Parents have to trust caregivers. It’s just a fact of life. Often we feel more comfortable with a family friend than a daycare. That’s what Tiffany and David Shell did for their daughter Annie. They trusted Brandi Giannunzio. She babysat their two youngest daughters. She was good with their girls. They had no reason to believe Brandi would leave their girls with her boyfriend. They had never met Benjamin Brown. But on August 9, 2018, he was left alone with their daughters. And then they had to face the unthinkable. 

 
 

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Show Notes

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley 

Researched and written by Erica Kelley & Gemma Harris

Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner 

Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio

Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder and Erica Kelley 

Image sources include: public records, David & Tiffany Shell, WVTC, and Times Free Press

RESOURCES FOR REPORTING CHILD ABUSE:

SOURCES:

  1. https://www.williamsonandsons.com/tributes/Annie-Burkett 

  2. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/aug/22/babysitter-in-hixson-toddler-case-not-eligible-to/ 

  3. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/feb/14/mguilty-death-hixs2-year-old/ 

  4. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/feb/20/babysitter-in-hixson-toddler-death-case-to-get/ 

  5. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/aug/19/babysitter-in-hixson-toddler-case-to-get-third/ 

  6. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/feb/12/brown-trial/ 

  7. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/feb/13/jury-will-consider-mans-own-testimony-charges/

  8. https://people.com/crime/tenn-toddler-murdered-babysitter-boyfriend/ 

  9. https://www.local3news.com/update-babysitter-boyfriend-charged-in-death-of-hixson-toddler/article_0170b68c-8f3d-5d09-8257-91d3647b90aa.html 

  10. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/babysitter-boyfriend-charged-in-hamilton-county-after-3-year-old-girl-dies 

  11. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/feb/02/some-charges-dropped-against-babysitter-in-hixson/ 

  12. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/dec/05/babysitter-gets-new-attorney-in-hixson-toddler/ 

  13. https://news.yahoo.com/jury-hears-text-message-exchange-230100246.html 

  14. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/soddy-daisy-man-found-guilty-in-hamilton-county-for-death-of-two-year-old-girl-chattanooga-tennessee 

  15. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/7/6/452056/Brandi-Giannunzio-Faces-Trial-For.aspx  

  16. https://www.facebook.com/justiceforannie18/

  17. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/soddy-daisy-babysitter-who-pleaded-guilty-to-falsely-reporting-childs-death-learns-her-fate-tuesday-brandi-giannunzio-benjamin-brown-criminally-negligent-homicde-filing-false-report?fbclid=IwAR0As7n0RmH9mcGPfqopPOuh3bB5BC6Q1OA5QvpxDWCfoD9s3yxtxbUU1OY 

  18. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/babysitter-charged-with-false-report-in-2-year-old-soddy-daisy-girls-death-pleads-guilty-brandi-giannunzio-benjamin-brown# 

  19. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/an-accused-in-a-hixson-childs-death-says-hes-innocent# 

  20. https://www.local3news.com/local-news/man-found-guilty-of-killing-local-toddler-in-2018-sentenced-in-court-on-wednesday/article_50aa0378-c67a-11ec-8335-bb75d47aa8c6.html 

  21. https://www.wdef.com/trial-begins-in-shaken-baby-case/ 

  22. https://apnews.com/b75e56ade2634b3fb275c774b5679813 

  23. https://www.wdef.com/family-of-annie-shell-disappointed-following-benjamin-brown-verdict/ 

  24. https://foxchattanooga.com/soddy-daisy-man-found-guilty-in-hamilton-county-for-death-of-two-year-old-girl-chattanooga-tennessee 

  25. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/after-2-year-olds-murder-grandfather-questions-low-bond-amount 

  26. https://www.wdef.com/benjamin-brown-convicted-on-lesser-charges-in-death-of-child/ 

  27. https://www.wdef.com/benjamin-brown-takes-stand-in-his-own-defense-and-admits-to-lying/ 

  28. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/feb/14/mguilty-death-hixs2-year-old/ 

  29. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/apr/27/signal-mountamsentenced-wednesday/ 

  30. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/jul/06/babysitter-lawyer/ 

  31. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/jul/25/chattanoogattorney-files-motiasking-judge-rec/ 

  32. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/feb/13/jury-will-consider-mans-own-testimony-charges/ 

  33. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/feb/09/trial-begins-maccused-murder-death-2-year-old/ 

  34. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2023/8/22/473638/Judge-Denies-Diversion-For-Baby-Sitter.aspx 

  35. https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Shaken-Baby-Syndrome 

  36. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/shaken-baby-syndrome 

  37. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/SBSMediaGuide.pdf 

  38. https://www.dontshake.org/ 

  39. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shaken-baby-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20366619#:~:text=If%20a%20baby%20is%20forcefully,child%20won't%20stop%20crying. 

  40. https://cjuscriminal.hamiltontn.gov/appfolder/cc_Web_Calendar.aspx 

  41. https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/OpinionsPDFVersion/Majority%20Opinion%20-%20State%20of%20Tennessee%20v.%20Benjamin%20Spencer%20Brown%20-%20E2022-00577-CCA-R3-CD.pdf 

  42. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2018/9/28/377048/Benjamin-Spencer-Brown-Charged-With.aspx 

  43. https://foxchattanooga.com/news/local/babysitter-charged-with-false-report-in-2-year-old-soddy-daisy-girls-death-pleads-guilty-brandi-giannunzio-benjamin-brown 

  44. https://original.newsbreak.com/@lele-strickland-1733073/3132951152378-death-of-annie-shell-judge-denies-request-for-diversion 

  45. https://www.wdef.com/benjamin-brown-gets-big-win-is-eligible-for-immediate-probation-despite-conviction/ 

  46. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/hamilton-county-family-shares-journey-for-justice-healing-after-losing-toddler-to-babysitters-negligence-soddy-daisy-annie-burkett-shell-brandi-giannunzio-benjamin-brown?fbclid=IwAR1KSszb1IWG147Obn31Qyz9fAVGK8XA1sj9pWiBblmwyMwcmOey-K1iwZc 

  47. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/2/12/443342/Defense-Brings-In-Nationally-Known.aspx?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook 

  48. https://www.local3news.com/local-news/day-four-testimony-continues-in-the-death-of-a-soddy-daisy-2-year-old-in/article_f6f6e71c-7af5-11ec-8522-af175e1d8aa6.html?fbclid=IwAR39Xu9GVygR698OibIHSOWA-wP7geUIXRrMuBCUNEECq-wWXsyY22oMZZo 

  49. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/2/12/443359/Benjamin-Brown-Testifies-In-His-Own.aspx 

  50. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/2/12/443374/Jury-To-Continue-Deliberations-On.aspx 

  51. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/4/27/448107/Benjamin-Brown-Sentenced-To-3-Years.aspx

  52. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/05/shaken-baby-syndrome-cases-sad-truth.html

  53. https://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/09/13/appeals-court-agrees-shaken-baby-syndrome-is-junk-science-in-some-cases/

  54. https://foil.app.tn.gov/foil/details.jsp

  55. https://www.expertinstitute.com/expert-witness-fees/

  56. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2021/12/health/shaken-baby-syndrome-legal-battle/chapter-1.html