Uploaded June 2010 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
The Layton Police Department released probable cause statements Wednesday in the case of 4-year-old Ethan Stacy's death.
It was a custody fight in Virginia that led to a judge's order that the boy spend the summer in Utah with his mother, who will be charged as an accomplice to the boy's killing.
Gruesome police documents describe in graphic detail the beatings Ethan endured at the hand of his stepfather, Nathan Sloop, before he was ultimately murdered. They also reveal the little boy's mother, Stephanie Sloop, did nothing to stop the beatings, nor did she attempt to get help for her dying son.
Sloop told police on May 5, shortly after Ethan had arrived from his father's home in Virginia to spend the summer with her, her then-fiancé, Nathan, beat the little boy several times in the head while disciplining him. The abuse caused severe swelling, but she did nothing.
The next day, the couple locked Ethan in his bedroom alone while they went to the courthouse to get married. Sloop admitted she feared the boy's injuries would tip off police to the abuse, so they removed the doorknob to Ethan's bedroom door so he couldn't get out.
Over the next several days, Sloop could tell Ethan needed medical attention, but did not take him to a hospital for fear they would be arrested for abuse.
She told police Nathan burned Ethan in scalding water while she was gone and continued to physically abuse him. She also said, at one point, Nathan forced Ethan to drink water when he was vomiting and lethargic.
On Sunday, May 9, Stephanie says she returned from a trip to the store to find a calm Nathan, who told her Ethan was dead in his bed..
The Layton Police Department released probable cause statements Wednesday in the case of 4-year-old Ethan Stacy's death.
It was a custody fight in Virginia that led to a judge's order that the boy spend the summer in Utah with his mother, who will be charged as an accomplice to the boy's killing.
Gruesome police documents describe in graphic detail the beatings Ethan endured at the hand of his stepfather, Nathan Sloop, before he was ultimately murdered. They also reveal the little boy's mother, Stephanie Sloop, did nothing to stop the beatings, nor did she attempt to get help for her dying son.
Sloop told police on May 5, shortly after Ethan had arrived from his father's home in Virginia to spend the summer with her, her then-fiancé, Nathan, beat the little boy several times in the head while disciplining him. The abuse caused severe swelling, but she did nothing.
The next day, the couple locked Ethan in his bedroom alone while they went to the courthouse to get married. Sloop admitted she feared the boy's injuries would tip off police to the abuse, so they removed the doorknob to Ethan's bedroom door so he couldn't get out.
Over the next several days, Sloop could tell Ethan needed medical attention, but did not take him to a hospital for fear they would be arrested for abuse.
She told police Nathan burned Ethan in scalding water while she was gone and continued to physically abuse him. She also said, at one point, Nathan forced Ethan to drink water when he was vomiting and lethargic.
On Sunday, May 9, Stephanie says she returned from a trip to the store to find a calm Nathan, who told her Ethan was dead in his bed..
