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Podcasts > Rotten Mango > #354: Acid POURED Down 6 Year Old Boy’s Throat & Body - South Korea’s “Acid Boy” Case

#354: Acid POURED Down 6 Year Old Boy’s Throat & Body - South Korea’s “Acid Boy” Case

By Stephanie Soo & Ramble

In this episode of Rotten Mango, the hosts delve into the harrowing history of the Dozier School for Boys, a Florida reform school that operated for over a century. They reveal accounts of children as young as six being subjected to forced labor and brutal whippings, even for minor offenses like showing kindness to peers.

The podcast explores the school's "White House," where boys endured horrific beatings with leather straps, leaving them bloody and scarred. Chilling testimonies from former students are shared, painting a disturbing picture of systemic child abuse. The episode also examines the shocking discovery of unmarked graves on the school grounds, underscoring the severity of mistreatment that occurred over decades.

#354: Acid POURED Down 6 Year Old Boy’s Throat & Body - South Korea’s “Acid Boy” Case

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#354: Acid POURED Down 6 Year Old Boy’s Throat & Body - South Korea’s “Acid Boy” Case

1-Page Summary

Florida reform school abuses children

The Dozier School for Boys, a Florida reform school with a history of abuse, was shut down in 2011 after operating for over 100 years.

Forced child labor and punishment for kindness

At the school, boys as young as 6 were compelled to perform hard labor. Johnny Lee Gaddy, at age 11, was punished in the "White House" for trying to help a 6-year-old boy named Frank.

Brutal whippings in the "White House"

The "White House" was a site of horrific abuse. Johnny remembers being whipped repeatedly with a leather strap, leaving him bloodied. Stu recalled hearing screams as boys were whipped dozens of times.

Unmarked graves discovered

In later years, investigators uncovered numerous unmarked graves of children on the school's grounds, revealing the severity of mistreatment.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The "White House" at the Dozier School for Boys was a small building where severe physical punishments, including brutal whippings, were administered to the students. It was a place of fear and trauma for the boys who were subjected to harsh discipline and abuse within its walls. The punishments meted out in the "White House" were often excessive and left lasting physical and emotional scars on the victims. The existence of the "White House" symbolizes the systemic abuse and mistreatment that occurred at the reform school, highlighting the dark history of the institution.
  • The children at the Dozier School for Boys endured forced labor, brutal whippings in a place known as the "White House," and punishments for acts of kindness. The abuse included physical violence like repeated whippings with a leather strap, resulting in injuries and bloodshed. Additionally, the discovery of unmarked graves on the school grounds highlighted the tragic extent of mistreatment suffered by the children.
  • The discovery of unmarked graves on the school's grounds at the Dozier School for Boys in Florida revealed that numerous children who attended the school had been buried without proper identification or recognition. This discovery shed light on the tragic history of the institution and raised questions about the treatment and care of the children who were in its custody. The unmarked graves indicated a lack of proper record-keeping and respect for the deceased children, sparking investigations into the circumstances surrounding their deaths and the overall operations of the school. The presence of these unmarked graves underscored the need for accountability and justice for the victims of abuse and neglect at the reform school.

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#354: Acid POURED Down 6 Year Old Boy’s Throat & Body - South Korea’s “Acid Boy” Case

Florida reform school abuses children

The Dozier School for Boys, a Florida reform school with a long history of child abuse, was shut down in 2011 after operating for over a century.

Boys as young as 6 perform hard labor

At the reform school, boys as young as 11 and 6 were compelled to engage in grueling manual labor. They were expected to work on farms, tend to crops, and raise and slaughter livestock without remuneration. Such forced labor was not only physically demanding but also psychologically damaging, as these children were deprived of their childhoods.

Punished for helping younger boys

Johnny Lee Gaddy disclosed that he was punished in the "White House," an ominous building on the school's grounds, for trying to assist a younger boy who had fallen into mud. This punishment was doled out for a simple act of kindness, indicating the school's twisted values and the systemic cruelty young inmates faced. Johnny, at age 11, tried to help a 6-year-old named Frank with sawing tasks, which led to both of them being dragged to the White House for punishment.

Beatings in the White House

The “White House,” a notorious site within the Dozier School, became a chamber of horrors for the boys subjected to its punishments.

Whipped repeatedly with leather straps

Johnny remembers the odor of the White House, the bloodstains on the walls, and being forced to bite on a filth-covered pillow while a one-armed attendant lashed him with a leather belt. The beatings left him with lacerations and soaked in blood. Stu, another boy, recalled waiting for his turn to be beaten while hearing his friends’ screams piercing through the walls. ...

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Florida reform school abuses children

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The Dozier School for Boys in Florida was a reform school with a dark history of child abuse spanning over a century. It gained notoriety for its harsh disciplinary practices, including physical abuse and forced labor imposed on young boys. The school's closure in 2011 followed decades of allegations and investigations into the mistreatment of its students. The discovery of unmarked graves on the school's grounds further exposed the extent of the abuse and neglect that occurred at the institution.
  • The "White House" at the Dozier School was a building where severe punishments, including beatings, were administered to the boys. It was a place of fear and brutality, where children faced physical and psychological trauma. The punishments inflicted in the "White House" were part of a system of abuse and control within the reform school. The one-armed attendant mentioned in the text was known for using a leather strap to deliver harsh beatings to the boys.
  • The Dozier School for Boys in Florida was notorious for subjecting young boys to grueling manual labor, physical beatings, and psychological torment. The boys, some as young as 6 years old, were forced to work on farms, endure severe whippings in a building known as the "White House," and were even found buried in unmarked graves on the school's grounds, highlighting the severe mistreatment and abuse they suffered. The systemic cruelty and twisted values of the institution led to a culture of violence and trauma that scarred the children who were sent there.
  • The discovery of unmarked student graves on the school property at the Dozier School for Boys revealed a disturbing aspect of its history. Investigations uncovered multiple graves, indicating a significant number of children were buried there. The presence of these unmarked graves highlighted the tragic fate of some students ...

Counterarguments

...

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In one of the worst child abuse cases reported in California’s history at the time, Pelzer was starved, burned on the stove, regularly locked in the bathroom with a noxious mixture of ammonia and Clorox, and forbidden from speaking to or looking at any of his family members. Through it all, Pelzer maintained an indomitable will to survive that’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit even under the bleakest circumstances.

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"The Kids of Rutherford County" not only scrutinizes law enforcement procedures and systemic biases but also humanizes the narrative by exploring the emotional turmoil of those caught in the fray. Through the perspectives of Principal Tammy Garrett, Officer Chris Williams, and the affected children, including the heart-wrenching ordeal of young Imariye, the podcast challenges listeners to confront the unsettling realities of juvenile detention and discrimination. With incisive reporting that sparks decisive community and media reactions, The Daily's episode stands as a catalyst for discussion and demands for reform in juvenile justice practices.

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