My in-laws sent my 6-year-old daughter a cute brown teddy bear for her birthday. She smiled for a second, then suddenly froze and asked, “Mommy, what is it?

Lily hostage.”

Richard had not screamed. He rarely did. He simply stood behind his wife and said, “Your mother is heartbroken.”

That was always how he took part. Quietly. Completely.

Three days after the birthday party, two officers and one detective went to the Whitmore house with a warrant.

Daniel and I were not there, but Aaron later told me what happened.continue reading …