Richard Luthmann and I were back for the 46th episode of The Unknown We discussed the America Party, Tucker Carlson’s interview with the Iranian president, and the Diddy verdict in the current events segment.
In the What the Hales segment starting thirty-seven minutes in, we talked about the recent revelations that Jeremy Hales lawyer, Randall Shochet, has a long history of deceit.
Then, fifty-six minutes in, we discussed the first hearing from the Idaho Child Custody and Domestic Relation Task Force hearing on July 7, 2025.
Whereas Arizona’s committee- the precursor to Idaho- generally held hearings by asking people to testify for three to seven minutes, the Idaho hearing had more structure.
There were two names I recognized.
Magistrate Kyle Schou is an Ada County judge, and I watched one of his hearings in May.
He was behaved and professional that day, however, the case file showed he allowed an abuser unfettered access to his children.
In November 2024, Mitchell Wood, according to testimony that day, threw his kids out of his home.
Soon after, he demanded they return; when they refused, he filed for contempt against his ex-wife, Kelly O’Toole, whom he abused during their marriage.
Schou granted his motion, and Mitchell had the children full time when the hearing took place.
Kelly’s lawyer, Ron Brilliant, argued effectively that Mitchell’s custody time had been made up, and Magistrate Schou ordered the parties back to their original agreement- 50/50.
Only he said that would happen after he wrote the order, which he still has not.
While Schou presented a rosy picture during his testimony, this was contrasted with the passionate testimony of the parents, during the 1-4PM session.
Kelly testified, stating, “I have been accused of alienation, a theory supported like law. Family court has turned my life into a nightmare.”
Kelly further stated that she spent over $30,000 in the last four months, trying to overturn the mess Magistrate Schou made.
Along with Kelly, Veronica Baiz- who testified in Arizona- also testified, noting she is currently in front of Magistrate Schou. She’s been kept away from two of her kids for well over a year. She said that her ex-boyfriend, Kyle Engels, has been violating their court order, taking away the little time she’s supposed to spend with their two children.
The court has done nothing to enforce its own court order; she told the committee.
Also testifying was Dr. Bandy Lee, who also testified at a recent Arizona ad hoc committee hearing.
Arizona Republican State Senator Mark Finchem and Arizona Republican State Representative Rachel Keshel chair that committee, and Senator Finchem testified on Monday.
One theme Senator Finchem has repeated in his Arizona hearings is the misuse of temporary court orders.
Vickie Devai, in her Idaho testimony, testified that she has been on a temporary court order for about a year and a half.
Several women testified that failure to investigate child abuse and molestation has caused irreparable harm in their cases.
Nicky Adams testified that she received documents from a whistleblower showing emails and other communications which proved that police were actively covering up, rather than investigating, the child abuse her children had disclosed.
“I have a prosecutor emailing an officer if my daughters have ever reported abuse. That officer said no. Four weeks prior to that email, my daughters told me that the abuse was increasing.” She said.
She said that a police officer laughed at her after she reported abuse.
“I have been told by the police they’re not going to investigate the corruption and concealing of this,” Nicky stated.
Aubrey Shawn followed Adams and said her husband was arrested for domestic violence in 2015.
She said her husband retaliated against her after she filed for divorce. The court ordered her to have a psychological evaluation, and she was accused of being unstable.
She has lost access to her children, she said.
The task force has already announced a follow up hearing on July 31.
The full hearing is below.
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