Ashli Ford, Elsebeth Baumgartner still sharing photos of brutalized child online

Podcaster and disbarred attorney skip longstanding practice of not outing victims

SANDUSKY — Photos showing a brutalized 5-year-old girl immediately after she was assaulted on Sept. 13 remain posted on the social media accounts of Ashli Ford and Elsebeth Baumgartner.

Ford has posted that she is now “representing” the girl’s family as an advocate, though it is uncommon — and widely condemned by victim-advocacy and journalism standards — for anyone in that role to publicly share graphic photos of a child they claim to represent. The post Ford shared also lists the girl’s name and the images there include school portraits and other school photos, which clearly identify her.

Baumgartner has similarly alleged on her page that the child was the victim of a sexual assault, though she did not cite any independent source beyond what she claims was a Facebook post and gofundme page from the girl’s mother.

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Ashli Ford vs. Pattakos: Fierce feud preceded their partnership

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Baumgartner has argued that because the mother originally posted the photos, it is acceptable for others to republish them. Ford’s attorney, Peter Pattakos, did not respond to questions about whether he believes it is appropriate for Ford to publicly share the photos and the child’s identity.