Episode 75: Rica Rountree (Part 3)

Suffer the Little Children

Over the past 2 weeks, I told you the story of 8-year-old Rica Rountree, who DCFS left in her father’s home despite clear evidence that she was being abused. After Rica died on January 26, 2019, investigators found disturbing cell phone videos of Rica’s abuse and arrested her father’s girlfriend, Cindy Baker. After Cindy was convicted, Rica’s father, Richard Rountree, was also arrested for his part in his daughter’s death. In this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Rica’s mother, Ann Rountree, who is relentless in her mission to protect other children from suffering her daughter’s fate.
This is the story of a sweet, kind little girl who could make anyone smile and who loved her dolls like they were her own children. It’s also the story of the failure of Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services to protect yet another vulnerable child from targeted and obvious child abuse.
This is part 3 of the horrific story of Rica Rountree.
Links discussed in today’s episode:
Justice 4 Rica Jae Rountree Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/justice4ricajae
Justice 4 Rica Jae Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/justice4ricajae/
Justice 4 Rica Jae Foundation website: https://justice4ricajae.org
Labyrinth Made Goods website: www.labyrinthmadegoods.com
Illinois House Bill 3821 (HB3821/2021): https://legiscan.com/IL/text/HB3821/2021
Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
You can also follow the podcast on:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sufferthelittlechildrenpodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod
My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod
Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.
Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive gifts! (www.patreon.com/STLCpod)
This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
For more stories like this one, visit https://sufferthelittlechildrenblog.com.
Music for this episode is from https://audiojungle.net.
Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children
Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/suffer-the-little-children
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/PC:61848?part=PC:61848&corr=podcast_organic_external_site&TID=Brand:POC:PC61848:podcast_organic_external_site
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/
...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support.