There's Still Hope: A Journey of Adversity, Tragedy, and Unshakable Faith

025: Amari’s Story: A Mother’s Fight Against Filicide Pt. 2

In this episode Hope Hooton interviews Nakesa Sineath, who shares about losing her firstborn son to filicide, when she was 19. Nakesa recounts becoming a teen mom, Amari’s father’s inconsistency and manipulation, and earlier warning signs after Amari returned from his father’s care ill with walking pneumonia. In 2015, after months of no contact, she allowed Amari’s father to have him for two weeks; Amari cried at the handoff, she was prevented from speaking to him, and he was killed before his scheduled return. Nakesa remembers Amari’s gentle, loving personality and gets into the work she has done since to raise awarness and help make change.  Follow Nakesa Sineath: Instagram - (2) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/life_of_mrs.sineath] Facebook - (14) Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nakesasineathofficial/] YouTube - Nakesa Sineath - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@nakesasineath] Get your copies here: The Act Of Filicide: The Amari Barnhill Story: Barnhill, Nakesa: 9781979470988: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Act-Filicide-Amari-Barnhill-Story/dp/1979470987] Heaven Didn't Wait: Grieving, Surviving & Healing Post The Loss Of A Child: Barnhill, Nakesa: 9781077491656: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Didnt-Wait-Grieving-Surviving/dp/1077491654] BoldJourney: Reclaiming Voice Through Grief: Nakesa Sineath on Activism, Healing, and Honoring Amari – Bold Journey Magazine [https://boldjourney.com/reclaiming-voice-through-grief-nakesa-sineath-on-activism-healing-and-honoring-amari/] Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production Voices Against Filicide is a part of Momcast Production LLC. All content, including but not limited to audio, written materials, and visual assets, are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited. © 2024 Momcast Production LLC. All rights reserved.

024: Amari’s Story: A Mother’s Fight Against Filicide Pt. 1

In this episode Hope Hooton interviews Nakesa Sineath, who shares about losing her firstborn son to filicide, when she was 19. Nakesa recounts becoming a teen mom, Amari’s father’s inconsistency and manipulation, and earlier warning signs after Amari returned from his father’s care ill with walking pneumonia. In 2015, after months of no contact, she allowed Amari’s father to have him for two weeks; Amari cried at the handoff, she was prevented from speaking to him, and he was killed before his scheduled return. Nakesa remembers Amari’s gentle, loving personality and gets into the work she has done since to raise awarness and help make change.  Follow Nakesa Sineath: Instagram - (2) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/life_of_mrs.sineath] Facebook - (14) Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nakesasineathofficial/] YouTube - Nakesa Sineath - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@nakesasineath] Get your copies here: The Act Of Filicide: The Amari Barnhill Story: Barnhill, Nakesa: 9781979470988: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Act-Filicide-Amari-Barnhill-Story/dp/1979470987] Heaven Didn't Wait: Grieving, Surviving & Healing Post The Loss Of A Child: Barnhill, Nakesa: 9781077491656: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Didnt-Wait-Grieving-Surviving/dp/1077491654] BoldJourney: Reclaiming Voice Through Grief: Nakesa Sineath on Activism, Healing, and Honoring Amari – Bold Journey Magazine [https://boldjourney.com/reclaiming-voice-through-grief-nakesa-sineath-on-activism-healing-and-honoring-amari/] Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production Voices Against Filicide is a part of Momcast Production LLC. All content, including but not limited to audio, written materials, and visual assets, are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited. © 2024 Momcast Production LLC. All rights reserved.

023: The Louisiana 8 - Filicide Case

This episode covers the April 19, 2026 Shreveport, Louisiana mass filicide in which authorities say 31-year-old Shamar Elkins shot and killed eight children (seven of his own and their cousin), critically injuring two women, while a 13-year-old reportedly escaped; Elkins fled, carjacked a vehicle, and later died after a police pursuit. Hooten frames the case within domestic violence, coercive control, separation risk, and possible mental health deterioration, outlines warning signs and the importance of intervention, notes prior law-enforcement contact involving firearms and that the mother had sought police help, and advocates for stronger protections including Arizona’s proposed Alec and Lydia Act (HB 2995). TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed. Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production Voices Against Filicide is a part of Momcast Production LLC. All content, including but not limited to audio, written materials, and visual assets, are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited. © 2024 Momcast Production LLC. All rights reserved.

022: Two Year Angelversary - Hope After Filicide Pt. 2

This episode marks the two-year angelversary of Alec and Lydia Mater. In this deeply personal two-part conversation, Hope shares the unimaginable reality of losing her two children and her estranged husband to filicide, while reflecting on the grief, advocacy, and healing that have followed in the years since. Hope opens up about the darkest moments of her journey and the difficult process of learning how to survive profound loss. She also shares how she transformed tragedy into purpose through public speaking, advocacy work, writing a book, attending events, connecting with other families, and creating Voices Against Filicide. Over the past two years, Hope has made the choice every single day to continue showing up — not only for Alec and Lydia’s legacy, but for families searching for answers, support, awareness, and change. Welcome back to Season Three of Voices Against Filicide. Thank you for listening to this incredibly personal and important episode, and for holding space for Hope as she courageously shares her story, her grief, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward. This is a two-part episode. Be sure to listen to both parts. TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed. Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production Voices Against Filicide is a part of Momcast Production LLC. All content, including but not limited to audio, written materials, and visual assets, are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited. © 2024 Momcast Production LLC. All rights reserved.

021: Two Year Angelversary - Hope After Filicide Pt.1

This episode marks the two-year angelversary of Alec and Lydia Mater. In this deeply personal two-part conversation, Hope shares the unimaginable reality of losing her two children and her estranged husband to filicide, while reflecting on the grief, advocacy, and healing that have followed in the years since. Hope opens up about the darkest moments of her journey and the difficult process of learning how to survive profound loss. She also shares how she transformed tragedy into purpose through public speaking, advocacy work, writing a book, attending events, connecting with other families, and creating Voices Against Filicide. Over the past two years, Hope has made the choice every single day to continue showing up — not only for Alec and Lydia’s legacy, but for families searching for answers, support, awareness, and change. Welcome back to Season Three of Voices Against Filicide. Thank you for listening to this incredibly personal and important episode, and for holding space for Hope as she courageously shares her story, her grief, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward. This is a two-part episode. Be sure to listen to both parts. TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed. Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com [https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com]  Support & Subscribe: If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop: https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/ The Rowan Project: https://therowanproject.org/ Production Credits: Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway A Momcast Production Voices Against Filicide is a part of Momcast Production LLC. All content, including but not limited to audio, written materials, and visual assets, are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited. © 2024 Momcast Production LLC. All rights reserved.