Welcome to Justice for Brandon Mills — a living testament to a family torn apart by tragedy and injustice. We share our story not for pity, but to seek the truth for Riley and to ensure no family endures what we have.
Our Family’s Journey of Compassion:
My name is Brandon Mills, and alongside my wife Caysha, we built our family around the belief that every child deserves love and care. After Caysha’s courageous fight against cancer ended with a hysterectomy in 2018, we faced the heartbreak of infertility. Instead of resigning ourselves to loss, we chose hope: we became foster parents to medically complex children who were overlooked by the system.
Over the years, our home has cared for children requiring feeding tubes, cough-assist, oxygen, BiPAP, suction machines, and round-the-clock therapy. We were licensed for six children, dedicating state reimbursements—and our own savings—to equipment, specialized nutrition, and therapies. When standard formula failed one infant’s growth, we scoured for donor milk and handcrafted vitamin blends, feeding him each night until his health turned around.
Riley: Our Bright, Fragile Son
In early 2022, we welcomed Riley, a gentle boy diagnosed with myotonic muscular dystrophy type 1 (MMD1) — a condition we only fully understood once he came home. He relied on cough-assist, oxygen, suction, and a feeding tube to survive. Yet he radiated joy. Caysha would cradle him through feeds, singing lullabies until he drifted off; I would read his favorite stories beneath lamplight, marveling at his strength. Riley’s laughter filled our house, reminding us daily why we fought so hard for these children.
The Accident That Shattered Us
On July 28, 2022, a routine afternoon became our worst nightmare. Caysha drove another foster child to respite; I stayed with Riley and our other foster son. Suddenly, after a choking event, his breathing became frantic and his oxygen plummeted. In panic, I scooped him up and moved toward his suction machine—only to catch my scooter on the door frame and drop him.
I quickly placed him on his suction machine, called 911, and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. They rushed him to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where five days later our brave boy took his last breath.
Children’s Mercy: Betraying the Families They Serve
From the moment Riley entered their care, we demanded full transparency—treatment logs, nursing notes, vital charts, imaging—every detail of Riley’s final hours. Instead, we faced a wall of silence:
Ignored by Phone & Mail: Repeated calls and letters disappeared into administrative voids.
Releases Rejected: Even with Riley’s biological mother Kim’s signed authorizations, the hospital refused to share records.
Gag Order Coercion: Only by surrendering our right to speak—via a gag order—did they grudgingly release the documents.
Meanwhile, Kim endured her own heartbreak: Children’s Mercy, in concert with CPS, implied she—living with MMD1 herself—could not care for Riley. They removed him from her arms, ignoring her daily bedside presence and her insights:
A congenital hole in his heart, documented at birth.
A cerebral aneurysm requiring monitoring.
Jaw abnormalities that impeded swallowing, unaddressed by specialists.
Despite raising these concerns, Kim’s expertise as his mother was dismissed. We only learned of Riley’s underlying muscular dystrophy when he came home, and each time we raised it to the doctors, they assured us his symptoms were "just MD."
Irrefutable Medical Evidence
When we finally accessed Riley’s files, the truth became irrefutable:
No retinal hemorrhages or spinal injuries—no sign of violent shaking. (They claimed hemorrhages but provided no images or proof.)
No external bruises—only marks consistent with progressive muscular dystrophy. (One central line bruise they admitted.)
Multiple congenital conditions further weakening his airway, heart, and lungs.
Off-label medication (glycopyrrolate) — not approved for children under three years old (Riley was under that age) — which thickened his mucus, hindering airway clearance.
Anemia & coagulopathy labs requiring cryoprecipitate transfusion were never investigated as possible contributors to his deterioration.
Missed infection signs in bloodwork that went unaddressed.
Incomplete autopsy: The medical examiner failed to include MMD1 in the pathologic diagnosis, suggesting a lack of disease familiarity or investigation.
Independent experts unanimously agreed: this was a catastrophic medical emergency—an accidental choking event compounded by his underlying conditions and treatment errors, not abuse.
Kim’s Unwavering Stand for Truth
Riley’s birth mother Kim has been our steadfast ally. She endured hospital stonewalling, signed every release, appealed every decision, and lent her voice to demand transparency. Prosecutors and hospital officials sought to silence her; still, she perseveres—her unwavering faith illuminating the path to justice.
Jackson County DA’s Unjust Prosecution
On August 2, 2022, the Jackson County DA charged me with child abuse—then escalated the count to Child Abuse Resulting in Death, alleging shaken baby syndrome without evidence. Worse, the DA’s office has:
Mishandled Riley’s Remains: Classified the death as potential homicide, then released his body for cremation—denying independent forensic examination.
Flip-Flopped Cause of Death: First shaken baby syndrome; when asked for retinal images and autopsy photos, they admitted none existed. Then blamed the fall—only to revert to shaken baby claims when experts refuted both scenarios.
Refusal to Re-Examine: Despite exhaustive medical records, expert testimonials, and Kim’s testimony, the DA refuses any hearing or reconsideration. Their shifting narrative exposes a prosecution built on suspicion, not science.
They have criminalized our compassion, transforming a lifesaving accident into a heinous crime.
The Devastating Toll on Our Lives
This ordeal has crushed us:
Financial Ruin: Legal fees have decimated our savings and shattered our credit.
Endless Grief: Our home—once filled with Riley’s laughter—now echoes with his absence.
Betrayed Trust: An institution meant to protect vulnerable children branded us criminals for showing love.
Join Us in Demanding Justice
We call on our community and beyond to stand with us for Riley’s memory:
Demand a Fair Review: Contact the Jackson County DA at (816) 881-3555. Insist they re-examine Riley’s medical records, expert findings, and Kim’s testimony.
Share This Story: Flood social media, local news outlets, and community forums with the truth.
Stand with Kim: Amplify the voice of Riley’s birth mother, whose insights and courage are vital.
Support Our Defense: Legal battles are costly—any donation helps us secure a hearing and reclaim our lives.
Riley’s brief life was a testament to love’s power to transcend tragedy. Help us ensure that compassion is never again mistaken for wrongdoing.
— Brandon & Caysha Mills