A SADISTIC dad who beat and burned his baby son to death is a “Jekyll and Hyde” who one moment was “the nicest guy and then turned nasty,” his step dad has revealed.
Pensioner Melvin Bartholomew spoke out about the evil parents of Finley Boden jailed for murdering their son just weeks after he was placed back in their care.
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It comes as a damning report released on Wednesday found the poor child was let down by the “inadequate” local authority.
Stephen Boden, 30, and Shannon Marsden, 22, killed 10-month-old Finley in a “savage and brutal” murder during lockdown on Christmas Day 2020.
They were jailed for life in May last year.
The tot suffered an “appalling” catalogue of injuries including 71 bruises and two burn marks.
Finley also had 57 fractures to his tiny body that had been inflicted in the short period before he collapsed at his squalid home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Retired sheet metal worker and working men’s club steward Melvin described Finley as a “lovely little lad” whom he regularly visited but had “no concerns for his welfare.”
He said: “I’m still trying to work it out how and why this happened. I’m flabbergasted! Stephen could be the nicest guy then turn nasty, a real Jekyll and Hyde character.
“I don’t think Shannon was impressed with being a mum and I think she struggled.
“What happened to Finley is very bad, it’s terrible and shocking. He was a good baby. They both pleaded not guilty but were found guilty and they deserve to be locked up for a long time.
“It’s not for me to say if they are evil but people are and I am cross with what has happened.
“I don’t blame social services, they put the baby back onto the care of his parents so they mustn’t have had any concerns.”
Melvin, 75, married to Boden’s mum Christine Bartholomew, told how his step son “seemed like a good dad,” saying: “He did most of the housework and cooking as he liked being a dad.”
He told how his stepson’s real dad had died before Finley’s tragic death and he had been Christine’s husband for 10 years.
Melvin, speaking in April 2023 from his home in Matlock, Derbyshire, told how he quite often visited his step grandson with his wife.
He said: “I never saw him being badly treated, there was nothing to my knowledge untoward.”
He admitted: “Shannon had a bit of a temper too but I never felt the baby was at harm and he seemed happy. I never knew there was any problem
“I’m not aware of them taking drugs.”
Melvyn said that his wife was “standing by her son”, adding: “I’m just trying to keep out of the way.”
He told how mum-of-four Christine, in her mid 60s, had gone to an “Elvis night” with her friends in Alfreton after her son’s conviction at Derby Crown Court last April.
Tragically, the youngster had been returned to Boden and Marsden’s care just 39 days before he was killed.
The evil couple were convicted of murder amid tears from the judge and some of the jury.
During a harrowing trial, jurors were told Finley had been placed into care shortly after he was born.
But after being returned to his parents during lockdown in 2020 he was subjected to “repeated acts of severe violence”.
Damning report in council failings
On Wednesday (March 27), the Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership said in its Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review Finley should have been “one of the most protected” children in Chesterfield.
It found that there were “significant shortcomings” in the assessment and planning of Finley’s return to the family home.
The report added: “In this instance, a child died as the result of abuse when he should have been one of the most protected children in the local authority area.”
Officials also found that while Finley’s parents were responsible for his death, “professional interventions should have protected him”.
Although most of the abuse he suffered leading up to his death was unknown to professionals working with the family, safeguarding practice was still “inadequate”.
The last time officials had actually seen Finley alive was a month before his death but even then, they viewed him through a window as Marsden and Boden did not answer.
This came after a social worker noticed a bump on the baby’s head, which his parents blamed on an accident with toy.
The report pointed out it was “not clear” to what extent this excuse was probed by the employee.
A health visitor who went to the family home the following day was given the same excuse for the bump but did not raise it further.
Shockingly, a visit had been planned for December 24 – the day before he died – but this never took place.
Whenever officials went to their home, the pair claimed Finley had Covid to stop them from coming inside the property and witnessing evidence of the abuse inflicted on the little boy.
The partnership said it will “take the additional action necessary to further reduce the risk of a repeat of a similar incident”.
It made 11 recommendations in total – including that the partnership carries out “a multi-agency audit” of recent parenting assessments to consider the quality of analysis and conclusions.
The baby was also forced to live in squalor at the family home and slept on a vomit and faeces-stained cot mattress cover.
Even before he was handed back to his parents the couple had searched for several news articles relating to parent-involved child deaths.
One November 19, 2020 – the day he came home – similar chilling internet searches were also carried out.
Among Finley’s horrific injuries were burns caused by a “hot, flat surface” and another possibly from a cigarette lighter.
His pelvis had also been broken in two places – possibly after he was kicked or stamped on – and the inside of his mouth was torn.
He later developed pneumonia and sepsis as his drug-user parents worked together to hide his injuries from social services.
Just days before Finley’s death, messages were sent on their shared mobile phone reading: “Little one f***ing kept me up all night.
“I want to bounce him off the walls. Haha.”
Another text read: “F***ing been up all night, little one has been ill as f**k.”
Although it was not clear who sent the texts, Boden did message his drug dealer saying: “Just kid and missus doing my nut, and need a smoke bad. Haha.”
On Christmas Day 2020, paramedics scrambled to the home found Marsden “upset and screaming” as Boden attempted to resuscitate their stricken son.
Finley was rushed to hospital but tragically he couldn’t be saved and was declared dead shortly after.
Julie Patten, Councillor for Children’s Services at Derbyshire County Council, was last year blasted by local MP Nigel Mills and locals for failing Finley.
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She declined to discuss the case of the tragic toddler at the time, saying: “I cannot make any comment.”
When asked if she wished to say sorry to Finley’s relatives, she said that any inquiry had to made to the council.
She had opened the front door of her home in Etwall, Derbyshire, wearing just a skimpy bath towel wrapped around her.
The Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership said in its Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review the baby should have been “one of the most protected” children in Chesterfield.
It found that there were “significant shortcomings” in the assessment and planning of Finley’s return to the family home.
The report added: “In this instance, a child died as the result of abuse when he should have been one of the most protected children in the local authority area.”
Officials also found that while Finley’s parents were responsible for his death, “professional interventions should have protected him”.
Although most of the abuse he suffered leading up to his death was unknown to professionals working with the family, safeguarding practice was still “inadequate”.
The last time officials had actually seen Finley alive was a month before his death but even then, they viewed him through a window as Marsden and Boden did not answer.
This came after a social worker noticed a bump on the baby’s head, which his parents blamed on an accident with toy.
The report pointed out it was “not clear” to what extent this excuse was probed by the employee.
A health visitor who went to the family home the following day was given the same excuse for the bump but did not raise it further.
Shockingly, a visit had been planned for December 24 – the day before he died – but this never took place.
Whenever officials went to their home, the pair claimed Finley had Covid to stop them from coming inside the property and witnessing evidence of the abuse inflicted on the little boy.
Callous Marsden and Boden showed no remorse over their son’s death and even spoke about Christmas dinner in the police car and plans to sell Finley’s pram.
The following day, they were heard “laughing and joking” at a relative’s house.
Boden was jailed for at least 29 years last May, while Marsden was given a minimum of 27 years in prison.
Sentencing, Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples slammed the pair as “persuasive and accomplished liars” who inflicted “unimaginable cruelty” on their son without showing any remorse.
The Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership said this week it will “take the additional action necessary to further reduce the risk of a repeat of a similar incident”.
It made 11 recommendations in total – including that the partnership carries out “a multi-agency audit” of recent parenting assessments to consider the quality of analysis and conclusions.
Independent chairman and scrutineer Steve Atkinson said: “I offer my sincere condolences to Finley’s family and apologise on behalf of the partnership for what happened.
“The partnership agencies took early steps to improve systems and practices, responding quickly to an immediate review of Finley’s death and the circumstances in which it took place.
“In accepting in full the recommendations of this review – commissioned by the Partnership, completely independently of Derbyshire and the organisations involved – agencies will take the additional action necessary to further reduce the risk of a repeat of a similar incident.
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“The Partnership Board continues to seek evidence that these changes are fully implemented and will undertake regular reviews to ensure that they have the necessary impact to help keep vulnerable local children safe.”
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