At St. Gabriel’s Children’s Ward, nurse Rebecca Collins held Ava’s hand while doctors worked quietly around them. The little girl hardly spoke, her eyes blank with shock. When a detective from the Child Protection Unit, Nora Delaney, entered the room, she lowered her voice. “Hi, Ava. I just want to talk to you. Is that alright?”
Ava nodded faintly. When asked about the snake, her response made everyone freeze. “It’s what Daddy calls it,” she said in a whisper so small it barely reached Nora’s ears.
For a moment, no one moved. Then the detective stood, her face pale. “We’re going to make sure he never hurts you again,” she said, her voice steady though her heart ached.
A warrant was issued that same night. Investigators searched every room of the house and uncovered what they feared—hidden recording devices, journals, and evidence of ongoing abuse. The discovery confirmed years of torment buried behind closed doors.
At the police station, Thomas denied everything, insisting it was a misunderstanding. When detectives showed him the evidence, he went silent. His expression shifted from arrogance to terror. He muttered incoherent excuses until the interview ended.