Cops Think Step-Mom Killed Dad - Until 6YO Reveals This Clue | The Case of the Oxley Family
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
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“It was like making a deal with the devil”
At 3:30 am on February 21st 2008, Melissa Oxley frantically calls 911 from her bedroom. She’s just woken up next to the dead body of her husband, Ben, who’s been murdered with a shotgun in his sleep. She hides with her 6-year-old stepdaughter, Alyssa, pleading with dispatchers to hurry, since she can hear footsteps downstairs, but when police arrive, there’s no intruder found. As all clues point to Melissa, Ben’s daughter, 6 YO Alyssa, breaks her silence: she was the only one awake in the house, and what she saw that night will take the investigation in a whole different direction.
Directing, writing & editing by Matthew Rice
Research by Tianyi Zhang
Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader
Voiceover by William Akana
Sources:
Dateline NBC - While They Were Sleeping 2019
Discovery Plus - Does murder sleep - S01E01 Deadly awakening
Oxygen - Killer Motive: S2E7 Waking nightmare
Apple TV - In Plain Sight : Family Nightmare
Interrogation Footage:
Law & Crime Network - She Woke Up Covered in Her Husband’s Blood
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Thank u for making a new video
If the family had Raycon hearing aides they might have heard the SHOTGUN BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bruh do the GODDAMN ads at the beginning so we can skip it!!!
If YTers had Raycon Shades on, they might get the dark humor you're putting out.
Thank you especially to the subscribers who made me and thank you for what you do .
Edited : Yes !!! I did subscribe all the way from the wettest place on earth.
The son who came forward is an incredible person too! It couldn't have been easy for him to turn in and testify against his mother like that.
seriously. think about how terrible of a mother she must have been to that poor kid. he must have known the whole time that his little sister did not belong in his mother's household. what an insane thing for a person's child to have to grapple with! hope he's doing well in life, he deserves it.
Agreed. She is a monster killing a loving father. Taking away her own child's stability and love. Because she didn't want to pay a lousy 200 bucks! Why didn't she just give up all her parental rights? She should have gotten life!!! My father was much. So I know how that made me feel 😢
@@RoseBud76 Bc some people can't stand others to be happy. She was narcissistic person who wanted her daughter back just to hurt him and not bc she loved her own daughter. How many lives she destroyed? Not only Ben's but his wife, all her children and also that young guy who killed him for her (I don't excuse him but still).
Yes, absolut. Thanky you Devin, great Job. Melissa and Alyssa, that s so heartbreaking and painfull.I m happy to see that both of them are full of love and living their life. Ben is unforgotten.
Yes. I only wish that he could have stopped them. At least stepped up and told the police immediately.
That’s not a step mom- that’s a true mom. An Angel on earth to those kids. Praying for them.
I agree. She deserves an award for best mother because that's what she is.
💯%,‼️
Amen
She is her stepmother. Stepmother means non-biological mother. Are you under the impression that stepmother means something else?
Well, she is the step-mother. However, I suppose she's the one her adopted children call "mom". Not the biological mother, who is an utter monster and deserves (at least) to spend the rest of her life in jail. Heck, I don't give a damn what drove her down the path of substance abuse and crime, even if she was a victim herself, it doesn't pardon what she did the tiniest bit.
This wife is an angel, the daughter is wise and kind beyond her years. Justice was served.
Ben, i hope you rest peacfully now that you see what true love within people is.
at least he left his girl in safe hands before he go
Justice was NOT served! That lady deserved life in jail too!
@@lyriktehuti Huh??
@@Sunni_05 The lady who set it up should’ve went to jail. What about that makes you go “huh”?
@@Sunni_05 The ex deserves life behind bars, as she started this all - that's what Lyrik meant.
The wife who supported her step child AND her siblings not related to her? ANGEL on earth
Uh no.
I called her an angel too... she was chose by him bc he unconsciously knew he needed to save his child from her mother and his life was not destined to live... amazing
I agree. When I heard that she took on both kids... I started crying. What a beautiful soul she is!
Love should not be for relatives alone.....
@@ns4725 umm yes she loved her STEP-CHILD even though in thos stories the step parent is always evil , she is an amazing angel
Melissa is an amazing person for adopting all these kids and actually caring for them
She should leave that town, it's full of evil people who judged her unfairly, and allowed their children to viciously bully a suffering little girl.
@@TheAstroflightto be fair, if you were told he was shot by a shot gun and the wife slept right through it and didn’t see anything you wouldn’t believe her either. Shot guns are very loud! We only believe it now because we know the whole story.
@@bonsaibaby8257 She could probably sleep through a tornado and earthquake too. I'm guessing she has a medical condition and chose to just live with it, never got diagnosed. That was a shame because a recorded diagnosis would have immediately exonerated her from suspicion.
When I was younger I had an incident. I awoke normally at 07:00 on a Tuesday morning, went to work, came back to base, and couldn't sleep that night. Wednesday was the same, no tiredness, no sleep. Thursday was a repeat. I finished work early on Friday and at 16:00 felt a little drowsy so thought I would take a nap before going to the mess hall for dinner. I fell asleep and woke up at 07:00 Monday morning, just in time to go back to work.
All I thought was "Well, that was an interesting week". I did not go to the doctor to talk about it, because frankly most military doctors are 100% incompetent *but* obviously something went temporarily wrong with the sleep center of my brain. It never happened again so I never got a diagnosis.
That lady has a medical condition that she never got diagnosed. She should get a diagnosis because it is potentially dangerous. I hope she she at least does have a formal medical diagnosis now for her ongoing condition.
@bonsaibaby8257 Maybe there are medical records showing she is a heavy sleeper. Or they could do a sleep study. Some people can sleep through anything, it's just how they are.
@@TheAstroflight but now that the truth is revealed I believe they would realize their judgements were impulsive and make them regret it
I sobbed my heat out seeing Melissa being interviewed by police the first time. What a horrific time for her and her daughter. Alyssa was a very lucky little girl to have her as her mother. I hope they both have a wonderful life .
Her cries in that interview were authentic. Amazes me how folks can’t see or feel that at the time.
I bawled my eyes out watching this. Melissa is the most beautiful mother on earth for taking in those beautiful girls as her own ❤😭😭❤ you never hear about that anymore sadly most times it's the opposite
Wow. He chose well when he picked Melissa.
My first thought. She is doing him proud.
Definitely a wonderful woman! I can't say I would have believed her story and her not hearing a shotgun blast going off and killing the man laying right next to her. It really does sound unbelievable! I'm so glad that little girl saw someone and was brave enough to tell authorities! She saved her mom's life! Not step mom...true mom!
@@elizabethd8147 I know someone who sleeps like a log through horrible noise..
She would have blood on her. She's in the same bed. The blast would of woke her up. She may of not heard them come in bc she's a deep sleeper
@@heavenleigh5653 She HAD blood on her. Did you even watch the video?
How traumatic would it be to wake up and see the horrific sight of your loved one in that state and then be intensly interrogated as a suspect.
😢
Praying for healing. God bless u Melissa and Alyssa. You r truly an angel that God has sent to this lovely childrean and you r still is.
Would be very traumatic.. but it’s definitely suspicious to not hear a shotgun going off, so I see why she was intensely interrogated.
@@jrod1591 Some people are heavy sleepers, but yeah. It's better to not leave a stone unturned.
@@jrod1591yup
The fact that a ten year old went out of her way to tell her father‘s murderer that she forgave him and wants him to have hope shows so much about her as a person
I felt like there was something heavenly at play when he couldn't bring himself to murder Melissa as well... Like a turning point that lead to this unexpected forgiveness later on. Amazing little girl!
It says a lot about her biological mother too, that she found in her heart to forgive the guy but not her mother.
It's also a testament to how well she was raised by her Dad and Melissa. They clearly instilled good values in her.
What an amazingly strong, wise and kind young lady Alyssa is.
Finally, a stepmother who isn't evil and loves her stepchild as her own. There are way too many cases of horrible stepmothers (and stepfathers) abusing or even killing their step kids. So, for Melissa to not only love and care for Alyssa unconditionally, but to also take in her sister as her own is truly incredible. Mellisa if you are reading this, you gave me hope in this cruel world. God bless you and your daughters.
Human History is about insane cruelty.
"finally", say like u have never seen one or u just think every step-mother is evil unless they proved theyre not💀💀💀💀
@ Of course I don’t think that all stepmothers are evil but this is one of the few cases that I have seen where the stepmother actually cares and doesn’t abuse their stepchild. (Trigger Warning) Emani Moss, Sayra Tavares, Gannon Stauch, Elwyn Crocker Jr. and Mary Crocker, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Eduardo Posso are unfortunately some of the many cases of children abused to death by their step mother. May all these children rest in peace.
We stepmoms get a bad rap. I blame Disney movies. Many of us are loving parents who love our bonus kids the same as we love our biological children. It's the rest of the world who gives us grief about loving and taking care of our kids!
I'm a step mom too & I consider them my bio kids.
Melissa taking two children in as her own is just so sweet and heartwarming.
They ungrateful kids want their parents and will misplace anger from the biological parents to the guardian
@@summerdior459Please go and heal. This isn't about you.
@@summerdior459 that's harsh. They are kids. If they're brainwashed by family members against Melissa you can hardly blame the children
@@summerdior459 I guess someone pissed in your morning coffee 😆
@@summerdior459do you know them?
There are so many stories about wicked step-mothers that it's really refreshing to hear this story about a loving step-mother who became the 'real' mother. Thank God that little girl was awake that night because if she had not told her story, her step-mother MIGHT have been sentenced to prison for a crime she didn't commit.
Good step-parents are normal, evil ones just make the news.
Thankfully the teenage brother of Alyssa came forward to tell about the bio mom wanting her ex dead. This case was crazy. Leaving Melissa alive to potentially face the murder charges was likely unintentional (they said the killer bf hesitated and left after the first shot). My question is did they test Melissa for gunshot residue like they did her brother (not the teenage son of Dawn, the other teen shown) who was living in the home and owned shotguns?
Maybe in America @@HulklingsBoyfriend
How that poor baby ended up in the care of her biological mother despite her dad having full custody and Melissa being a legal guardian has me shocked and confused! That woman had a wrap sheet and you’re gonna give that baby back? The legal system fails children every day!
She lost her dad and her adopted/real mom.
The cops told the custody judge melissa was the number one suspect a d some of bens family had turned on her..
Every fucking day.
Why not give the child to Ben's family if the stepmom was a suspect? I don't understand their logic.
@ Truthfully, they have no logic. I’m serious. I’ve dealt with these people on a personal basis. Kids falter, die, etc. due to their incompetence, lack of caring.
My husband sleeps that hard. He's slept through tornado sirens, gunfire, smoke detector going off, and even once our dog literally dragged him off the couch by his pants leg and across the living room floor trying to get him to let him outside and he didn't wake up. Dude doesn't sleep, he comas. It's honestly a constant fear that he'll be home alone and if there's a fire or something he won't wake up to save himself. (I work nights a lot)
I'm glad they found her innocent. Tbh, it would've been pretty obvious if they had a halfway competent blood spatter expert. The blood on her is going to be different if she's laying in bed asleep vs if she was the one standing over him with a gun.
I was screaming same
Yeah that’s a good point. The blood splatter would definitely be different but I still can’t imagine a shot gun going off feet beside you and not waking up. That blows my mind. I feel like I am misunderstanding
I've noticed with these types of videos that they don't use the actual time line of events. It makes it more suspensful but in this case, they didn't seem to have it together with the blood spatter. I agree.
I mean, the obvious suspect is the ex. At least top two with the recent custody battle. Blood spatter could have ruled out Melissa pretty quickly and decisively (i say confidently with zero blood spatter knowledge or expertise)
I personally think she should have been placed in foster care temporarily until someone was ruled out absolutely.
They actually put her with the murderer, and she was a witness. Thank God the mother didn't think to kill the only witness who saw her enter the home. They served that child to her on a platter.
@@Anthony-oo7vs I have slept through a tornado pulling the glass clean out of my bedroom windows and the wind tearing through the house creating a mess and breaking shit for over 30 minutes. I fully believe I could sleep through a gunshot
@@Anthony-oo7vs Honestly, if I didn't have my husband as a reference of somebody who literally sleeps that hard, I wouldn't believe it, either. He blames it on being in the infantry and literally having to sleep through live-fire exercises when he was in Afghanistan, so I guess it makes sense, but him sleeping through stuff like tornado sirens and the smoke detector going off do seriously worry me when he's home alone.
I have literally yelled out to my parents before and it took them 10 minutes of me screaming at the top of my lungs for them to wake up. Security alarms woke up the entire neighborhood but I’ve slept through them before, and I was shocked when my family told me I slept through alarms so loud in the middle of night. Really not that surprising. None of us have sleep disorders, but exhaustion takes a toll on the body.
Melissa is truly an awesome human being. She loved Alyssa and even took in Alyssa’s half sister. If Dawn loves her daughters she should be grateful and thankful to Melissa.
To me Alyssa looks more like Melissa than her bio mom Dawn.
The fact that Alyssa forgave the killer and told that person to have hope was amazing. It just shows what a great dad and stepmom can do for a child.
May their little family have love, peace, hope and kindness always.
I know this is a really old episode because I saw it years ago on cable tv. I hope their little family is still thriving.
i think the girls look nothing like their bio mom because the mom clearly had issues and these young girls have a way brighter outlook, theyre nothing like their bio mom
Lĺo
I actually notice they look way similar to each other than the bio mom as well. I was only looking occasionally and when I looked at the picture of the step mom and Alyssa I assumed it was the bio mom because of how similar they look.
Her forgiveness was savage. That dude will forever be tortured by that sweet voice forgiving him for killing her daddy.
It said 2012 on the bottom and she was 10 then, so I'm guessing she'd be about 21 or 22 today
I have narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. Loud noise & movement don't wake me. I immediately knew that Alyssa's story was possibly legit. She's an incredible person♡♡
Yeah i dont have narcolepsy, but sometimes sleep as deep as a rock. As a child(4-6) my parents had to carry me two times out of the 5 story Appartment Building from the 4. floor. Once after an Natural Gas Explosion in the neighbour Building and once during a pretty strong earthquake. I didnt awake from the Sound OR the movement. And Once used my 500W Giant Stereo as a Alarmclock with hardcore metall (even the Door to my then room was shaking), slept 1,5m afar. I did NOT hear it, the neighbours woke my grandma at 5am and she had to PERSONALY Wake me up. I would hope i would wake up in this Situation, but i cant put my hand in the fire for it.
@@iwh7 I remember the story of my uncle who slept like a rock. A three-story tenement across the street burned down one night. He slept through all the activity, all the smells and the noise from all the fire trucks. He woke up the next morning, walked downstairs and realized the building across the street was gone and there were people cleaning up the place.
I sleep so deep that I’ve slept through a tornado, hurricanes, trains and all sorts of loud noise. Not many things can wake me up. I’ve have had folks tell me O sleep like the dead. There’s a few things that can wake me, my children saying my name, my grandbabies, a ringtone I have set for my kids dad and the fire alarm. Everything else, I sleep through it. There’s times it’s sucked and all
Other it’s great because I sleep soundly.
I find it surprising anyone can sleep through a shotgun blast but I certainly believe it. I have heard that some people can sleep through a smoke alarm so I encourage deep sleepers to get one that also has a bright strobe as well as I have read that and the sound is more likely to wake a deep sleeper.
@@craigp3160 My son is deaf. We installed a "bed thumper" activated by a fire alarm. If any fire alarm in the house activates, the strobe light in his room goes off and the bed thumper shakes the bed to wake him up. It also is used as an alarm clock.
The sweet kinded hearted person that Alyssa is, tells how she has been lovingly cared for by Melissa all that while... Melissa is an angel...
The emotional maturity of a literal child, to forgive her father's killer is unimaginable and speaks to how she had nothing but kindness towards everyone, even those that don't deserve it.
Its not emotional maturity, its obliviousness
Right- at 10, there is NO Reason to ask to speak to the killer and “ grant forgiveness “ unless she was directed to do so. Some things are unforgivable- this is definitely one.
Whoever influenced her to speak to the killer is clueless and VERY lucky he didn’t lash out at the kid he probably resented for sending him to prison. He repeatedly offered to kill an innocent man so casually- why imagine anything some little girl says will have ANY impact besides aggravating him?
Probably watching too much Oprah, forgiving that POS no way.
It speaks volumes to how Melissa is raising her. She is such an amazing woman! Those 2 girls are so blessed to have her!!
This little girl's real mother, who i refuse to call a stepmother, is the real reason why this little girl is so resilient and loving and brave. It always crushes me when a true loving wonderful father is murdered or dies too young, because those types of fathers are so rare.
@annerison-g2w; YES! And happy marriages are definitely not the norm, and so often, exactly when a marriage is truly happy, one of the partners gets killed. It really sucks!
Right,exactly my thoughts she's the mother of those two girls now,,a remarkable woman and that brave little girl is awesome blessings to this family❤
Stepmom isnt a bad word. I have an amazing stepmom who I love dearly.
My ex of our child was plotting to have me killed cause I was going for custody. This was crazy for the fact I had our son 95% of the time. Her friend came to my house to tell me. Short story she didn’t go to jail and the cops didn’t do their job very well. Cause I found the guy she asked and he confessed to me that she asked him. I warned him to stay away. But good thing is I got custody of my son and have been raising him on my own and stayed single. Love being a father. Ppl that are not in their children’s life are missing out!
How do you sleep next to someone and no hear them get shot? Huh but ok
What a beautiful soul she had. They aren't even her daughters. Its sad that He leave this world but her love proven unconditional. God Bless her and her family.
I'm speechless how the bio mom got away with premeditated murder. She might not have pulled the trigger but she was the instigator behind it and she was in the house and drove the get away car. Had it not been for her he would still be alive. I doubt the State would have had a hard time getting a jury to convict both of them. Bless the Stepmom for being an absolute angel. Wishing them the best.
I agree, both of them are killers and both should be charged and convicted for the same thing.
Yeah, I don't get that at all. 🤔
@@mrzabie0138 I was poking into it and found that the timeline and motives presented here are a little screwy.
Dawn went to the police first pointing the finger at James. Dawn's son, Devin, then went to the police with a story that sort of implicated Dawn, but not really directly. With a lack of any real evidence against her, the police then offered Dawn an immunity deal to testify fully against James.
It was only after James found out that Dawn was going to testify against him, that he revealed his side of the story and told them how involved she was. By this point she already had immunity. Even if he was telling the truth, which he might not have been, it was just too late to do anything about it.
Female privilege. And you'd be amazed, juries, judges, and prosecutors often feel sorry for women when they commit crimes. It's a biological impulse
Do you really not know how women get away with a lot because, woman?
This is a well documented phenomenon that females are charged less, convicted less, and serve less, than men.
I am so sorry for the loss of this wonderful father. The relationship between the stepmother and daughter is truly beautiful. I'm so glad they have each other.
I honestly think Melissa & Alyssa are very lucky to be alive. Alyssa's mother's boyfriend would have certainly been left alone & allowed to do whatever he wanted to Alyssa had he & Dawn not been convicted. God bless Melissa & both girls
This is just crappy investigating by the cops. How stupid could they be? The ex wife would be suspect no.1. C'mon man.
Just listening to the cops, you can see how stupid they are. These cops couldn't find their dongs with a pair of tongs.
Heart wrenching... God bless the son for telling the truth about his mom. I wish the best for the surviving wife and step-daughters.
He really found his daughter the perfect mom, she fought for her step daughter even while being accused of murder. RIP BROTHER! Cudos to the young man for reporting his own mother ! He did the right thing and his two sisters have better lives because of it !
" I wanted to tell him I forgive him and to have hope." This is the true embodiment of Grace and what is good in this world. What an amazing little girl, with a strong and determined " Mom". I wish them all the best.
I literally cried. The heart of God in a little girl. ❤
Sad thing is allso that he would have not killed anyone if that "biological mother" would have not groomed him to kill them both. She would have tried something else if he had not done it.
At 10, asking to speak to the killer to “ grant forgiveness“ is obviously a clueless adult’s idea. Some things are unforgivable- this is definitely one. They are VERY lucky her didn’t lash out and traumatize the little girl he probably resented and blamed for his trip back to prison. He repeatedly offered to kill an innocent man- very casually-for nothing. No way would words from a little kid accomplish anything. Anyone who knows children knows that the same 10 year old , under someone else’s guidance, would have delivered lines like “ burn in hell, loser!” Or “Now I don’t have a Daddy, but you’ll be calling someone Daddy soon!” Kids at that age will do as instructed with no concept of what it all means. Using her to orchestrate some “ heartwarming “ show of saintliness is nauseating. 🙄
@@icu3869 wow. I wouldn't of forgave either. but here's the thing, I would pay to have a heart like that. I would like to have the amount of forgiveness she had. I get you're no happy about this I ain't either.
@@icu3869 Seek the Father and accept Jesus as your savior so you too will see, hear, and understand the actions of the little one. Until then, you are limited to projection of your own evil heart. You are now blind but will be able to see. I will pray for you.
'“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”' - John 18:37
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16
This little girl showed so much humanity, even in the face of such horror.
Proof that family isn’t always blood. ❤
As someone who has a wonderful stepmom, DAMN STRAIGHT!!! ❤
Sometimes they spill your blood.
@@skelemama you're lucky.. mine wasn't wonderful at all.
Blood isn't always family
Blood isn't always family
As a child (who is now middle-aged) that was raised with my adoptive mom, whom I love will all my heart - the ending to this tale braught tears to my eyes. Rest in power ...Ben.
Melissa is so inspiring. After all she went through, she not only kept her promise to keep Alyssa safe but to also take in her sister.
What an amazing woman.
Devin, if you're seeing this, just know that you're not at fault for this. You saved someone who was innocent and someone who was going to go through child neglect. You're a saint, unlike them.
Devin? Who’s that?
@@LynnCognitoDevin is Dawn’s son/Alyssa’s half brother. He told the cops what his mom and her bf were saying about killing Ben.
@@LynnCognito he was pretty much the linchpin of this case
The fact he willing told the police then went to join the army I'm sire he doesn't think it any fault of his.
Poor Melissa and Alissa. Absolutely heartbreaking.
Totally heartbreaking 😭💔🌿
How traumatic for both Melissa and Alyssa. ❤
And the guy who got shot?! Women…..
@@yitroyasharahla5404 What’s that supposed to mean?
This woman 'Melissa" is an angel. Taking of those child it is true dedication and love to his husband. I wish you all the best for the rest of your lives.
Can we give a 👏 to Devin for being brave enough to come forward. What a strong young man. A sad story with a beautiful ending.
I don't understand how the judge can give the little girl back to a birth mother who signed away her rights. Or take her away from the stepmother who is legally the mother because she legally adopted her?
Happened to me. Married guy w/5 children. Sleazy mom didn’t want to pay child support & gave up all rights. We didn’t want them there since her new Beau was NOT allowed around his own children, due to sexu@l abuse. I adopted all before the week passed.
A yr after we divorced, he went to jail for 13 mths. CHS decided to call bio mom, instead of me, to take youngest two, while dad was in jail. I lived a few states away, and talked to CHS. Lady said if I showed up, I could take children, since bio mom hadn’t showed up yet. I went straight to CHS.
Lady said she didn’t know if she could trust me w/them. 😵 Even though I was previous military, had security clearance, had stable job, was remarried to a Navy submariner, I could only see them on weekends. I got to spend two days w/them, having to take them back to foster care was hard. Living over 12 hrs away, that was impossible. Never got to see them again.
@@tfcig2019I'm so sorry that happened to you, and to them.
Most judges are leftist losers that usually, despite their education, make incredibly stupid decisions.
She didn't legally adopt her at the time. The video is confusing since it uses the word "adopt", but only figuratively because of the symbolic bracelet that was given during the marriage ceremony. I also don't think that the mother had signed away her rights (although I could have missed that). The way I understand it, she only had lost custody, and so automatically regained it upon the death of her ex-husband. No need for any court decision.
@@tfcig2019since you adopted them , you should’ve sue CHS for giving them back to mom or foster care. Children are always hurt, from CHS decisions
How after adopting that little girl, did she lose custody of her to the bio mom?!?! How’s that work???? Swear our system is so screwed up
Because they still thought Melissa was a murderer. They didn't want to risk Melissa killing Alyssa to silence her
She didn’t adopt. Sole custody
I am so sorry for the loss of this wonderful father. The relationship between the stepmother and daughter is truly beautiful. I'm so glad they have each other. Melissa is such an amazing person and mother. Words can't even express how amazing she truly is. They never should have given her immunity.
Watch the real mom is still on the loose, the step mom should watch her back.. I'm sure that evil mom is looking for next sucker to do her bidding.
WHO ever decided to give immunity to the real mom should be FIRED!!!
There were a lot of strong, honest, and good people in this story. Ben must have been a great man to have been surrounded by so much love. I wish all of his loved ones and his ex's other children peace, healing, and a happy fulfilling life. RIP Ben.
This is so sickening. They were so perfect. Oh honey, your dad still loves you. He will always be there for you. Melissa IS her mother!!! She😮 is kind and sweet just like her mom!! May good bless them!
❤️🙏. I'm from Minden/Gardnerville..i moved there after this happened.
Proof that family is what you make it. The son testifying against his own mother, the step-mother not only looking after Alyssa, but also her half sister she had no prior connection to. I've always felt blessed that i grew up in a wonderful family, but not everyone gets that opportunity. I've always had a deep respect for step parents and adoptive parents, because they give people that same opportunity i had, that theg wouldn't have had otherwise, and the ability to love someone else's kid as your own is something amazing.
Absolutely 💙 "Chosen families", as I like to call them, are so important.
Actually. it's the "normal" response by mammals to care for and adppt all young if they are in need. But, our "modern" civilization has pretty well turned many if not most "normal" human instincts away with total i difference and ungodly thoughts and behaviors toward anyone besides ourselves. WE ha e become horribly selfish and self interests and to hell with everyone else!
Especially once she had gone through the trauma of losing her husband. She truly is a wonderful loving mom.
What a remarkable lady. I hope all the children carry her strength. Their dad had chosen well for his family by choosing her.
It's crazy how people can be manipulated into killing someone on behalf of someone else... say no to drugs, folks. Thankfully James had the iota of conscience to not kill Melissa. And that little one has a maturity level higher than many adults. What an angel.
It's so sad that Alyssa lost such an amazing father. It's so rare for a father and daughter to share such a bond, and I hope she doesn't lose those memories as she gets older.
Ben lives on in the wonderful mother he chose for his little girl. Not only did she save Alyssa, but her sister too. Wow.
And I hope their brother is doing well too. What a brave young man he was for doing what he did
What??? Idk where you live and what kinda life you’ve had. But it’s definitely NOT rare for a father and daughter to have such a bond.
@@hpprochargedtbssthey mean the kind of bond where he’d do anything for her, a lot of fathers aren’t like that with their daughters so to see that is just amazing
@luzer5606 i know way to many fathers who would do that for this to be true sorry but just cause a few shit dad's are there doesn't mean we all are
The world needs more Melissa’s ……what a beautiful soul ❤️. Thank you from Australia 🇦🇺
Oh my word...Alyssa is such a brave little girl forgiving the man who took her daddy away from her. With the deep love of her mum Melissa, she will grow up to be a fine young woman. HUGE BLESSINGS to all the new blended family. God put you on this earth Melissa as a walking ANGEL. xx
I remember this story years ago, it's so crazy!! Alyssa is such a sweet and amazing young lady and so brave for all she went through...and Melissa is an outstanding Stepmom that went through so much. and then adopted Ben's ex wife's kids, she is just Heaven Sent!!! God Bless them!!! Thank you @Unseen for another awesome true crime story.....
My dad used to say the house could burn down around me and I wouldn't wake up. This could absolutely happen to me.
Wish I slept like you tbh
Me too. I take night meds and won't hear a tornado
same lol once my mum even punched me when i was sleeping because she couldnt wake me up and i still didnt wake up
@prospectorbonky Not good when you've got places to be though and alarms dont work 😮💨
Melissa is an absolutely wonderful person, not only does she loose her husband but then to be suspected of murdering him, when she didn't what a trauma. Alyssa was extremely brave and there is no doubt her Dad is watching over her. Devon an honest and kind young man who plucked up the courage to tell the police what he had heard. I wish, Melissa, Alyssa, Devon and Alyssa's sister a happy life moving forward from all of this.
the calmness in her voice and the way she recounted what happened... crazy for a six year old
Kids handle death really well, most of the time at least
Yes, and this is why Investigators need to listen to children when they speak about what they witness.
They know more than we give them credit for. ☮️🙏🏻
It could be dissociation, a common trauma response where the mind distances from reality or emotions to protect itself.
The problem is that police jump to a conclusion and then find evidence to fit that conclusion. Instead they should find evidence and find a conclusion that fits around the evidence
When do you start at the police academy? I assume you’re gonna go teach them how to do it right.
That's their thing
Evidence evidence evidence, until that evidence doesn't fit the narrative in which you wish to be true, in which case it becomes an illusion, a mistake, a trick.
The police didn't do anything bad it was just the narrative of the story to make it look the police is accusing an innocent wife. It was just for clickbait
@@juansanchez209 it's true, videos are put together a certain way with a baiting picture and title
That lady who lost everything still stood up for those kids and takes them both on . She is a true and amazing human being rigut there. She is a role for those girls and anyone wondering what the right thing to do is
She's an amazing woman. Not only did she love and dedicate herself to Bens daughter, but to the other young lady as well. That is powerful and inspirational.
My heart goes out to their wonderful family.
Damn Melissa is absolutely incredible absolute mom and human goals
For real!
I don’t understand why people don’t have security cameras in their houses these days
Melissa is such an amazing person and mother. Words can't even express how amazing she truly is.
Alyssa has been through a lot. Her parents separating; being taken on her father's early dates with a new partner & then quickly getting married; her father being murdered and then being separated from her parental figures. I hope she can heal.
It was over fifteen years ago. Probably feels like yesterday for all of them.
As someone who was born to a horrid "mother," I absolutely empathize with these girls. I'm so happy that the step mom is there for them. ❤️
Oh my god. Imagine waking up to just...the destroyed head of your husband. Jeeeesus.
I had watched her interrogation videos on a different channel. That women went through hell. I cried hearing her responses. I new in my gut she was innocent but it looked so bad. Then t9 find out she was innocent... sent chills up my spine... finally the justice system got it right
Be do we love husband or have I been a single married mom? Cause that’s the difference in my response
@@heatherrae3939where at I knew she was innocent
@Queendelaqueen there is a channel that only does interrogations but can't find the video. I tried finding it in my history but it's been awhile.
@@heatherrae3939 dreading? that account does a lot of interrogations and testimonies
such a heartbreaking story but seeing Melissa and her daughters at the end just brings so much happiness to my heart. Despite the tragedy she had to endure, the trauma, she still found it in her heart to love and fight for what she thought was right. I’m so glad Melissa and her daughters found each other.
Wow, this girl is stronger than most adults to forgive the murderer of the father. Prayers for these children.
I just wanted to say thank you for sharing these horrific cases with us in a compassionate, informative and comprehensive way. I appreciate your videos. Sending you love from Wyoming ❤
What an amazing woman, to adopt these siblings, to have as her own and give them the love and stability they needed so much. She really is incredible and these kids are "at last" fortunate to have her as their mother.
AS I GET FURTHER INTO THIS MY HEART BREAKS KNOWING AN ADOPTIVE MUM TAKES THE MOTHERHOOD STAND AND PROTECTS HER CHILD OMG!!! GOD BLESS NOW ALYSSA WILL HAVE A MOM THAT WILL GUIDE HER IN A MOTHERLY WAY XXXX Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!
Wow, Alyssa and Melissa are both amazingly strong! I am glad they also had room in their hearts for Alyssa's sister too. Kudos also to Alyssa's brother, without his testimony about his mothers role in urging her boyfriend to kill Alyssa's dad the police may not have had enough evidence to arrest the killers.
Bloody onions get me all the time. That unconditional love from her step mum sure carried through to Alyssa by forgiving her dad's killer! That's one strong cookie.
onions from start to end on this one, boy.
I thought she was going to thank him for sparing her step-mother's life. Image where she would have ended up if he had killed her too.
Alyssa is a true Princess. Bless her and her stepmother and her brother.
Melissa is an angel and God send to those two young girls. Rest in peace Ben.
not hearing the shot is crazy, but then I remember the Defeo Family Murders and I'm not surprised anymore. He killed 6 people, and not one of them woke up from the shots before they died
There was a story of a man who was shot in the head while he slept and didn't even know it. Crazy but it happens.
But it's not crazy and police are well aware of this. Often a loud noise will wake someone up but because they were asleep, they don't hear or remember hearing the actual sound, just that they woke up or something woke them up. Plenty of others don't wake up at all. It's not rare or uncommon but they always play it like that because they think they're slick, acting like "that's impossible. We've never heard of anyone sleeping through loud noises" even though half of them sleep like the dead themselves. How many of them actually woke up when they had a new baby in the house that was screaming at 2 am? Definitely not all of them. They're full of sh*t and have zero compassion for anyone when they're acting like hunting dogs. Their behavior actually gets quite disgusting sometimes.
I guess you can be that sleepy Some days I have been gone to the world wake up scared because I don't remember anything but laying down
I think what happens sometimes is people do wake up, they just don’t remember waking up. I remember when I was a kid my mom was taking a nap and I asked her for $5 and she woke up and got it out of her purse and went back to sleep. Later she said she was missing $5 dollars and I told her she woke up and gave it to me but she didnt remember that at all. She fully sat up and made eye contact with me and everything. I just think you can be in such a deep form of sleep you can hear or see things, but not be fully conscious.
@@ssharkbait When I was younger I once asked my dad if I could go ride my bike after I woke him up, he answered me and I went and when I came back he was furious since he didn't remember the conversation
This is something so precious and Melissa is such a good mother and elysaa's last words to murderer is just beyond kindness, she is the real angel 😭✨❤️
This little girl has an amazing heart. She's made her Father proud over and over again.
What a Brave little girl. I remember this story from years ago. I hope neither woman is living with survivor’s guilt over this tragedy 😢
Bless Melissa 🙏 RIP Ben 🕯 ❤️ I hope Melissa and her daughters have nothing but love and happiness and good fortune for the rest of their lives 🙏 ❤️
You have to be planning some impressive levels of child neglect if having full custody is going to be less of a burden to you than $200 a month.
That sweet baby girl has a huge heart and even more beautiful soul. May god bless her for the rest of her life
This shows how quick people are to judge when they literally have NO idea what they’re even talking about. Just because something don’t sound right does not mean it’s isn’t true!!
Wow she looks just like her daddy. How sad he had to be taken from her so soon.
11:52 the little girl 11:56 doesn’t smile when she’s with that family… her face 12:13 is BRIGHT and cheery with her father and Melissa 12:28 12:36 time stamps show pics of Alissa with both mom and dad side of family and she is so much happier with dad and stepmom
Thank you for the timestamps ! It’s rare to see these
I know it, Praying she stays with her hapPy new Momma🙏💞
Thank goodness for Devon telling the truth about his mom wanting her ex dead. I can't imagine how hard that would be, but he probably saved his little sister's life in a way, because it must have been even harder for her to live with them after the death of her dad.
I know it sounds wild that someone could sleep through something as loud as a gunshot, but it absolutely can happen. I have family whose eyes can be peeled open, and they will not wake up. It's unthinkable to me, being an extremely light sleeper, but I can't deny the alarm going off for HOURS with no one stopping it. Even though the person who set it is right there in bed and not deaf. Those people exist.
We also didn't hear much about the firearm
haha - I was thinking the same thing: I sleep very lightly, but others in my house ... not so much
Good point. I was thinking it would be impossible to sleep through a gunshot. However, reading your comment, I remembered that was one thing that used to drive me nuts about my ex. He would sleep straight through his alarm clock if I didn't elbow or shake him. Then he would hit snooze and it would start all over. I could not just listen to the alarm while he slept through it, it was so annoying. He also snored so loud I couldn't fall asleep at all if he went to sleep first. Yeah, I could imagine him sleeping through it if I got shot. 😂
I have a sleep disorder and have been known to sleep through 60+ alarms 😅 Once, I slept through 60 alarms and somehow also slept 5 hours past the time I usually woke up. I woke up to a police officer at my door doing a wellness check because no one at work could reach me and they were all worried since I had never been late let alone do a no-call no show. The cop laughed at me when he saw how mortified I was. Definitely the most embarrassing moment of my life.
My 15 year old has had her 2 younger brothers jumping on her while I play music full blast near her ear and has still not woken up. It's unusual, but definitely possible to sleep through a gunshot
Good job taking away a little girl from the only mom she’s ever known to place her with a druggie she doesn’t know other than being biologically related. That’s such a safe environment for a child.
It’s so shocking and confusing, I’ll never wrap my head around it! Especially after courts deemed her unfit and fave sole custody to the father! And Melissa adopted Alissa!
Let'snot forget the people they gave aylssa too are the actual killers...imagine if aylssa suddenly remember it was dawn in her doorway that night 😢
Idiot judge in family court
She knew her mother, as she previously had shared custody. She also had only known Melissa for 2 years. Presumably she knew better her biological mother than Melissa, in fact. In any case Melissa wasn't "the only mom she had ever known." And her biological mom was still her legal mom (despite the misuse of the word "adopted" in the video, Melissa hadn't adopted her legally.) So, it's only the normal situation : if a custodian parent passes away, the child go to live with the other parent, not with the custodian's widow.
@@matrixiekitty2127 Courts didn't deem her unfit. Losing custody isn't the same as having parental rights terminated.
"This story is absolutely mind-blowing! The fact that a six-year-old could hold the key to unraveling such a complex case is both heartbreaking and incredible. It really goes to show how crucial every detail can be in an investigation, no matter how small or unexpected. The Oxley family’s tragedy is a chilling reminder of how family dynamics can hide deeper truths."
"THEY HAD NO REASON TO REMOVE HER FROM HER BIOLOGICAL MOTHER? " WHAT!?
She was taken from her biological Mom for a reason!!
She should have never been placed back with her! She lost custody for a reason!
They made a horrible situation so much worse for her.
The fact that her biological Mom told a 6 year old child who she thinks killed her Dad raises suspicion.
Losing custody isn't the same as having parental rights terminated. If the custodian parent dies, the other parent automatically gets custody (unless, again, parental rights were terminated). "They" didn't make anything.
Looked it up, the bio mom was actually put in prison at some point for using an older daughter to handle drug transactions. Like the courts suck bro
@@Alex-dh2cx Indeed, she was sentenced for this, but it happened later, and anyway, it's not about courts sucking in this case. No court decided to send back the children to their mother. She was their mother, their father had passed away, so the children went to live with her without need for any court decision. Parents don't need a court decision to have custody of their children.
More often than not, women are granted custody of their children. Blame the system.
The crazy thing, if Melissa woke up right away, she would have been killed too. Her deep sleep sadly saved her.
I said this toooo 😢!!!
Sadly?
@@doveandpatch it allowed her to be framed. Had the little girl not seen what happened well...
@cayleighwolfbane1736 yes, but still "sadly" is not how I'd term not being shot.
At least she was alive and vindicated.... It couldn't be better@@cayleighwolfbane1736
I am in supreme AWE of that little girl's strength of character. There is something greater than anyone can describe about her moral compass that words will fail me. May God bless her and her new mother and new extended family. What an amazing story! Thank you "Unseen" for this!
That’s incredible that she took on Brandy as family… Ben chose an amazing human for a wife. So tragic for Melissa and Alyssa but I’m sure they have an angel watching over them 🪽🫶🏼
If Melissa had legally adopted the girl, then there is no way she should have been sent back to her birth mother. The birth mothers legal status as a guardian over the girl had been terminated. Who made such a horrible mistake? Why does the system just automatically believe kids should go to the birth mother???
The video is misleading. Melissa hadn't legally adopted the girl, just figuratively. And the birth mother's parental rights hadn't been terminated, either. She only had lost custody. She still was the legal mother so, naturally, her daughter was returned to her. So, no mistake here.
I think you missed the most important mistake. It's actually the crime. Who would legally adopt a child because someone might murder her husband?
Yes. Just because someone gave birth or genetically helped to create a child doesn't mean they will make a good parent.
even if she did adopt her its a lot more of a process than you think because her mother is still in her life and its not like her mother wanted to kill her so she is alright
What a mature, articulate 6 yo.
I am amazed that such an evil woman gave birth to three moral children. God bless her son, who made the convictions possible. I'm so happy that now they live with a mother who has love in her heart. Their lives will be even better because of her.
What a remarkable woman and little girl. I wish their whole family peace and happiness. RIP Ben.
Good job telling their inspiring story of courage and love. So sorry for their great loss.
I just want to say I appreciate your consistency with having detailed closed captions on every upload. As someone with shaky audio processing I appreciate it a lot. Your dedication to the quality of every upload is really apparent!
May I ask what "shaky audio processing" is? I am not a native speaker albeit close.
No worries! I just have poor audio processing compared to most people, and it’s not a definite term. I used the word “shaky” here as a less literal way of saying something like “dubious” or “unreliable”; similar to saying something like “on shaky ground” meaning “liable to fail”.
I am so glad the police kept their mind opened and did not hone in to only Melissa possibly being the killer. They listened to the six year old and took her account seriously. Thank God for little Allissa. I am so sorry that Ben was shot and that Melissa was not indicted for a murder of her husband. Melissa is a very special person who has so much compassion to love; wish more of us could be like her. She is a good example to her daughter and others. May God continue to be with the Oxley family.
What an amazing story - I’m truly sorry for their loss and I’m even more moved by the grace with which they have managed to carry on.
The kids are the real heroes of this story. After everything they have all been through it looks like they have prevailed.
And Melissa is one heck of a human for stepping up to be the real mother those children needed and deserved. Peace all.
Chills... this 3-person family's journey gave me chills. From the beautiful blended family, to the tragic heartbreak, the ugly truth, ending in a deep impactful blessings of a new 3-person family.
Each of them carries a piece of what they lost, together making them whole. 3-very special ladies right there. 💕
As someone who has a brother who is a deep sleeper, I can confirm that some people can sleep through anything and not wake up. He has slept through people robbing his bedroom he was sleeping in. He also has slept through a fire alarm going off. Those cops are idiots to think that everyone would have an idea what happened. Glad it worked out for her.
Rarely do stories like this touch my heart as this one has. What an awesome loving family and kids brave enough to stand up for themselves and the truth. The son who spoke up against his mother deserves the best of loyalty and support.. I pray the army can give him that and may they all live happily ever after.
The strength of step mother, daughter and her half sister and brother is remarkable - blessings to all
Whether this video is more heartbreaking or hopeful and happy for the stepmom and now daughter I can't decide.