255: Mason Decosmo

The episode focuses on the heartbreaking tale of Mason DeCosmo, a two-year-old who was brutally abused and ultimately murdered by Kenneth Starley, the boyfriend of his mother, Caitlin Wolfert. The narrative begins in August 2014, detailing the severe physical abuse Mason suffered while living in a mobile home with his mother and Starley. Emergency services were called when Mason was found unresponsive, and he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

An autopsy revealed more than 80 injuries, significant internal damage, and traces of heroin in his body. Kenneth Starley lied about how the injuries occurred, with investigators eventually uncovering a pattern of abuse leading up to Mason's death. Despite the evidence of neglect by Caitlin, she was not charged with any crimes related to Mason's death. Instead, the focus remained on Starley, whose inconsistencies spurred the investigation further.

Caitlin's refusal to seek medical help for Mason, despite visible injuries and concerning behavior in the days leading to his death, highlighted a failure in protecting the child. The episode goes on to discuss the involvement of Child Protective Services (CPS), noting how earlier reports of abuse against Mason were ignored and ultimately closed without proper investigation.

Starley's trial commenced in 2015, where harrowing evidence was presented that described the systematic abuse Mason endured. The jury took less than eight hours to convict Starley of second-degree murder, leading to a 25 years to life sentence. Caitlin remained a controversial figure in the narrative, as the podcast suggests she played a role in the circumstances surrounding Mason's death yet faced fewer repercussions.

The episode concludes with a tribute to Mason, depicting him as a vibrant child who loved life, further cementing the tragedy of his untimely death.