Around 3 years ago, not long after we had lost Shane, a woman named Hope sent me an Email message after visiting my site, Turmoil Leads to Hope. I am not even sure she remembers this, but this is how I became involved with Hope, Madi's Grand Mother, and the story of Madi. Within the Email was a link to her site. I visited the site and was moved beyond belief by the story I read. I was driven to continue to tell her story on Turmoil Leads to Hope. As is my custom, I did this through a memorial. Later, of course, I had to remove it to protect the long awaited investigation and potential trial.
Below are a few of the details which I know at this time. There are many details which I do not remember and still others which I have never heard, but will be included as Hope reveals them to me. More information will be placed on this page, or included under the heading in the naivation bar titled, The Madi Campaign. Pages under this heading provide the motivation for the campaign. Visit the following links for more details Trial & Sentencing and The Madi Campaign
David, Madi's father had left Madi with his (at the time) girlfriend, Sarah Taylor while he went to work on May 6, 2004. At some point, apparently, Sarah Taylor must have became agitated with Madi or was just completely out of her mind. At any rate, she shook Madi hard. To do the damage which was done to Madi, she had to have shaken her very hard and rigorously. Madi was later rushed to the University of Kentucky Medical Center and treated for a traumatic brain injury. I am not sure how much time elapsed from the time of the attack to the trip to the hospital. Sarah Taylor said Madi had fallen down the stairs which was not the truth. Madi died the next day on May 7, 2004.
Two months later, the Fayette County coroner determined that Madi had died of "shaken impact syndrome," which is typically caused when someone vigorously shakes an infant. In October 2004, Lexington police declared the death a homicide.
Now, we get to the real frustration with this case; the waiting for justice. This became a never ending battle for all of us who were fighting and supporting Hope through this battle. As hard as it was for us, it was a nightmare for Hope and her family, but she never wavered. She kept doing everything she could think of to get people's attention.
In December, 2007, it finally happened. Sarah Taylor was going on trial for the murder of Madison Ann Cundiff. The trial finally began on Monday, December 3, 2007 and ended with a conviction of Reckless Homicide on Tuesday, December 11, 2007. It took 3 years and 7 months to get us to this point. We were happy to finally get to this point, but for many of us, it brought the pain of Madi's death right to the surface. For Hope and her family it was nothing like anyone could understand who has not gone through it. They had to relive the nightmare of Madi's death in detail by painful detail. The outcome was certainly not what we all wanted, but it was better than nothing. The 5 year maximum sentence which was given on January 11, 2008, does not seem enough for what this evil woman did to little Madi, but we have no choice but to accept it. Sarah Taylor will get the Final Justice in the end, when she has to face the Judgment of God.
It will not end here and with this outcome. Especially, not for me. Madi's legacy continues. It is one of courage and commitment. I am committed to continuing the fight for justice so that other families will not have to endure the added pain which Hope and her family has had to endure. This is the quest, mission, and goal of the Madi Campaign. (More about this campaign is available by clicking on the banner link in the last section of the page or through the navigation bar.)
