*Trigger Warning* AIBU to not understand how this YouTuber isn't being investigated for child abuse?

[milkmilklemonade12]

So I actually found out about this channel via another large forum I post on. Essentially, a YouTube channel which is called DaddyOFive (it's reasonably large, around three quarters of a million subscribers) centres around a blog made by the father, with 5 children. The upshot of it is, people were angry about how the family, lead by the father; bully one of their children Cody, and pass it off as just 'good old fashioned parenting!'

At first until I checked out the videos I honestly thought it couldn't be that bad. I was horribly wrong. Some of the videos are entitled:
Dad burns Cody's Pokemon cards
Dad destroys son's DS
Dad forces son to throw away his toys
I'm sending Cody to military school

In their most recent video, because Cody had been bad (smeared poop on the walls; a recognised sign of abuse and distress), they took all the other kids to DisneyLand.

These videos are horrific, and despite them being located in the US, I really feel like CPS should be investigating and YouTube should shut the channel down for child abuse.

If you can bear to watch the videos, the guy's name is DaddyOFive, and I'd urge you to take a few minutes and report their videos for child abuse. I really don't understand how in this day and age, this kind of thing isn't investigated more quickly. The child is sobbing, and regularly in horrendous distress at the bullying at the hands of his parents and siblings, so these videos could trigger people; that's why I haven't directly linked them and why I've placed a warning on the top of my post.

Done. Flagged as child abuse.

Didn't watch all, I couldn't so took everyone else on their word.

How the hell this has been allowed after millions of views disgusts me.

Thank you velvet!! I have signed that, please sign if you feel strongly about this.

www.change.org/p/youtube-ban-daddyofive-from-youtube?recruiter=710209874&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-reason_msg

Here's the petition if you're viewing per 25 messages and didn't see it...

Signed ... thanks for flagging this up op

I've just signed the petition. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I use YouTube a lot but thankfully hadn't come across these vile abusers.

Sailaway
I reported one and that was fine, but I tried to do the other and got the message. Maybe it only accepts one? I'm a bit uneducated in the ways of YouTube, I'm afraid!

Signed the petition, couldn't bring myself to watch the clips. Christ it sounds so horrible.

For those of you living in the US who want to call in a report directly to Children's Services:

The Dept. of Health & Human Services
Montgomery County
Child Protective Services

240-777-4417 (24 hours)
240-777-4258(Fax)

reported too

Brilliant acrossthepond !!!!

As I said im speculating that this is where they live but this seems to be the biggest suggestion...

Ive copied the email I have send to DCFS below

Dear children's services,
I'm writing, as I believe many have, to raise concern for the child Cody Martin - who seems to be rising to some form of internet notoriety due to the staggering and blatant abuse to him that is being filmed and streamed online.I believe this child is the youngest of 5 of the Martin Family, possibly living in Damascus Maryland.
Despite claims this has already been investigated and cleared, there is clearly some outrageous abuses of power in these videos. That child is clearly distressed and being purposely bullied by his father Mike Martin and his elder brother Jacob. How childrens services can fail to act on this is unbelievable to myself as both a parent and a paediatric mental health professional.
If, as claimed, these videos are for internet fame and are staged then are childrens services condoning simulated child abuse being streamed over a million times? This family are being paid to abuse, or pretend to abuse their child. What about other viewers who see this and copy this behaviour?
There are over 20 clear examples of child abuse on this mans youtube channel - dadoffive - and it simply must be acted upon. There are a number of clear examples of this child being physically injured, not least the ongoing mental torture he is subjected too, all for the public enjoyment? What is happening behind closed doors.
Please tell me what is being done to protect this innocent young man???

Yours sincerely

XXXXXX

JessKM that's absolutely ideal, thank you! Much appreciated!

Signed the petition... the videos are absolutely sickening.

Wow that's some dark shit. That poor boy.

I have signed the petition and sent a personal email to the Maryland Child Protection Services.
The parents' behaviour is sadistic and makes my blood run cold.
Thank you OP for bringing this to MN attention

I just watched truly awful!! Iv reported a few and will carry on reporting.

sick bastard,I can't bear to watch.

Signed the petition. Some people are sick

I came across the Philip DeFranco link earlier today and watched his video (he turned he advertising off on his video so that nobody could argue he was making money off these poor kids) and I found it pretty shocking. He showed a few different clips but Cody looked petrified of his parents, it was heartbreaking. There was one 'prank' where they staged a home invasion and the dad came out with a gun...not sure if the gun was real but wtf? How is that entertainment??

Anyone read "A Boy Called It"? I have no idea if David Peltzer, it's author, will be interested or have any power to help in any way, but I've emailed him anyway in case he has the profile to do something.

Could MN get on the case somehow? Are there any Maryland locals on here who could point us in the direction of local press, TV, who might take the cause up with the CPS?

I hate that this sort of thing exists. And that people actually watch it and 'like' it makes me feel ashamed to be human.

Just watched the Disney one - I am in tears. I can't even watch the others I watched that guy (no idea who he is) discuss it with clips and that was enough. Who does this to their kids. They are trying to pretend they feel bad, well the dad is the so called mother blatantly said I don't want to take him and calls him names. Left a comment and reported it. Pleased to say 90% at least comments are saying same I did. Apparently FB page been taken down (maybe they did it?). Hope the channel does. It's sick. Poor Cody actually looks relieved to be going to grandmas with the dogs. No-one even says goodbye to him :(

Petition signed. I really hope this video channel is taken down.

Like others, thanks for bringing this to our attention OP.

Let's hope this bastard gets brought down, and not just his sick YouTube channel. YouTube have questions to answer as well. Comments on the videos show me this must have been reported previously and what have they done? Nothing.

Bloody disgrace.

The daily mail published this www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4421852/DaddyOFive-defends-harsh-ink-prank-video-son-Cody.html

6 hours ago

Just again, the Maryland CPS address is:

[email protected]

In case you are viewing this per 25 messages. Apologies for the re-post but I don't want it to get lost.

Thank you SO much for all the signatures, reports and emails. These parents should absolutely NOT be parenting their children.

I wonder if anyone could link to the DeFranco video? I totally agree with not giving this fucker a advertising revenue, even if it is for the purposes of reporting!