Shannon (@birdsandbeaksnation), known on TikTok, wanted to share her son’s story but ended up facing charges instead of getting the help she needed. Her ordeal started back on August 16, 2020, when her son, Sam Kramer, was coaxed to Historic Bridge Park in Battle Creek, Michigan, under the pretense of meeting a girl. Unfortunately, it turned into a nightmare as a group of guys attacked him, beating him until he was unconscious and dumping him into a river.
Shannon recalls, “What he didn’t know at that moment was this was all planned. They hit him with such force; he went out cold pretty fast.” The injuries were severe, leaving Sam with broken bones in his face and indications that he might have been thrown out of a moving car due to the extent of his hand injuries. He also suffered muscle tears in his back and damaged knees.
Luckily, a different group of kids spotted him floating in the water and rescued him just in time. But soon after, Shannon perceived that local law enforcement wasn’t taking the situation as seriously as she wished.
Fast forward five years, and many of those involved in this terrible attack still haven’t been questioned. Some witnesses who stepped forward also never had their statements taken.
In frustration, Shannon penned a letter to the prosecutor, threatening to use social media to shine a light on his inaction if he didn’t step up his game.
On the flip side, the prosecutor twisted a law meant to curb cyberbullying against her, stating that her intent to broadcast her story amounted to a breach of legal boundaries. As a result, in 2023, Shannon was found guilty for supposedly unlawfully posting a message, leading to a three-year probation sentence and a marked status as a convicted felon. The outcome? She lost her ability to voice her concerns and publish updates about her case online.
Recently, Shannon got some hope when the Supreme Court intervened, agreeing to hear her case. They recognized that her First Amendment rights were not accounted for during her trial.
Oral arguments are being scheduled, and attorneys around Michigan have been invited to weigh in, shining again a light on her son’s unresolved situation.
On a personal front, Shannon’s legal struggles have left her over $100,000 in debt from attorney fees. She can only manage to pay $100 each month across her defense costs, as she runs a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing birds and juggles her finances tightly.
“They’ve been so patient and supportive while I navigate this,” she expressed. “I wish I could do more. It’s overwhelming at times, but remember: it’s worth putting up the fight. The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to take my case!”
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