Suffer the Little Children – Episode 205: Marion Jester-Montoya, Retold (Part 1)

Host: Lane
Release Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode revisits the heartbreaking case of 10-month-old Marion Jester-Montoya, a joyful baby girl whose life was tragically cut short by abuse on January 7, 2020. Host Lane retells the story with added updates and, crucially, the direct involvement and voices of Marion’s family, aiming to restore agency and dignity to the victim and her loved ones. The episode also reflects on lessons learned about telling these stories ethically and with family consent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ethics of True Crime Storytelling

• Lesson Learned by Host: Lane reflects on the early days of the podcast and blog, admitting that Marion’s story was first told without family involvement and explaining the trauma this can inflict on loved ones. Since then, Lane has committed to family consent and participation.
  • “Two years ago, I pledged never to tell a child's story again without talking to the family and involving them if possible.” (02:15)

2. Events Leading to Marion’s Death

• Timeline: On January 7, 2020, Trevor Rowe (mother's boyfriend) took Marion in a backpack to work, leaving her in the car’s trunk for most of the day.
• Conditions: Ambient temperature was around 62°F, but inside the car it may have reached 113°F (45°C); Marion had not eaten in 17 hours.
• Negligence and Cruelty: Despite previous signs of distress, Trevor repeatedly zipped Marion in the backpack, ultimately moving her into the trunk to avoid detection.
  • “This 27 year old man, who surely knew better, stuffed Marion into a backpack, zipped it up and left it… Then he left the car and went to work.” (03:46)
  • “Trevor returned to the car around 1pm... found her still inside the backpack, lightly crying but breathing... Instead, he crammed Marion into the backpack yet again, zipped it up and casually finished his lunch.” (05:13)

3. Immediate Aftermath and Arrest

• Emergency Call: Trevor finally called 911 after attempting CPR at a secluded intersection.
  • [07:35] Trevor (to 911): “I have an infant with me. She’s not breathing.”
• Police Statement: He admitted to knowing both the trunk and backpack were dangerous.
  • “Trevor Rowe advised he knew that placing a person into a trunk was dangerous… [and] that placing someone into a backpack was even more dangerous.” (08:52)
• Arrest: Trevor was booked on capital murder charges within hours.

4. Family Backgrounds & Relationship Dynamics

• Trevor Rowe: History of domestic violence, theft, and child endangerment. Troubled family dynamics and disturbing social media posts signal instability.
  • “On November 28, 2016, he posted a meme that said, ‘dear me, I hate you. You're weak. You deserve the pain... I hope you die.’” (11:03)
• Marion’s Mother (Veronica): Multiple partners, custody confusion, and questionable caregiving practices. Social media reveals tumultuous personal life.
  • “If you don't like it, fuck off.” (13:45)
• Marion’s Father (Emilio) and the Montoya Family: Deeply loving, actively involved, and ultimately denied full custody. Multiple, unheeded calls to CPS over concerns about Marion’s welfare.

5. Child Protective Services (CPS) Failures

• Repeated Reports: Emilio and others reported evidence of harm: positive test for methamphetamine, filthy living conditions, bruises, and rash.
  • “What happens when the one system that can help you out chooses to just ignore you and write you off?” (25:13)
• Lack of Action: CPS dismissed cases without sufficient investigation, categorizing concerns as custody disputes instead of abuse.

6. Family’s Loss and Community Response

• Heartfelt Mourning: Family members recount their devastation, both privately and in media interviews, emphasizing Marion’s joy and the irreplaceable loss.
  • “We end up with baby toys, baby clothes, baby diapers, and no baby. Now the baby that was our world is now gone.” (34:53, Family)
• Memorials & Support: Community-held benefit concerts and fundraisers demonstrated solidarity. Marion’s funeral was described in poignant detail, illustrating the depth of family grief.
  • “She lay in a tiny white casket… her baby doll nestled next to her… surrounded by heart shaped balloons and flower arrangements.” (29:33)

7. Aftermath & Justice

• Legal Proceedings:
  • Trevor tried (unsuccessfully) to seek release using COVID-related legal loopholes.
  • In April 2023, he accepted a plea deal, admitting guilt to capital murder and receiving life without parole.
  • The district attorney’s office pledged to fight for justice for children in Lubbock County.
    • "The goal in this case from the very beginning was that that defendant never, ever walk out of the jail, and this plea accomplishes that." (47:14, DA Sunshine Stanek)
• Victim Impact Statements: Family members voiced their pain directly in court, emphasizing what Trevor had taken from them.
  • “We wondered how she must have felt and what her little thoughts were.” (45:48, Sheila)
  • “All you had to do was make a phone call. To me. And, you know, I would have left whatever I was doing that day... I would have been there.” (45:58, Emilio)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On warning signs and CPS’ failure:
  • Emilio: “This is getting progressively worse... I was like, I'm going to get a call one day that something bad's going to happen. I don't want that call. Something needs to be done now.” (25:13)
• On the pain of family loss:
  • Sheila (Facebook post): “We tried to tell them this was not a custody issue. It was a concern regarding neglect and abuse. ... My son told them he was afraid something bad was going to happen to his daughter... But as you can see, they didn't care, nor did they want to take the time to investigate the case. And now this beautiful baby is an angel.” (31:24)
• At sentencing:
  • Sheila: “I will never again sit and rock her and hold her and kiss her and sing her to sleep at night. Our love and dreams were shattered by an inhumane, heinous act by a person my son called a friend.” (45:31)
  • Emilio: “All you had to do was make a phone call... I would have kept her and ran away with her if that's what you needed me to do.” (45:58)
• On Marion’s legacy:
  • Sheila: “She was always so happy, laughing, playing, taking steps, fighting with her pets... She loved FaceTiming with her aunties and her cousins. I hated it when we had to take her home because she would cry and hold on to her dad.” (31:24)
  • Emilio: “Whenever any big events or anything comes up, I always remember her laughing and smiling.” (48:16)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Event Description | |--------------|----------------------------| | 00:28 | Lane’s opening, intro to Marion’s story, focus on ethical retelling with family involvement | | 03:46 | Marion placed in backpack and car, left all day | | 07:35 | 911 call from Trevor, initial emergency response | | 08:52 | Arrest and police statement summarizing Trevor's admissions | | 22:04-22:47 | Family home video: Marion saying “Dada” | | 23:30-25:50 | Discussion of Emilio’s repeated reports to CPS and lack of action | | 29:33 | Description of Marion’s viewing and funeral | | 31:24 | Sheila’s Facebook post expressing grief and criticizing CPS | | 34:53 | Family’s emotional interview after the funeral | | 41:16 | Prosecutor presents evidence during legal proceedings | | 45:31 | Sheila’s victim impact statement in court | | 47:14 | DA Sunshine Stanek on the importance of the life sentence | | 48:16 | Emilio, on carrying Marion’s ashes and keeping her memory alive |

Tone and Language

The episode carries a tone combining deep empathy, outrage at systemic failures, and a commitment to advocacy for child victims. Lane and the Montoya family share personal stories, direct quotes, and reflective commentary in a language that’s raw, compassionate, and unflinching.

Coming Next: Preview

Part 2: The next episode will feature Lane’s interview with Marion’s father Emilio, her grandmother Sheila, and Aunt Carla—diving more deeply into the family’s lived experience, legal battles, and memories of Marion.