Child C

by Christopher Spry

In April 2007, 62-year-old Eunice Spry was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the systematic wounding, cruelty, and assault of the vulnerable children whose welfare had been entrusted to her. Her home had become a prison where over the course of 20 years she routinely abused and tortured her charges. Behind closed doors she was a sadistic tyrant who beat her children with metal bars, forced wooden sticks down their throats, and made them eat lard, bleach, vomit, and feces. In this harrowing account, one of the victims of Spry’s wrath - known during the trial as Child C - tells the full, shocking story of his enforced isolation and the psychological and physical abuse he endured. Despite years of suffering and abandonment, with his mother now behind bars, today Christopher Spry is a survivor with a zest for life.

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Sheila Witmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is one of the most horrifying and sad books I've ever read about abuse, mainly because in the end the author is still grappling with the guilt of testifying against his foster mother, who was not a mother but a psychopathic monster: getting ideas for discipline out of torture books. I think Christopher was very young when he wrote his story - and has years of mistreatment and brainwashing to sort through. It would be interesting to know if he's moved on and how.