When rescuers lifted Max from the pipe, he barely noticed their hands. His gaze darted past every adult until he found Max next to Manny. Clutching Manny’s sleeve, he whispered the only question that mattered: “Is my sister safe?” The boy’s trembling voice carried every fear he had endured alone in the dark.
With the evidence uncovered, Vale was charged with arson for the sake of collecting insurance, child endangerment, and assault. Once the story reached the news, more complaints surfaced from former placements—families who had been too afraid to speak earlier. Prosecutors built a formidable case, ensuring Vale’s incarceration.