I’ll refrain from commenting on the mother since she hasn’t been formally charged with the murder…yet. But I imagine it was something like what she told authorities. She was with family maybe? (ETA: this is from the link posted above)
After the identities were known, Sgt. Smith said their investigation showed Amber was receiving benefits for Cadence from October after the child’s deceased body was found up until currently. During a “redetermination interview” phone call from the FBI on June 7, 2022, Amber Langley reportedly told the FBI agent that Cadence was alive and well. She also said they were living with Amber’s mother in Springfield, Oregon when she was actually living in Graham County.