GUILTY IN - Skylea Carmack, 10, Gas City, Grant County, 31 Aug 2019 *stepmom arrested* *appeal filed 2022*

[AmandaReckonwith]

Carmack trial to stay in Grant County

David M. Payne, Carmack’s attorney, had submitted a request for the trial to be moved outside of the county in March, claiming his client would be unable to receive a fair trial in Grant County due to “Public hostility against the Defendant; Public outrage over the offense; Prejudicial news reporting or editorializing which castigates the defendant; (and) A social media (internet) petition requesting that the State seek the death penalty.”
...
According to Spitzer’s order, the prosecution and defense have agreed to meet and propose procedures to the court for voir dire, a process where attorneys and the judge question potential jurors to determine any bias or reason why they are not fit to serve. The order states the proposed procedures should “identify qualified and impartial jurors drawn from Grant County, as well as procedure for selection of jurors in light of pretrial publicity and the pandemic.”

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Skylea Carmack Case Archive:
Skylea Carmack -IN- by amanda reckonwith

Cell phone user, try this and scroll:
Skylea Rayn Carmack

 

[Jim_M]

Skylea Carmack Case Archive:
Skylea Carmack -IN- by amanda reckonwith

Cell phone user, try this and scroll:
Skylea Rayn Carmack

Thank you, and anyone else doing so, for these updates on this monster. May little Skylea receive the justice she deserves. We can hope.

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Yesterday there was a ceremony to honor Skylea. A memorial bench in the park. Loved ones and friends placed roses.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=259998468577790

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

Here are some good pics of the bench and planters from facebook,
(and I also added to the Case Archive).

Skylea Carmack Memorial Foundation

 

[Lusitana]

This case breaks my heart, she seemed like such a sweet little girl. Does anyone know who the people in the bench pictures are?

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

This case breaks my heart, she seemed like such a sweet little girl. Does anyone know who the people in the bench pictures are?

Yes.
5/23/20 Skylea Carmack Memorial Bench. Memorial Foundation members Ashley Lopez and Brittanie Stapleton stand with Skylea's parents, Staycee Smith and Kevin Carmack.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trial of stepmother accused of killing stepdaughter begins today | WANE 15

A Gas City woman is going on Monday for allegedly killing her step-daughter in 2019. Amanda D. Carmack, 34, is facing charges of Murder, Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death, Domestic Battery Resulting in Death to a Person Under 14, and Strangulation after police found her stepdaughter, 10-year-old Skylea Carmack’s body in a shed last September.

Later in September, Amanda Carmack filed a notice of using mental disease or defect as a defense. She was found competent to stand the trial which begins Monday, October 19 at 9 a.m.

Prosecutors are seeking life in prison without parole.

 

[Rosiebones]

I hope justice for Skylea is swift and complete and beyond appeal.

 

[Lusitana]

Justice for Skylea and those who truly loved her.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trial Begins for Gas City Woman Accused of Killing Stepdaughter - 93.1FM WIBC

 

[WilsonS]

All because of a charm bracelet. Justice for Skylea.

 

[MsMarple]

A little refresher:
Skylea Carmack had been confined to her room for more than a week, before her stepmother allegedly choked the 10-year-old Gas City girl to death last week, according to court documents.
...
Several other children in the home told police that Amanda Carmack was a "strict disciplinarian," who beat them with a pink belt and administered other punishments when they misbehaved, documents showed.

"They stated that when they were in trouble they would have to stand with their face against the wall with their hands in the air," State Police Detective Wendell D. Beachy wrote in the affidavit. "Sometimes they would remain in this position for several hours."
...
She [AC] admitted slapping Skylea in the face because she caught her stealing a charm bracelet.
...
Kevin Carmack, a truck driver, told investigators he was driving back from Maryland when he last spoke to his daughter in a video call about 3:29 p.m. Aug. 31.
Docs: Stepmom killed Gas City girl over charm bracelet

A sibling told police that Skylea was in her room when she went bike riding between 4 and 5 p.m. but was gone when she returned home at about 6 p.m. Stepmom claimed she couldn't remember all the details and couldn't explain why she strangled Skylea other than she was very angry.

IMO there's a strong connection between Skylea speaking with her dad around 3:29 and stepmom murdering her within a couple hours later and it has little to do with a bracelet.

I believe she'll be found guilty and will get LWOP. MOO.

 

[Tracey4AU]

Does anyone know if there will be a live stream at all? I know I couldn’t find one today.

 

[legalmomma]

Jury selection: Stepmother charged in girl's murder
Jurors being selected in trial of stepmother charged in ten-year-old's death

 

[CHEL]

Does anyone know if there will be a live stream at all? I know I couldn’t find one today.

https://public.courts.in.gov Select Grant County then Judge Spitzer. You can only watch it when it’s live.

 

[Tracey4AU]

https://public.courts.in.gov Select Grant County then Judge Spitzer. You can only watch it when it’s live.

Thank you so much!

 

[AmandaReckonwith]

It looks like the trial has been recessed until 11/4/20 because someone was exposed to covid.

I'll try and find a link.
OK, fb is the only one.
Pisses me off that this trial is getting just a little coverage.

Channel 27 News and Entertainment, Grant County

 

[JerseyGirl]

COVID cases stop trial of Gas City woman accused of killing stepdaughter | WANE 15

According to a court order, on Oct. 22, a person associated with the trial was notified of an exposure to a COVID-19-positive individual. That person was excused from the trial and subsequently tested positive themselves for COVID-19.

After that, staff, attorneys, parties and jurors were all tested on Monday. As a result, two more people involved in the trial tested positive for the virus.

On Tuesday, the court recessed the trial with the consent of all parties, the order said. The trial will resume Nov. 4 at 8:30 a.m., the order said.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Justice will come, it's just been delayed. Skylea , you are not forgotten