Follow Our Lawsuit
See Qadira's Appeal To Crime Victim Services.
See Qadira's Appeal To Crime Victim Services.
See Qadira's Appeal To Crime Victim Services.
See Qadira's Appeal To Crime Victim Services.
See Qadira's Appeal To Crime Victim Services.
Sign The Petition
See Qadira's Appeal To Crime Victim Services.
Sign The Petition
Foreword.
The Racist History of Oregon, The White Utopia.
The Racist History of Oregon, The White Utopia.
The Racist History of Oregon, The White Utopia.
Many across the U.S are not aware of it, but Oregon has deeper roots in racism than even the Southern states.
Portland's History of Racism.
The Racist History of Oregon, The White Utopia.
The Racist History of Oregon, The White Utopia.
Portland is still the whitest big city in America.
Our Purpose.
Before delving into the content, it's crucial to acknowledge the gravity of the situation reported on this website. As a family, we continue to pursue justice at great personal risk to our lives and livelihoods because we lack protection from systemically racist law enforcement in Oregon. Our daughter, Qadira Stephens, an eight-year-old Black girl, was subjected to egregious abuse by the parents of a school friend, resulting in severe injuries. The protective systems meant to shield children and families from such abusers—individuals who misuse positions of trust to inflict harm—utterly failed Qadira and our family.
This narrative will repeatedly address themes such as the negligence of mandatory reporters, the societal tolerance of child abuse, and the prejudice faced by victims brave enough to share their stories. In addition to this website, we have uploaded a video documentary on our YouTube channel, Stand With Stephens. Please watch the video to better understand our story and the reasons this website has been created.
Exposing Systemic Failures
Our mission is not limited to reporting the abuse suffered by Qadira; it aims to confront the deeply ingrained racial biases that permeate the culture in Portland. Qadira, as a Black woman and survivor of child abuse, was repeatedly failed by systems meant to protect her, exposing how these structures often marginalize and overlook victims of color. By highlighting these failures, we seek to bring attention to the systemic racism that leaves Black and other minority children disproportionately vulnerable to abuse, silenced by institutions that favor the socially privileged and disregard the voices of the disadvantaged.
A Call to Action for Victims
If you are a victim of a crime, remember that your voice matters. No matter the rhetoric used to minimize your experience, stand firm. Gaslighting—a manipulative tactic frequently employed by abusers to question the victim's reality—is a common challenge you may face. It's imperative to assert your rights, including your fundamental freedoms of assembly and speech, to challenge the status quo and demand justice.
Support Us
The story we are chronicling is intricate and evolving. We are committed to presenting it with meticulous attention to detail, supported by robust evidence. This ongoing effort aims not only to support Qadira Stephens as she courageously stands up for herself but also to keep you, the reader, informed and engaged. After reading through our story, you are encouraged to follow her progress and join in supporting our cause.
Disclaimer Regarding Medical Information
While this website contains medical records and details about Qadira Stephens' treatment, it's important to clarify that we are not medical professionals. Our concerns about the medical care Qadira received are based on observed outcomes and the apparent failure of certain protocols intended to address her injuries. However, without analysis from qualified medical officials, we cannot definitively assess the adequacy of the treatment provided. We present this information to highlight perceived issues and encourage professional scrutiny, not to substitute for expert medical opinion.
Viewer Discretion Advised
Contained in this website are graphic images of injuries, as well as legal proceedings and hospital records. Some images may be inappropriate for select audiences. Moreover, you are encouraged to read over every document for yourself in order to grasp the story fully.
The Abuse of Qadira Stephens.
Began on April 12th, 2007, when her white neighbors, Todd Burkholder and Aimee McQuiston brutally burned her, with boiling water, she was only eight years old and the wounds she sustained were life-threatening. Karellen would save Qadira from the Burkholders after arriving to check on her later in the night.
On April 12th, 2007.
Qadira Was Taken to St. Providence Vincent.
In the emergency room, the doctor treated her wounds for only 20 minutes and neither transferred her to a burn center nor contacted law enforcement. Dr. Julie Andrews later dismissed the incident as an "accident." Qadira’s parents were sent home with minimal instructions for her care.
From 2007 - 2008.
Qadira is seen At OHSU.
Despite needing specialized care, none of the doctors at OHSU transferred Qadira to a burn specialist. Instead, she was treated in the plastic surgery unit. The medical team there instructed her parents to apply Silvadene cream and bandages to the wound. The couple were told to purchase the supplies themselves.
In April, 2007.
State Farm Reached Out To The Stephens.
Todd and Aimee's insurance agent, Beth Phipps, contacted the Stephens to offer financial assistance for Qadira's medical supply expenses. During this period, Qadira also received a visit from her school teacher. Later, Todd and his daughter Sophie came to the Stephens' home to visit Qadira.
In May, 2007.
The Stephens Seek Representation.
By first retaining Stephen P. Riedlinger from Susak and Powell. However, they would unexpectedly be called by Scott F. Kocher, a personal injury lawyer who knew the Burkholder family as he worked with city politician, Rex Burkholder, before. He offered to take the case on contingency, so the Stephens obliged.
Between April 2007 and August 2008
Scott Kocher Represented Qadira.
Scott Kocher advised that the Stephens file a lawsuit. He petitioned Karellen Stephens to be Guardian Ad. Litem for Qadira and filed a civil lawsuit against Aimee McQuiston for negligence.
Between April 2007 and August 2008
Stephens v. McQuiston Transpired.
Both Todd and Aimee would admit to burning Qadira, while playing "Little house on the Prarie" and Qadira's deposition would be taken in front of her abuser. The case would be seen by an all-white jury, who laughed while deliberating for only 10 minutes before declaring Aimee non-negligent in the injury of Qadira.
We Are Documenting A Long Story
Because of the length of this story and quantity of evidence, the next sections are incomplete at this time.
Key Details We'll Cover Next.
2008 - Law Enforcement Refused To Investigate.
The Stephens family reported Qadira's abuse to the Portland Police on August 16th. Karellen reached out to Sergeant Dan Liu, who was the head of the child abuse team at the time. In this section, the Stephens recount experiencing unfair and condescending treatment by the police during their interactions.
2008 - The Stephens' Reported The Abuse To DHS.
After suspecting that Qadira had been subjected to child abuse, the Stephens reported their concerns to the Department of Human Services (DHS). Unfortunately, the investigation conducted by DHS was lackluster and failed to thoroughly address Qadira's injuries. Additionally, the Stephens filed complaints against Scott Kocher with the bar association for his failure to comply with mandatory reporting laws. The couple also met with officials from Portland Public Schools (PPS) to discuss Qadira Stephens' situation and her continued proximity to her alleged abusers. However, PPS declined to take any action.
2011 - Qadira Nearly Dies.
As a result of complications from her injuries, Qadira entered a critical state of diabetic ketoacidosis and nearly lost her life. She was rushed to Emmanuel Hospital, where she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Later in the year, she suffered another setback when her right knee bone fractured, leading to a diagnosis of osteopenia.
2018 - Qadira Reported Her Abuse On Her Own.
Qadira and Karellen Stephens met with Senior Deputy District Attorney John Casalino to discuss the details of Qadira's case. After reviewing the evidence, John Casalino concluded that he could not identify any crimes committed against Qadira.
2020 - The Stephens' Protested.
Karellen and Renee Stephens started hosting weekly rallies to hold city officials accountable for their daughter's mistreatment. Initially, they organized a rally every Friday at Pioneer Square from 10 AM to 11 PM. Starting in 2021, they also began holding additional rallies every Wednesday from 11 AM to 12 PM in Multnomah Village.
These non-violent gatherings typically lasted about an hour and featured a small amplifier to project their message. Passersby were often invited to speak and share their views with the public. Throughout these events, there were no instances of threatening behavior or property damage.
This revision organizes the events chronologically and streamlines the description of the rallies, enhancing the overall clarity and impact of the narrative.
2021 - Christina Lindquist-Burkholder Revealed Disturbing Information About The Burkhholders.
Christina approached the Stephens after receiving a protest flyer from them. During their conversation, she claimed to Karellen that she had discovered a box containing disturbing images of children in Todd Burkholder’s home. She handed over a photo from the box to Karellen as evidence. Christina explained that she had already reported Todd to the police, but no action had been taken. Additionally, she showed Karellen images of her bruises, alleging that Todd had been physically abusing her.
2023 - The Stephens' Reported It To The Police.
Karellen and Renee Stephens brought all the information Christina provided to the Portland Police Bureau and the FBI, where officials confirmed the material was child pornography. Despite this identification, no law enforcement agency in Multnomah County has taken action against Todd Burkholder.
2023 - Christina Lindquist-Burkholder Was Jailed.
Shortly after the Stephens reported Todd Burkholder to the police for the suspected production of explicit child material, Christina Burkholder was placed in preventative detention by the Portland Police Bureau. She was held indefinitely on felony charges.
2023 - The Stephens' Were Charged.
Mike Schmidt charged Karellen and Renee Stephens with 19 counts of disorderly conduct each. Schmidt threatened the couple with a potential 10-year jail sentence and fines totaling $96,000. Subsequently, a court order prohibited the couple from entering Multnomah Village and Pioneer Square.
During the prosecution, it was revealed that Mayor Ted Wheeler had publicly stated in a city council meeting that he was collaborating directly with the District Attorney's office to secure the prosecution. Prosecutors Emily Korte and Glen Banfield were assigned to the case. Opting to represent themselves, Karellen and Renee waived their rights to legal representation and counsel, choosing to litigate pro se.
2024 - The Stephens' Case Was Dismissed
After nearly a year of self-representation in criminal court, the charges against Renee and Karellen Stephens were dismissed by the Multnomah County District Attorney's office. The dismissal came in response to a motion the Stephens filed, arguing that their actions were protected under the First Amendment.
Stand With Stephens
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