I went to juvenile with her. She was incredibly sweet to me and even wrote me letters once I was home. I can honestly say she had no way out of this lifestyle her mother subjected her to. I feel for her so much. How we treat our babies and children truly shapes their life.
What kind of trouble did she get into to end up in J.D. and now prison? I feel so bad for her, maybe you can write to her? Just a suggestion..BtW.....I hope that life is going great for you now 🙏
@@boomds5602When you're old enough to know right from wrong GENIUS ! Stop defending INSANITY. People all over the world have been raised under horrid circumstances, they don't become CRIMINALS /KILLERS. FACTS. 💯
@@noncatholiccatholicrat6309 What? That it's a crap shoot whether or not one is a psychopath or not? Thanks. There are plenty of abused children who don't go and murder their classmates. Not that that's a good thing obviously.
@@Carlos27thFS Abuse affects people differently. My mother was shitty to all of her kids but it affected us in different ways, some are worse than others. Also she was addicted hard drugs and alcohol while she was pregnant with him. That helped to further mess him up psychologically. The woman who birthed him basically ensured that he would have a shitty life. Once he was born America’s system did not try to help the child. That’s how you breed a school shooter. The blame falls back on your shitty system
The way she says "So he could have a better life... So he could... take a different path" was just heart breaking. She deserved so much better than what her mom gave her. Parents need to look at this and realize their decisions impact their kid AND the people around them
Unfortunately his mother wasn't having kids for love. She was selling then for her drug and alcohol habits. She had no love for them. Nikolas has her traits no empathy or love.
“Zach has started helping.” “And how is that?” “He sent me food.” I couldn’t help crying at this. the slightest touch of love melts a hurting heart. This lady surely hasn’t felt love for a long time.😢😢😢
Listening to her story I’m absolutely glad my biological parents decided to abandon me so I could be adopted. I might have ended up just like her. Literally a worst nightmare to live with someone like “Brenda”. And I’m so thankful my adoptive parents saved me from this. ❤
@@Denise-Ann Not really. Kids with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are not of 'sound mind', They do not have the same capscity as the rest of us. Their brain is damaged.
@@Denise-Ann yes, lots to find online. It will make you sad for these kids, later adults. And the cost to society too, not just financially but in terms of human potential and relationships.
You can feel the TRAUMA radiating off of this young woman. Never a fair chance from birth. I pray this girl is shown grace in life and God's protection!!!!
@@LoriLynnSpiritWithinUs Well she will have to do so in prison while she serves her life sentence...Take another look at her top, and the officer behind her...She is currently in Jail... Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020 As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
You can sense all the suffering she is going through remembering her past and seeing her brother. Poor girl, I hope she recovers and have peace and love in her life.
Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
if you weren't raised from a family like this you won't have a clue what kind of demons you have to overcome and work on yourself in order to make it through without loosing your mind.
@@Michael-cs3li”Sob story”? I can’t tell if your being serious because if you are you must be this guys twin with a deformity from all that crack. “Oh yeah you can really tell how this is a drama act because she said her mother’s womb who was carrying a mass murder, was polluted.” You’re saying that like you just heard it from the Johnny Depp case and you think it’s cool to say.
There's something about this woman that is extremely touching. I don't know what it is, but I just want to give her a big hug. I wish she could see what a beautiful soul she is.
@Cody not all people have empathy for others and you are one of them. Hopefully with maturation that will change when you realize that you are vulnerable.
The system fails many kids every day and dgaf! I’m glad that his sister is alive but hate that she had to go through all that bc of adults who don’t give a flying f about anything… She is a survivor but it pisses me off that there are many others like her out there. Painful
I think it adds more to her horrendous trauma that that lady keeps calling her “her mother” when she’s been very clear to refer her as “Brenda.” She mentioned at the beginning her mother was her grandmother. When people talk, especially out of a place of vulnerability, you actively listen to them. WORDS MATTER.
@@beoye the point is , Zimmerman was Latino Cruz Latino But media says the are white , Dylan roof got the death sentence for taking nine llifes , Nicholas Cruz murders 17 children , gets life , now is there any sense in that , I do not believe there justice to that at all
@@beoye in my opinion , but who's to blame , allowing a judge to continue practice while living for years with a major drug dealer , who sentences drug dealers daily , It may just be Florida but I don't think judges should be dating drug dealers .........
Brought tears to my eyes when she started talking about running to the dog she always used to play with. As someone who grew up in a home with addict parents and abuse, I always used to turn to animals to comfort me. You can tell she got emotional thinking about that
Same here. My mom fell to pieces after my dad died and I have always loved animals, but, when dad died and Mom turned to booze, my dogs were my solice. Then when my mom died, I had my dogs, my Iguana and I volunteered at a barn working with horses. Animals saved my life.
There is NO excuse for the shooters actions but hearing his sister relive her childhood is absolutely heart wrenching. She is sitting there holding it together while having to sit in front of people who probably could care less & her looking at her brother like you never had a chance lil one. It’s all just sad. Innocent people lost their children & loved ones due to the irreversible damage their mother did to them. I hope Zach is able to live a good life.
Saw an interview from a childcare worker about nik and zak, and the media made it seem like zak was okay and normal but he had hella anger issues and would take it out on nik all the time. definitely contributed to everything
Despite what kind of child he had he still had no right to go into that school and shoot the students they did nothing to him he planned this he should be in a mental facility in the prison he will never ever be able to see the light of day like i said he will get shanked in prison for his awful crime
How easy it is for us to judge another. Listening to this women's story of her stolen childhood is just so so heart-breaking. To be rejected by your mother, the system let her down and now to carry the shame of what her brother has done, even if it is not hers to carry. The pain in her voice and on her face, I wish her peace and love. I know she has her past and made her own mistakes, but there but for the grace of God go any of us. Sending her love.
Yeah it's really sad. Sad the mother was raped sad she also had to choose that lifestyle of addiction anyone can go down that road and lose their life from alcohol. One of the reasons why I don't drink as much as I used to that stuff is no good.
This whole story is so sad but when she said she couldn’t find her cat that got me. Her cat was probably about the only resemblance of love she had growing up and it’s gone in the blink of an eye. It’s awful that people have to grow up like this.
The silence after Danielle is asked, "How did having Brenda as your mother affect your life?" says it all. We are all responsible for our actions but this is a blatant example of how our parents/caregivers shape our futures.
This testimony should be used as required watching for every state and federal elected official who has voted against drug treatment facilities, child protective services, early childhood programs, foster care, prenatal care programs and legal abortion! This testimony is a master class of the consequences of those no votes!!
Just FYI, there is and has been legal abortion all over the area; in fact, all over S. Florida. She obviously didn’t seek out abortions. And although I agree with prenatal care classes, it’s impossible to get some women/girls to attend. They seek out no care, although it’s also available as is free prenatal care. Drug addicts don’t care about anything but the next high or drink.
@@Anca820 Are abortions free though? No drug addict is going to be able to afford the hundreds of dollars for an abortion, not to mention the hoops you have to jump through to get the appointment. What they need are mobile birth control clinics. Like if an addict (or whoever else is in a bad place) wants an IUD/implant/sterilization, get them right then and there. Maybe even give them a bonus check for doing it. Drug addicts are notoriously unreliable, so they need to bring it TO them.
This absolutely breaks my heart!!! My husband and I have adopted 4 beautiful children from situations like this!!! Our oldest was 11 when she came to live with us in 2016. She will be 18 next month. In 6 years she went from an angry pre teen who cursed all the time and said she had no soul and couldn't cry to now being the most beautiful, sweet, soft hearted young woman I have ever met!!! She has dreams and aspirations for the future. She calls me her best friend even tho she knows I'll always be mommy first. My other 3 kids... same situation. Second daughter is now 15, third is 14, and our son is now 8. He is now asking for a brother so he has a friend for life. I love them as tho I birthed them myself. I can never understand how a parent could be so selfish as to put their children through this torment 😭😭😭😭 You can tell this lady never had a family to take her in and give her the love she so desperately needed. She is still very childlike and recalls things as tho she is still in the situation as a child. I just want to hug her 😭😭😭
You are a wonderful, wonderful human being. I’m glad the children are all doing well, and are very lucky to have you. I feel it from this lady. That ache to have a family, guidance, structure. I still feel it at 33. Best I can do is break the cycle to ensure my girls have that, and I do. I hope this young lady finds healing and peace, I truly do.
What’s tragic is when they asked if she remembered the day Nikolas was born, she beams a smile…and then her face falls and she looks so deflated and broken. Such a happy occasion, the birth of her baby brother… and this was all it turned out to be. He was supposed to be the one who had a better life…
@@rameychisum2891 I’m sure you’ve made plenty mistakes as we all have. As a survivor of childhood abuse, I have compassion for other survivors and don’t shame people. We all walk different paths and you can’t judge someone until you’ve been in their shoes. This young lady has clearly been through so much and I’m sure she wishes every day that she “played her cards differently”. Be kinder.
@@mackenziesackett4853 22 arrests, 16 felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon & car theft amongst others. In January 2010 Danielle earned an eight-year sentence for credit card fraud, cocaine possession and the attempted second degree murder of a police officer. Now in prison again on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges, awaiting a life sentence. Yeah, she is very kind to others. Past is the past (even the most horrible) but we make our choices now.
@@joannalaszczak2012 if you know anything about trauma especially childhood trauma, it does irreversible damage to your brain. Having your mother do drink and do crack while pregnant with you ALSO affects your brain. When you talk about choices, us children who survive trauma never CHOSE to have irreversible things happen to our brains. That’s why I have compassion for others that ended up going down a dark path due to childhood trauma.
She really hated her…I mean, Brenda. And honestly I don’t blame her. Children shouldn’t have to live through the crap that some of these parents put them through. She deserved to be in school and have a normal life, not have to deal with her mother’s addictions. So heartbreaking.
No healthcare, no safety nets, no housing, no choices. Just greed and survival of the fittest. What a great country this is. 🙄Kids are destroyed. Absolutely destroyed.
@@pennypendleton7345 She is actually serving time. I don’t think that was mentioned because it’s truly not part of the case. I guess when you have a crappy mom like she did and no one to really guide you in life you have a less likely chance of being a successful adult.
If anyone wanted to know what trauma looks like, all they need to do is listen to and watch the video of this woman. This tears my heart in half. No wonder she has 16 felonies, she never stood a chance. Such a shame.
She did stand a chance. My cousin was profoundly mentally ill, abusive, neglectful, and an addict. Yet her children, despite being dragged through torment during their entire childhoods, rose above it. Choice plays a part. Always, choice plays a part.
Now you know what it’s like to be black! The argument is not that black people never stood a chance especially in todays time but when did these white people fight racism? Can you imagine having no choice but to grow up beaten raped when you had no choice? That’s called slavery. These people actually did stand a chance bc they’re still white imagine going through 300 years of slavery and then thinking you truly have a fair chance.
I completely agree. What happens in the first few months, years of life changes everything. Everything. I disagree with the the comment above this about thier being choice (but thats okay). Here is why: The ability to see, balance, discern and make choices is almost entirely formed by what has come before, the brain in the earlyest years. There are numerous experiences that can happen in those years, that can almost irreversibley affect a childs brain, development, life skills, understanding, cognition, conscience, decision making skills, perception of self worth. Everything. To treat and develop any of these areas, it takes years, and years, of a different and healthy experience, significant intervention, to change and progress from the consequences of that childhood. We absolutely cannot say that there was always the chance to ‘choose’ differently, if the power and mechanisms behind the ability to make those choices is compromised in such a severe way for some human beings. Especially when making choices for oneself, thats even more complex - for example, if no one has valued you, why would you be able to develop the ability to value yourself when making a decision. It is entirely unfair i beleive, to say that every person with similar experiences and development has had the opportunity to choose differently for themselves. You only know what you know. Every human being has a different brain, that is impacted in a different way by harrowing experiences like this brave lady’s story. There are not words that would describe it enough. It cant be compared to another person who has suffered in a similar way. Different brains. Different human beings. Different eyes. The playing field is not level.
This woman is broken...even the way she says Brenda...just everything you can see the pain and the torment plus how many times she has played over her brothers actions in her head. Man this is heavy!
Wow. Read your comment before I got to that part and I’m speechless. The emotion in just saying her name and the emotion read on her face and through her body language is really something. Poor thing. :/
She needs Jesus Christ that died on the cross for her sins in rose from the dead for all her sins and give her rest God said my yoke is light and my burden is heavy that means I can take it all and wipe it away and make you a new person
@@lindseyhendrix2405 What about her many poor victims... Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020 As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
Her heart seems SO BIG. She didn’t even want to call people “bums or junkies” and then decided to explain the kind of people they are instead and when she talks about her “baby brothers” and when sees their picture her face lights up. So much love lost. I can only hope that somehow they reconnect, if only for a little while so she can have some healing. 💔💔❤️❤️
I think you should look up her record. She’s about to serve life in prison for trying to kill an officer, almost killing a 72 yr old woman while car jacking her and several other violent felonies she’s done. I felt for her too until i read her record. She doesn’t care about anyone just like her mom. It’s very sad how one family has effected so many tragically.
@@mecredi73 Will that answer give back the victims their lives? The third child is now filming a reality show about being a brother of a serial killer. Both these siblings facing life are getting paid for that reality show. All three knew what was wrong and what was right because of what they went through in life. In her words she knew what was wrong. He knew when he spoke to say I did it I am pleading guilty what I did was wrong. They in their own words had the opportunity to seek help. I went through the system and took the opportunity to take a different path in life. Took the help. The right thing is often the roughest road but there is a choice unless your deemed insane. They are not insane.
The way she said “Brenda was waiting for me like she always did when I got home from school” it was so sad you can tell that doesn’t have the same meaning as it would when most kids say it.
This is gut-wrenching. A sweet soul tortured by her own mother & left to fend for herself. Sadly, incarceration is probably the most stable environment she's ever known. I want so badly for someone to step in, mentor this beautiful woman, & help her live a life she can be proud of. If anyone doesn't think environment plays a major role in who we become, this is a perfect case study. We all have free will, but I don't believe any of Brenda's kids would be in these horrible situations had they been born to someone else. One woman's choices have destroyed countless lives...absolutely heartbreaking.💔
How do you learn how to survive??? It’s hard to take care of yourself young on your own, you’re vulnerable to predators… don’t know how to handle emotions
There are so many kids that suffer bc ppl keep having kids willy nilly and don’t gaf to take care of them!!! Many parents abuse them too! Fckng hate this shyt!
Yes, I am so grateful and thankful for my amazing, loving parents and the childhood that they provided me and my sister. I can't imagine a life such as this.
My heart broke for this young woman, this is not a show she’s putting on. That’s real pain. This woman is straight up… she’s got real pain & emotions. Very dramatic personally because she only knows the hard life.
street smart foster kid in & out of the system, we learned our way around judicial system. woman worked it. don't forget potential reality show for her w/ her other bro allegedly. Also, defense had rehearsals for her big debut here. she got reaction out of a few commenters.
@@daniellewest265 common street-smart sense. did she murder 17 children? NO. Her estranged brother did who was raised in a loving home. Regardless, if it wasn't, or was. Dude needs to fry for this heinous crime. Maybe when society grows a pair again and stop coddling these school shooters, they might get the message and stop murdering bc their feeling got hurt.
I feel so bad when I’m too tired to cook dinner for my son after working all day and end up grabbing a pizza. I’ll never understand how a “mother” can treat her children like trash. To all the mamas out there doing the right thing or at least trying. Keep going babe. ❤ ✊🏽
Thank you. I always feel guilty for being a single mom. I never felt like I was good enough but I did everything for my two kids. I wasn’t able to afford to give them a lot of material things but I love them so much and made sure they knew it. We always had food on the table and a roof over our heads. My daughter is on scholarship in university and my son just finished high school. They both ended up being amazing people.
Thank you Katie and you as well sweetheart ❤It does get hard sometimes but we keep going for our babies. Don’t feel bad for grabbing a pizza. You fed your babies and that’s all that matters.
Your son is probably so happy for pizza I think most kids love pizza. You do what you can for him and you always have the best intentions behind it. He knows that you love him
This is definitely the most attention I’ve seen the shooter pay to the witness. Had his head down and was doodling when parents were talking about their awful loss. Its absolutely fascinating, I wonder what’s going through his mind when he’s hearing his sister speak.
personally I think he didn't want to look at the parents or the victims because he feels ashamed and guilty and can't man up. but his sister. she's not acusing him of wrong doing. she's telling the tale of their childhood and maybe he's thinking like "man. she had it worse than me and this is what I did with my second chance " . or maybe not. maybe he's not that complex. idk. my heart breaks for the sister though. living with addicted parents is .....yeah....
I am a very compassionate human being ....yet when I listened to the sister if this demon , Nikolas speak ,I became more livid toward him .His sister had an extremely traumatic childhood ...yet she did not kill anybody or cause harm to any ...she could have ...she was a victim of an abusive life and still carries deep rooted scars .The fact that she is trying to help her brother through her horrid upbringing , will tell you that she is able to still love and protect ......I'm looking at him as he intentionally focuses on his sister ... listening to her every word ...he has respect for his own ...this demon Nikolas Cruz....yet when those heartbroken parents were in the witness stand ....he was busy with a pen and paper ...writing like an author or poet ...the nerve of this murderer !! .No regard no remorse just sheet arrogance ....but when his sister takes the stand he is all ears ...his entire demeanour is different .He knows THIS is his lifeline , this is his get -out -of -jail card .His sister's story is sad and she deserves a second chance at a BETTER life ....his story DESERVES THE FULL MIGHT OF THE LAW ..... I COULD BE WRONG ....BUT I SEE A SLIGHT SMIRK ON HIS FACE ....NOT EVEN A TEAR FOR HIS SISTER .
A lot of people will never understand the lifelong effects of living in constant fear and worrying about your own survival as a child. Never having a place in which you feel safe or loved, and then ferociously clinging to anything that finally brings you that comfort.
Indeed, I was bullied not only by other kids in school who even came home to continue the bullying after school, but my own blood sibling (much older) even bullied me with them only then to wait for my step dad to come home from work and start his abuse cycle, singing nursery rhymes to me about killing kids, etc. Childhood was hell and living with PTSD, can't even imagine how bad it could be in foster care. Still dealing with the consequences today at almost 40 years old.
Poor Danielle, i felt so sorry for her, it wasn't her fault she finished up like this. My daughter went off the rails when our marriage broke up. She is now in her 50s and finally got her act together, i'm so proud of her. This is one of the saddest testimonies i have ever had to witness in my life. I wish someone could tell Danielle there are people out here who love her. Robert. 82yo. New Zealand.
Only 10 years older than her last victim... Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020 As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
@TETCOM you're angry that he told us these things? this explains how she ended up from the damage her mother created. It's very hard to change behaviors from early childhood, hopefully she can be mentored by someone who has, perhaps the woman witness who was a prostitute at the same time as Brenda. Perhaps this will be the beginning of a new positive life for her.
@@paulconnelly6560 After this testimony, let's hope the court orders mandatory long term counseling and help where she is given sentence with possibility of parole. Thank you for sharing this.
This is the most honest and heartbreaking testimony I have ever heard. This poor woman, I really really feel for her so much, not her brother but just for her. You can see her suffering.
I can’t believe I’m crying for her childhood… and i think he’s looking at her because he didn’t know his own sister.. maybe it’s someone he would have loved to meet and talk to. This is so sad 😭
I can believe it. You can feel her pain, and she only wanted to testify in hopes of helping her brother one last time, despite everything. We forget that she is a victim too, both from Cruz and her mother. It gets lost in these trials that the offenders have family members too, who are impacted by the offenders actions as well, bud they are still their family member or loved one. I’m sure she still loves her brother too, despite the horrible, awful, disgusting crimes he committed.
@@kelseymcgraw8187 yeah, imagine 15 or 20 years in the future how many people like this there will be, with mothers who are forced to give birth and take care of kids that they didn’t want, couldn’t afford, and wouldn’t give a good life. It’s terrifying to think about.
I've seen worse and the product turned out way better. Come to Michigan right in the middle you will find women and the remnants of women who could drink and snort Brenda under the table any day. This isn't a special or unique story other than her whole family is narcissistic sociopaths.
God Bless the woman who almost killed a 72 year old woman, shot at a police officer, and also in 2003, brought a gun to school. Such an upstanding citizen! How about GOD BLESS HER VICTIMS! She is in Jail awaiting trial and because she is an habitual violent offender, faces life!
@@dcc-randomstorieswithmel7424 Her victims need more empathy than her. Just be thankful your grandmother was not one of her many victims! Grow up and stop excusing criminal behavior! God Bless Her Victims!
@@paulconnelly6560 still doesn't mean she deserves less empathy. Even if it were my grandmother,I would still have empathy,thats what makes you different from people like Nikolas,otherwise you are just another person who thinks lives don't matter. Empathy is what makes the difference,otherwise you might as well be Nikolas. You sound like someone trying to take out their issues on strangers. She didn't do anything to you so mind your darn business
I feel bad for not providing enough for my children financially - I used to cry when we had to move again because I couldn’t afford the rent or not be able to get McDonald’s when my son asked me for it. But I always made sure we had food on the table and a roof over our heads no matter what. And they both went to good schools. My daughter is now a senior at university and my son just graduated from high school. Now I realize that all these children wanted was love and a stable home. And that I wasn’t such a terrible mom to them. God bless this woman. I hope she heals from this 💕
seriously… you cant be so delusional to ask this question. and if they did take her away she would go into worse situations in foster care. it is all one in the same and not a savior for these kids.
riiight ! maybe bcz all us justice system relies on these tragedies. and of course mass media. just for spread fear, manipulation, misleadin ... vultures ... desgusting.
Such sadness in her voice when describing what she went through with her mother as a child and yet she smiles every time her little brothers are mentioned. All this girl wanted was a loving family. I feel for her so much.
Omg this is just beyond heartbreaking.. the pain she has endured and is still enduring really gets to your soul. My heart goes out to her. If anyone watching this is pregnant or thinking about having children, make sure that you do it f-ing right because if you don’t, this is the result!
Danielle… The pain of the trauma you’ve been through can easily be seen. But I also see a lot of kindness in your eyes, and I see a compassionate, empathetic soul. I truly believe everyone has a purpose here and you’re meant to be here to help this world. I pray you find your way out of the darkness that has tried to dim your light. Blessed be. One love.
I pray that this young woman gets the intense psychological help that she deserves. Having worked with many trauma survivors, I sense her pain and my heart goes out to her.
Pray?!?! How about you find a way to financially, leagally or emotionally help her!!! Pray. Thats just a shitty cop out so you can feel good about yourself without actually doing nothing
@@tencentpistol1 while prayer seems to be a typical cop out thrown around these days, I do not believe that’s what this lady was doing here. Prayer goes best with direct action upon those prayers and she says that she’s worked with many trauma survivors… catch a breath my friend.
her victims deserve psychological help if they need it , not she. She is a career criminal, what she deserves a life sentence behind bars to stop others becoming her victim.
Man. I’m so struck by this woman. The emotion in her voice and on her face when she’s remembering the “big, beautiful dog” that her upstairs neighbor had really rocked me. It’s like it’s the little girl sitting there having to recount all that she endured rather than a grown woman in handcuffs having to testify. Sheesh. I’m not so sure I can stomach the whole thing.
@@minnesota7010 please try to have compassion for people who never had the opportunity to make good choices, unlike you or me. This woman deserves our compassion so she can heal and become a better person.
@@Hannah-vp6eq How about having some compassion for her victims? Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020 As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
@@paulconnelly6560 Danielle is guilty for her crimes. But she’s also human and endured extreme trauma her entire life. It’s not easy to live normally because your childhood years molds who you are for the rest of your life. Danielle only knows drugs, violence because that’s all she knew as a child. That’s not an excuse for her own wrongdoings but an explanation. She gave us a vague description of what I can imagine was a world of hurt, she was irreparably damaged by the one person who was suppose to protect and care for her, her failed mother.
@@domo201 I completely agree with you. My brother has done some crazy things but I have seen what he has endured as well. My dad was so abusive to him… I remember him locking me in the car while I had to sit there and watch him beat my brother so badly just for going walking to let off steam after my dad tried to accuse him of stealing money from him (which he didn’t do) my dad made me get in the car and chased him down the road then locked me in the car and I held my ears and eyes so I didn’t have to hear my brother beg for death 😞 this wasn’t the first time either. Just the hardest time I can even recall because I was able to block out the rest. His life has mostly been spent behind bars. I wish so much better for him but he doesn’t know any better.
Clearly there is something wrong with these people. It's in their DNA. Her story is terrible, but there are plenty of people with the same background that don't try to kill police officers and rob elderly ladies. Nor do they murder 17 innocent people at a high school.
@@jocelynhunter2359 Whatever tragedy she went through, Nick never lived it. All the sympathizing comments are from women. It's why I think Death Pen juries should have as minimum amount of women as possible. Sadly, Florida was tricked into making jury death sentences unanimous. Before 2016, a mere majority was enough. Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
She was dealt a terrible hand due to her mom’s inability to help herself. How tragic. I pray she is able to overcome the demons in her life and find peace and joy. So undeserved.
@@Ash_426 It's a point to show the lack of perspective people have, racist people and people who don't say they're racist but still resort to their racial biases who look at this white lady can EASILY say " oh she had bad parents, i can see where things went wrong, i feel bad." but they can't relay that logic to when a colored person commits a crime, then it's "of course they we're black, black people commit more crimes that means they are genetically prone to violence" that's the point, it's an education moment for slow people who can't grasp how intergenerational trauma causes poverty and crime regardless of the human constructed "races" we use to generalize and marginalize groups.
@Badger life i'm not commenting about Nick Cruz or this situation rather your comment that says "So many more children are being raised in these exact same conditions or worse" and in society alot of the time coloured people in these exact situations are looked at as they are supposed to be there instead of how they look at this situation with his sister as sad and unfortunate that she's been delt a bad hand.
@@key6723 except that you seem to be the only person who has mentioned race. I truly do not see what race has to do with this situation, despite your reply. I can't feel badly for either of them, regardless of whether they are white or not.
this is the first time he has actually looked up at anyone during a testimony. I FELT EVERY WORD. I was picturing her life becuase she was showing raw pain. & she never had a chance
I sure hope that after this testimony she got all the privacy, comfort, and rest. You can tell this was painful and I am blown away by her strength and composure. Totally impressive and she deserves all the warmth and happiness.
@@foreverlove8919 she's been arrested 22 times. This is public information. A simple google search would prove I'm not a liar, but keep on worshipping evil people.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. There are so many people who think drugs should be legal, but apparently they are forgetting that the drug addict isn't the only person who suffers. Look at the misery Brenda caused, to her own mother, her daughter, Nikolas, and one could also say all of Nikolas' victims.
🙄 When a mother is not able to be a mother, it does'nt matter if drugs are legal or illegal! Alkohol is legal and millions of people suffer in alcohol addiction! A stressed mother would be better with smoking little cannabis, two, three joints a day instead of drinking a bottle of wine or even harder stuff. And that's fact!
This girl is still young, her testimony tells it all. She need love and help not jail. When she does smile it is a wonderful smile. I hope someone sees this and gives her the help she needs.
She will get it in prison, or not get it! Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020 As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
I’m not saying what he did was okay. But can you imagine feeling unloved, unwanted and being called weird by adults even and bullied all your life. Than you’re sitting there listening to your sister and hear her say that she asked Brenda “can we keep him?”. Knowing that from the moment you were born there was one person who loved you and wanted you. And after all that you’ve done, that same person who loved and wanted you, they still love you just as much. You can just see in her face and hear in her voice the love she has for him. This entire situation has just been a complete tragedy. Sad.
You have so much empathy. I agree with you 100% ugh it is surely tragic. She’s so sweet ♥️ I wish her nothing but a fulfilled life when she serves her time. I hope she changes her life for good ♥️
I feel sad for her but not her brother. She had the same horrible parents and she ain't go and off 17 innocent ppl because of it. No matter how bad a parent is you don't go and hurt others because of it. I would have more respect if the mother was who he offed.
As a foster child, This hurts to watch a little bit. You can tell she’s very overwhelmed And she’s currently a prisoner. Unfortunately it’s what happens to most of us. Only a handful of us are lucky in the end
I’m so sorry:/ I have three littles right now. I pray that they will grow up to have a wonderful life. It breaks my heart that their mom deserted them:/
Her story touched me so deeply. She tried so hard to have a better life running away trying to go to school. Hanging out with neighbors who were decent. She had nothing. I could only imagine what she went through living with Brenda. How did she eat, get clean clothes, shower? Life is so unfair to some people but she’s still here fighting.
Surprised by how much empathy I felt for Danielle. Unlike Nikolas who was adopted and had the opportunity to make something of himself, this woman didn't stand a chance. What's heartbreaking is she is repeating the same cycle with her children. I imagine her kids will grow up having that similar resentment towards her like she does to her mother.
Not all of us, but her testimony certainly Close to home, and what makes matters worse is my mothers name is Brenda and she threw me out the window like a piece of trash also. I have watched this multiple times and I cry every time I watch it.
It is so easy for others to judge this girl. I can see so much pain in her eyes. When your own mother does not love or want you it is a rejection that you never get over. I pray this wounded young lady will overcome the hurt and pain. God bless you, you will be in my prayers. 🙏❤🙏
I am South African I cant agree more she had a life no child should have had but she didnt take her anger out on innocents .....makes her a truly good human truthful and not trying to make excuses just laying it bare
@E Boston where did you read that? I was reading about her, and what I saw is that she was in prison for carjacking a seventy two year old woman, and she was incarcerated at the time of her testimony in court. I am not saying you are wrong, I just want to know where you got the info about the attempted murders.
@eboston7591 everyone takes their anger out on people who aren't to blame, whether it be small stuff like road rage or large like this. I bet you do too. Vengeful people tend to focus on vengeful people.
Others here have suggested actually helping her. But you are christian, thus only offers "make yourself feel good prayers". Christians pray, others do the helping of the world.
@@torehaaland6921 You have time to call us out for praying for her but you're ok with the folks calling her scum and what not. Grow up. I'll take it one more, pray for both of them. In the same prayer as all people they have broken. Pray for them all because prayer is free and what lunatic holds back something that helps when it has no cost attached? Some advice for you though. Sell your PC and send her the money since you are so concerned with material charity. For my part if I want to give to anyone it will be the survivors. But my prayer is free. I won't be stingy. Peace.
Such a beautiful girl. I hope someday she sees how precious she is. To be trapped in a childhood like that is horrendous. The system really failed to save her from her mother. I hope she finds happiness and peace because she certainly deserves both. A big hug to you darling if you read this..
Lol If you take the time to read why she’s sitting in jail right now and facing life in prison, maybe you’ll understand that what she really deserves is to pay for her violent crime.
My God. This woman is carrying so much pain. At 1st I thought she was in day 2 of withdrawals. The way she fidgeted & couldn't get comfortable, the pain in her face- I've been there & know the agony. But then I realized no, this is how she is all the time. I can't stop crying for this poor soul. You can tell she could have been a stunning young lady. She's still young, I hope something wonderful happens for her.
CPTSD amongst other psychological diagnoses like anxiety or ADHD can cause fidgeting and being hyperalert can make you jumpy. She definitely suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder at the least..
I feel for her. My parents were abusive. I have no relationship with them. I was addicted to heroin and in and out of jail, then got sentenced to 3 years. Your parents really do make a difference. And if convicted it’s automatic life for her. She deserved wayyy better. ❤️❤️
I cried all the way through her testimony, so heartbreaking. If I had the money, I would try to find her and give her a home and love that she so deserves. Bless her heart.
You are right and she needs professional help that most governments do not give and like here in Canada it is a revolving door for people that have entered the system. More money needs to be put into psychiatric help! I will pray for her and her getting the help she does need!
@Boston Gal The same forgiveness and mercy you would want God to give you you need to give to others. It’s not only for them but for healing. Hell is a hot place. Even if you dont believe in it, it exist. God said why should he forgive you if you cannot forgive others of their trespasses.
She never knew him. You are being fooled. And the jury has five women. This is why women should be excluded from juries. Sadly, Florida was tricked into making jury death sentences unanimous. Before 2016, a mere majority was enough. Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
My god my heart absolutely aches for this girl. She’s a few years younger than me but I wish I could go back in time and help her - this is gut wrenching. Her sadness is tangible.
His sister is just absolutely heartbreaking. I'm wishing I had the power to go back in time and fix everything for her and her family. How incredibly sad.
It's crazy seeing the prosecution try to make it seem like she was a grown adult who was not influenced by her environment, as a minor, just to detach the notion that Cruz was raised around people who were severely unstable. A tactic to make sure he gets the death penalty or the worst punishment. Which I am not here to decide on what he deserves for his actions, but I don't like seeing the prosecution utilizing such methods to get there. Punish him however you see fit, but I do think that even if he did not have contact with his mother or sister, it is still a variable in this terrible outcome. Just because something is not present to you, it does not mean that thing has no influence on you. Case 1, lack of water, what happens to you? The water did not touch you and it is nowhere near you, but still, it has an influence on your life.
My heart is broken for this young woman. As a child and a young girl, she must have seen and experienced the worst of humanity. She deserved a better life than what her family was able to give her.
This is the ONLY and I mean ONLY person I’ve seen this trial where her saying she loves him is absolutely valid. Any one of you would say the same about somebody that was either a brother/sister or a friend that you deeply consider family more than your own. I’ll keep my prayers for you . God bless your soul , I know it’s not easy growing up with no direction , I’m 21 and am in the same boat. I hope you have an amazing life
@@Plplj164 i don't have to know a single damn person , if your a sympathizer with this monster I have no respect and all disgust for you. I don't have to know anyone to know that . Like I said before, she is the only person that is allowed to feel that way with complete understanding of why. Your about 10 months late to the party , I really don't know why you would even bother to say something as absurd and bogus as that.
@@Yyyyyy5 yeah. Interesting that so many people in the comments here conveniently forget that. I 'll bet that 74 year old woman ( I think) is traumatized for the rest of her life.
@@ActiveAussie2024 yeah you never know. Some people are traumatized for life and others can move on from events and choose not to be victims so I sympathize with both. However the school shooting event was so horrific I’d say most everyone involved would be traumatized for life and that is not fair. It’s a sad situation.
You can feel her trauma... and you can see how she still loves her brother. She probably remembers him as the baby she held. Just examine the way she keeps looking at him. I'm sure she knows what he did was horrible but I bet she wonders and feels guilty of the what if... what if she could have been the good influence in his life... what if they all had better support systems. This is all messed up. I feel bad for her. Now she's stuck in the cycle of crime..
This was such a heart wrenching deposition to listen to. No human being especially a child should have to go through this. Children are precious gifts and should be treated as such.
Having to watch her relive the horror and sadness of her childhood is heartbreaking. Ripping the scabs off of things that she barely put away in her consciousness. I don’t forgive Nicholas for what he did but it makes all too clear how trauma can push a human being to such angry lengths isn’t a far stretch. There has been addiction in my family and it shredded us to bits Death, trauma, separation. There are innumerable victims who suffer a LIFETIME….
This girl has lived through things that most of us will never experience. This explains so much and my heart breaks for this family and all the families in this community. It’s something that should’ve never happened, and the home life this woman described is not one any child should have to live through.
nikolas is an autism childNikolas will never be alone because God already forgives him. It hurts who hurts. It is the truth because the police are to blame for everything.hypocritical gun control you are murderers
This is heartbreaking. I hope she and her children are able to find her way out of the life of destruction that she was born into. This whole story is beyond tragic.
She will be able to do that with her life sentence... Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020 As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
@@paulconnelly6560 so that’s why she had to testify with a deputy behind her. Jesus God. Neither one of them escaped the horrible decisions that their mother made.
He confessed to the killings. He also asked the families to decide his fate. The defense is laying the grounds for life and not death. All are just doing their jobs.
The families want him dead and he wants to live. Sadly, Florida was tricked into making jury death sentences unanimous. Before 2016, a mere majority was enough. Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
In a way I feel like he should live out his life locked up for what he did. Death seems like the easy way out to me. I feel bad for him that he’s so F’d up because of what his Mom was doing while carrying him. Not saying I feel worse for him than I do for the people who lost their lives or their loved ones though. Those loved were cut too short!
I went to a school for kids with emotional and behavioral issues. Her story is the same as many of my classmates, the difference being by the time they were in the school, there had been some sort of intervention to help get them out of their horrible living situations. That school really helped to save many of our lives, the sad part being there were only ab 60 of us total and couldn’t accommodate more- part of the reason the school was so successful was bc it was small enough so we couldn’t fall into the cracks, there were three clinicians and we each were assigned to one of the three, there was the ability for each teacher to get to know each kid and try to help w our individual needs/issues. Breaks my heart seeing this, knowing that there are places out there to help kids in these horrible scenarios, but there aren’t nearly enough of them, not enough funding available, etc. & it comes down to a lot of luck whether a kid gets these services.
My heart breaks for her and any child in a similar situation… and as insignificant as it may sound, hearing her say she couldn’t find her cat made me so sad. As a little girl, my cat was such a source of happiness and comfort for me in scary times. Ugh. She deserved so much more 😔
@@STCatchMeTRACjRo With the kind of upbringing she had she didn't stand a chance of living a normal life. She is a product of her upbringing. She deserves some compassion.
@@1974AMDG compassion? she is a career criminal regardless of her sad sobbing past. She choose to become the person she is instead of fighting it. The only people that deserve compassion are her victims. What she deserves is a life behind bars to think about the crimes and suffering she brought up to others. People like her dont need to walk ever free on the streets as all they do is re-offend and cause trauma to the innocent.
@@STCatchMeTRACjRo compassion is necessary for change. I’ve seen career criminals change. Change is possible, and could happen at any point as long as a person is alive, it is on them but it is not impossible to achieve.
This is probably the most Nikolas has ever heard about his blood family. You can see his fascination. At the end of the day, none if this excuses what he did. Its all unfortunate but no excuse. Do u know how many children grew up with alcoholic and drug addicted parents? Countless.
Bro how someone’s mental state can affect ur decision is something nobody who’s dealt with that can tell There s a lot of psychology damage done to these kids Some fought it he just cudnt and it’s really reallyyyyy sad to see what they have put him through for him to dowhat he has
@@dontnot56363 that doesn't change the fact that he should pay the ultimate price for his actions. He took 17 lives and there isn't an excuse in the world that should give him any leniency. He was adopted, raised by a family that did everything they could to help him...he didn't grow up with years and years of abuse and he absolutely has enough wherewithal to know right from wrong. This country needs to stop sending the message that someone with trauma or past issues don't have to be held to the same standards as everyone else...especially if they have the intelligence to know right from wrong. There is absolutely no reason to keep this person alive for the next 50 yrs. He doesn't deserve it.
@@Lonesome__Dove I’d be extremely interested in how he actually grew up though. I wonder if he ever got help for his mental illness. Clearly he didn’t . Adoption doesn’t make you automatically have rich parents. There are a lot of disgusting parents that have adopted just too abuse that kid. Lots of human trafficking stories I’ve seen through my life from adoptive parents. Not excusing anything that he did at all. But no one kills that many people if they are sane. Just saying.
@@nicolelitwicki6600 they documented all the times his family sought help. Its been brought up numerous times throughout this trial. Lots of documentation and even testimony from his psychologist.
Alcohol and drugs are forbidden in Islam. There is a reason. It destroys societies. I am happy I was raised in a stable society and family. And I feel very sad for the moral and societal downfall of the West, it is truly tragic, I sometimes read its history and a lot of things were better back in the days. Technological and economic advancement doesn't equal stability and human advancement.
Every kid from stable supporting family who gets offended and upset at the slightest things parents don't do as per their wishes should watch this testimony. It's a learning for any kid with great supporting parents to know how blessed they are.
@Boston Gal You do realize you don’t have to grow up with someone to love them you can love someone from the moment you meet them you may not experience that but certainly a lot of people go through that at some point in their life
@@Little_minnie530 You guys are pathetic. She's talking about her own life which Nick never lived since he was adopted. And she never saw him before today. 🔔 Sadly, Florida was tricked into making jury death sentences unanimous. Before 2016, a mere majority was enough. Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
Def . I guess she always wonder what happened to her little brother .. feeling guilty she couldn’t take care of him … it was a little happiness in her young years .. maybe a way to look forward of life 🤷♀️
I grew up with a friend who was adopted, he was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and to drugs his mother abused during her pregnancy. He had extreme mental health issues and prone to aggressive behaviors. Despite his loving adoptive family he could not overcome the hand he was dealt in the womb. He committed suicide in his 20's. Nicholas Cruz's adopted family perhaps did the best they could and this tragedy of all of these children's lives lost stem , to me in my opinion, from Cruz's brain damage from his mother's addiction. However, It's to the courts to decide his fate ultimately. We need better metal health care and oversite for drug addicted babies in this country. They are often born wired wrong and broken for life.
they don't have mental health issues in the sense that they can be fixed. They have irreversible brain damage, end of story. They can only be taught to regulate themselves. They are screwed from birth.
There is actually a book called Fatal Link that correlates fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with school shooters. The author writes about there being a connection between fasd and murderers/school shooters/pedophiles
This is why foster care needs to change. They take these sweet children and “reunify” them with their abusive “parents” instead of letting them go to,permanent homes where they can be protected and start their life over. I am crying for her
After reading these comments it makes me feel really good that there are people out there who only have love in their heart. This whole testimony was so sad, I'm sure there are a lot of people that could identify with that situation right now. It would be awesome to have her tell her story to high school seniors or just on a public forum. Maybe her story could save a lot of lives, we really don't know this is not the way life is supposed to be if that's all we've lived or ever known! God Bless!!✨❤️💯🙏
After reading the comments I realized how naïve people are. She is in prison on her 17th felony! She is now facing 15 years to life for carjacking a woman in her mid 70s.
@@dopecat15 if anything it just shows how much more of an influence parents and the children’s environment can affect people and their future and path in life
I felt this young lady’s every word and it broke my heart! Just imagine you living the words she said about her life with that monster of a mom , ( and I know we’re missing so so much more of her life and what she endured ) , and it’s All so heartbreaking so scary so sad… I wish her a better life, she’s still young to change and a happy healthy one… ❣️🙏🏽❣️
I couldn't help but feel sad for her, brought tears to my eyes. I grew up in foster care, and it's hard not to have empathy for her. Sad we don't get to choose who brings us into this world. My heart literally ached for her, you can just see the pain in her facial expressions. Such a sad situation all around.
This innocent child was the product of a mother who only cared about her addiction. How sad this story of horrific trauma is. Now she has 16 felonies charged and is in detention. Heartbreaking. She never stood a chance.
She was pretending the whole time. She's probably a Sociopath or a Psychopath. She's back in jail again (2024). Google about her. These people are natural-born deceivers.
@Boston Gal she thought and asked to keep him but then thought he would have a better life with another family. If that's not trying to help, being only a child, what else could she do?
For all children. When they are little, they have absolutely no power to change their messed up circumstances. None. And when I say little, I mean say, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Too little to physically stop or make a grown up do a thing. Sad.
My heart breaks for the helpless younger child version of him, just like it breaks for his siblings, but my heart no longer breaks for the person he grew up to be. How any “mother” can do this to her own children is beyond me. So sad. God bless his sister. I pray she finds the healing, strength, willpower and determination needed to make a permanent change in her life for the better, so that she can experience the kind of genuine happiness in life that she truly deserves but was never shown.
He didn’t deserve the death penalty. I know it seems crazy but he was sooo messed up from that psycho mom. Most of us cant imagine having ZERO love from your bio mom. If he came from a perfect normal household and then did this, yeah death penalty all day. But this testimony is what gave him life sentence
My heart breaks for this girl. In the way that she would stare at Nikolas like she adores him. If he hadn't been given up for adoption, Danielle would have 100% been the perfect big sister for him
@@boomds5602 yeah I dont think she would have turned into a criminal if she'd had Nik to take care of. There are plenty of families out there where siblings have to rely on each other cause their parents can't or won't do it. I feel like if they'd had each other growing up, they wouldn't be in these situations now
@@notcherbidness501 I think what the commenter means is that she might have had a better chance. Nikolas would have been something to ground her, something to fight for. She definitely would have been parentified which is an abuse in and of itself. Her brother could have been another source of happiness, love, and a motivation, something she desperately needed when she was young. They both have been damaged and hurt by their mother and her inability to fight her addiction. They did not come out well at all and in the end everyone lost
After watching a lot of the videos from this trail it’s really showed me the overall importance of love especially in the life of children. Each video regarding this case just gets worse and worse and while there in no excuse for that he did you can see the events that led to this. Brenda was a terrible person and the shockwaves from her choices are effecting many lives and will continue to do so for many years. My heart goes out to every single person that will have to suffer from these tragedies. The world needs more love.
![Jack Harlow - Hello Miss Johnson [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q86_nlRoIGw/mqdefault.jpg)
I went to juvenile with her. She was incredibly sweet to me and even wrote me letters once I was home. I can honestly say she had no way out of this lifestyle her mother subjected her to. I feel for her so much. How we treat our babies and children truly shapes their life.
What kind of trouble did she get into to end up in J.D. and now prison? I feel so bad for her, maybe you can write to her? Just a suggestion..BtW.....I hope that life is going great for you now 🙏
Our lives ...our choices ...our consequences. Still very sad. 💯
@@skorpio1119 if you aren’t taught how to make better choices how do you expect to make them?
@@out2fun some parents are unfit parents
@@boomds5602When you're old enough to know right from wrong GENIUS ! Stop defending INSANITY. People all over the world have been raised under horrid circumstances, they don't become CRIMINALS /KILLERS. FACTS. 💯
This is so heartbreaking. Imagine hoping your brother had a better life than you did and then finding out he committed such heinous atrocities.
Well she went through it and didn't kill people.
@@Carlos27thFS you still don’t understand how this works, but keep trying.
@@noncatholiccatholicrat6309 What? That it's a crap shoot whether or not one is a psychopath or not? Thanks. There are plenty of abused children who don't go and murder their classmates. Not that that's a good thing obviously.
@@Carlos27thFS "there are plenty of a abused children who dont go and murder " what a great statement you should write a book and title it that
@@Carlos27thFS Abuse affects people differently. My mother was shitty to all of her kids but it affected us in different ways, some are worse than others.
Also she was addicted hard drugs and alcohol while she was pregnant with him. That helped to further mess him up psychologically. The woman who birthed him basically ensured that he would have a shitty life. Once he was born America’s system did not try to help the child. That’s how you breed a school shooter. The blame falls back on your shitty system
The way she says "So he could have a better life... So he could... take a different path" was just heart breaking. She deserved so much better than what her mom gave her. Parents need to look at this and realize their decisions impact their kid AND the people around them
So very sad
Very sad
This is really sad
It's up to you to change!!!
Unfortunately his mother wasn't having kids for love. She was selling then for her drug and alcohol habits. She had no love for them. Nikolas has her traits no empathy or love.
“Zach has started helping.”
“And how is that?”
“He sent me food.” I couldn’t help crying at this. the slightest touch of love melts a hurting heart. This lady surely hasn’t felt love for a long time.😢😢😢
Listening to her story I’m absolutely glad my biological parents decided to abandon me so I could be adopted. I might have ended up just like her. Literally a worst nightmare to live with someone like “Brenda”. And I’m so thankful my adoptive parents saved me from this. ❤
You also saved yourself with good decisions. Anyone could end up like Nik and his sister, good parents or bad.
@@Psyminds Every thinking feeling human being that is of sound mind can see the difference between right and wrong.
@@Denise-Ann Not really. Kids with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are not of 'sound mind', They do not have the same capscity as the rest of us. Their brain is damaged.
@@ddigiorgio8438 I need to do more research on it.
@@Denise-Ann yes, lots to find online. It will make you sad for these kids, later adults. And the cost to society too, not just financially but in terms of human potential and relationships.
You can feel the TRAUMA radiating off of this young woman. Never a fair chance from birth. I pray this girl is shown grace in life and God's protection!!!!
The problem is they don’t even know how much they were disadvantaged. The cycle unfortunately continues
Too late
It's never too late. With the right therapy, she could heal her trauma. This so heartbreaking.
🙏🏼❤️ God have mercy , he is at the door knocking for those strong in faith. ❤️
@@LoriLynnSpiritWithinUs Well she will have to do so in prison while she serves her life sentence...Take another look at her top, and the officer behind her...She is currently in Jail...
Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman
The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020
As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb
Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges
She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender
She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
You can sense all the suffering she is going through remembering her past and seeing her brother. Poor girl, I hope she recovers and have peace and love in her life.
I hope so too. She didn't deserve this messed up life.
Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
@@hus390 now go read the impacts of drugs and alcohol on a fetus.
@@hus390 not everyone needs to feel the way you do.
Nick was abused in the womb and ,must be set free
if you weren't raised from a family like this you won't have a clue what kind of demons you have to overcome and work on yourself in order to make it through without loosing your mind.
When she referred to her mother's "polluted womb." Damn, I felt that.
Big drama act and sob story. Grabbed her 5 minutes of fame
@@Michael-cs3li”Sob story”? I can’t tell if your being serious because if you are you must be this guys twin with a deformity from all that crack. “Oh yeah you can really tell how this is a drama act because she said her mother’s womb who was carrying a mass murder, was polluted.” You’re saying that like you just heard it from the Johnny Depp case and you think it’s cool to say.
@@Michael-cs3li Do you think people have a choice in testifying? His team called on her, she has to testify....
@@Michael-cs3li She experienced it firsthand, unlike those of us watching.
@@Michael-cs3liYour so edgy 👏🏽
There's something about this woman that is extremely touching. I don't know what it is, but I just want to give her a big hug. I wish she could see what a beautiful soul she is.
I dont.
@@GreenZeusmask That's ok too 😊
@Cody not all people have empathy for others and you are one of them. Hopefully with maturation that will change when you realize that you are vulnerable.
@@WVgrl59 Yes, we are all vulnerable and we are all doing the best we can with the means we have available.
@Katanya Jason yes, and as you get older you realize it even more. ❤️
You can see the PTSD in this woman. The system clearly failed her if she was allowed to live with Brenda for any amount of time.
The system fails many kids every day and dgaf! I’m glad that his sister is alive but hate that she had to go through all that bc of adults who don’t give a flying f about anything… She is a survivor but it pisses me off that there are many others like her out there. Painful
Yes the system failed her and her brothers so heart braking
The "system" murdered my 4 year old baby boy!! I sued them and WON! I had NEVER been an unfit mom!! Then MFS murdered my poor baby!!
She fuck'n failed herself relying on the system? That is a victim mentality, she could be someone great, but weakness exists in the majority
@@camlop813 i agree and disagree! some people break/give up easily.
I think it adds more to her horrendous trauma that that lady keeps calling her “her mother” when she’s been very clear to refer her as “Brenda.” She mentioned at the beginning her mother was her grandmother. When people talk, especially out of a place of vulnerability, you actively listen to them. WORDS MATTER.
that lawyer is trash, heartless and doesn't care about how this woman feels.
Her parents failed her and her brother. The judicial system failed those that died because they had plenty of warning about that little dumbass!
@@butterflykisses4u also Nikolas Cruz is Hispanic Latino not white
@@beoye the point is , Zimmerman was Latino
Cruz Latino
But media says the are white , Dylan roof got the death sentence for taking nine llifes , Nicholas Cruz murders 17 children , gets life , now is there any sense in that , I do not believe there justice to that at all
@@beoye in my opinion , but who's to blame , allowing a judge to continue practice while living for years with a major drug dealer , who sentences drug dealers daily , It may just be Florida but I don't think judges should be dating drug dealers .........
Brought tears to my eyes when she started talking about running to the dog she always used to play with. As someone who grew up in a home with addict parents and abuse, I always used to turn to animals to comfort me. You can tell she got emotional thinking about that
Well you didn’t become a mass murderer
Same. Animals were my comfort. It’s common for people with histories of abuse to have trauma bonds with animals.
@@NotFalling4it they saved my life I swear ❤
@@13ritneyanne Me as well ❤️
Same here. My mom fell to pieces after my dad died and I have always loved animals, but, when dad died and Mom turned to booze, my dogs were my solice. Then when my mom died, I had my dogs, my Iguana and I volunteered at a barn working with horses. Animals saved my life.
You can tell she’s tired. When she speaks there’s a lifetime of pain and surviving being dealt a bad hand. She looks like she needs peace.
@SkyNet General how old is she?
Nah that's drugs
I’m pretty sure she’s high…
There is NO excuse for the shooters actions but hearing his sister relive her childhood is absolutely heart wrenching. She is sitting there holding it together while having to sit in front of people who probably could care less & her looking at her brother like you never had a chance lil one. It’s all just sad. Innocent people lost their children & loved ones due to the irreversible damage their mother did to them. I hope Zach is able to live a good life.
Saw an interview from a childcare worker about nik and zak, and the media made it seem like zak was okay and normal but he had hella anger issues and would take it out on nik all the time. definitely contributed to everything
Couldn’t * care less.
Despite what kind of child he had he still had no right to go into that school and shoot the students they did nothing to him he planned this he should be in a mental facility in the prison he will never ever be able to see the light of day like i said he will get shanked in prison for his awful crime
Very sad
It's couldn't care less. Ffs, how hard is it to get right? Brain dead
How easy it is for us to judge another. Listening to this women's story of her stolen childhood is just so so heart-breaking. To be rejected by your mother, the system let her down and now to carry the shame of what her brother has done, even if it is not hers to carry. The pain in her voice and on her face, I wish her peace and love. I know she has her past and made her own mistakes, but there but for the grace of God go any of us. Sending her love.
Well said. Being born into a family is a roll of the dice.
She is in prison on her 17th felony! She is now facing 15 years to life for carjacking a woman in her mid 70s.
@@dopecat15 Thanks again. 🎯💯🎯
@@skorpio1119 No problem, and you're welcome.
Yeah it's really sad. Sad the mother was raped sad she also had to choose that lifestyle of addiction anyone can go down that road and lose their life from alcohol. One of the reasons why I don't drink as much as I used to that stuff is no good.
This whole story is so sad but when she said she couldn’t find her cat that got me. Her cat was probably about the only resemblance of love she had growing up and it’s gone in the blink of an eye. It’s awful that people have to grow up like this.
I cried when she said that😢
The silence after Danielle is asked, "How did having Brenda as your mother affect your life?" says it all. We are all responsible for our actions but this is a blatant example of how our parents/caregivers shape our futures.
This testimony should be used as required watching for every state and federal elected official who has voted against drug treatment facilities, child protective services, early childhood programs, foster care, prenatal care programs and legal abortion! This testimony is a master class of the consequences of those no votes!!
I was thinking the same thing.
Just FYI, there is and has been legal abortion all over the area; in fact, all over S. Florida. She obviously didn’t seek out abortions. And although I agree with prenatal care classes, it’s impossible to get some women/girls to attend. They seek out no care, although it’s also available as is free prenatal care. Drug addicts don’t care about anything but the next high or drink.
@@Anca820
Imagine all the issues, if women are denied?
@@Anca820 Are abortions free though? No drug addict is going to be able to afford the hundreds of dollars for an abortion, not to mention the hoops you have to jump through to get the appointment. What they need are mobile birth control clinics. Like if an addict (or whoever else is in a bad place) wants an IUD/implant/sterilization, get them right then and there. Maybe even give them a bonus check for doing it. Drug addicts are notoriously unreliable, so they need to bring it TO them.
I am going to call bull. Some of the government agencies you mention are corrupt as hell. Make sure you qualify your answers
This absolutely breaks my heart!!! My husband and I have adopted 4 beautiful children from situations like this!!! Our oldest was 11 when she came to live with us in 2016. She will be 18 next month. In 6 years she went from an angry pre teen who cursed all the time and said she had no soul and couldn't cry to now being the most beautiful, sweet, soft hearted young woman I have ever met!!! She has dreams and aspirations for the future. She calls me her best friend even tho she knows I'll always be mommy first. My other 3 kids... same situation. Second daughter is now 15, third is 14, and our son is now 8. He is now asking for a brother so he has a friend for life. I love them as tho I birthed them myself. I can never understand how a parent could be so selfish as to put their children through this torment 😭😭😭😭 You can tell this lady never had a family to take her in and give her the love she so desperately needed. She is still very childlike and recalls things as tho she is still in the situation as a child. I just want to hug her 😭😭😭
You gave those babies a chance at life. Im not overly religious but I do believe in goodness and a higher power. God bless you and them!
you're an amazing person! bravo, mama.
God bless you
You are a wonderful and amazing family, send lots of positive thoughts, with major wishes for your continuing love 🇬🇧
You are a wonderful, wonderful human being. I’m glad the children are all doing well, and are very lucky to have you.
I feel it from this lady. That ache to have a family, guidance, structure.
I still feel it at 33. Best I can do is break the cycle to ensure my girls have that, and I do.
I hope this young lady finds healing and peace, I truly do.
What’s tragic is when they asked if she remembered the day Nikolas was born, she beams a smile…and then her face falls and she looks so deflated and broken. Such a happy occasion, the birth of her baby brother… and this was all it turned out to be. He was supposed to be the one who had a better life…
So very sad
She wanted to keep him.
One of the fewest and happiest moments in her life. Everything else before and after sounds like a tragedy.
The day a demon was born! 🔥 MURDERER!
This poor young lady has been dealt a nasty hand. I feel so terrible for her.
So horrible 💔
@@rameychisum2891 I’m sure you’ve made plenty mistakes as we all have. As a survivor of childhood abuse, I have compassion for other survivors and don’t shame people. We all walk different paths and you can’t judge someone until you’ve been in their shoes. This young lady has clearly been through so much and I’m sure she wishes every day that she “played her cards differently”. Be kinder.
@@rameychisum2891 you must be just a perfect little Angel then 🙄 the thing is, nobody asked you.
@@mackenziesackett4853 22 arrests, 16 felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon & car theft amongst others. In January 2010 Danielle earned an eight-year sentence for credit card fraud, cocaine possession and the attempted second degree murder of a police officer. Now in prison again on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges, awaiting a life sentence.
Yeah, she is very kind to others. Past is the past (even the most horrible) but we make our choices now.
@@joannalaszczak2012 if you know anything about trauma especially childhood trauma, it does irreversible damage to your brain. Having your mother do drink and do crack while pregnant with you ALSO affects your brain. When you talk about choices, us children who survive trauma never CHOSE to have irreversible things happen to our brains. That’s why I have compassion for others that ended up going down a dark path due to childhood trauma.
She really hated her…I mean, Brenda. And honestly I don’t blame her. Children shouldn’t have to live through the crap that some of these parents put them through. She deserved to be in school and have a normal life, not have to deal with her mother’s addictions. So heartbreaking.
No healthcare, no safety nets, no housing, no choices. Just greed and survival of the fittest. What a great country this is. 🙄Kids are destroyed. Absolutely destroyed.
I don’t blame Danielle for how she felt about her mom
she committed serious offences, has 16 felonies. She does deserve to be in school, she deserves to be locked up in prison for life.
May I ask why she is in handcuffs?
@@pennypendleton7345 She is actually serving time. I don’t think that was mentioned because it’s truly not part of the case. I guess when you have a crappy mom like she did and no one to really guide you in life you have a less likely chance of being a successful adult.
If anyone wanted to know what trauma looks like, all they need to do is listen to and watch the video of this woman. This tears my heart in half. No wonder she has 16 felonies, she never stood a chance. Such a shame.
yeah, got me too
She did stand a chance. My cousin was profoundly mentally ill, abusive, neglectful, and an addict. Yet her children, despite being dragged through torment during their entire childhoods, rose above it. Choice plays a part. Always, choice plays a part.
Now you know what it’s like to be black! The argument is not that black people never stood a chance especially in todays time but when did these white people fight racism? Can you imagine having no choice but to grow up beaten raped when you had no choice? That’s called slavery. These people actually did stand a chance bc they’re still white imagine going through 300 years of slavery and then thinking you truly have a fair chance.
@@allthingsharbor yet we can still acknowledge that circumstance and privilege play a significant part in all our lives.
I completely agree. What happens in the first few months, years of life changes everything. Everything.
I disagree with the the comment above this about thier being choice (but thats okay).
Here is why:
The ability to see, balance, discern and make choices is almost entirely formed by what has come before, the brain in the earlyest years. There are numerous experiences that can happen in those years, that can almost irreversibley affect a childs brain, development, life skills, understanding, cognition, conscience, decision making skills, perception of self worth. Everything.
To treat and develop any of these areas, it takes years, and years, of a different and healthy experience, significant intervention, to change and progress from the consequences of that childhood.
We absolutely cannot say that there was always the chance to ‘choose’ differently, if the power and mechanisms behind the ability to make those choices is compromised in such a severe way for some human beings. Especially when making choices for oneself, thats even more complex - for example, if no one has valued you, why would you be able to develop the ability to value yourself when making a decision. It is entirely unfair i beleive, to say that every person with similar experiences and development has had the opportunity to choose differently for themselves.
You only know what you know.
Every human being has a different brain, that is impacted in a different way by harrowing experiences like this brave lady’s story. There are not words that would describe it enough. It cant be compared to another person who has suffered in a similar way. Different brains. Different human beings. Different eyes.
The playing field is not level.
This woman is broken...even the way she says Brenda...just everything you can see the pain and the torment plus how many times she has played over her brothers actions in her head. Man this is heavy!
Wow. Read your comment before I got to that part and I’m speechless. The emotion in just saying her name and the emotion read on her face and through her body language is really something. Poor thing. :/
Unbelievably heavy!!!!!
She needs Jesus Christ that died on the cross for her sins in rose from the dead for all her sins and give her rest God said my yoke is light and my burden is heavy that means I can take it all and wipe it away and make you a new person
Yeah, I clocked that too. She said “Brenda” like it was cement block falling from her mouth.
@@lindseyhendrix2405 What about her many poor victims...
Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman
The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020
As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb
Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges
She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender
She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
This is the first time I've seen Nick look at a witness...so sad honestly
he was looking at joaquin’s sister
He’s still a demon. She’s just on “his side” he won’t shed a single tear for his sister. Watch and see.
@Boston Gal they're probably not classed as legally on paper, but biologically they always will be
@Boston Gal They are biological siblings. She said that during her initial statement.
This tells me he is well aware of his calculated actions. No mercy.
Her heart seems SO BIG. She didn’t even want to call people “bums or junkies” and then decided to explain the kind of people they are instead and when she talks about her “baby brothers” and when sees their picture her face lights up. So much love lost. I can only hope that somehow they reconnect, if only for a little while so she can have some healing. 💔💔❤️❤️
I think you should look up her record. She’s about to serve life in prison for trying to kill an officer, almost killing a 72 yr old woman while car jacking her and several other violent felonies she’s done. I felt for her too until i read her record. She doesn’t care about anyone just like her mom. It’s very sad how one family has effected so many tragically.
@@myrnapowell1637 Do you think it’s a mere coincidence that BOTH of them ended up being violent?
@@mecredi73 Will that answer give back the victims their lives? The third child is now filming a reality show about being a brother of a serial killer. Both these siblings facing life are getting paid for that reality show. All three knew what was wrong and what was right because of what they went through in life. In her words she knew what was wrong. He knew when he spoke to say I did it I am pleading guilty what I did was wrong. They in their own words had the opportunity to seek help. I went through the system and took the opportunity to take a different path in life. Took the help. The right thing is often the roughest road but there is a choice unless your deemed insane. They are not insane.
@@myrnapowell1637 what system are you talking about?
@@mecredi73 Juvenile Justice system.
The way she said “Brenda was waiting for me like she always did when I got home from school” it was so sad you can tell that doesn’t have the same meaning as it would when most kids say it.
This is gut-wrenching. A sweet soul tortured by her own mother & left to fend for herself. Sadly, incarceration is probably the most stable environment she's ever known. I want so badly for someone to step in, mentor this beautiful woman, & help her live a life she can be proud of. If anyone doesn't think environment plays a major role in who we become, this is a perfect case study. We all have free will, but I don't believe any of Brenda's kids would be in these horrible situations had they been born to someone else. One woman's choices have destroyed countless lives...absolutely heartbreaking.💔
Yes … 💔
How do you learn how to survive???
It’s hard to take care of yourself young on your own, you’re vulnerable to predators… don’t know how to handle emotions
She truly is a beautiful and WORTHY soul.
There are so many kids that suffer bc ppl keep having kids willy nilly and don’t gaf to take care of them!!! Many parents abuse them too! Fckng hate this shyt!
And now with the retarded US abortion laws well be having a lot more kids born into awful situations
This case gets worse and worse . What an awful story of a mother . Makes me know how blessed I was to have my saint of a mother .
Same here, Im still blessed with a amazing family. Im so sad for this woman.... life is so friggin unfair..
@@bluenoon78 His mom was a monster. Don't do drugs kids lol
💯 absolutely agree with you.. I could feel the pain coming off of her. That’s how much pain she was in.
Yes, I am so grateful and thankful for my amazing, loving parents and the childhood that they provided me and my sister. I can't imagine a life such as this.
I totally agree with you. My mother is my world. I wish all of my siblings could realize it.
My heart broke for this young woman, this is not a show she’s putting on. That’s real pain. This woman is straight up… she’s got real pain & emotions. Very dramatic personally because she only knows the hard life.
Don't fool yourself, but i get you don't know any better, unlike Danielle Woodard, you would get eaten up in a second on the street lol.
How do you know this is real
Real? How do you know real, or fake?
street smart foster kid in & out of the system, we learned our way around judicial system. woman worked it. don't forget potential reality show for her w/ her other bro allegedly. Also, defense had rehearsals for her big debut here. she got reaction out of a few commenters.
@@daniellewest265 common street-smart sense. did she murder 17 children? NO. Her estranged brother did who was raised in a loving home. Regardless, if it wasn't, or was. Dude needs to fry for this heinous crime. Maybe when society grows a pair again and stop coddling these school shooters, they might get the message and stop murdering bc their feeling got hurt.
I feel so bad when I’m too tired to cook dinner for my son after working all day and end up grabbing a pizza.
I’ll never understand how a “mother” can treat her children like trash.
To all the mamas out there doing the right thing or at least trying.
Keep going babe. ❤ ✊🏽
Thank you. I always feel guilty for being a single mom. I never felt like I was good enough but I did everything for my two kids. I wasn’t able to afford to give them a lot of material things but I love them so much and made sure they knew it. We always had food on the table and a roof over our heads. My daughter is on scholarship in university and my son just finished high school. They both ended up being amazing people.
I needed this. And girl don't feel bad about pizza! LOL my kids know what's up when we pull up in the Drive-Thru mama is tired!
Thank you Katie and you as well sweetheart ❤It does get hard sometimes but we keep going for our babies. Don’t feel bad for grabbing a pizza. You fed your babies and that’s all that matters.
Your son is probably so happy for pizza I think most kids love pizza. You do what you can for him and you always have the best intentions behind it. He knows that you love him
@@kariminalminds you are an amazing mother for loving your children truly, don’t doubt yourself.
This is definitely the most attention I’ve seen the shooter pay to the witness. Had his head down and was doodling when parents were talking about their awful loss. Its absolutely fascinating, I wonder what’s going through his mind when he’s hearing his sister speak.
personally I think he didn't want to look at the parents or the victims because he feels ashamed and guilty and can't man up. but his sister. she's not acusing him of wrong doing. she's telling the tale of their childhood and maybe he's thinking like "man. she had it worse than me and this is what I did with my second chance " . or maybe not. maybe he's not that complex. idk. my heart breaks for the sister though. living with addicted parents is .....yeah....
dont fcking care
First thing I noticed too.
BC he is a narcissist.
I am a very compassionate human being ....yet when I listened to the sister if this demon , Nikolas speak ,I became more livid toward him .His sister had an extremely traumatic childhood ...yet she did not kill anybody or cause harm to any ...she could have ...she was a victim of an abusive life and still carries deep rooted scars .The fact that she is trying to help her brother through her horrid upbringing , will tell you that she is able to still love and protect ......I'm looking at him as he intentionally focuses on his sister ... listening to her every word ...he has respect for his own ...this demon Nikolas Cruz....yet when those heartbroken parents were in the witness stand ....he was busy with a pen and paper ...writing like an author or poet ...the nerve of this murderer !! .No regard no remorse just sheet arrogance ....but when his sister takes the stand he is all ears ...his entire demeanour is different .He knows THIS is his lifeline , this is his get -out -of -jail card .His sister's story is sad and she deserves a second chance at a BETTER life ....his story DESERVES THE FULL MIGHT OF THE LAW .....
I COULD BE WRONG ....BUT I SEE A SLIGHT SMIRK ON HIS FACE ....NOT EVEN A TEAR FOR HIS SISTER .
A lot of people will never understand the lifelong effects of living in constant fear and worrying about your own survival as a child. Never having a place in which you feel safe or loved, and then ferociously clinging to anything that finally brings you that comfort.
I understand.
I'm very sorry that you do. It is no way to live as a child, which is a massive understatement.
This was a powerful comment.
Indeed, I was bullied not only by other kids in school who even came home to continue the bullying after school, but my own blood sibling (much older) even bullied me with them only then to wait for my step dad to come home from work and start his abuse cycle, singing nursery rhymes to me about killing kids, etc. Childhood was hell and living with PTSD, can't even imagine how bad it could be in foster care. Still dealing with the consequences today at almost 40 years old.
Poor Danielle, i felt so sorry for her, it wasn't her fault she finished up like this. My daughter went off the rails when our marriage broke up. She is now in her 50s and finally got her act together, i'm so proud of her. This is one of the saddest testimonies i have ever had to witness in my life. I wish someone could tell Danielle there are people out here who love her. Robert. 82yo. New Zealand.
Only 10 years older than her last victim...
Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman
The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020
As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb
Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges
She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender
She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
@@paulconnelly6560 Thank you, now I understand why that officer is standing behind her.
@@paulconnelly6560 My God. The wreckage caused by Brenda never ends.
@TETCOM you're angry that he told us these things? this explains how she ended up from the damage her mother created. It's very hard to change behaviors from early childhood, hopefully she can be mentored by someone who has, perhaps the woman witness who was a prostitute at the same time as Brenda. Perhaps this will be the beginning of a new positive life for her.
@@paulconnelly6560 After this testimony, let's hope the court orders mandatory long term counseling and help where she is given sentence with possibility of parole. Thank you for sharing this.
This is the most honest and heartbreaking testimony I have ever heard. This poor woman, I really really feel for her so much, not her brother but just for her. You can see her suffering.
See I agree with you here!
@@cjmiller3686 I agree also.
Yes. All children who have trauma do not take it out on the world like nikolas.
@@aimeebaldwin5600 So correct! I've been through alot; but, I'm not going to murder alot of people over it!
She is broken.
I can’t believe I’m crying for her childhood… and i think he’s looking at her because he didn’t know his own sister.. maybe it’s someone he would have loved to meet and talk to. This is so sad 😭
I caught that too. It’s like the first time he’s looked up at the witness box. At least so far that I’ve seen in this video and the trial.
I can believe it. You can feel her pain, and she only wanted to testify in hopes of helping her brother one last time, despite everything. We forget that she is a victim too, both from Cruz and her mother. It gets lost in these trials that the offenders have family members too, who are impacted by the offenders actions as well, bud they are still their family member or loved one. I’m sure she still loves her brother too, despite the horrible, awful, disgusting crimes he committed.
Some parents don't deserve kids period.. this is heart breaking ..
So true heartbreaking to hear kids go through this 💔
And w the overturn of Roe vs Wade, this is exactly what is going to continue sadly
@@kelseymcgraw8187 yeah, imagine 15 or 20 years in the future how many people like this there will be, with mothers who are forced to give birth and take care of kids that they didn’t want, couldn’t afford, and wouldn’t give a good life. It’s terrifying to think about.
@@kelseymcgraw8187 oh well. Probably should think before opening your legs, especially if you're a drug addict. 🤡
@@noodlepoodlegirl they aren't forced to have sex lol.. foh. 🤡
God bless this woman. You can hear a pin drop in the Court as everyone is feeling her pain and sorrow. Tragic life.
I've seen worse and the product turned out way better. Come to Michigan right in the middle you will find women and the remnants of women who could drink and snort Brenda under the table any day. This isn't a special or unique story other than her whole family is narcissistic sociopaths.
God Bless the woman who almost killed a 72 year old woman, shot at a police officer, and also in 2003, brought a gun to school. Such an upstanding citizen! How about GOD BLESS HER VICTIMS! She is in Jail awaiting trial and because she is an habitual violent offender, faces life!
@@paulconnelly6560 doesn't mean she doesn't deserve empathy.
Lack of empathy creates monsters like Nikolas
@@dcc-randomstorieswithmel7424 Her victims need more empathy than her. Just be thankful your grandmother was not one of her many victims! Grow up and stop excusing criminal behavior! God Bless Her Victims!
@@paulconnelly6560 still doesn't mean she deserves less empathy.
Even if it were my grandmother,I would still have empathy,thats what makes you different from people like Nikolas,otherwise you are just another person who thinks lives don't matter.
Empathy is what makes the difference,otherwise you might as well be Nikolas.
You sound like someone trying to take out their issues on strangers.
She didn't do anything to you so mind your darn business
I feel bad for not providing enough for my children financially - I used to cry when we had to move again because I couldn’t afford the rent or not be able to get McDonald’s when my son asked me for it. But I always made sure we had food on the table and a roof over our heads no matter what. And they both went to good schools. My daughter is now a senior at university and my son just graduated from high school.
Now I realize that all these children wanted was love and a stable home. And that I wasn’t such a terrible mom to them. God bless this woman. I hope she heals from this 💕
This is not worth anything, but can I say, more power to you 🙌🏼
@@sadia2395 It is worth more than you think. Thank you for your kind words.
@@kariminalminds 💞🙂
You are doing an amazing job, even caring and worrying about it shows. You have a good heart.
@@SingSirenMae thank you 💕 means a lot to me
How did child services just let this all take place without interventions.....?....my heart breaks for this girl
seriously… you cant be so delusional to ask this question. and if they did take her away she would go into worse situations in foster care. it is all one in the same and not a savior for these kids.
riiight ! maybe bcz all us justice system relies on these tragedies. and of course mass media. just for spread fear, manipulation, misleadin ... vultures ... desgusting.
Theyre overwhelmed and many of them are burnt out. Take it from another kid who fell right through the cracks.
this happens more often than you realize, there's many reasons it can go overlooked, i speak from experience
@@teedee643 foster care would NOT have been worse
Such sadness in her voice when describing what she went through with her mother as a child and yet she smiles every time her little brothers are mentioned. All this girl wanted was a loving family. I feel for her so much.
Omg this is just beyond heartbreaking.. the pain she has endured and is still enduring really gets to your soul. My heart goes out to her. If anyone watching this is pregnant or thinking about having children, make sure that you do it f-ing right because if you don’t, this is the result!
Danielle… The pain of the trauma you’ve been through can easily be seen. But I also see a lot of kindness in your eyes, and I see a compassionate, empathetic soul. I truly believe everyone has a purpose here and you’re meant to be here to help this world. I pray you find your way out of the darkness that has tried to dim your light. Blessed be. One love.
I pray that this young woman gets the intense psychological help that she deserves. Having worked with many trauma survivors, I sense her pain and my heart goes out to her.
Pray?!?! How about you find a way to financially, leagally or emotionally help her!!! Pray. Thats just a shitty cop out so you can feel good about yourself without actually doing nothing
@@tencentpistol1 while prayer seems to be a typical cop out thrown around these days, I do not believe that’s what this lady was doing here. Prayer goes best with direct action upon those prayers and she says that she’s worked with many trauma survivors… catch a breath my friend.
She wont. She's in jail.
@@lindseyhendrix2405 👍
her victims deserve psychological help if they need it , not she. She is a career criminal, what she deserves a life sentence behind bars to stop others becoming her victim.
Man. I’m so struck by this woman. The emotion in her voice and on her face when she’s remembering the “big, beautiful dog” that her upstairs neighbor had really rocked me. It’s like it’s the little girl sitting there having to recount all that she endured rather than a grown woman in handcuffs having to testify. Sheesh. I’m not so sure I can stomach the whole thing.
She just wanted to get out of jail for the day
@@minnesota7010 please try to have compassion for people who never had the opportunity to make good choices, unlike you or me. This woman deserves our compassion so she can heal and become a better person.
@@Hannah-vp6eq How about having some compassion for her victims?
Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman
The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020
As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb
Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges
She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender
She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
@@paulconnelly6560 Danielle is guilty for her crimes. But she’s also human and endured extreme trauma her entire life. It’s not easy to live normally because your childhood years molds who you are for the rest of your life. Danielle only knows drugs, violence because that’s all she knew as a child. That’s not an excuse for her own wrongdoings but an explanation. She gave us a vague description of what I can imagine was a world of hurt, she was irreparably damaged by the one person who was suppose to protect and care for her, her failed mother.
@@domo201 I completely agree with you. My brother has done some crazy things but I have seen what he has endured as well. My dad was so abusive to him… I remember him locking me in the car while I had to sit there and watch him beat my brother so badly just for going walking to let off steam after my dad tried to accuse him of stealing money from him (which he didn’t do) my dad made me get in the car and chased him down the road then locked me in the car and I held my ears and eyes so I didn’t have to hear my brother beg for death 😞 this wasn’t the first time either. Just the hardest time I can even recall because I was able to block out the rest. His life has mostly been spent behind bars. I wish so much better for him but he doesn’t know any better.
I do feel for her btw, she was stuck in that hell. Yet Nicholas was adopted and given a chance and he murdered 17 people.
@Boston Gal they feel differently about her because she's a woman
Clearly there is something wrong with these people. It's in their DNA. Her story is terrible, but there are plenty of people with the same background that don't try to kill police officers and rob elderly ladies. Nor do they murder 17 innocent people at a high school.
@@joshuapike643 what a load of nuff. Did you listen to her or do you have your own agenda? Clearly, you have your own agenda.
@@jocelynhunter2359 Whatever tragedy she went through, Nick never lived it. All the sympathizing comments are from women. It's why I think Death Pen juries should have as minimum amount of women as possible. Sadly, Florida was tricked into making jury death sentences unanimous. Before 2016, a mere majority was enough. Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
@@joshuapike643 ohhhhhh, poor little Joshie thinks women get off easy.
My heart is breaking for this woman. She would really benefit from counseling. There’s so much trauma. I wish I could’ve been her mother. 😭
that last sentence is really powerful. you’re a sweet soul. wishing you all the best in life
😢
She was dealt a terrible hand due to her mom’s inability to help herself. How tragic. I pray she is able to overcome the demons in her life and find peace and joy. So undeserved.
@Badger life and blaming it on their race... instead of looking at those intergenerational issues.
@@key6723 what does this have to do with race? I am confused.
@@Ash_426 It's a point to show the lack of perspective people have, racist people and people who don't say they're racist but still resort to their racial biases who look at this white lady can EASILY say " oh she had bad parents, i can see where things went wrong, i feel bad." but they can't relay that logic to when a colored person commits a crime, then it's "of course they we're black, black people commit more crimes that means they are genetically prone to violence" that's the point, it's an education moment for slow people who can't grasp how intergenerational trauma causes poverty and crime regardless of the human constructed "races" we use to generalize and marginalize groups.
@Badger life i'm not commenting about Nick Cruz or this situation rather your comment that says "So many more children are being raised in these exact same conditions or worse" and in society alot of the time coloured people in these exact situations are looked at as they are supposed to be there instead of how they look at this situation with his sister as sad and unfortunate that she's been delt a bad hand.
@@key6723 except that you seem to be the only person who has mentioned race. I truly do not see what race has to do with this situation, despite your reply. I can't feel badly for either of them, regardless of whether they are white or not.
this is the first time he has actually looked up at anyone during a testimony. I FELT EVERY WORD. I was picturing her life becuase she was showing raw pain. & she never had a chance
I sure hope that after this testimony she got all the privacy, comfort, and rest. You can tell this was painful and I am blown away by her strength and composure. Totally impressive and she deserves all the warmth and happiness.
She's in jail for attempted murder of a police officer
Amen 🙏
@@ansnfbsknanssshshbsnsndnd5438 whatever liar!! Innocent until proven guilty.
@@foreverlove8919 ...she's literally in jail because she WAS proven guilty
@@foreverlove8919 she's been arrested 22 times. This is public information. A simple google search would prove I'm not a liar, but keep on worshipping evil people.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. There are so many people who think drugs should be legal, but apparently they are forgetting that the drug addict isn't the only person who suffers. Look at the misery Brenda caused, to her own mother, her daughter, Nikolas, and one could also say all of Nikolas' victims.
The big question is what will be larger if drugs were legalized.
The percentage of new addicts or the drop in violence.
Alcohol is legal, alcohol can damage an unborn fetus as well. So what's your point? Ban cigarettes too?
Brenda's childhood was probably horrible too. Makes you wonder what kind of a life she had growing up to cause her to become like that
🙄 When a mother is not able to be a mother, it does'nt matter if drugs are legal or illegal!
Alkohol is legal and millions of people suffer in alcohol addiction!
A stressed mother would be better with smoking little cannabis, two, three joints a day instead of drinking a bottle of wine or even harder stuff. And that's fact!
This girl is still young, her testimony tells it all. She need love and help not jail. When she does smile it is a wonderful smile. I hope someone sees this and gives her the help she needs.
I hate to judge…but she sounds a lil uneducated and unstable
She will get it in prison, or not get it!
Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman
The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020
As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb
Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges
She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender
She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
Why’d she locked up ?
@@jasmineeasmr latest offence was carjacking, she sadly has a long criminal history and 2 jail sentences
@@jasmineeasmr Read the comment above yours.
I’m not saying what he did was okay. But can you imagine feeling unloved, unwanted and being called weird by adults even and bullied all your life. Than you’re sitting there listening to your sister and hear her say that she asked Brenda “can we keep him?”. Knowing that from the moment you were born there was one person who loved you and wanted you. And after all that you’ve done, that same person who loved and wanted you, they still love you just as much. You can just see in her face and hear in her voice the love she has for him.
This entire situation has just been a complete tragedy. Sad.
I pray she finds peace and healing .
You have so much empathy. I agree with you 100% ugh it is surely tragic. She’s so sweet ♥️ I wish her nothing but a fulfilled life when she serves her time. I hope she changes her life for good ♥️
It's sad.... people can become psychopaths from a traumatic childhood
I feel sad for her but not her brother. She had the same horrible parents and she ain't go and off 17 innocent ppl because of it. No matter how bad a parent is you don't go and hurt others because of it. I would have more respect if the mother was who he offed.
@@imanimarshall3226 People have different brain functions and trauma effects everybody’s brain 🧠 different she was lucky Nick wasn’t
As a foster child,
This hurts to watch a little bit. You can tell she’s very overwhelmed
And she’s currently a prisoner. Unfortunately it’s what happens to most of us. Only a handful of us are lucky in the end
I’m so sorry:/ I have three littles right now. I pray that they will grow up to have a wonderful life. It breaks my heart that their mom deserted them:/
Her story touched me so deeply. She tried so hard to have a better life running away trying to go to school. Hanging out with neighbors who were decent. She had nothing. I could only imagine what she went through living with Brenda. How did she eat, get clean clothes, shower? Life is so unfair to some people but she’s still here fighting.
This little girl would’ve done it all herself 😢
She was pretending through it all. Google about her. She's also a criminal. These psychopaths know how to deceive.
This woman is incredibly traumatized. It's very heartbreaking.
Surprised by how much empathy I felt for Danielle. Unlike Nikolas who was adopted and had the opportunity to make something of himself, this woman didn't stand a chance. What's heartbreaking is she is repeating the same cycle with her children. I imagine her kids will grow up having that similar resentment towards her like she does to her mother.
Didn’t stand a chance? Lol maybe you were spoon fed but many people are in this same situation.
She’s doing alright now Nexus have all their backs 👍🏻
And after all she's been through she didn't just decide to ruin and destroy other people's lives like he did.
Have any of you seen what this girl has done??? Attempted felony murder, burglary, resisting arrest with violence, etc etc. It's in the DNA obviously.
@@moneymase6903 🎯 100%
This whole entire trial just shows what happens to children when they don't have positive parent figures or any love during childhood.
Absolutely ☹️
And unfortunately, those who have a positive parental figure end up getting shot at school.
i never had any positive figures in my childhood. i’ve never killed anyone
@@hello-wl7pk neither did she. Have you ever been addicted to drugs at birth?
Not all of us, but her testimony certainly Close to home, and what makes matters worse is my mothers name is Brenda and she threw me out the window like a piece of trash also. I have watched this multiple times and I cry every time I watch it.
It is so easy for others to judge this girl. I can see so much pain in her eyes. When your own mother does not love or want you it is a rejection that you never get over. I pray this wounded young lady will overcome the hurt and pain. God bless you, you will be in my prayers. 🙏❤🙏
I am South African I cant agree more she had a life no child should have had but she didnt take her anger out on innocents .....makes her a truly good human truthful and not trying to make excuses just laying it bare
@E Boston where did you read that? I was reading about her, and what I saw
is that she was in prison for carjacking a seventy two year old woman, and she was incarcerated at the time of her testimony in court. I am not saying you are wrong, I just want to know where you got the info about the attempted murders.
@eboston7591 everyone takes their anger out on people who aren't to blame, whether it be small stuff like road rage or large like this. I bet you do too. Vengeful people tend to focus on vengeful people.
Others here have suggested actually helping her.
But you are christian, thus only offers "make yourself feel good prayers". Christians pray, others do the helping of the world.
@@torehaaland6921 You have time to call us out for praying for her but you're ok with the folks calling her scum and what not. Grow up. I'll take it one more, pray for both of them. In the same prayer as all people they have broken. Pray for them all because prayer is free and what lunatic holds back something that helps when it has no cost attached? Some advice for you though. Sell your PC and send her the money since you are so concerned with material charity. For my part if I want to give to anyone it will be the survivors. But my prayer is free. I won't be stingy. Peace.
Such a beautiful girl. I hope someday she sees how precious she is. To be trapped in a childhood like that is horrendous. The system really failed to save her from her mother. I hope she finds happiness and peace because she certainly deserves both. A big hug to you darling if you read this..
Lol If you take the time to read why she’s sitting in jail right now and facing life in prison, maybe you’ll understand that what she really deserves is to pay for her violent crime.
Why didn't the father save her?
She isnt beautiful, you have VERY low standards.
was wondering why she testified? Just asking
Precious girl? She tried to kill an elderly woman and a cop.
My God. This woman is carrying so much pain. At 1st I thought she was in day 2 of withdrawals. The way she fidgeted & couldn't get comfortable, the pain in her face- I've been there & know the agony. But then I realized no, this is how she is all the time. I can't stop crying for this poor soul. You can tell she could have been a stunning young lady. She's still young, I hope something wonderful happens for her.
CPTSD amongst other psychological diagnoses like anxiety or ADHD can cause fidgeting and being hyperalert can make you jumpy. She definitely suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder at the least..
I feel for her. My parents were abusive. I have no relationship with them. I was addicted to heroin and in and out of jail, then got sentenced to 3 years. Your parents really do make a difference. And if convicted it’s automatic life for her. She deserved wayyy better. ❤️❤️
🤍
Happy your doing better. Stay strong stay positive, stay blessed.
I can 💯 relate friend. 🥺
i was the oldest of eleven kids and mutable step fathers and plenty of abuse ,at home and at school
@@OfficialLiLMicK Aw thank you. I appreciate it. Yea I’m doing a lot better actually. I’m just at the end of becoming a registered nurse actually.
I cried all the way through her testimony, so heartbreaking.
If I had the money, I would try to find her and give her a home and love that she so deserves.
Bless her heart.
You're a beautiful soul 🥰
@@annie-ds4zs 😊❤️
She has a home now.... jail😟
@@christopherhall6471why??
@@christopherhall6471 💩👎
This woman has a story to tell. We need to pray for her
You are right and she needs professional help that most governments do not give and like here in Canada it is a revolving door for people that have entered the system. More money needs to be put into psychiatric help! I will pray for her and her getting the help she does need!
Her victims need prayer, not she.
And for her sake , i feel like we need to learn how to forgive and have a heart for her brother too
@@STCatchMeTRACjRo that’s not how prayer works
@Boston Gal The same forgiveness and mercy you would want God to give you you need to give to others. It’s not only for them but for healing. Hell is a hot place. Even if you dont believe in it, it exist. God said why should he forgive you if you cannot forgive others of their trespasses.
The love in her eyes as she speaks about her younger brother. What a tragedy.
She never knew him. You are being fooled. And the jury has five women. This is why women should be excluded from juries. Sadly, Florida was tricked into making jury death sentences unanimous. Before 2016, a mere majority was enough. Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
It’s cray…but I bet you his biological side is probably super religious and uneducated!
8:41 is so sad.
Does anyone else feel like they want to give this poor woman a hug? Ugh heart breaking.
Nope
Absolutely I do. I feel so sad for her.
No
@Angel B Not everyone can feel empathy, doesn't make them evil.
@Angel B maybe bonnies mom was like "brenda" hahaha
My god my heart absolutely aches for this girl. She’s a few years younger than me but I wish I could go back in time and help her - this is gut wrenching. Her sadness is tangible.
His sister is just absolutely heartbreaking. I'm wishing I had the power to go back in time and fix everything for her and her family. How incredibly sad.
I feel the exact same way! So heartbreaking 💔
It's crazy seeing the prosecution try to make it seem like she was a grown adult who was not influenced by her environment, as a minor, just to detach the notion that Cruz was raised around people who were severely unstable. A tactic to make sure he gets the death penalty or the worst punishment. Which I am not here to decide on what he deserves for his actions, but I don't like seeing the prosecution utilizing such methods to get there. Punish him however you see fit, but I do think that even if he did not have contact with his mother or sister, it is still a variable in this terrible outcome. Just because something is not present to you, it does not mean that thing has no influence on you. Case 1, lack of water, what happens to you? The water did not touch you and it is nowhere near you, but still, it has an influence on your life.
There’s probably another family just like this one down the street. It’s not too late to help them.
My heart is broken for this young woman. As a child and a young girl, she must have seen and experienced the worst of humanity. She deserved a better life than what her family was able to give her.
Why was she in jail??
When she said, "Can we keep him?" Omg .This is the saddest thing ever ..
This is the ONLY and I mean ONLY person I’ve seen this trial where her saying she loves him is absolutely valid. Any one of you would say the same about somebody that was either a brother/sister or a friend that you deeply consider family more than your own. I’ll keep my prayers for you . God bless your soul , I know it’s not easy growing up with no direction , I’m 21 and am in the same boat. I hope you have an amazing life
Don’t say any one of you because you don’t know everyone
@@Plplj164 i don't have to know a single damn person , if your a sympathizer with this monster I have no respect and all disgust for you. I don't have to know anyone to know that . Like I said before, she is the only person that is allowed to feel that way with complete understanding of why. Your about 10 months late to the party , I really don't know why you would even bother to say something as absurd and bogus as that.
I’m in tears listening to all this. What a horrible childhood. And yet she is trying to save her brother.
@Boston Gal shut up troll. You're on everyone's comments
@Boston Gal shutup stop saying the same thing under every comment
@Boston Gal and?
@Boston Gal I don't think that's how it works.
@Boston Gal they’re biological half siblings..
So sad for this young woman. And all the kids whose parents failed them. I hope she can find her way.
She carjacked a vehicle from a 72 year old woman. The woman received injuries.
@@Yyyyyy5 I agree I can’t believe people don’t see the guard behind her and jump suit next to her
A little late for that. She chose a life of crime and will spend her life in prison.
@@Yyyyyy5 yeah. Interesting that so many people in the comments here conveniently forget that. I 'll bet that 74 year old woman ( I think) is traumatized for the rest of her life.
@@ActiveAussie2024 yeah you never know. Some people are traumatized for life and others can move on from events and choose not to be victims so I sympathize with both. However the school shooting event was so horrific I’d say most everyone involved would be traumatized for life and that is not fair. It’s a sad situation.
You can feel her trauma... and you can see how she still loves her brother. She probably remembers him as the baby she held. Just examine the way she keeps looking at him. I'm sure she knows what he did was horrible but I bet she wonders and feels guilty of the what if... what if she could have been the good influence in his life... what if they all had better support systems. This is all messed up. I feel bad for her. Now she's stuck in the cycle of crime..
This was such a heart wrenching deposition to listen to. No human being especially a child should have to go through this. Children are precious gifts and should be treated as such.
The only time I have seen a single spec of compassion from Nicholas was when he looked at his sister for a second as she talked about her mom drinking
Only time I’ve really seen him interested in what’s being said on the stand
Timestamp?
Probably because he was intrigued to hear about his birth mother and where he came from
Having to watch her relive the horror and sadness of her childhood is heartbreaking. Ripping the scabs off of things that she barely put away in her consciousness. I don’t forgive Nicholas for what he did but it makes all too clear how trauma can push a human being to such angry lengths isn’t a far stretch. There has been addiction in my family and it shredded us to bits Death, trauma, separation. There are innumerable victims who suffer a LIFETIME….
Well said.
There are consequences Nicholas will face so forgiveness cost nothing. 💪🏿💪🏿🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
This girl has lived through things that most of us will never experience. This explains so much and my heart breaks for this family and all the families in this community. It’s something that should’ve never happened, and the home life this woman described is not one any child should have to live through.
Once you're 18 you can join the military and escape from your evil parents! There is always a choice in life!
@@stardustgirl2904 ur comment is a fkin joke
@@heavenlyspring47 You always have a choice between Good and Evil!
Failed by her mother, failed by her schools, failed by society. She was failed on every side. This poor soul. Jeez
nikolas is an autism childNikolas will never be alone because God already forgives him. It hurts who hurts. It is the truth because the police are to blame for everything.hypocritical gun control you are murderers
This is heartbreaking. I hope she and her children are able to find her way out of the life of destruction that she was born into. This whole story is beyond tragic.
She will be able to do that with her life sentence...
Danielle Woodard, the daughter of Nikolas Cruz's biological mom Brenda Woodard, faces life in prison for targeting an elderly woman
The 34-year-old allegedly jumped into the 72-year-old victim's Honda while she donated items at a Goodwill trailer in January 2020
As Danielle tried to drive away, the elderly woman climbed back into the passenger seat but was hurled from the car as it slammed into a curb
Danielle, a mother-of-two, was arrested on felony carjacking and aggravated battery charges
She has an extensive rap sheet, including 22 arrests and 16 felony convictions, and is classified as a habitual violent offender
She faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted next month
How many children did she have?
@@paulconnelly6560 wowzer....the results of a demon mother
@@paulconnelly6560 Yikes! Thanks for that info. She’s disgusting!
@@paulconnelly6560 so that’s why she had to testify with a deputy behind her. Jesus God. Neither one of them escaped the horrible decisions that their mother made.
He confessed to the killings. He also asked the families to decide his fate. The defense is laying the grounds for life and not death. All are just doing their jobs.
The families want him dead and he wants to live. Sadly, Florida was tricked into making jury death sentences unanimous. Before 2016, a mere majority was enough. Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
In a way I feel like he should live out his life locked up for what he did. Death seems like the easy way out to me. I feel bad for him that he’s so F’d up because of what his Mom was doing while carrying him. Not saying I feel worse for him than I do for the people who lost their lives or their loved ones though. Those loved were cut too short!
Hurry up and give him a extra dose of potassium chloride.
her testimony is very powerful. you can feel her exhaustion from the pain and difficulty of her life.
I went to a school for kids with emotional and behavioral issues. Her story is the same
as many of my classmates, the difference being by the time they were in the school, there had been some sort of intervention to help get them out of their horrible living situations. That school really helped to save many of our lives, the sad part being there were only ab 60 of us total and couldn’t accommodate more- part of the reason the school was so successful was bc it was small enough so we couldn’t fall into the cracks, there were three clinicians and we each were assigned to one of the three, there was the ability for each teacher to get to know each kid and try to help w our individual needs/issues.
Breaks my heart seeing this, knowing that there are places out there to help kids in these horrible scenarios, but there aren’t nearly enough of them, not enough funding available, etc. & it comes down to a lot of luck whether a kid gets these services.
While the self righteous males shout pro-life.
My heart breaks for her and any child in a similar situation… and as insignificant as it may sound, hearing her say she couldn’t find her cat made me so sad. As a little girl, my cat was such a source of happiness and comfort for me in scary times. Ugh. She deserved so much more 😔
That really got to me, too. All the losses and abuses this poor woman went through breaks my heart.
she is a criminal, you should focus more on the poor victims of hers. She already has 16 felonies and is facing a life behind bars.
@@STCatchMeTRACjRo With the kind of upbringing she had she didn't stand a chance of living a normal life. She is a product of her upbringing. She deserves some compassion.
@@1974AMDG compassion? she is a career criminal regardless of her sad sobbing past. She choose to become the person she is instead of fighting it. The only people that deserve compassion are her victims. What she deserves is a life behind bars to think about the crimes and suffering she brought up to others. People like her dont need to walk ever free on the streets as all they do is re-offend and cause trauma to the innocent.
@@STCatchMeTRACjRo compassion is necessary for change. I’ve seen career criminals change. Change is possible, and could happen at any point as long as a person is alive, it is on them but it is not impossible to achieve.
This is probably the most Nikolas has ever heard about his blood family. You can see his fascination. At the end of the day, none if this excuses what he did. Its all unfortunate but no excuse. Do u know how many children grew up with alcoholic and drug addicted parents? Countless.
Bro how someone’s mental state can affect ur decision is something nobody who’s dealt with that can tell
There s a lot of psychology damage done to these kids
Some fought it he just cudnt and it’s really reallyyyyy sad to see what they have put him through for him to dowhat he has
@@dontnot56363 that doesn't change the fact that he should pay the ultimate price for his actions. He took 17 lives and there isn't an excuse in the world that should give him any leniency. He was adopted, raised by a family that did everything they could to help him...he didn't grow up with years and years of abuse and he absolutely has enough wherewithal to know right from wrong. This country needs to stop sending the message that someone with trauma or past issues don't have to be held to the same standards as everyone else...especially if they have the intelligence to know right from wrong. There is absolutely no reason to keep this person alive for the next 50 yrs. He doesn't deserve it.
@@Lonesome__Dove I’d be extremely interested in how he actually grew up though. I wonder if he ever got help for his mental illness. Clearly he didn’t . Adoption doesn’t make you automatically have rich parents. There are a lot of disgusting parents that have adopted just too abuse that kid. Lots of human trafficking stories I’ve seen through my life from adoptive parents. Not excusing anything that he did at all. But no one kills that many people if they are sane. Just saying.
@@nicolelitwicki6600 they documented all the times his family sought help. Its been brought up numerous times throughout this trial. Lots of documentation and even testimony from his psychologist.
Alcohol and drugs are forbidden in Islam. There is a reason. It destroys societies. I am happy I was raised in a stable society and family. And I feel very sad for the moral and societal downfall of the West, it is truly tragic, I sometimes read its history and a lot of things were better back in the days. Technological and economic advancement doesn't equal stability and human advancement.
Every kid from stable supporting family who gets offended and upset at the slightest things parents don't do as per their wishes should watch this testimony. It's a learning for any kid with great supporting parents to know how blessed they are.
Nah.
@@controlman7490 They have a point
@@GrinGrim87 Nah.
@@controlman7490 you based af
100% my heart broke watching this ❤️
The way she’s so nervous and anxious is so heart breaking 💔🥺.
The way she's so nervous and anxious is so
heart breaking 💔🥺
She clearly loves her brother, she can't take her eyes him. My heart goes out to her. The story of her life is heartbreaking.
You do know why she is handcuffs yeah?
@@Carzpress because the story of her life is heartbreaking
@Boston Gal You do realize you don’t have to grow up with someone to love them you can love someone from the moment you meet them you may not experience that but certainly a lot of people go through that at some point in their life
@@Little_minnie530 You guys are pathetic. She's talking about her own life which Nick never lived since he was adopted. And she never saw him before today. 🔔 Sadly, Florida was tricked into making jury death sentences unanimous. Before 2016, a mere majority was enough. Nick grew up in a loving home with adoptive parents. Not with his biological mother. Her testimony is irrelevant. I can't believe you guys are falling for this.
Def . I guess she always wonder what happened to her little brother .. feeling guilty she couldn’t take care of him … it was a little happiness in her young years .. maybe a way to look forward of life 🤷♀️
I grew up with a friend who was adopted, he was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and to drugs his mother abused during her pregnancy. He had extreme mental health issues and prone to aggressive behaviors. Despite his loving adoptive family he could not overcome the hand he was dealt in the womb. He committed suicide in his 20's. Nicholas Cruz's adopted family perhaps did the best they could and this tragedy of all of these children's lives lost stem , to me in my opinion, from Cruz's brain damage from his mother's addiction. However, It's to the courts to decide his fate ultimately. We need better metal health care and oversite for drug addicted babies in this country. They are often born wired wrong and broken for life.
Omgoodness! Our last name is Jensen and we almost named our daughter Jocelyn, but ended up going with Clare. When I saw your name I was like OMG 😁
Yep, and instead of providing ways to get help or places to go to get off drugs, we supply narcan.
they don't have mental health issues in the sense that they can be fixed. They have irreversible brain damage, end of story. They can only be taught to regulate themselves. They are screwed from birth.
There is actually a book called Fatal Link that correlates fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with school shooters. The author writes about there being a connection between fasd and murderers/school shooters/pedophiles
Then these irresponsible women shouldn't have babies. Irresponsible Pple should not have babies.
This is why foster care needs to change. They take these sweet children and “reunify” them with their abusive “parents” instead of letting them go to,permanent homes where they can be protected and start their life over. I am crying for her
After reading these comments it makes me feel really good that there are people out there who only have love in their heart. This whole testimony was so sad, I'm sure there are a lot of people that could identify with that situation right now. It would be awesome to have her tell her story to high school seniors or just on a public forum. Maybe her story could save a lot of lives, we really don't know this is not the way life is supposed to be if that's all we've lived or ever known! God Bless!!✨❤️💯🙏
After reading the comments I realized how naïve people are. She is in prison on her 17th felony! She is now facing 15 years to life for carjacking a woman in her mid 70s.
@@dopecat15 if anything it just shows how much more of an influence parents and the children’s environment can affect people and their future and path in life
I felt this young lady’s every word and it broke my heart! Just imagine you living the words she said about her life with that monster of a mom , ( and I know we’re missing so so much more of her life and what she endured ) , and it’s All so heartbreaking so scary so sad… I wish her a better life, she’s still young to change and a happy healthy one… ❣️🙏🏽❣️
Lol you obviously have no clue why she’s facing life in prison right now.
I couldn't help but feel sad for her, brought tears to my eyes. I grew up in foster care, and it's hard not to have empathy for her. Sad we don't get to choose who brings us into this world. My heart literally ached for her, you can just see the pain in her facial expressions. Such a sad situation all around.
This innocent child was the product of a mother who only cared about her addiction. How sad this story of horrific trauma is. Now she has 16 felonies charged and is in detention. Heartbreaking. She never stood a chance.
This woman's testimony is so heartbreaking. She is very engaging. Such powerful, raw emotions.
She was pretending the whole time. She's probably a Sociopath or a Psychopath. She's back in jail again (2024). Google about her.
These people are natural-born deceivers.
She was trying to save him when is born and she is triying to save him now …. Is so sad all these situation a lot of innocent people involved
@Boston Gal she thought and asked to keep him but then thought he would have a better life with another family. If that's not trying to help, being only a child, what else could she do?
@@iimladris well said!!
My heart breaks for this woman, not for HIM, but for her, my heart breaks like it does for the victims of this tragedy.
For all children. When they are little, they have absolutely no power to change their messed up circumstances. None. And when I say little, I mean say, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Too little to physically stop or make a grown up do a thing. Sad.
My heart breaks for the helpless younger child version of him, just like it breaks for his siblings, but my heart no longer breaks for the person he grew up to be. How any “mother” can do this to her own children is beyond me. So sad. God bless his sister. I pray she finds the healing, strength, willpower and determination needed to make a permanent change in her life for the better, so that she can experience the kind of genuine happiness in life that she truly deserves but was never shown.
Breaks like this but not like that but like a clean break that leaves 2 half heart shaped pieced right
He didn’t deserve the death penalty. I know it seems crazy but he was sooo messed up from that psycho mom. Most of us cant imagine having ZERO love from your bio mom. If he came from a perfect normal household and then did this, yeah death penalty all day. But this testimony is what gave him life sentence
I feel very sorry for him. We all make choices but you can tell he's mentally damaged by his reactions in court.
My heart breaks for this girl. In the way that she would stare at Nikolas like she adores him. If he hadn't been given up for adoption, Danielle would have 100% been the perfect big sister for him
A criminal?
@@boomds5602 yeah I dont think she would have turned into a criminal if she'd had Nik to take care of. There are plenty of families out there where siblings have to rely on each other cause their parents can't or won't do it. I feel like if they'd had each other growing up, they wouldn't be in these situations now
Oh brother. She is also a criminal.
You live in fantasy land.
@@notcherbidness501 I think what the commenter means is that she might have had a better chance. Nikolas would have been something to ground her, something to fight for. She definitely would have been parentified which is an abuse in and of itself. Her brother could have been another source of happiness, love, and a motivation, something she desperately needed when she was young. They both have been damaged and hurt by their mother and her inability to fight her addiction. They did not come out well at all and in the end everyone lost
After watching a lot of the videos from this trail it’s really showed me the overall importance of love especially in the life of children. Each video regarding this case just gets worse and worse and while there in no excuse for that he did you can see the events that led to this. Brenda was a terrible person and the shockwaves from her choices are effecting many lives and will continue to do so for many years. My heart goes out to every single person that will have to suffer from these tragedies. The world needs more love.