino style games for free.

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[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

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[Dan Morgan (Attorney)]

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[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Despite the issues between them since Aiden's death, David defended Lindsay in the press.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

He said, she's just awesome as a mother. I don't want to see her in prison. She does not deserve to be there. She's a really loving and caring person.

[David Brandon Dillingham]

Lindsey is a great mom and she would never do anything to harm the babies. It was just an accident. Lindsay is not to blame for this. Even though she just made a bad judgment call, we just didn't see eye to eye on things. And, you know, every relationship has its problems. Please watch your children very closely. Every second counts, and you can't take anything for granted.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

After her mother's arrest, Aiden's sister was placed into the care of her grandparents. I haven't been able to find any information on where she's currently living. A graveside service for Aiden took place on Saturday, January 18th. He was laid to rest in the Barry Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville. At Lindsay's preliminary hearing on February 4, 2020, Knox County Sheriff's Detective Miranda Spangler testified that she found no evidence to suggest Lindsay intended to drown Aiden. She was, however, most definitely neglectful. Detective Spangler said on the stand, she.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

Left her baby in the tub.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Lindsay's attorney, Susan Shipley, argued for reduced charges at the hearing, saying that while the baby's death was tragic. There was no evidence showing that Lindsay meant to hurt or drown him, adding that the charges were unsupported by the evidence, suggesting a charge of reckless homicide would be more appropriate. Ms. Shipley told the court that to be charged with first degree murder, a.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

Person has to know the result of her conduct would cause a death.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

Ms. Shipley questioned Detective Spangler, asking if she knew when she interviewed Lindsay that the mother had received permanent traumatic brain injuries in a vehicular accident years ago and had relied ever since on a trustee to take care of her assets and finances. Detective Spangler replied she said she'd been.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

In a car wreck and had been in the hospital a while, adding that.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

She didn't discover the details of Lindsay's condition until she spoke with Lindsay's mother. In a separate interview, Knox County Assistant District Attorney General Sarah Keith argued that Lindsay had to have known the possible devastation her actions could cause. Leaving a child alone in the bathtub.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

Ms. Keith said, is inherently dangerous.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

After deliberating overnight, Knox County Judge Patricia Long hall bound over Lindsay's charges to a grand jury on Wednesday, February 5. Rejecting Lindsay's claim that Aiden's death was unintentional, Judge hall said, she walked out.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

Of that bathroom with her two babies in the tub. This is not an accident. It is intentional. The only thing that's not foreseeable is that her other child didn't die.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

On Thursday, August 12, 2021, 34 year old Lindsay Leonardo appeared in court entering a guilty plea to a charge of reckless homicide as well as misdemeanor child endangerment. The prosecutor and Lindsay's defense presented the case to Knox County Criminal Court Judge Scott Green, who accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Lindsay to four years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections with credit for time served. For now, she remains in the Knox County Jail until she is transferred to a state prison. The bottom line is that an 11 month old baby is dead. The promise and potential of his entire life is wasted. A little girl has to grow up without her younger brother, a father has lost his son, and a mom with at best terrible judgment and at worst evil in her heart will be spending hard time in prison. This is a tragedy all around, no matter how you slice it. Somehow I doubt Lindsay thinks her 10 minutes of me time was worth the cost. 2025 Lane here with a very quick update. It occurred to me that Lindsay is probably out of prison by now, so I looked her up on the Tennessee Department of Corrections website. Lindsay, who is now 37, was released on December 9, 2022. I don't have an update on what she's doing, but it appears she's still in Knoxville. Aiden Xavier Leonardo was born on January 29, 2019. According to his obituary, he was one.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

Of a kind and always smiling, laughing and loving. He was a blessing to everyone who came in contact with him.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

David told CNN that there are no.

[Various Interviewees and Court Participants]

Words to describe the happiness he brought into our lives and I am proud he is my son.

[Lane (Podcast Host)]

My sources for this minisode were W A T E People, WBIR, CNN, Facebook News Channel 9, Dignity Memorial, the Knoxville News Sentinel and the New York Times. That's it for this Patreon exclusive bonus minisode. Join me next time for another story.

[Lane (Podcast Host - Closing Remarks)]

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 show at ko-fi.com stlcpod Follow 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 Dreamnote 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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