Courtney Gail Ettinger Tressler, Martin Wesley Ettinger And Greg Tressler
In North America, it is unlikely that many of us have to worry about starving to death, but it is a problem in many places on the globe. We are fortunate to live in a part of the world where, unless a person is combating bulimia or anorexia nervosa, an individual can pretty much end the pangs of hunger with a quick trip to his or her fridge, or by popping down to the local supermarket.
Children are, of course, dependent upon the adults in their lives to provide the basic necessities of life and this includes food and water. Parents must supply a balanced diet, which means the food must have enough calories to sustain the child’s energy levels and, at the same time, have an equal amount of the necessary nutrients to aid in their growth and development. It is vital to strike a balance to ensure our older years are not spent combating some freaky problem caused by our childhood diets.
Starvation is not a common childhood event in our society – or at least it shouldn’t be. In fact, starving to death in one of the world’s wealthiest nations is not only paradoxical – it’s evil. It means that the caregiver has decided to rid the world of a vulnerable victim. The perpetrator is well aware of the intent of his or her actions. Starvation can take a long time to achieve the end result and there are obviously many chances to reverse the course of action, many opportunities to think better of what is being done.
Let’s take a slight journey back in time. Courtney Gail Hughey met and married Martin Wesley Ettinger. On October 31, 2005, the 21-year-old Courtney gave birth to Payton Wesley Ettinger making 30-year-old Martin a new father. Payton had the whole future open for him. He had the potential to grow up and be whatever he wanted to be and to do whatever he wanted to do. The little boy was healthy and happy – but not for long.
Infants are so much potential in a little chubby package that sometimes you can sit and just stare at them, wistfully thinking about what tomorrow can bring. Sometimes you can wonder when it was that you yourself lost the ability to 
look at the future with such hope and anticipation. Some people, however, just look at an infant and see a whiny messy inconvenience that needs a swift punch to shut them up.
That must be how Martin Wesley Ettinger felt whenever he looked at Payton. Perhaps Martin felt Payton was to blame for his own inadequacies – after all, Martin couldn’t possibly be the captain of his own misfortune. Each time Martin felt frustrated at life, Martin gave Payton a little of the payback he felt Payton Ettinger sorely deserved, usually in the form of a hard punch or two. And so, Payton Wesley Ettinger had a horrific first two months of life.
Records from the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Grand Traverse County Michigan reveal that Martin Ettinger abused his infant son – repeatedly and frequently. It turns out that poor little Payton’s first few weeks on this planet were spent as a punching bag for his allegedly stressed out and frustrated father. Since infants are not equipped with body armor, the eventual and inevitable result of brutal battering does not bode well for the child.
On November 15, 2005, Martin Ettinger was beating Payton, as usual, only this time the infant required a trip to the local hospital. Once there, the doctors discovered a badly abused baby boy who was unlikely to survive the night.
At the hospital, doctors found a fractured tibia that was not recent, numerous rib fractures in two to three stages of healing and multiple abnormalities with various ages including a small right-sided subdural-like hematoma in his brain.
Martin told Grand Traverse sheriff’s detectives that he “squeezed Payton when he became frustrated” and “accidentally dropped Payton Ettinger on his chest.” The doctors knew the injuries indicated ongoing abuse. On this occasion, Martin Ettinger beat Payton to the extent that Payton had sustained severe brain injuries, leaving Payton developmentally disabled, unable to talk, to walk or control most of his muscles.
For the rest of his life, Payton Wesley Ettinger was a special needs patient and would forever require substantial care thanks to Martin’s enduring brutality and “frustration” at life. More than that, Martin essentially enabled the future murder of Payton Ettinger. Thank you Dad.
Yes, Martin Wesley Ettinger is currently residing in one of Michigan State’s finest residential palaces for its less than respectable citizens – Marquette Branch Prison. Martin’s new residence is a result of his conviction for first degree child abuse, which he pleaded guilty to in Traverse County Court on April 28, 2006. As a result of his plea, Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg dropped a second count of child abuse in the first degree.
When it came time to sentence Martin, Judge Thomas G. Power gave the standard sentence of five to fifteen years. That’s right, Marty is eligible for parole on April 28, 2011. Never mind that he sentenced little Payton to a LIFE TIME of never again being able to speak, to walk, to talk, to care for himself.
In 2005, the law had came to Payton Ettinger’s rescue and the medical magicians saved his life, but they could not restore the potential Payton once had. And yet, there are parents who don’t care about appearances and what someone else may consider “normal” and “regular”, parents who love their children so much that they are willing to beg, borrow, barter – whatever is necessary – just so long as their child is alive and still here on earth.
Having seen this kind of love up close and personal, it is awe-inspiring. Nothing matters in these cases, nothing except 
life and the fact that their son or daughter is still alive and breathing. Everything else is just icing on a cake, right?
Too bad this kind of love is in rare supply with some people.
Courtney Gail Hughey Ettinger Tressler, Payton Ettinger’s mother, divorced Martin and moved on with her life. Apparently, the police did not feel that she deserved to be charged for failing to protect Payton from Martin so she escaped any sort of legal censure. No charges of failure to protect were made so Payton’s mom was free of the taint of inept parenting – at least legally speaking.
But babies, endowed with loving parents, need not fear an existence such as Payton’s. The mother in this case was not charged and it is the assumption of all that she was not aware of the abuse her husband meted out to the two-month old baby. Divorced from Martin, Courtney Gail Ettinger was soon back on the meat market, footloose and fancy free, looking for the next Mr. Right. She was, after all, a young woman. Along came Greg Tressler, and in January, 2007, she married Greg Tressler and the twosome hauled up stakes and moved to Indiana with little Payton in tow.
Now nestled in the small town of Greensburg, Indiana, Courtney, making like a fertile turtle, popped out two children that belonged to her and Greg.
New state, new husband, new family, right? Except for Payton. Payton was a reminder of Martin and the old life Courtney Gail Tressler had left behind in Michigan. And then there was the issue of how much time a baby like Payton required. And would require for the rest of his life.
Remember, the damage to Payton was not such that the little boy would die of a medical ailment. It wasn’t Payton’s health that had failed him; it was his father. And Courtney Gail Tressler had walked out of Michigan state with her maternal image unsullied by Martin’s actions.
A mother’s love can move mountains and can weather any of life’s storms. Perhaps a mother’s hate can be just as phenomenal a force.
At what point did Courtney Gail Tressler decide she couldn’t stand Payton? Was it after the birth of her first child with Greg Tressler? When the baby grew past the age Payton was after Martin damaged him? When the baby began to do things on his own? Without needing her time and energy?
Or was it when Courtney Gail Tressler’s second child with Greg was born? Or was it when the two children, a boy and a girl, so perfect and complete, began to grow and develop and she could brag about their achievements? When Caden and Aubrey said their first words? Took their first steps? When they were able to be toilet trained? When their faces lit up with love and recognition for her and her husband?
When did she start to compare the children she had with Greg to the one she had with Martin? Is it fair? Hell no, but likely? Hell, yes.
Yeah, Courtney Gail Tressler must have come to view Payton as Martin’s child, not hers. After all, her son Payton had been born whole, complete, not some brain damaged albatross to be hung around her neck. No, the Payton she had to lug along into her new life was Martin’s. In fact, she couldn’t even stand to use the name she had given him at birth. He wasn’t Payton to her and Greg. They referred to him as “Puka” – don’t you think that’s an endearing nickname? “Puke – Ah”. Uh-huh. I think I can see how Payton got to be Puka.
Perhaps that is how it was – every day, she grew to hate the thing that used to be her son Payton and came to blame him more and more for all the bad things she had to deal with. Tired? Well it’s Payton’s fault. If she didn’t have to do EVERYTHING for him, then she’d have time to do the things she liked to do, more time to spend with her real kids. Her children with Greg, they were joys. They could do things for themselves; they drew pictures and played and she could talk to other parents about them – but not Payton.
And so fewer and fewer people even knew she had Martin’s mistake in a back bedroom. And day after day, Courtney Gail Tressler fed Payton less and less food and rationalized her actions away. Payton wasn’t really there anyway. It wasn’t Payton in the crib – it was Puka. He couldn’t think like her other children, Caden and Aubrey. He wasn’t really human right? The brain damage meant he was less than normal and therefore an embarrassment for Courtney.
If only she hadn’t had to keep Payton, then no one would ever know about her abysmal failure as a mother the first time around. If Payton would just die, then everything would be fine. Courtney had the perfect husband and the perfect children, but she couldn’t enjoy it. Why? Because of the existence of Payton. All the time and energy she had to waste on Martin’s mistake. It wasn’t fair, you know? After all, she’s a young woman and her whole life is ruined by Martin’s mistake.
Martin? He got off easy really. Once he’s out of jail, he’ll be able to go on with his life, but Courtney? Well, Courtney is stuck forever with Payton. Remember Payton cannot do anything for himself. He is developmentally disabled and has severe restrictions on what he can do with his muscles. Payton was sentenced to a crib by his father.
Let’s ponder an imponderable: How long does it take someone to starve to death?
Odds are it will take a long time if someone is doing it piece meal (no pun intended) and rationalizing along the way. That must be how Courtney Gail Tressler did it. How else can you explain Payton’s descent into hell on earth? The last time he was seen by a doctor was in 2006. Payton had made it to his first birthday and he weighed in at 17 pounds, 3 ounces. All systems normal and all systems go.
Payton would never again see a doctor in his short life time. By the time another medical professional saw Payton, it was the medical examiner at his autopsy. He weighed 12 pounds and he was 4 years 7 months old. Under Courtney’s tender loving care, Payton LOST five pounds.
How long does it take to starve to death? Too long really. It is a slow and painful death. Payton would have been struck by the hunger pains first and would have made noises in the beginning, so she must have been careful to give him just a little less each day.
Payton’s system would shut down non-essential things like growth in order to conserve what fat he did have on his body and then it would have shrunk his stomach. Still, his body would need to feed on something and it would – his body would start to eat itself. Fat would have gone pretty quick.
Next to go would be muscle tissue, which would be broken down and consumed by the body in an effort to sustain life. Forget about any growth or development taking place – Payton’s body would be in a fight for survival. But hey, it’s not like he was real, right? He’s not a real kid because his father made sure of that.
In Courtney’s eyes, Payton was a reminder of her first failure at life. She failed to protect Payton and her price was to be stuck caring for what she viewed as a lump of flesh that would take and take and take but never give. Not like her two normal children that she had with Greg. They would walk and talk and she’d be able to have time for herself and Greg, like other couples, instead of always being stuck looking after Martin’s son.
And so it went. Day after day, week in and week out. Payton never changed. He was just as needy now as he was when he was released from the hospital in 2006.
Of course, nothing happens in a vacuum. Perhaps it was unspoken, Courtney’s dissatisfaction with being stuck with Payton. Perhaps Greg and Courtney Tressler talked about it. Who knows? But it is a given that no one in their home could have escaped noticing that little Payton was getting … smaller.
At 3:23 p.m., on May 17, 2010, a 911 call was received by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, and a Decatur County EMS arrived at 307 E. Meadow Drive with remarkable speed. At 3:25 p.m., the EMS tech made a call for the coroner. Coroner Doug Banks took the body into custody.
An extensive autopsy was done on the corpse of little Payton Wesley Ettinger and detailed test were performed. The tests were not completed until August 13, 2010. The end result was the conclusion that the child had died due to malnutrition and dehydration. There was no significant amount of food in the child’s intestines or stomach and the
“no significant amount of food in the child’s intestines or stomach…the physical appearance of the child’s body clearly showed profound malnutrition and no body fat on the child’s body… (the) skin on his face was drawn tightly against his skull and face bones with obvious emaciation.”
When the police asked Courtney Gail Tressler about Payton, she said that she noticed Payton had been losing weight lately (as if weight loss is something one would suddenly notice) and that she planned to take him to see a doctor but financial concerns meant she had to postpone taking him. Um, yeah.
Indeed, two days after Payton’s death, Courtney Gail Tressler managed to squeeze enough cash together to go to the hospital to get her own health checked out – twice, but after all, it was her health we’re talking about, and that is certainly more important. Must have seemed like a fortunate stroke of luck that she didn’t need the money to check on Payton after all, right?
Courtney also said she had applied for Medicare – twice, but she had been turned down both times. Except that was a lie, too. The police were able to check on this claim too and it was another bogus non-event. You’d almost think Courtney was the one with brain damage, wouldn’t you?
Courtney Gail Tressler tried to tell the officers that she noticed on May 15th that Payton was losing weight and that she was planning to take him to the doctor’s office for a check-up. In fact, she had planned to take him on the day he died, May 17th, but she couldn’t afford it – financial difficulties, you know?
Makes you wonder why Greg’s daddy, president of the local bank, couldn’t have loaned his son and daughter-in-law a spot of cash so the baby could see a doctor. And then there’s the question of Payton’s income. As a severely disabled child, is it conceivable that Courtney was not receiving a disability check for Payton? If she wasn’t, then one has to wonder why. If Courtney WAS receiving a monthly disability check for Payton, a more likely scenario, then one has to wonder where the money was being spent if not on Payton’s care.
Nah, none of this apparently came up. Nope, Courtney Gail Tressler claimed that she was in a real financial bind. And now, two days later, Payton’s dead. If only she had had the funding for that visit.
And, looking like some hick from meth-central, Greg Tressler gave a front-porch TV interview in which he claims that his wife is innocent, that it’s all some misunderstanding, and last but not least, the criminal charges are the result of someone in a small town trying to make a name for themselves.
Not that you should doubt that there are influential people throwing their weight around because it is pretty evident that the Tresslers have clout.The prosecutor, the coroner, the chief of police have all declined further comment outside of what has been revealed in the probable cause affidavit.
Questioned as to how and why Greg Tressler has not been charged, prosecutor Bill Smith would only state that Greg wasn’t Payton’s legal guardian and that the law is “complicated.” Huh? Yes, the law is complicated, but that’s why people ask lawyers to clear things up, OK? And the chief of police? Even better. Greensburg Police Chief Brian Heaton stated, “I have been instructed not to comment further.” So yes, there are some power players affecting this whole case.
Now some people have rightly questioned Courtney’s poverty claims. The existence of a monthly disability check notwithstanding, a glance at their decent home at 307 E. Meadow Drive appears to be located in a rather fine neighborhood and indicative of a upper-middle class income level. They didn’t appear to be driving a jalopy either as they have a late model SUV in the driveway.
Supporters have been busy trying to sway public opinion and confuse the issue, but the Tresslers have not done themselves any favors with their inaccuracies when responding to police inquiries.
On May 17th, 2010, Payton died. On May 18th, 2010, Courtney and Greg Tressler were interviewed by the police. Courtney claimed to have fed Payton and put him to bed at 11:00 a.m. the morning of May 17th. Lie number one – the coroner could find no food or water in evidence in Payton’s stomach or intestines.
Courtney claimed to have taken Payton to several doctors over the years, as in two visits to a Michigan’s children’s clinic in 2009. Lie number two – Payton had last seen a physician in November 2006. Records at the children’s clinic disclosed no visits for little Payton. And records were searched in both Indiana and Michigan.
The financial woes were such that, despite being ultra-concerned about Payton’s “sudden” weight loss, she could not afford to take him to the local ER and have him checked out. The police asked if she had availed herself of the Medicaid option. Courtney claimed she had applied for Medicaid twice, and had been refused twice. Lie number three – Courtney Gail Hughey Ettinger Tressler had never applied for Medicaid once, let alone twice.
And Courtney Gail Tressler’s frantic concern on May 15th regarding the sudden weight loss for Payton and how she was thinking about taking him to the hospital? Well that’s lie number four – on this date, Courtney was busy posting on Facebook that she was having friends over for a back-yard grill and barbecue and that her “babies are getting so big so quick.” The comment about her babies were in reference to her other children, the healthy ones, the children she was proud of, the ones she had with Greg.
Facebook references to Payton had been infrequent prior to his death and totally absent afterward. The brief mentions of the child were always made to “Puka” and so it isn’t surprising that most of their friends and acquaintances were unaware of his existence. Caden and Aubrey they knew about. That was Courtney’s million dollar family after all, a boy and a girl, normal children, Greg’s children.
Greg’s Facebook postings were a study in avoidance. Still, six hours after Payton’s body was removed from the home, Greg was posting jokes and light-hearted comments on various Facebook pages belonging to friends as well as playing games.
As time passed from Payton’s death in May, Courtney Gail Tressler’s entries began to take a rather dark turn when she posted the following comment:“Swords of wisdom to those who need them; don’t mess with my family you will lose, don’t think you are sneeky (sic) when you clearly aren’t, quit being a s— disturber that’s how you run everyone off and end up with no one just wait it will happen.”
It is anyone’s guess as to whom this epistle was directed, but it’s possibly family as it hints at the person being left alone after running “everyone off and end up with no one.”
Perhaps not everyone was satisfied with the explanations the Tresslers were offering in regards to Payton’s exit from this earthly plane. And then there are the things that Courtney has been busy doing in order to “trying to reclaim my life” as she stated on her Facebook page, odd methods for coping with the tragic loss of Payton’s life, especially when viewed in the financial light we are to believe the Tresslers were/are in: the two of them consoled themselves with skydiving and rock climbing adventures, certainly not cheap distractions to indulge in.
Did their finances get better? Courtney Gail Tressler was arrested on Wednesday, August 18, 2010, and held on $15,000 bond, which she promptly paid and was released. The police were not amused. One has to wonder as to Courtney’s cash flow since she was able to bail herself out so quickly after being arrested. True enough, the bail, at $15,000, was a pitiful small amount, but this is the woman who didn’t have a spare cent to take her child to the doctor’s for a health issue she was concerned about, right?
The death has resulted in Courtney Gail Tressler being charged with neglect of a dependent and reckless homicide. To be honest, starving a child to death reeks of premeditation and it is inconceivable that you don’t know what you are doing. To starve to death is one of the slowest and most agonizing deaths imaginable.
Complete starvation in adults leads to death within 8 to 12 weeks. In the final stages of starvation, adult humans experience a variety of neurological and psychiatric symptoms, including hallucinations and convulsions, as well as severe muscle pain and disturbances in heart rhythm.
A child being slowly starved to death is first marked by growth retardation. Swelling of the legs is next, due to a drop in the protein content of the blood. Loss of resistance to infection follows next, along with poor wound healing. There is also progressive weakness and difficulty swallowing, which may lead to inhaling food.
At the same time, the signs of specific nutrient deficiencies may appear. Since the body will combat malnutrition by breaking down its own fat and eventually its own tissue, a whole host of symptoms can appear. The body’s structure, as well as its functions, are affected.
While starving to death, the body will lose 4-5% of its total weight per day. It can be a long and painful process if water and minimal amounts are provided. Early on, hunger and the loss of weight and muscle will be noticed. The subcutaneous fat decreases and the skin becomes thinner and drier as it stretches over the prominent bones.
Vital organs like the heart and lungs begin to shrink and slowly cease to function. The gallbladder fills with stones as the entire system winds down. Body temperature drops and the victim becomes extremely sensitive to cold. Fluid under the skin will swell the tissue. Anemia sets in.
Muscle mass diminishes and weakness consumes the body. Irritability and inability to concentrate affects the victim. The immunity system breaks down. Due to a lack of digestive acid production, the victim suffers a decreased ability to digest whatever food they do receive.
Towards the end, little Payton would have ceased defecation and drinking. His body would have had little or no strength at all. It is likely that he would no longer feel hunger pains at all. He would have minded the cold, but it isn’t likely he had the strength to cry much. His heart would have been slowing down a little bit more as each day passed.
Usually, if caught in time, adults who have suffered from starvation diets can be returned to normal function and physical health. Unfortunately, children are not so fortunate. Due to the fact that they are in a growth state and need adequate food and water to allow the growth to occur and sustain itself, starvation episodes can result in permanent mental retardation, growth defects, or both. If the episodes are extreme enough or of sufficient duration, then death will more likely be the result for the child rather than the adult.
Looking rested and well-fed, Courtney Gail Tressler and her husband, Greg Tressler, showed up on Wednesday, September 15, 2010, as Courtney made her first appearance at the Decatur County Circuit Court on charges of neglect of a dependent (Class A felony) and reckless homicide (Class C felony). Judge John Westhafer read the charges and noted that the penalty for a conviction of a Class A felony is between 20 and 50 years whereas a conviction for a Class C felony is between 2 to 8 years.
The judge asked if she had a lawyer and Courtney said she did not – she couldn’t afford one. Courtney Gail Tressler told the officials that she’s practically destitute. She has no lawyer as she ain’t got a penny, Courtney said with a wave of freshly manicured nails whilst garbed in a nappy little black business suit.
Courtney Gail Tressler claimed poverty – or near enough. No savings, no job, no income, no property, and, in response to the prosecutor’s question, no public assistance. The Tresslers lived solely on Greg’s employment paycheck alone from C & S Tressler Farms. As a result, Judge Westhafer had a discussion with the public defenders on hand for another case, and he appointed the lawyers of Brown and Johnson of Shelbyville to represent Courtney. The trial date is scheduled for January 18, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.
The most that Courtney Gail Hughey Ettinger Tressler can receive for methodically starving her disabled four year old son to death is 50 years, and still it doesn’t seem enough.
While those who comment in the public forums about Payton being in a better place, I can’t shake the image of the poor little boy slowly starving to death under the care of his mother after sustaining a life of disability and pain from his father. It is unlikely a young mother of two will be held to the standard of justice because that isn’t how things work.
On top of this outrage is the fact that Martin Ettinger will be applying for parole in a few months for release on April 28, 2011.
With parents like Martin Ettinger and Courtney Ettinger Tressler, what chance did poor little Payton Wesley Ettinger ever have?
Editor’s Notes: Courtney Gail Tressler hasn’t been above making veiled threats to anyone who is cooperating with law enforcement. This is also from her FaceBook page, which, BTW, is now defunct:
“(W)ords of wisdom to those who need them; don’t mess with my family you will lose, don’t think you are sneeky (sic) when you clearly aren’t, quit being a s— disturber that’s how you run everyone off and end up with no one just wait it will happen.”
“Don’t mess with my family.” Oooh, it gives me goosebumps.
But the fact that Greg Tressler hasn’t been charged with so much as a misdemeanor leaves me with a very, very bad taste in my mouth.
Think about all the cases have covered here at PYSIH involving babies and young children who were intentionally starved to death, can you think of one case, in a household where mother and father figure were present, where both parental figures were not charged.
Nope, neither can I.
Which Of These Fine People Belongs In Hell: Courtney Gail Ettinger Tressler, Martin Wesley Ettinger Or Greg Tressler?
- Send them all to Hell! (92%, 428 Votes)
- Only Courtney Tressler and Marty Ettinger do (4%, 18 Votes)
- No one goes to Hell - it was all just a big misunderstanding (2%, 11 Votes)
- Only Courtney and Greg Tressler do (1%, 4 Votes)
- Only Courtney Gail Ettinger Tressler does (1%, 3 Votes)
- Only Greg Tressler and Marty Ettinger do (0%, 2 Votes)
- Only Martin Wesley Ettinger does (0%, 1 Votes)
- Only Greg Tressler does (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 467
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93 Comments »
Omg, i can’t even fathom this… this makes me want to cry out at the injustice. I’m appalled…
I knew this was your writing Max, even though I had not seen your name until the comments. I see that you are as enraged as I am.
At first I did not even have words.
What a particularly disgusting crime.
Send them all to hell.
Payton was a name that we considered for our son.
I weep for you, little sweet Payton Ettinger. May you rest with angels sweet baby boy.
Actually Christy, this is Budgiegirl’s story – I forgot to change the author field before I published the story. But Budgie and I have very similar styles, and very similar beliefs. As you can tell by the length of her stories, she is a thorough researcher, and she was eager to learn the finer points of writing. As much as any of my writers, she took to heart all the advice I gave her about how I did things when I wrote an article. Fortunately for her, she was able to filter out my bad habits and only keep the good one, combine them with an abundance of her own natural talent, and became one hell of a storyteller.
oops! Yes she is great also. Very well-written story.
Awww, thanks Max!
Really, it’s a compliment to have my writing be considered as good as yours, and you already know my ego has outgrown the room I’m in! ;-p
This is so damn sick and to think that she will get 50 years at a maximum # of years makes me sick. What makes me even sicker is that the beloved step-father isn’t even being charged and that “dear ol’ dad” will be up for parole. Maybe(i strongly doubt it) but just maybe poor little Martin learned his lesson and will pay this step father a visit and commit a murder/suicide. Where are the remaining kids does anyone know? I just wonder how the grandparents(step-father’s family) didn’t even notice or did they not give a crap either. Their is so many questions that I have on this one, it just makes me sick!!
Good job Budgiegirl for this great(sad but good) article.
Why? What really is the difference between 50 years and 60 years. That’s 2/3 of the average adult’s entire lifespan anyway – the fact that people here spend time whining that some criminal only got 50 years instead of maybe 10-20 years more is pretty funny, who gives a crap?
Listen you stupid fucking troll, it should of been you that was starved slowly to death instead of that little baby. What do you do sit at your computer Masturbating When you get a reaction out of someone. You call us pathetic commenting on this blog. We comment because we as normal human beings are outraged at these murdering, raping, pedo sick fuck’s like you. Anyway im sure that you’ll have probably climaxed now sick fuck so you can move along to another site now go on fuckoff bye bye, cheerio, ta ta.
Heartbreaking, I watched animal cops where a woman kept her dog chained up and starved it. The dog was half dead, and when the cops got him he wagged his tail. They ended up having to put him down because, as you already said, his organs were shutting down. That was bad and she should have done hard time for it. But this is even worse, You have to be a complete psychopath to watch a person starve to death (never mind a child), it’s like slowly poisoning a loved one. I want to know why Peyton was not identifyed in 2006 by the doctor that serviced him. He was definitely entitled for services (everything from pt/ot, preschool, home infant teachers,etc.) I work with special needs children and a lot of time (particularly when they are very tiny), babies can bounce back from traumatic head injuries even when drs. are saying there is no hope.
ps…I feel terrible for her two other kids, what a horror to witness your own mother capable of such coldness and apathy.
Fuck.
Nappy or natty? Too much conjecture in this write-up. Facts speak for themselves, don’t need such a florid style.
You can just blow me Belinda.
Bee! Low. Me.
Bee. Low! Me.
Bee. Low. Me!
Blow me.
Blow me.
Blow me.
Blow me.
Blow me.
Blow me.
Oh, and blow me.
Piss off, Belinda. You want dry reading, go to a news site.
i agree with you belinda< it was hard to even find the facts of the story. I think this one had way to many assumptions. It was a hard read. Sad story indeed though!
Absolutely. While the facts were represented, it seemed to take ages to get to them. In my opinion, this was not very well edited.
whatever. go away, the lot of ya.
I’m right there with you Christy. I thought it was a great right up. To say it wasn’t good is just dumb.
Want JUST the facts? Go look up the court documents.
Want a story? You’re in the right place.
So, thus, methinks you’re in the wrong place. You can kindly leave now. bye! :)
The baby killer Greg Tressler is still on Facebook. If you look at the story it states he works at C.S. Tressler Farms. Well lookie who I found:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000739941456
Most of her friends didn’t even know he exist. Yea, she was ashamed of this child that needed someone. How do you go about life knowing there is a human life in the next room slowly dying? She deserves hell and an good ass whipping. Sicking.
Martin Wesley Ettinger’s eyes are scary! He looks like the psychopath that he is. I hope that he does not get paroled in 2011 but does his full sentence, which should keep him in jail until 2021. Even that (15years) is not enough for the brutal beating of an infant. How is it that Courtney Gail Tressler and Greg Tressler’s family did not know what was going on? What about their close friends? Courtney should have been charged along with Martin Wesley Ettinger when their son Payton was first abused. Since they decided to return Payton to his mother, then Payton’s home life should have been monitored. That fucking, worthless, bitch caused poor Payton to suffer TWICE! I hate her and hell is too GOOD for her.
Why didn’t she put him in a group home or drop him off at child services and say he’s too hard to take care of? He would have been better off in residential treatment. She could have put him in a group home and never visited him again…oh but wait then no disability check.
I have just put those three fucks at the top of my death list. Rip sweet baby boy.
Wow, fantastic writeup – I had to pause twice to wrap my brain around it.
Terrible terrible tragedy for the child that did not need to happen
I’m with Rx — if she thought it was such a burden to care for this child, why not give him to the state? They have specialized facilities and foster homes for medically fragile children. It’s possible — though only just — that someone might have adopted him. And even if no one adopted him, he would have gotten much better care than his so-called mother provided him.
Because if she gave him up, the disability checks would have stopped coming in. This cunt is no better than the pos who adopt special needs kids for the money. Some sick people seem to forget that just because someone may seem a bit off, doesn’t mean they aren’t human.
This is a link to a photo of Payton
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/8739/paytonwesleyettinger.jpg
How could these monsters do this to their lil man? I can never imagine.
Way to go finding a picture of little Peyton, Joanie. I added it to the story as soon as I saw your link.
BTW, I took care of the posting problem you were having – shouldn’t happen again, but let me know by email if it does.
editor@pysih.com
BREAKS my heart.
Payton, you were a beautiful sweet boy. I am somehow happy to connect your sweet face to your sad story though.
BTW- Puka- jesus, burn her ass alive. To me, SHE is PUKA.
Along with the bio-PUKA-dad. That enrages me. How dare her.
This… just breaks my heart. I don’t even know what to write. Is it possible that this little boy never knew a single moment of joy? He went from extreme violence to the worst neglect. I wonder if he ever felt loved at all. Even for a second.
I thought the exact same thing, and sadly, in his photo, to me his countenance shows that he is terrified, of something. Not surprise, but fear.
How souless do you have to be to starve a child to death?
I bet in her warped little brain, she was doing the “right thing.” People that can starve, neglect or abuse small children and animals deserve the lowest levels of hell.
No, sadly this seems extremely calculated IMO.
Notice, in his picture, it looks as if she cared about him then.
A mam in his mouth, cute little overalls. I think she planned and schemed.
Someone actually voted NO, no one should go to hell?!?!
They should go join Courtney and Martin in the hell they’ll soon see.
Sick bastards… I hope she gets her due in prison from the other inmates who don’t look highly on baby killers. Maybe Martin will too, before he is scheduled to be released next year. He will be let out only a few months after his ex-bitch’s trial for the murder of his son, unless an inmate takes care of him too.
Poor Payton. He died weighing what my 3 y/o weighed at only 3 months of age! My heart breaks for him.
So, not only did this dumb, waste of ovaries allow her son to end up with severe problems, but then she goes and neglects him becasue of it? Someone should beat her until SHE is reliant on others to eat, cloth herself and use the bathroom.. then she should be locked in a room alone like poor Payton… RIP Lil Payton, I’m sorry you you couldn’t choose your parents :(
With parents like his im amazed he survived this long. He must of had such a fighting spirit. Sweet little man. I can only imagine how he suffered.
And why has the husband not been charged with SOMETHING? ANYTHING? He would have known that little boy was fading away….could he not feed him? Fuck it, if he couldnt be bothered and he didnt want him there couldnt he have called welfare?
They both deserve to burn in hell.
My nephew’s name is Peyton, he’s 4 and my youngest out of 16 nieces and nephews. This is so sad. I had to take a break from reading and writing for a few days because I’ve been sick, but more importantly, I dream of these babies night after night and think of them 24/7 to the point that I’m emotionally numb and have cried until I can cry no more. Words fail me when it comes to children. I don’t understand how one can raise a hand in anger towards a child, I will never understand. It’s unfathomable yet we read about it everyday. What is the solution? That’s the million dollar question.
I do not understand how step dad can escape punishment. He was an adult in the household, knew the child was there, presumably he was not incapable of making reasoned decisions-he had a job, so….he could not tell the baby was starving to death? In my mind he ignored the issue because he didn’t want a disabled child around him, disrupting the ideal family life they were portraying so he was complicit in ignoring the starvation, which to me means he was an accomplice…how he is getting out of this, I can’t fathom.
I read this post last night and cried. I thought about Payton while driving to work this morning and cried again; now seeing his picture tonight, with his big, trusting eyes….my heart just breaks to think how this sweet, little boy suffered. Too many children hurt and killed by the people that should be nurturing, protecting and loving them…. Shaniya Davis, Brianna Lopez, Ethan Stacy, Dominic Calhoun…so many more and tragically still more to come. Hell is too good for scum like Courtney, Martin and Greg.
So…first Martin goes to jail and Courtney isn’t charged with anything, although she clearly should have been. Now, of course, there is a dead child. Now Courtney IS going to jail and Greg isn’t charged with anything when he clearly should have been. So, who wants to place bets on how long it is before we see Greg on here again with a couple more dead kids on his hands? Stupid ass system!!! Take him down too!
I’d like to vote at this point to fry Greg, who must have known what was going on and happily went right along with it.
Sometimes I wonder why I come on this site…..after this and the one about Haskett today…I am so sad. I really and truly want to think the best of all people…but then I read stories like this, and it reminds me to not be so naive….
(I do love the site…just saying it is quite hard to read this stuff).
O M Gee, this is horrifying! What state do these stupid ass methed out hicks live in? Where are the CPS when you need them? First of all, shouldn’t that stupid hooker bitch of a mother been detained as it seems she wasn’t that great of a mom to begin with if she let that man beat the shit out of her poor son. Even though my husband is a Untied States Army Soldier (not to mention Airborne/ Ranger/ Pathfinder and Combatives Level 3 certified), if he ever put his hands on me or my 6 year old son or my 5 year old daughter, I would slit his throat and stab him in the chest with whatsoever I can get my hands on, whether it be a pencil or a big ass Halloween knife. I love my children to death. So I don’t know who decided to give that bitch her precious son back. I know any mother will shield their children and protect them at all costs, so what this shitty mom did was unacceptable! How dare she?
And not to mention that she gave this child the most cruelist of deaths that I can imagine. And she’s a fucking liar, too! I cannot stand liars, especially if your lying is so bad that one can tell it is a lie within 3 seconds. I know my 6 year old son (OMG he will be 7 in Feb! They really do grow up so fast!) lied to me about spilling orange juice when he was 4 and immediately blamed his baby sister who was 3 at the time. I popped him lightly in the mouth and he has never lied since. If I were the police interviewing her and she lied to me about feeding Payton, I would call her a piece of dog shit with limbs and a stupid fucking meth head attached and pistol whip her with my weapon to break her fucking ugly, degraged ass meth teeth out her air head.
RIP Payton Wesley Ettinger. I hope you find peace and a chance to be finally loved and cared for in Paradise, little angel. I am sorry you couldn’t have had a better set of loving, dedicated parents and that the shitty CPS could not protect you. Let the Lord wrap you in His loving embrace. Burn in hell Courtney Gail Ettinger-bitch, Marin Ettinger, and Greg fucker! I hope Satan has a place for you bitch asses in hell.
P.S.- Courtney (whore), since you are typing stupid ass little threats on Facebook like the stank ass whore you are, you need to drop by the local Wal-Mart and purchase some Oil of Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream 1.7 oz for only $21.87 to take care of those sagging corners around your mouth, bitch. That comes from you always dropping down on your knees giving those vaccuum-cleaner like blowjobs you sick bitch. Fuck you!
What a horrible story. Unfortunately the horrors that this lil one endured were almost lost for me in the rambling bullshit that is the story. 90% of the article could have and should have been edited out.
I disagree, I think the story was very informative. It’s amazing how assholes like you come on here and judge these writers when you haven’t a clue what it takes to write them. Why don’t you come off of that pedestal and write an article yourself? No need to respond, I already know your answer. Btw, fuck you and the horse you rode in on.
Asshole? Really? I’m pretty sure you know nothing about me. Are you sure I haven’t written any articles myself? I can see by your intelligent response to my comments that you are a fine upstanding man, however I implore to rethink your use of the phrase “Fuck you and the horse you rose in on” as it has been worn into the ground. A little creativity wouldn’t kill you.
And you’re dillusional if you think the majority of that article was relevant and anything more than spectulative drivel.
The story itself is heartbreaking and I applaud anyone that takes it upon themselves to try to share this lil ones story with the world. I was merely pointing out that it would have been more effective had the author stuck more to the facts and less or his/her own opinions.
She did stick to the facts. The scientific facts.
I have a degree but it’s not in medicine, so I would not have known what it is like to starve to death, especially as a child without Cleo’s description. It had impact.
Your question: “Asshole? Really” The answer: a resounding :” Yes”.
Again, go away, the lot of ya. Where’s your website? Go write your own fucking stories if you don’t like it here.
there, all fixed.
who’s your pal christy, who’s your buddy?
-editor
:)
oops! Budgiegirl, not Cleo…
Why would you think anyone would care about what you think about the “ramblings” of the story’s author? Do you think you so special that you just had to share it with a bunch of strangers, or is it really just that you’re a mean little prick who enjoys tearing other people’s work down.
Using words like “horrible” and “bullshit” to describe Budgiegirl’s article was designed to draw our attention to the rest of your comment, so we could all bask in your wisdom. I’m sure there are lots of people who don’t like Budgie’s style, the same way there are lots of people who don’t like my style, or Stone’s style, or admin’s style. It’s called personal opinion, and everyone is entitled to one.
Most people, however, realize we are all volunteers who write for PYSIH because we care about the this site and it’s mission, so they keep their negative opinions of trivial points to themselves, if only our of common courtesy.
So you see, we know more than enough about you to call you an asshole, because so far, you done a great impression of one. Don’t be mad a Stone for being especially perceptive and catching on before anyone else did.
Anyways, I’ll challenge you to perform the same task I’ve asked every other “critic” who’s shared their negativity with us to do; Write your own story, and submit it here for publication. I guarantee I’ll post it as-is, without any changes. I won’t even identify you as Obs – we’ll give you a pen name so you get people’s real opinions.
I honestly hope you can write, because I need all the writers I can get.
I said the STORY was horrible, as in what happened to Payton. I didn’t say the author or her writing was horrible. As far as the bullshit comment, well that stands as is. Max, can you of all people honestly say you don’t think a lot of the story could have been edited out? Honestly? You think every word in that article was necessary? I’ve read your writing for years and even you don’t go on and on like that. You’re right it’s her style and she can write however she wants but I would think that as a writer she would want feedback, not schmoozing
You say “It’s called personal opinion, and everyone is entitled to one.” yet you jump all over me for sharing my opinion. Kind of hypocritical don’t you think. My opinion wasn’t meant to be hurtful or mean, just constructive criticism. Would you prefer to have smoke blown up your ass or would you prefer an honest opinion?
See, this type of narrow mindedness is what caused me to walk away from this site in the first place.
Walk on Obs, walk on – The story is what it is, and I don’t have to explain to you or anyone else why I leave all the stories pretty much as is. There are more reasons to write than just getting your name at the bottom of the story.
Obs, that little red dotted line helps you understand you are spelling something incorrectly. It is fucking amazing, right?!
Just a heads up for the next time you decide to spit up your typing asshole du jour regarding the next article you just can’t stand.
Personally I enjoy the style of writing, the article and the heartfelt manner in which it was presented.
Keep doing your thing PYSIH volunteers!!!
Wait. So YOU can judge other people, going so far as to belittle them, but YOUUUUUUUUUU need respect?
fuck you. and the horse ya rode in on.
I repeated it, just to piss ya off.
Oh and have a nice day!
“Asshole? Really? I’m pretty sure you know nothing about me. Are you sure I haven’t written any articles myself? ”
Yes, really. Surely your not surprised by me calling you an asshole are you? I doubt I’m the first or the last if you continue giving what you call “constructive criticism”. No, I’m not sure but I doubt you have. Usually it’s people like you that can’t even write out a grocery list.
“I can see by your intelligent response to my comments that you are a fine upstanding man, however I implore to rethink your use of the phrase “Fuck you and the horse you rose in on” as it has been worn into the ground. A little creativity wouldn’t kill you.”
I can see I was right and not only are you an asshole but a dumb ass to, I’m a woman. I guess you don’t read people as well as I do.
“The story itself is heartbreaking and I applaud anyone that takes it upon themselves to try to share this lil ones story with the world. I was merely pointing out that it would have been more effective had the author stuck more to the facts and less or his/her own opinions.”
Guess what? You chose to read the author’s story, you could have just as easily chose not to. Max allows us the freedom to express our opinions, if you don’t like it, don’t read that person’s stories. It really is that simple.
“It’s called personal opinion, and everyone is entitled to one.” yet you jump all over me for sharing my opinion. Kind of hypocritical don’t you think. My opinion wasn’t meant to be hurtful or mean, just constructive criticism. Would you prefer to have smoke blown up your ass or would you prefer an honest opinion?”
The definition of constructive criticism = criticism or advice that is useful and intended to help or improve something, often with an offer of possible solutions.
Please point out anywhere in your comment that was helpful, useful or not being mean. You can’t. Your comments have been the only rambling bullshit on this page. There is nothing wrong with pointing out errors or giving advice but you cross the line when you purposely try to offend the writer.
Your pathetic, as soon I called you out on it you turned it into a “poor me” I was just sharing my opinion and that’s why I don’t come here anymore.
“See, this type of narrow mindedness is what caused me to walk away from this site in the first place.”
When did you walk away and why in the fuck did you come back?
Stone, you crack me up.
“When did you walk away and why in the fuck did you come back?”
Nice!! Thanks for responding. Like you and Max, I was trying to see where the “constructive criticism” was in the “advice” Obs was giving me. Must be just part of my psychopathic nature that I fail to see the “good advice” he/she was offering.
Your welcome, that person is a jerk. After writing a couple story’s on here I know how it feels to have someone come in and start talking shit about your writing style. Obs knew exactly what they meant and when he/she was called out he/she/it tried to turn it around and make it sound as if they were just helping. That only shows their a coward and backs up my original statement of them being an asshole because they don’t even have the balls to back up their own thoughts when the tables turn.
Stone and Budgiegirl, don’t listen to those bastards. I love the way you two write the articles. They are very descriptive, informative, and creative. There is much energy in these articles. Please, don’t get discouraged because of some asshole fool. Keep up the good work!
Just because I *am* a fan of this site, I’d like to take this opportunity to state a few facts — my facts. I write because basically I’m driven to. I’ve had a health crisis that made me realize that if I waited for a “right” time to give in to the creative process, then I’d miss the chance to make a difference; and yes, I believe that the stories on this site DO make a difference.
While it may not seem like any editing is done, prior to me sending anything to Max, I go through many versions/editions. Yes, perhaps the stories seem wordy WHEN COMPARED to regular newspaper articles. But here’s the thing — I assume that people are like me when they come to this site — the stories have MORE than the regular staccato-like missives we are usually treated to. I want to know WHY someone felt it was okay to starve their baby boy to death. What kind of woman is Courtney? Short of going to the state and interviewing friends and family, I check everything I can out about the family — relatives, friends and the like can’t help themselves from donning the cape of “protection” and spewing excuses and shit on public newspaper forums. Who is Courtney? What was little Payton’s life like?
And yes, I tend to speculate about reasons that humans act so evil, but then I’m also into studying the human psyche and I’ve got a lot of years (and university training) involved here. I went into detail about starvation for an infant versus an adult because they are two different processes. It is also a more evil method of polishing off someone. It is deliberate and cruel. My “ramblings” are thoughts I imagine several readers may share as they try to wrap their minds around a mother deciding to starve her child to death in order to free herself from what she has come to view as a burden.
And Max does edit my stories and he does a fantastic job. He cuts and he adds and whatever ends up on this site is always held to standards that Max and admin have long-since established. I learn every time Max finishes the polishing job on my writing. Each time there is always something to be tweaked or fine-tuned. I’d love to be perfect and I know it would be less work for Max, but I do what every writer here does — the best that I am capable of.
Finally, I write for the victims, the ones who can no longer speak for themselves or never could to begin with. I believe that if the media did their job properly, then we would be given stories that probed beyond the bald “facts” that so many ass-hat trolls seem to be keen on. This story could have been six lines long — I’ve read newspaper articles that were just that long. A 4-year-old boy was found dead by EMTs in May, 2010. Courtney and Greg Tressler, parents, were interviewed. Tests were done. Boy died of starvation. Courtney was arrested in August. She bonded out immediately. Court date in September she claimed poverty. She got public defender. Trial set for next year. Done. Happy? I’m not. Who are these people? Dig a little further and you find out that Payton was abused by his father and that’s why he was disabled. Not every article even bothered to mention this fact.
So I write because I want to let people know everything I can about the who, what, when, where and WHY. If my “wordiness” bothers people, then they can skip my stories. As long as Max finds my work suitable, then I will continue to submit to PYSIH. The fact is that this site is important because it tells the story so that people can see how evil these POS are and so that we can all spend a moment or two thinking about the victims.
I hope I never get to the point where I am more focused on the writing style of the story tellers that Max and admin have gathered here than I am on the plight of the victims.
Amen! The best thing about this site is that it’s not your run-of-the-mill news site. It’s got heart! BTW, I thought the story was great
Way to stand up for yourself Budge – don’t ever let these bastards change the way you do anything. People who really care won’t insult you and your hard work.
Again, thank you Max and everyone! The support and the helpful advice I’ve received about my writing have been appreciated and taken to heart. As Max can attest, I have come a LONG way since my first story. There was one submission that went right off into an explanatory tangent where I was bogged down trying to make a key point and getting all balled up in describing a process. Tsk, tsk. Thankfully, Max rescued the story and I learned a good lesson. :-D
But really, I think we’re all on the same page with you Max — we care about this site and its mission and we all want to tell the stories and make people care.
My problem is restraining myself from spewing full-tilt at some half-assed troll who is sniping hateful remarks at me when my main purpose is to make people feel the anger/sadness I do when I research these stories.
However, I find that the community here is very supportive and the goal I have — making the victims be heard — is achieved with the regulars. People share my anger, my outrage, my heartbreak. It is damn good to know that there are still people who feel like I do about the evil that seems to be everywhere these days.
And hell, I’m still riding high since someone mistook this story for one of Max’s — my ego is still overblown from that compliment!!!!
Can’t lie. I’m a praise-junkie!!! Just like my cockatiels and budgies!
I never seem to be able to explain myself that well but you did perfectly. I’m thankful you write the way you do, just like you said. I want to know more than what the media tells us. Whether I’m writing or reading a story, I almost always look for addtional informational on the victims and the perps.
Often times I finds memorial sites where I can express my condolenses, other times I find court records or FB pages of the perps that allows me to get a peek into their world to see what kind of person could have committed the crime they did. Just like you said, I want to know the who, what, when and why and I’m glad you provide that. If someone doesn’t like it they can skip over your stories or stick with reading newspaper articles.
I almost always look for addtional informational on the victims and the perps.
My google spellchecker was as tired as I was when I wrote this this morning.
I understand your point, the reason why we read this sight is for the content of the stories. Dont feel as though people are tryin to dicourage you from writing, but more giving you their opinion of how we think it could have been better. I dont feel as though i personally was insulting, just thought it had too many personal add inns, not that you should have none at all. Its just my opinion, who am i? Your reader? Does it not matter at all what we think?
But, really…. shouldn’t you care more about the CONTENT of the story than how it was written?? I just can’t see how anyone could be reading along about a little boy being starved to death looking for run-on sentences and comma splices. I mean, come on! Get over yourself.
Also, you can’t be caring about the content, as you claim, if you’re too busy making judgments about how it was written. If you want someone who writes like they are working for the associated press, I think you may be at the wrong site. But, I’m sure any other mainstream media outlet would be more than happy to have you as a reader.
I absolutely agree, we are all volunteers, most of us are not English majors and did not go to journalism school. I am horrible at making these errors and I’m sure that I’m not the only one. I really don’t care whether or not someone added a comma in the correct spot, I’m here for the content.
i would never comment on anyones sentance structure, i am the last person to say anything about that. i just had a hard time figuring out the things that really happened versus what the author assumed happend. i think the author over did it a bit and i lost touch with the story because i felt it was her story and not Payton’s story.
I think I understand what your saying. Perhaps some might have a hard time keeping up with the story because it was very detailed. For some of us, me for instance, I appreciate a story that has a lot of depth because I get extremely involved and caught up in a article and would look for the info on my own if it’s not provided, others may not need that much information and it may just become a distraction. I guess it comes down to every one’s individual preference. I may not have seen your original comment but I don’t see where you said anything wrong or offended anyone.
Have you written a story for this site yet? I have (go me!), so I can tell you that it’s not just writing about facts that everyone else has already reported on. When you give yourself the task of writing about things that are so horrific that you can barely wrap your mind around them, it is impossible not to interject your own feelings and thoughts about the situation. Most of the stories here wouldn’t be as good if the feelings of the writer weren’t included. I think, for the most part, people who come here and read the stories probably share many of the same feelings of the writers. I would compel you to write your own story for the site. Find the story of some little boy or girl who was starved/beaten/raped to death and write the story about their life. But, don’t have any feelings about what happened to the life of that innocent child. Do you think you could? Would you really want to?
And, so what if it was her story as well as Peyton’s??? I’m sure she cares more about that little boy than any other “journalist” who told the story, so she has that right.
at what point did i say that she should have wrote the story with no feelings about what happened? I didnt, i made the statement that the story was hard to follow because of the fact that she over did the add in of personal feelings about the story. I am obviously not the only person who felt that way because it is true.
Penny, Penny, Penny…. I won’t bother retelling you what YOU said because it’s a little like beating a dead horse (I’ve waited all my life to be able to use that idiom!).
“I am obviously not the only person who felt that way because it is true.” Now, Pen, I won’t even bother getting into wtf you mean by this. I mean, obviously, I know what you think you mean (damn, I wish I could use some italics right now!), but I don’t think it means what you think it means.
Nicolenumbertwo you better watch it Obs may come back and not like you saying “beating a dead horse” because that saying has been used to death lol. I’ve never had the opportunity to say fuck you and the horse you rode in on, I liked it lol. I’m 35 so none of my peers really ever said it haha.
Dammit! And I thought I was a pioneer! It must be a generational thing… I’m 26 and pretty sure the only catchphrase that has come from my generation is “that’s what she said.” Dead horse beating is like a breath of fresh air to me :D
Thank you Nicole! I was trying to be a little more gentle this morning because I’m tired lol. BUT you are correct. I gave myself the task of trying to write a story about an abused baby without putting any personal opinions or speculation in it. I failed. I could not do it. I don’t know how people do it because it was impossible for me.
I’m sure your like me, you research every avenue you can including newspapers, facebook, myspace, memorial pages, court documents, videos etc. We see and read things that readers do not to gather the information we need. I see nothing wrong with injecting our own opinions or going a step further to explain medical processes or the human psyche. That tells me that the writer is passionate about what they are doing. We all have our own writing style and that’s what makes this site stand out above the rest. I’ve not seen one writer here that I did appreciate or learn something from.
I am in total agreement. I think that the people that come here and essentially “bash” the writer/writer’s style must not be writers. Wanna-be copy editors maybe, but not writers. And if you’re not a writer, then why are you judging the writing of someone who is??
I’m not a very assertive person, but it gets a little old to read about things as tragic as the death of an innocent child only to see comments by people who obviously missed the point and are just here to criticize writing styles and grammatical errors. I like good grammar just as much as the next guy, but I prefer an intact soul.
A very well written story, very interesting supporting details.
This bitch needs to be tossed into an outhouse pit for a month, there she can either starve or eat and drink what is served to her – her choice.
Oops make that 3 months….
The story is heartbreaking. The article is fantastic. Budgiegirl, I also have been diagnosed with a serious health condition, and feel compelled to write and to make a difference, but I have not yet been able to get to that point. Bravo to you for doing so.
It’s a shame that the majority of the comments are dedicated to the writing style (I admit I’m being a little hypocritical with that statement since mine is, too!). Payton deserves better.
Hunger IS a problem in the US. 14.4% of adults and 22.5% of children in the US live in food insecure households (as of 2008 — see frac.org for more info). To insinuate that hunger in the US is self-inflicted (thru bulimia or anorexia) is just ignorant.
New here, but wanted to comment. I read every single word and loved them all. So many news articles leave me wanting more, so I then go out to Google to find out more. This article cleared up pretty much everything for me.
I love the flow of all the articles here, and have just spent hours reading. I will be back again. I come from the place of a mother who cannot fathom hurting my child in any way, shape, or form, so most of the articles are written from my place of reference.
One of my favorites today was, in essence, the was she part of team Edward or team Jacob line.
Wow, and look at that, there are red squiggly lines to tell you if you spell a word wrong.
I love the wit and sarcasm that each article is written with, because that is what is going through my head when I read these horrible stories.
Like yea, that dude was not home enough to notice his child was shrinking to nothing so he should not be charged with a crime. BSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lucas Peterson, what goes around comes around you piece of chit, and your day will come.
So, before I go off on too many tangents and annoy people, I loved the article just the way it is. Keep it up.
Here is little Payton’s obituary. :( So sad.
http://www.gilliland-howe.com/sitemaker/sites/Gillil1/obit.cgi?user=206739Ettinger
peronally i loved the way the writer grabbed my attention & kept hold of it to the end. i did not like the facts of the story/ to heart breaking . i have a story im working on for the first time & i hope that i can do half the job she has done with this story.
With a stupid cunt of a mother like that Courtney, this little angel didn’t stand a chance in this world. R.I.P. Payton.
Yeah, I’m a little bit of a praise-hound, and I check the comments out on my submissions. I also DO pay attention to any kind of hints or bits of advice offered.
I’m very grateful that Max takes the time to give his time to the site and to the writers. I think he now has a little team of caring individuals that can take the bald crap facts of a story and tell the victim’s story.
Stone, Nicole, and all the other writers (especially Max), you all share the problem I have when I write a story — you get to feel for the victim in each and every case. Some times the story never gets to be more than a couple of blurbs in the newspaper on the last page of the sports section. And yet, it is someone’s world that has been devastated. After reading all I can about a case, I have to reach a point where I know everything I can and that means that — as wordy as people sometimes find me — believe it or not, I actually don’t include EVERYTHING because I’m sure I’d have a book-length dossier! :-D
I’ve been a fan for a long time of this site and I really like the fact that, as Max’s Christmas message pointed out, we are like an extended family and we are all hear to talk about the world, society and the victims of our more evil inhabitants.
Here’s to a fantastic new year for all of us and especially this site.
And to those who feel like you want to tell the story of a victim that means a lot to you, then I say GO FOR IT. You’ll never get a more fair editor than Max and he’ll be a cheering section for you as you work on your story.
And you’ll feel great once you share the story because you are speaking for someone who can no longer speak for themselves. It really does make you feel like you are making a difference.
Now, I’ll step off my soapbox and bid everyone a good night!
Just one little caveat about an article and analysis with which I otherwise agree entirely and wholeheartedly:
They called Payton “puka” – in the Irish Gaelic language and folklore a pooka is a little entity known affectionately as one of the “fairy folk” and it is believed the name comes from “Puck” (as in Shakespeare Midsummer Nights dream. Anyway, these days its used as a term of endearment. An ex boyfriend of mine used to called me this – and then one day he wrote it on a love-letter and I had to laugh because (having only heard it from oral tales and never seen it written) he wrote it as “puka” and i had to point out the unfortunate spelling…which looked like someone puking. This was over 20 years ago before even the band Pookah which had a cult following in Celtic regions in the UK during the 90s.
I can easily imagine some cop transcribing the interview and spelling it like this and it getting misconstrued. Which I think it has been here. No arguments else over what happened to Payton but I don’t think the “puk-ah” hypothesis for his nickname here is accurate.
April 21, 2011
Tressler petitions for change of venue
Elizabeth Bailey
CNHI
Greensburg — Courtney G. Tressler was arrested in August, 2010 on charges of neglect of a dependent and reckless homicide in the death of her 4-year-old son, Peyton W. Ettinger.
Wednesday, she petitioned to have the case moved out of Decatur County.
Her attorney, Eugene C. Hollander, argued that a wide array of media coverage, including newspaper, radio, television and Internet, put impartiality in Decatur County into question.
Bill O. Smith, representing the prosecution, argued that such a determination could not be made until the time of jury selection.
At such a time, he said, if an impartial jury could not be found, it would become appropriate to relocate the trial.
He noted that the array of media coverage spread further than the countyÕs borders, making HollanderÕs argument apply not only to Decatur County but to much of the state.
Decatur County Circuit Court Judge John Westhafer took the matter under advisement and scheduled a pre-trial hearing June 8 to resolve any pending petitions.
http://greensburgdailynews.com/local/x333450399/Tressler-petitions-for-change-of-venue
i cant respond alot but wanted to say this story touched my soul as a person who almost starved to death from a medical condition i was in tears ty budgirl for this story. i am reading this site and all the writer are great peoplle who huge heats than k you all
The mother faced charges of neglect and reckless homicide but pleaded guilty to a lesser neglect charge. In Nov. 2011 she was sentenced to 10 years.