GUILTY GUILTY OF ABUSE OF A CORPSE ONLY OH - Annabelle Richardson, newborn, found in grave 7 May 2017 #3

[abeaman02]

This case has been fascinating, controversial and confusing all at once and in the center of it is a little baby named Annabelle. I have gone back and forth so many times on what I think happened. Obviously I know she was pregnant and delivered a child on her own in the middle of the night. Was she alive? Was she stillborn? I don't know.
Having a 19 year old daughter who was bullied (remember bullying comes in many forms) I tried to put myself in the mind of BR. What I see is a girl who was bullied by her the one person you would not necessarily expect it from...her mother. I believe her mother brought her up to feel like looks and being thin were everything, and I think this became BR's mantra. I am sure there were many times when Br wished she could just be herself, but I also see someone with very low self esteem who was always trying to please her mother. (My daughter was bullied in school by girls for being overweight, funny thing is she was not heavy, just not stick thin. It caused her to start cutting and took 2 years of therapy...I remember one time she showed me a picture of her and her "friends" and I said how cute and she said why am always the fat shadow.) Imagine the bully being your mother. I also feel like she felt that if she ever did anything to make her mother think she was less than perfect, she would be a failure.
I think it would be hard to grow up with a mother who was extremely vain and who placed so much emphasis on looks and what people think of you.
I do not believe this excuses what she did, but it helps me understand why. I am not going to go into my feelings of what happened that night because I don't know. I do think the toll on her self esteem and her wanting to just be accepted played a huge roll in all her decisions (right or wrong) that she made. Including when she was delivering Annabelle all the way through the 2nd confession. None of this makes what she did right, this is just me thinking. This is all MOO

 

[stmarysmead]

What I find depressing is how little the TRUTH about a crime or lack thereof...matters in our current system. We now have jury consultants to study who to pick and how to manipulate those picked...and “expert witnesses” whose “opinions” are for purchase if you can afford it. They study how to dress “the client”, what to tell the media, how to influence, convince and distort.

We have DA’s like Mike Nifong of Duke Lacrosse infamy who created a racially charged storm of a hoax to get himself re-elected. He understood that the outrageous and false statements he made before trial...would certainly insure his re-election in Durham. He planned for a plea to cover that he had nothing. Easy-Peasy. It was never about Crystal Mangum..it was always about HIM.

We have this prosecutor who convinced many that maybe the baby was “burned alive.” Good people, caring citizens are moved to believe these authority figures because they TRUST they would not say anything that they cannot prove in court.

But they do.

Meanwhile, Defense attorneys turn their efforts to creating an emotional bond between the Accused and the jury. See the jury holding hands...oh my...they have had witness after witness...not about the truth of the evidence...or facts...no, a pity party for the defendant. Let’s give the bag of bones you buried a sweet name...let’s call her “Annabelle.” Let’s get that jury crying for YOU, not the dead baby.

Emotion, emotion, emotion...our system is drowning in it! It’s so slick and manipulative and plainly...these trials are rarely about FACTS and truth anymore.

It’s “May the best Manipulator Win!” Who cares about the truth of whether there was a crime or not....

 

[BlackCloud]

What I find depressing is how little the TRUTH about a crime or lack thereof...matters in our current system. We now have jury consultants to study who to pick and how to manipulate those picked...and “expert witnesses” whose “opinions” are for purchase if you can afford it. They study how to dress “the client”, what to tell the media, how to influence, convince and distort.

We have DA’s like Mike Nifong of Duke Lacrosse infamy who created a racially charged storm of a hoax to get himself re-elected. He understood that the outrageous and false statements he made before trial...would certainly insure his re-election in Durham. He planned for a plea to cover that he had nothing. Easy-Peasy. It was never about Crystal Mangum..it was always about HIM.

We have this prosecutor who convinced many that maybe the baby was “burned alive.” Good people, caring citizens are moved to believe these authority figures because they TRUST they would not say anything that they cannot prove in court.

But they do.

Meanwhile, Defense attorneys turn their efforts to creating an emotional bond between the Accused and the jury. See the jury holding hands...oh my...they have had witness after witness...not about the truth of the evidence...or facts...no, a pity party for the defendant. Let’s give the bag of bones you buried a sweet name...let’s call her “Annabelle.” Let’s get that jury crying for YOU, not the dead baby.

Emotion, emotion, emotion...our system is drowning in it! It’s so slick and manipulative and plainly...these trials are rarely about FACTS and truth anymore.

It’s “May the best Manipulator Win!” Who cares about the truth of whether there was a crime or not....

Best post ever here

 

[MyBelle]

Yes I'm unclear how all this would work legally. You have the issue of an apparently stillborn baby then the issue of the mother convicted of abuse of her corpse. I wonder if there are cases were someone gets custody (probably custody is not the right word...possession maybe?) of a corpse to rebury or whatever after another person is convicted of abusing the corpse. I have a sneaking suspicion that Fornshell is discussing with the Johnson family behind the scenes and that this could be the next 'twist' in this 2 year plus case. On the other hand the fact the Johnsons have apparently not spoken to the media in 2 years plus makes me think maybe they won't start now? But I wonder.

If Fornshell tries that, I think it will be a P.R. disaster for him. The maternal grandfather was the child's advocate in court, not the unmarried father of the stillborn baby.

JMO

 

[beatrixpotter]

Its a slippery slope. I wavered. I think she INTENTIONALLY acted to make sure she didn't have a 'live' baby. But where is the line drawn, I guess from this trial it is actually right at birth and the first breath (or gurgle???)

So if i'm 8 mo's pregnant and feel my baby kicking, and then intentionally starve myself, take laxatives and do anything i can to make sure i have a stillbirth, is that murder? manslaughter? or just MY BODY, MY CHOICE? The line is blurred IMO.

Well, all across the country people in hospitals make the choice to do nothing to help a living baby continue to live even at times when the parents beg. Why? Because they decide it's not worth the effort, it costs a lot and the chance of an ideally healthy life is not necessarily high. There are repeated attempts to pass laws not requiring assistance to newly born babies. You can also abort in many places up till birth. The line IS blurry and I think it's profoundly hypocritical.

I just read in this thread someone criticize Skylar because she thinks she chose to end her baby's life after birth INSTEAD of ending it while she was pregnant......

 

[Tillicum]

What I find depressing is how little the TRUTH about a crime or lack thereof...matters in our current system. We now have jury consultants to study who to pick and how to manipulate those picked...and “expert witnesses” whose “opinions” are for purchase if you can afford it. They study how to dress “the client”, what to tell the media, how to influence, convince and distort.

We have DA’s like Mike Nifong of Duke Lacrosse infamy who created a racially charged storm of a hoax to get himself re-elected. He understood that the outrageous and false statements he made before trial...would certainly insure his re-election in Durham. He planned for a plea to cover that he had nothing. Easy-Peasy. It was never about Crystal Mangum..it was always about HIM.

We have this prosecutor who convinced many that maybe the baby was “burned alive.” Good people, caring citizens are moved to believe these authority figures because they TRUST they would not say anything that they cannot prove in court.

But they do.

Meanwhile, Defense attorneys turn their efforts to creating an emotional bond between the Accused and the jury. See the jury holding hands...oh my...they have had witness after witness...not about the truth of the evidence...or facts...no, a pity party for the defendant. Let’s give the bag of bones you buried a sweet name...let’s call her “Annabelle.” Let’s get that jury crying for YOU, not the dead baby.

Emotion, emotion, emotion...our system is drowning in it! It’s so slick and manipulative and plainly...these trials are rarely about FACTS and truth anymore.

It’s “May the best Manipulator Win!” Who cares about the truth of whether there was a crime or not....

...or justice

 

[Jewels53]

I only got to watch about 80% of this trial, but I thought the investigators who questioned Skylar sucked big time. I think they might have had a better chance of involuntary manslaughter if they had asked more questions about did she make any attempt to do cpr on the baby, did she attempt to clear the baby's face and nose, did she try to "slap" the baby on the back to get it breathing? Ask why, once she realized she was in labor, she didn't do at least a cursory internet search about what a home delivery would be like and what she would need to do if she didn't intend to go to the hospital or get help from her parents. They should have emphasized more of the options she could easily have availed herself of, even if she wasn't going to the hospital or getting help from her family, if she expected to deliver a live baby.

Welcome to WS AnnInOhio Great First Post!

Skylar had no intentions of the baby surviving. Yes it might have helped if the investigators asked those questions. I think they went with facts they had. imo

 

[Tillicum]

If Fornshell tries that, I think it will be a P.R. disaster for him. The maternal grandfather was the child's advocate in court, not the unmarried father of the stillborn baby.

JMO

AFAIK it has not been proven the baby was stillborn.

 

[Gardenista]

Oh no. Are the families fighting over the remains?
Does Skyker or her family have a civil case going on right now?

I hope they file a civil suit ASAP.

 

[AnnInOhio]

It's not a crime to have a stillborn baby. The state can't charge someone with manslaughter if they go into labor at home and don't, as you say, do a cursory Internet search about what to do etc. The state can't criminally punish a woman for not delivering a live baby.

IMO the prosecution in this case wanted to punish BSR criminally for many things that are not actually crimes. For not behaving a certain way (the whole 'what kind of a mother wouldn't scream, ask for help, buy diapers, x,y,z). For not wanting a baby. All things which weren't elements of the crimes charged, with the exception of the charge she was convicted on.

I just think there is a difference between delivering a baby that is truly dead/stillborn, i.e. has been declared dead in the womb by a physician and then having to deliver a dead baby or a baby who is born not breathing and cannot be revived, versus delivering a baby who is alive but unable to breathe either because something is blocking its airway or it's head is under water and the mother chooses not to assist the child for her own selfish reasons. Legal or not Skylar is going to have a lifetime to weigh her personal choices, and I hope that whole family gets some intense counseling.

 

[Jewels53]

What I find depressing is how little the TRUTH about a crime or lack thereof...matters in our current system. We now have jury consultants to study who to pick and how to manipulate those picked...and “expert witnesses” whose “opinions” are for purchase if you can afford it. They study how to dress “the client”, what to tell the media, how to influence, convince and distort.

We have DA’s like Mike Nifong of Duke Lacrosse infamy who created a racially charged storm of a hoax to get himself re-elected. He understood that the outrageous and false statements he made before trial...would certainly insure his re-election in Durham. He planned for a plea to cover that he had nothing. Easy-Peasy. It was never about Crystal Mangum..it was always about HIM.

We have this prosecutor who convinced many that maybe the baby was “burned alive.” Good people, caring citizens are moved to believe these authority figures because they TRUST they would not say anything that they cannot prove in court.

But they do.

Meanwhile, Defense attorneys turn their efforts to creating an emotional bond between the Accused and the jury. See the jury holding hands...oh my...they have had witness after witness...not about the truth of the evidence...or facts...no, a pity party for the defendant. Let’s give the bag of bones you buried a sweet name...let’s call her “Annabelle.” Let’s get that jury crying for YOU, not the dead baby.

Emotion, emotion, emotion...our system is drowning in it! It’s so slick and manipulative and plainly...these trials are rarely about FACTS and truth anymore.

It’s “May the best Manipulator Win!” Who cares about the truth of whether there was a crime or not....

Excellant Post!

 

[Jewels53]

I hope they file a civil suit ASAP.

Why should they file a civil suit they have done nothing wrong. imo

 

[MyBelle]

AFAIK it has not been proven the baby was stillborn.

It wasn't proved the baby was born alive. But the facts presented by the medical experts in testimony have convinced me the baby was stillborn.

JMO

 

[Sommar]

I'm neither happy nor disappointed with the verdict. I've gone back and forth on this one. (Though I have to say I was pretty turned off on how vehemently so many seemed to be convinced she was guilty.) I hope justice was indeed served in this case though.

And I hope BSR can get some help. She clearly needs it. :/

I'm likewise very conflicted and have gone back and forth. It's all unspeakably sad and tragic, and none of us will ever know what actually happened that night. I've always thought it would be interesting to be on a jury, but I don't envy these jurors. I have empathy for nearly everyone involved and/or affected.

 

[Gardenista]

A finding of not guilty is not the same as a finding of innocence. The jury did not find her innocent of murder. It is not a fact that she did not murder her child. It is fact that the jury felt the state failed to satisfy its burden.

Incorrect. They wrote in on their verdict form that she did not cause any harm to Annabelle.

 

[Seattle1]

I completely agree with your last statement. It's very disappointing to think that physical appearance still has the ability to hamper justice.

IMO the baby was born alive. I've read some people say a baby wouldn't make a gurgling sound. That is exactly what a baby sounds like immediately after coming out before getting the birthing fluids suctioned out of the throat.

I understand this was a hard case, but again I think the baby was alive. And her mother is responsible for her death. There are plenty of cases where a parent neglecting to get their child help when sick or injured results in tragedy and prison for said parent. I'm sad justice wasn't served in this case.

I also agree that BSR killed her newborn, but believe the US Judicial system functioned as intended.

From the moment BSR entered the police station for the very first time on July 14, 2017, she was positive of three things.

In her own thoughts and words, she repeatedly told detectives the following:

1) She gave birth to the baby in the toilet bowl, and left her inside for a few minutes;

2) After she retrieved baby from the bowl, she squeezed the baby hard;

3) She unwrapped the naked, lifeless baby from a towel, and buried her in the ground.

BSR has never wavered from these three facts.

Detectives contacted BSR to come to the station after a doctor reported a patient claimed to deliver a baby, and bury it in her back yard.

During this time, detectives were mostly focused on ascertaining the exact location of where in the yard the baby was buried.

While asking about layout and/or treeline -- BSR spontaneously blurts out "Am I going to be in trouble for murdering her?"

From the time BSR arrived at police station, never had murder or killing been spoken.

Detectives completely ignored her question -- and continued asking about site, and if flowers planted in the same spot.

When BSR was later reunited with her parents, BSR told her dad, "I squeezed the baby really tight, that's the only thing I can think of."

Ignoring everything else known about this case, I believe BSR intentionally stopped the baby from breathing, as told to detectives in her own words, on the very first day.

MOO

ETA: For BSR, killing baby was as easy as 1, 2, 3.

 

[princessdana]

I also agree that BSR killed her newborn, but believe the US Judicial system functioned as intended.

From the moment BSR entered the police station for the very first time on July 14, 2017, she was positive of three things:

1) In her own thoughts and words, she repeatedly told detectives that she gave birth to the baby in the toilet bowl, and left her inside for a few minutes;

2) After she retrieved baby from the bowl, she squeezed the baby hard;

3) She unwrapped the naked, lifeless baby from a towel, and buried her in the ground.

BSR has never wavered from these three facts.

Detectives contacted BSR to come to the station after a doctor reported a patient claimed to delivered a baby, and bury it in her back yard.

During this time, detectives were mostly focused on ascertaining the exact location of where in the yard the baby was buried.

While asking about layout and/or treeline -- BSR spontaneously blurts out "Am I going to be in trouble for murdering her?"

From the time BSR arrived at police station, never had murder or killing been spoken.

Detectives completely ignored her question -- and continued asking about site, and if flowers planted in the same spot.

When BSR was later reunited with her parents, BSR told her dad, "I squeezed the baby really tight, that's the only thing I can think of."

Ignoring everything else known about this case, I believe BSR intentionally stopped the baby from breathing, as told to detectives in her own words on the very first day.

MOO

my thoughts exactly great post

 

[Gardenista]

Considering the note they wrote on the verdict form the jurors must have really been outraged at what the State tried to do to her. I hope the jurors come out blast the evil people who did this to her into the next universe.

However, I won't be surprised if they are too frightened to come forward.

 

[Mariposa]

I also agree that BSR killed her newborn, but believe the US Judicial system functioned as intended.

From the moment BSR entered the police station for the very first time on July 14, 2017, she was positive of three things:

1) In her own thoughts and words, she repeatedly told detectives that she gave birth to the baby in the toilet bowl, and left her inside for a few minutes;

2) After she retrieved baby from the bowl, she squeezed the baby hard;

3) She unwrapped the naked, lifeless baby from a towel, and buried her in the ground.

BSR has never wavered from these three facts.

Detectives contacted BSR to come to the station after a doctor reported a patient claimed to delivered a baby, and bury it in her back yard.

During this time, detectives were mostly focused on ascertaining the exact location of where in the yard the baby was buried.

While asking about layout and/or treeline -- BSR spontaneously blurts out "Am I going to be in trouble for murdering her?"

From the time BSR arrived at police station, never had murder or killing been spoken.

Detectives completely ignored her question -- and continued asking about site, and if flowers planted in the same spot.

When BSR was later reunited with her parents, BSR told her dad, "I squeezed the baby really tight, that's the only thing I can think of."

Ignoring everything else known about this case, I believe BSR intentionally stopped the baby from breathing, as told to detectives in her own words on the very first day.

MOO

I see your points, but interpret differently. "Am I going to be in trouble for murdering her?", IMO reasonable to say as a panicky thought of someone having been brought into police questioning in this situation. She also said many many times she didn't hurt the baby.

Squeezing really tight, when I watched that part of the interview I almost thought it more in line with a frantic check if the baby was OK. Many commenters have asked why didn't she do CPR (police asked her she saif she didn't know it), suction airway, etc. I see this squeezing as a clumsy attempt at assessing if alive. I understand though that others may see it as sinister.

 

[Pak31]

I haven’t had the chance to read all the posts here as there are so many. This case intrigued me and I didn’t think to come to this thread earlier. I am appalled at this girl and her behavior. I think she’s guilty as sin. I believe she knew she was pregnant before the doctor even told her. She researched ways to get rid of the baby. She took birth control while pregnant. I can’t say whether the baby was born alive or not. In my heart I believe she was but even if she wasn’t, the actions BSR took while pregnant led to the stillbirth. The way she treated the baby after delivering it regardless if she was alive or not are despicable and sickening. Promiscuous at a young age plus her mom condoning it by taking her to get birth control? I think mom knew. The doctor told her mom that she was pregnant, she knew her daughter was sexually active, she had a belly and yet still didn’t suspect? Yeah and I was born yesterday. She’s messed up for sure. She deserved some major jail time but sadly she’ll probably walk. Walk back to another guy. Sorry but a nice girl as she’s portrayed to be, would never EVER do this. She’s fooling everyone and that’s sad. Fortunately I believe we all meet our maker and have to atone for what we’ve done in our life on earth.