Messages show family's fear for tot as auntie states 'I can't speak killer's name'
05.02.2022 - 02:09
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Star Hobson's bereaved auntie has slammed authorities for letting them down and says that she can't even bring herself to speak the killer's name.
Frankie Smith's half-sister and devoted auntie to the tot, Alicia Szepler, said that she warned social services countless times and told police that the toddler was at risk but "no-one was listening".
Star Hobson tragically passed away in September 2020 from severe injuries after months of violence and abuse at the hands of her mum's partner Savannah Brockhill, Yorkshire Live reports.
A postmortem examination revealed that Star had suffered abdominal injuries, as well as more than 30 separate injuries including rib fractures, two breaks in her right tibia bone caused by forced twisting, and a fracture on the back of her skull from days before her death.
Following the Keighley toddler's tragic death, Star Hobson's family said that they can no longer utter the name of her killer, she is referred to only as "the monster".
Alicia said the whole family feels let down by authorities
Family and friends contacted social services on several occasions from January 2020 and up until the month Star died.
Alicia says she contacted social services three months before the murder, as well as the police, after growing increasingly concerned for Star's welfare.
Alicia has shown Sky News an email she sent to the police, with images of Star's bruised face and testimony in text messages from another sister that she had seen Smith "slap her across the face".
According to Alicia, police never responded and her exchanges with social services were equally unsuccessful.
This is a transcript of the Snapchat conversation sent to police
SISTER: "I've just seen Frankie slap her across the face. X"
ALICIA: "OMG"
SI