Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story

In the real story as told on the ID Channel's true crime series "Evil Stepmother," Donna Yaklich allegedly, both physically & verbally, abused her stepchildren, especially the youngest, which was her 5 year old stepdaughter. Also, during the autopsy there was no evidence found of steroid use in Dennis Yaklich's remains. Moreover, the decease's family accused Donna of stealing $11,000 from his parents & that she was motivated by greed. Dennis had $325,000 worth of life insurance.

Halfway through watching it, I discovered that it was supposed to be based on a true story. I made a Google search and found that the reality was totally different to the portrayal in this TV drama. Even though it claims to be based on a true story, it isn't. That was very misleading. Regards to the facts of the story, one wonders why they made this rubbish and omitted what actually happened. The acting was good, which is why I voted two stars.

but the truth is, no woman should EVER endure this torture from her husband.

While Yaklich's reputation has been marred as having planned this out (to collect insurance money) this does not mean she deserved to be beaten and emotionally abused by her husband. Yes, he was a vice cop; that does not give him carte blanche to treat everyone as subordinate, which he apparently did.

There is a brief appearance by Hillary Swank, as Donna's stepdaughter. Brad Johnson and Jaclyn Smith fit the roles accordingly, and if even half of this film is accurate, Donna's husband was a monster.

This film is educational, and helpful for women's issues. Whether or not the victim received money, in the end, is a moot point. Donna deserved a stable marriage, and instead endured years of abuse. This is NEVER acceptable. 8/10

This woman was a horrific child abuser and murder that murdered her husband and then destroyed his reputation. Her own son wants nothing to do with her. This move was fictional in its' entirety. She was anything but a victim.

I am shocked at the manner in which some people view domestic abuse. It seems that if the woman is being abused, she did something to deserve it and the punishment is light. I believe that Dennis Yalkich was a bully and abused his position as a police officer. It is a known fact that he intimidated his co-workers and would stop at nothing in order to get his way. Why didn't others report him? Are you kidding me? Would you report someone who might come and terrorize you and yours? Where could Donna go? 'Leave her child and flee for her own safety'?? What mother in her right mind would leave her child with a monster? The injustice and unprofessional manner in which the judge acted is such a poor example of our justice system. While I think that the movie could have been 'better', I still thought it was good enough to watch on 2 different occasions. I've read nothing but support for Dennis and how he was the 'victim' here. I see a lot of other victims, those who sympathize with those who abuse their positions and take advantage of others.