The Misery Machine - The Case of Maddox Williams

Episode Date: June 4, 2026

This week, Drewby and Yergy stay in our home state of Maine to discuss the case of 3-year-old Maddox Williams of Stockton Springs, whose tragic death drew widespread public attention and prompted severe scrutiny of Maine’s child welfare system. Maddox died on June 20th, 2021, after being brought to Waldo County General Hospital completely unresponsive. The state medical examiner determined that his death was a homicide caused by "battered child syndrome," detailing extensive blunt-force trauma injuries including a fractured spine, bleeding in his brain and abdomen, a ruptured bowel, and missing teethHis mother, Jessica Trefethen (also known as Jessica Williams and Jessica Johnson), claimed the injuries resulted from a trampoline accident and being kicked by an older sibling. Support Our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/themiserymachine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.me/themiserymachine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Facebook Group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.co/DeSZIIMgXs?amp=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: miserymachinepodcastTwitter: misery_podcastDiscord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/kCCzjZM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#themiserymachine #podcast #truecrimeSource Materials Available Upon Request.

Maddox Williams was born on January 9th, 2018, at Northern Light, Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. He arrived prematurely at around 30 weeks and weighed less than three pounds at birth. He was moved to an intensive medical care unit where he spent his earliest weeks in an incubator, wired up to monitors that tracked his heart rate and oxygen. Although his parents, Jessica Ann Johnson and Andrew Williams, were no longer together at the time of his birth, They each visited the hospital, hoping their son would grow stronger and recover. Maddox grew to be an adorable toddler with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a sweet smile. Like many little boys his age, he enjoyed eating chicken nuggets and watching cocoa melon,

baby shark, and paw patrol. According to his paternal grandmother Victoria Vows, Maddox liked to help her dust in vacuum. Victoria described him as funny with a great sense of humor. Before the events of today's story, he was working on potty training. But Maddox's home life was already in trouble long before he was born, so we're going to give some background of events leading up to his birth. His mother grew up in the small town of Stockton Springs, located roughly 25 miles outside of Bangor.

Growing in family members, she began experimenting with drugs during her teenage years, and by her 20s, she had developed a chronic dependency on them. Lori Johnson, a former aunt by marriage, said, I reached out to her. I tried helping her. I told her to get the hell off the drugs. My son tried to talk to her too. But there was no talking Jessica off the destructive path that she was on. She started dating Jason Trefethin, who also lived in Stockton Springs. Also struggled with drug use. After getting involved with Jason, Jessica began to distance herself from her family. A couple went on to have two children together. Their relationship was described as dysfunctional, which caused several interventions from

Maine's Department of Health and Human Services. Their first contact with DHS occurred in 2013 after their first child been born exposed to drugs. Similar contact followed in 2015 after the birth of their second child. During this time, Jessica was prescribed methadone as part of a medically supervised treatment program for her addiction. Both Jessica and Jason were offered services. Both kept slipping back into their old habits. Eventually, they split up. Sometime after the breakup, Jessica began seeing Andrew Williams, who was living in Belfast at the time and had a young daughter.

Belfast is a picturesque town located about 10 miles southwest of Stockton Springs along the Pinnab Scott Bay. Those of you have been with us for some time will remember both of these areas from our coverage of Marissa Kennedy's case. Or into his mother, Victoria, Andrew had a history of drug use and suffered from PTSD after watching his father remove himself from this earth with a gun. Understandably, a massive thing to carry around with you that nobody should ever have to witness. Victoria said her son's relationship with Jessica was complicated.

However, despite their differences, they decided to marry in June of 2017. Some time around when they got married, Jessica became pregnant with Andrew's child. Although she was still legally married to him, she returned to live with her former boyfriend, Jason. Soon after, DHS received a report alleging that Jessica and Jason were mistreating their children and were involved with drugs again. Caseworker was assigned to coordinate with local police and perform a home visit. According to the report, both Jessica and Jason were described as defensive, hostile, and uncooperative. But still, there was not enough evidence against Jason and Jessica for the children to be removed from their home. However, but a month later, in September of 2017, the HHS received another report.

alleging that Jessica was using drugs and taking her children to an unsafe house. It wasn't specified exactly what that meant, but the report also highlighted the dangers this was placing on her unborn child Maddox. The case was then referred to an alternative response program or ARP for short. The caseworker visited Jessica's mother's home twice, interviewed Jessica and observed the children. According to the official report, the children were once again determined to be safe in her care. Jessica said she was willing to work on things like taking parenting classes and finding better housing. However, the caseworker subsequently left the agency.

And it appeared that no other worker took over Jessica's case. With no one to check up on her, she eventually stopped following her case plan. And eventually the case was closed. Jessica's due date was sometime in late March of 2018, but her pregnancy came with complications due to her drug use. She was subsequently admitted in December of 2017. According to Victoria, she was in the hospital and doctors told her she needed to stay in there or she'd have the baby prematurely. Jessica was once again prescribed methadone to suppress her urges, but she ignored the doctor's warnings and left the hospital.

Just two weeks later, she arrived at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. The boys she named Maddox arrived 11 weeks early. The day after Maddox was born. before, Jessica went to the hospital parking garage and took a tram at all from an old prescription. The following month, Jessica had to check up for Maddox. She showed up but abruptly left before it was finished. The doctors reported the incident to the authorities expressing concern that Jessica might not be able to properly care for Maddox given her condition. The report, however, was eventually screened out.

By that point, Victoria knew about Jessica's history with social services. She recalled, the social worker not to let her leave the hospital with him, I was worried about Maddox. But Victoria's warnings didn't change anything at all because after two months of specialized care, the word he's placed Maddox back in Jessica's custody. She brought him to a trailer at 30 cross lane in Stockton Springs where she was living with Jason and their two other children. Just weeks later on March 22nd, 2018, approximately 205 p.m., police received a 911 call reporting that Jessica's two-year-old child had overdosed on methadone from an unlabeled medicine bottle.

For a toddler, even a small amount of methadone can be fatal. The incident happened at Jessica's mother's Sherry Johnson's house. Stockton Springs Police Officer Michael Larravee rushed to the scene, he later reported. Jason was panicking trying to get help. I got there the same time the ambulance did. I ran in and the kid was on the ground. I picked him up and ran out to the ambulance. He was conscious and alert.

Officer Larivie didn't know whose methadone the child had ingested nor how much had been taken. With no immediate criminal charge to pursue, he handed the case over to DHS. The child who was unnamed, assumatively not Maddox, was rushed to the hospital and on the way the medical staff administered Narcan. Thankfully, he survived. Later, authorities learned that Jessica and Jason had waited 20 to 30 minutes before even calling 911. They were unable to provide a clear explanation as to how he got a hold of the drug. The HHS immediately sought a preliminary protection order for all of Jessica's children, and they were removed from the household. A few months later on July 16th, the court formally ruled that the children were not safe in the home,

citing family violence and drug use as their primary concerns. Maddox was then placed in the care of his father, Andrew, who was living with his mother and his young daughter at the time. Victoria later noted that when DHS called, we had nothing for him and had to go get everything for this little newborn. Maddox's maternal half-siblings were placed in foster care where both Jessica and Jason continued to visit them regularly. Both Jessica and Jason were ordered to secure their own housing, refrain from any violent incidents, participate in random drug testing, and complete drug use evaluations, along with any treatment programs recommended by their caseworkers. both of them struggled to stay clean. Jessica often showed hostile behavior towards her caseworker, the foster parents and visitation supervisors.

At one point, she was even suspended from transportation services following an altercation. She was also required to complete a mental health evaluation but repeatedly failed to cooperate. Jason was ordered to complete an intensive outpatient program or IOP. Although he started the program in the summer of 2018, he frequently missed sessions and fail to produce clean drug screens on several occasions. He did not complete the program until April 10th, 2019. At his discharge, his counselor recommended continued outpatient treatment and counseling. The Williams family welcomed Maddox with excitement and raised him for the next two years.

During that time, Jessica and Andrew got a divorce and she began using Jason's last name. In those two years, Jessica only visited him. visited Maddox once. Victoria recalled, my son didn't want her to bring the father of her other children to the supervised visits, so she only saw Maddox one time after his doctor's appointment. I didn't understand it. If I was the mother, I would do everything possible to see my child. Victoria often shared photos of a smiling, happy Maddox on her Facebook. Andrew continued to struggle with PTSD at times. But for the most part, he had to be able to. appeared to be doing well while living with his mother and was involved in Maddox's life,

but things were still as rough as ever for Jessica. She gave birth to another child in June of 2019. Just like all of her other children, this child was also born drug exposed and was admitted to intensive care for treatment. After recovering, this child was placed in the same foster home as one of Maddox's half-siblings. Despite not having seen Maddox for a long time, Jessica was still actively fighting in court to regain custody of him. On January 21st, 2020, the judge dismissed the case, allowing Maddox to remain in Andrew's care. However, just a week later, Andrew was arrested after breaking into an apartment in Rockland while under the influence. The tenant reported hearing a child crying and went downstairs where they saw Andrew holding Maddox in one arm and stolen goods in the other.

When officers arrived, Maddox wasn't even properly dressed for the cold weather, and in Maine, we're talking a night that likely was in the single digits at the warmest. Police also found drugs on Andrew. Authorities immediately took custody of the child and placed him with his paternal grandmother, Victoria. About two weeks later on February 12th, the HHS reviewed Jessica's case and determined that enough progress had been made, allowing Maddox to return to live with his mother. Victoria said,

They handed him over to a stranger that he hadn't seen but once in two years. Over the following months, Victoria and her son Andrew, who had been released on bail for burglary charges, tried to see Maddox, but Jessica refused to allow the visits. Andrew then contacted the Waldo County Sheriff's Office and asked them to do periodic checks on Maddox. In May of 2020, the court found that Andrew also posed a risk to his son and Andrew had to follow a plan to prove that Maddox's could once again be safe in his care. He was required to get check for drug use and mental health issues,

join any treatment programs his doctors recommended, and take random drug tests. The case regarding Jessica's other children continued until April of 2020 when they were finally returned to Jessica's care. By September 29th, Andrew was no longer considered a threat to his child. He updated his divorce agreement with Jessica, and they began sharing custody of Maddox. In December of 2020, DHS received another report from law enforcement,

raising concerns about possible drug use at Jason's home, along with the potential physical altercation between him and Jessica. During the investigation, all three were interviewed, Jessica, Jason, and Andrew. Jessica and Jason admitted they had argued but gave different accounts about whether or not it had turned physical. Andrew expressed frustration that Jessica was not following their custody agreement and said he planned to take her to court over it. Andrew then hired a lawyer and moved forward with his custody case. Eventually, a judge ruled that Jessica had faced jail time

if she continued to deny him his court-ordered visits. Around that same time, Jessica underwent drug testing and tested positive for weed and her prescribed methadone. Jason and Jessica were highly uncooperative in parts of the investigation. They refused to sign certain documents and did not allow full interviews of the children. The HHS also checked him with doctors, schools, and law enforcement. Well, there were some minor concerns like missed medical checkups and school attendance issues. There just wasn't enough evidence to justify removing the children from Jessica's care.

In March of 2021, DHS received another report regarding Andrew after a local business contacted law enforcement, saying that he appeared to be under the influence. After reviewing surveillance footage, officers believed he was not in any condition to drive. They later located Andoretta's home, where both of his children were in his vehicle. Andrew was visibly impaired. He struggled to use his phone and couldn't think clearly about who to contact. He told officers he had taken his prescribed doses of Suboxin and Zanax and was arrested for driving under the influence and for violating the conditions of his release. Following the incident, DHS determined that he posed a serious risk of harm and neglect to his children.

Maddox was taken to stay with his paternal relatives. On March 7, 2021, caseworkers checked in on him. He seemed to be doing perfectly fine and was playing with the other children. Apart from a light scratch on his hip, which he reportedly got from a cat, there were no other visible bruises. However, Victoria disputed that report and said that she had seen visible. bruises on her grandson during a visit in March, which was the last time Andrew had held Maddox in his arms. It was then that he noticed bruises on Maddox's back and a cut over his eye. Took a photo of the injuries just so he wouldn't be blamed for them.

When he asked Jessica about it, she explained that her four-year-old son had accidentally caused the injuries by throwing a toy. DHS also reached out to Jessica, but unlike Maddox's paternal relatives, she initially refused to let a caseworker enter her home to a home to a child. assess the children's safety. She argued that a recent assessment had already been done and that a judge had ruled her children were safe in her care. The very next day on March 8th, 2021, Jessica brought Maddox back from his aunt's home. A few days later, Jessica allowed a caseworker into her home. Both her and Jason spoke with a caseworker, but they refused to let the children be interviewed.

Jessica explained that she had previously kept Maddox away from Andrew because she suspected that he was using drugs. March 18th, Andrew was arrested again, this time on charges related to illegal hunting and carrying a firearm illegally. Andrew was taken to jail. During this period, Victoria repeatedly tried to contact Jessica to see her grandson, but Jessica continued to make excuses and said she was busy. Thursday, April 8th at 1.25 p.m., the Stockton Springs Police Department responded to a report of an altercation between Jessica and Jason. Jessica claimed that Jason had violently pushed her and threatened to kill her. Officer Jonathan Shaw responded to the case. He noticed that all four of Jessica's children were in the trailer during the incident.

The children seemed upset and the oldest child was crying and holding the younger one. There were red marks on Jessica where she said she had been pushed and Jason was arrested and charged. Jessica also reported that he had been using heroin. Following the incident, the court ordered Jason to stay away from Jessica. or no officer Jonathan Shaw, all four kids were there. It was less than favorable conditions. And I felt my professional opinion that I needed to call DHS immediately after the criminal aspect was resolved to make a referral. On April 9, 2021, Jessica allowed a caseworker to observe her children.

Maddox was reportedly asleep during the visit and the caseworker didn't see any signs of mistreatment. Jessica refused to let the caseworker enter her mother's home to check on her other child. Around the same time, the mother of Andrew's other child also filed to modify their custody arrangement. Victoria continued trying to stay in touch with her grandson. Although she wasn't allowed to see him in person, she was able to speak with Maddox over the phone. The last time she spoke to him was in June. Victoria later recalled Jessica telling her, We're going camping for two weeks and you can see him when I get back.

Days later on June 20th, 2021, Jessica and her mother, Sherry, brought Maddox to Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast. As they pulled into the parking lot, Maddox stopped breathing and became unresponsive. Once inside, Jessica told medical staff that Maddox had been injured after being kicked by one of his siblings and possibly dragged by a dog. According to her, he had complained of stomach pain and being thirsty for going unreasonably. responsive. However, medical staff quickly found her explanation inconsistent with his condition. Maddox was pale and cold. His pupils were not reacting to light, and his body showed extensive bruising. He also had a swollen head and clear signs of trauma to his abdomen. He was in full cardiac arrest when he arrived. ER staff spent about an hour attempting to resuscitate him before he was eventually

pronounced dead. Maddox Williams was only three years old. After being informed of his death, Jessica left the hospital within minutes. The HHS and law enforcement immediately launched an investigation. Max's grandmother, Victoria, later recalled, I had to get hold of the state police and find out what happened. Then my son called me, and I thought he knew. I just lost it and said, is it true? Did it really happen?

I had to tell him what I heard. He had no clue. He is the father and he should have been notified immediately. authorities believed Maddox had suffered severe physical mistreatment. During the autopsy, Maine Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Lisa Fund found that Maddox had suffered multiple serious injuries, including extensive bruising across his arms, legs, abdomen, and head. Some of the injuries on Maddox's face and forehead were older,

were already starting to heal. Jessica had attempted to hide these injuries with temporary tattoos. There was also deep tissue bruising on his butt, along with internal bleeding in his abdomen and brain. These injuries were far too severe to be explained by a simple kick from a child or being dragged by a dog, such as having a fractured spine, a ruptured bowel, a split pancreas, and bleeding in his brain. The medical examiner concluded that his death was the result of battered child syndrome.

The HHS immediately got a protection order and placed Maddox's other siblings in foster homes. The Maine State Police also searched Jessica's home in Stockton Springs and found traces of Maddox's blood in multiple locations, cleaning on washcloths in the living room, in a recliner, a chair, and on damp towels in front of the washing machine. Jessica was arrested on June 23rd and taken to the Waldo County Jail. She was charged with depraved indifference murder and held on a $150,000 bond. Andrew was being held in the Knox County Jail at the time. A story out of Waldo County, where a woman has just been arrested for allegedly killing her three-year-old son. We now know that the boy, Maddox Williams, was taken to the hospital by his mother and grandmother from this home in Stockton Springs to the Waldo General Hospital in Belfast.

He was pronounced dead there on Sunday. We do not know the cause of death, but an autopsy prompted police to arrest the boy's mother, Jessica Williams, and charge her with murder. And this just in, we heard from July, excuse me, Judy Carter, who is the boy's great-grandmother. She says, quote, the family is ecstatic about the arrest. We are relieved. She is now in custody and we will sleep better tonight. Her own mother, Sherry, was later arrested for concealing her daughter's whereabouts to the police.

She later landed herself back in court for not complying with the terms of her probation. The grandmother of a Stockton Springs three-year-old who was killed in June of 2021, appearing in front of a judge today. Sherry Johnson is the maternal grandmother. of Maddox Williams, who was killed after enduring significant abuse from his mother. Originally pleading not guilty in January of 22, Johnson took a plea deal in February of 2023, admitting she hindered the arrest of her daughter, Jessica Trefeathern. In April, prosecutors filed a motion to revoke her probation, citing that Johnson violated her probation

by not completing her mandated public service hours. Today, Johnson admitted she did not complete the service during the time of the filed motion. It's unfortunate that it took this motion to get you to the point where you followed through more obligation to perform the community service. But once the motion was filed, you reacted in an appropriate way by going ahead and completing the public service. In fact, putting in a few more hours than was actually required. Because of this, no sanctions were put on Johnson's probation.

There will however be a permanent probation violation on her. record during the period between when the violation was filed to now, Judge Helm called it a stopped clock where the time did not count toward probation served. Now that the motion is settled, Johnson will continue to serve her probation. In October of 2022, Jessica went to trial where she pled not guilty. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General's Leon Zenaia and John Ristler. Assistant A.G. Ristler told the jury that Maddox's injuries, particularly the transsection of the pancreas, laceration to the mesentary,

and the fractures to the lower spine, would require a significant amount of force, the force that one might see in a punch or more likely a stomp. During the trial, Jessica's mother, Sherry, testified against her. She told the court that she had witnessed Jessica physically mistreating Maddox on multiple occasions. She said she had never seen her treat the other children in that same way. Sherry said, she told him that she didn't want to look at his ugly face and that he was exactly

like his father. Sherry testified that Jessica called her on the morning of June 20th, the day Maddox had died. When Sherry arrived at the home, she found Jessica and Maddox lying on the couch. Maddox was pale, grayish-looking. One of Maddox's half-siblings also testified that Jessica had slapped Maddox multiple times and, on another occasion, had thrown him out of a hotel bathroom onto a hard, non-carpeted floor. Jessica's defense team argued that none of these facts proved that she murdered Maddox. The jury, thankfully, disagreed. Jessica was found guilty of depraved indifference murder. In December of 2022, she was sentenced to 47 years in prison. Emotions were high today here at the Waldrow judicial courthouse. Jessica Williams will spend the next 47 years of her life

behind bars. Williams, also known as Trafeithin, was found guilty in October for killing her three-year-old son Maddox Williams. Back in June of 2021, the mother brought Maddox to the hospital. He was not breathing and had no pulse. Doctors were not able to revive him. An autopsy found several injuries on the child's body, including a fractured spine and internal bleeding on his abdomen and brain and had missing teeth. The father and his family today, putting partial blame on DHS saying this could have been prevented. They were warned several times by my whole family and myself

that this was going to happen and they wouldn't listen. The next step is DHS being held accountable, but not only Maddox for other children. Maddox's aunt and grandmother on the father's side addressed the court, the grandmother calling Jessica a monster. We got a life sentence, life without Maddox. and I felt she should have gotten a life sentence. The aunt saying how heartbreaking it is to tell her baby son,

his cousin is up in the stars and no longer here. Her son recently saying, I don't want him up in the stars. I want him down to play with me. Williams herself did not address the court today. She doesn't feel bad. She doesn't have any emotion. Doesn't seem like she cares at all. Maddox was one of four young children that die back in June of 2021.

State leaders are saying this quote to spotlight on DHS on their failure. In May of 2024, Jessica attempted to appeal her conviction. Thankfully, the Maine Supreme Court wasn't having it. She's currently being held at the main correctional center in Wyndham. The Maine Supreme Court is upholding the murder conviction of a mother from Stockton Springs. Jessica Trefethin, also known as Jessica Williams, was sentenced in 2022 to 47 years in prison for killing her three-year-old son Maddox Williams.

She challenged admission of evidence used during a jury trial and testimony about how she communicated with police officers. She also argued the court was wrong to deny her motion for acquittal. The court disagreed with her arguments and upheld her sentence. In the wake of Maddox's senseless death, his paternal grandmother, Victoria, testified before the legislature's government oversight committee or GOC for short, February of 2022 regarding DHS failures. The GOC subsequently subpoenaed the record. The Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, or OPEGA for short, issued a formal case file review in April of 2023. The Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, or Opega, released a report looking into the safety decisions and actions taken by DHS in the case of Maddox Williams. Maddox's mother is currently serving a 47-year prison sentence for murdering the three-year-old boy.

an autopsy found Maddox had fractured his spine and internal bleeding in his abdomen and brain. Maddox's death is one of several high-profile child deaths in the last few years. That led to intense scrutiny of DHS. The Opega report removes blame from DHS. Maddox's paternal grandmother spoke out against the report. Maddox wasn't safe, stable, happy, or healthy in the care of that known monster. How could you sleep at note knowing the... sleep at night, no in the departments you oversee has blood on their hands.

Now the OPEGA report does recognize there were missed opportunities on behalf of DHS to file a petition to terminate parental rights before Maddox's death. Children who were the only ones in their families targeted for abuse and child protective services agents stretched too thin. Those were some of the takeaways from a hearing today looking into the death of Maddox Williams, one of four children who died of physical abuse all within a month of each other in the spring of 2021. A parent was accused of causing the deaths in each instance, deaths that prompted a serious look at the agencies formed to protect them. The report says CPS was first made aware of Maddox in 2019 when he was exposed to methadone as an infant. In January of 2020, Maddox entered state

custody after his father was arrested for committing a home burglary while, holding the child. Just a few weeks later, DHS allowed Maddox to go back with his mother. Sixteen months after that, he would be dead from blunt force injuries to his abdomen. His mother is serving a more than 40-year prison sentence for his murder. Today, the head of Maine's Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, or OPEGA, told the government oversight committee that child service case workers did all they could at the time, considering their limited numbers and the rules they had to follow. There are very they come in on very limited time-based

periods where they have to very quickly assess whether a child is fundamentally safe or not. And in this entire transaction, they are under requirements not of their own making, that they have to look for every opportunity to keep the children in the home, that the children, that it's been tried a number of ways and keeping the children children in the home, if we can, is better than taking them out because that has its own trauma. Among OPEGA's recommendations to the committee, an increase in court order diagnostic evaluations of the risks a child may be exposed to. However, the state has just three people doing that job right now. The governor's office is looking to move those responsibilities to the state

forensic service and hire more evaluators. Opega also says GHS needs to find a way to hire and retain more child case workers. Effective summer of 2022, main law now requires courts to prioritize child homicide cases. I called DHS before he left the hospital about concerns about him leaving the hospital with Jessica. She's talking about his mother, Jessica Trefathan. While Maddox was taken out of the home a few months later, he eventually was returned to Trefathan's care. This photo was taken that day. I had to hand him over to her, which is a perfect stranger to him. After that, she believes follow-up by the state just wasn't there.

I don't feel that they were involved at all or enough. Maddox died on June 20th, 2021. His mom arrested days later. State prosecutors detailed in court the extent of his injuries, saying Trefethin caused them. While the defense argued, they could have come from a fall because of his siblings or another adult. The jury found her guilty. But the prosecutor was incredible. The medical examiner it was incredible. And it was just, it was really hard to sit through. I sat through the entire thing, but it was, they did a really good job. No one from DHS was called to testify. When we

asked why, the Attorney General's office declined to comment. Were you hoping that DHS would have to talk about it? Yes, I was surprised. I was very surprised. Do you feel like you're still looking for answers from DHS? Oh, definitely. Now as Maine lawmakers fight to get records about Maddox's death, along with three other children last year, she's frustrated those details aren't being released. What's in these files may help make some changes in the DHS. Reunification of families is often a top priority. when Bose believes the agency should rethink.

And she says DHS should have more constant monitoring if children are returned to their parents' care. I don't want to see any more children go through what Maddox has gone through. It was 100% preventable. A GoFundMe page was also created by the paternal side of the family to help cover funeral and memorial expenses. Page read, on June 20th, 2021, Maddox, a sweet, loving, cure. three-year-old was taken from the world far too soon when he was murdered by the woman who gave him life. As his family grieves, there are expenses no one thought would be needed. Any funds raised will be used to provide him with the proper send-off he deserves. Any additional funds raised

will be dedicated to two causes. One, getting justice for those responsible for his death. Two, establishing a scholarship fund for students pursuing a career in social work. Please consider showing this precious baby's family, his siblings and his little cousins in particular, that his life ended too soon, but not in vain. To date, it's raised $9,040 of its $10,000 goal. Memorial Ride was held in Maddox's honor on June 22, 2024, sponsored by United Bikers of Maine, Eric's Church Restaurant, Walk a Mile in their shoes, and Funky Bow Brewery to commemorate the third anniversary of his death. There's a story there that should never be A parking lot all for a little boy who should be here today.

And we wanted to make sure that people remembered that Maddox should be here with us now. Three-year-old Maddox Williams was killed by his mother, Jessica Trefethin, in 2021. Hundreds across Maine are still keeping his memory alive. This week, March three years since Maddox was taken away from us and it's just a way to celebrate his life. At Eric's Church Restaurant, members of the Cumberland County Chapter of United Bikers of Maine are getting together for a memorial ride. We have a lot of them that showed up in cars and that will follow us. We also have a lot that are going to show up at the end of the ride. To benefit the nonprofit Walk a Mile in their shoes, created by former lawmaker Bill Diamond,

to prevent any more child deaths in Maine. We've had so many kids die. And every name you see on the front of this T-shirt is just a sample of children who never should. should have died, never should have been placed in the environment they were placed in. On top of raffles today, UBM President Bill Brown says riders are donating everything they fundraised throughout the year to walk a mile. We said there's no better cause than the children that are unprotected and need our help. Some sharing stories.

He was such a sweet, Karen, helpful little boy. He had just a great sense of humor. For the riders who will be going out today on their bikes. Others sharing prayers before the run. We'll be thinking about Maddox, and we'll be thinking about all the other children that have suffered. I look forward to the future when we don't have to do this, where things are just better.

His name was also added alongside countless others to the main murder victim's memorial monument located at Holy Family Cemetery in Augusta. The monument features black and red granite, symbolizing the colors of the ribbon related to victims of murder. A judge denied Andrew's request to be released on bail to attend his son's funeral services, which the family decided to hold privately. Arrangements were made in the care of Burpee, Carpenter, and Hutchins' funeral home in Rockland, Maine. According to his entry and find a grave, Maddox was laid to rest in nearby Warren.

His final resting place was marked with a bouquet of yellow and white flowers. Sitting beside them was a small, Elmo-stuffed animal and a toy tractor. On his temporary plaque, a photo of Maddox was placed at the center with the words, in loving memory of Maddox A. Williams, January 9th, 2018, to June 20th, 2021. Maddox's final headstone shown on screen contains a poem which reads, There is a star in heaven, it comes out every night. I know that star is you, Maddox, who has come to say goodnight. If Maddox's story resonated with you, please click here to check out the case.

of Marissa Kennedy, another girl from Maine who also lived in Stockton Springs in Belfast. Like Maddox, Marissa was also a child that was failed by Maine's DHS. She was beaten to death by her mom's new husband who beat her over and over while her mother, Sharon, watched and sometimes actively participated.