Danielle Ellyse exposed the fact that Tanner’s girlfriend, Shelbie Sterling, had frequently abused their children, Micah, Lily, and Xander.
Statistics consistently show that stepchildren are disproportionately victims of severe physical abuse and neglect.
Blending families through a new relationship can bring joy, but for some children, it introduces a dangerous risk of abuse.
Danielle Ellyse is tired of staying quiet and described being broken, in therapy, and on medication due to the stress. She vows to continue being an advocate for her children, despite legal delays and personal battles.
Her Facebook post highlighted painful questions about protection, accountability, and the long shadows cast by family violence.
Also, see: We’ve Changed Teams Several Times: Parents Desperate After Son With ASD Endures Ongoing Swim Team Bullying
A Mother’s Plea: Abilene Football Star Micah’s 11 PM Call Exposes Years of Abuse
Danielle Ellyse has shaken the community with her story, revealing years of alleged child abuse, systemic failures, and a painful family betrayal centered around her children.
Her son, Micah, is a footballer.
In a detailed Facebook post, Ellyse recounted the night of November 6, 2023, when her son Micah called her at 11 PM, “distraught, crying, and hyperventilating.”
He had witnessed his father’s girlfriend, Shelbie Sterling, pin his sister Lily to the ground and beat her. Later, he had to sneak to retrieve his phone, which was often confiscated, and call for help.
Ellyse stated that the children’s father, Tanner, did not call the police immediately and told her that they were to figure out what to do. She believed that it was an attempt to cover up the incident.
When police were called, Sterling allegedly lied about the extent of the violence and was not initially arrested.
Medical documentation and a hospital visit revealed Lily had bruises from multiple incidents over time. A detective later told Ellyse that without those photos and records, they would have thrown out the case.
Ellyse learned that the physical, emotional, and verbal abuse had been ongoing for years through forensic interviews at a children’s advocacy center.
The allegations include burning food and forcing the children to eat it, shoving candy down their throats, destruction of belongings, isolation, and violent punishment for minor incidents.
Child Protective Services (CPS) was involved, and it lasted until March 2025. Tanner was placed on supervised visitation after a text showed him siding with Sterling.
As I was leaving Eastland, I was contacted by my assigned caseworker to come to the office and change the safety plan. She told me word for word, “no children should be anywhere near this woman, she is a psycho.” It had been changed twice in 24 hours due to the severity of abuse and lack of protection by their father.
Danielle Ellyse
The most painful revelation for Ellyse was that Tanner remains with Shelbie Sterling. He has stuck by her side even after what she did to their children.
While Sterling is barred from contact with the children, Ellyse says Tanner still supports her financially and emotionally.
Ellyse revealed Tanner is currently under CPS investigation for allegedly giving Micah a black eye over Thanksgiving break. The children now struggle with emotional outbursts, aggression, and trauma.
If you support this man or woman in any way I would like to disrespectfully say F**K YOU, that says a lot about your character and morals. This is just one of MANY incidents I’ve had with these two evil people since they started dating in 2020.
Danielle Ellyse
