On May 7, 2017, 18-year-old Brooke Skylar Richardson gave birth at home and buried her newborn daughter in the backyard of her parents' house in Carlisle, Ohio.[1] Two months later she described what had happened to her doctor, who informed police. Richardson was charged with but acquitted of aggravated murder, child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter, and was only found guilty of abuse of a corpse. She was subsequently given three years of probation, which was ended early by the court.[2][3]

The case was profiled on a number of television programs including 48 Hours and Killer Cases.[4]

Brooke Skylar Richardson

Brooke Skylar Richardson
Born (1999-03-09) March 9, 1999
Ohio
Known forBurying her newborn daughter in her parents’ backyard in 2017.
Conviction(s)Abuse of a corpse

Personal life

Richardson attended Carlisle High School in Ohio, where she was a varsity cheerleader.[5]

Pregnancy and birth

Richardson became pregnant during her senior year of high school. After her first gynecology appointment, Richardson was told that she was pregnant and would be giving birth in a few weeks.[6] After hearing this news, Brooke cried out loud, stating she was not prepared to have a baby. She begged the gynecologist for birth control, despite already being pregnant. She kept her pregnancy a secret from her friends and family. Before giving birth, she searched “how to not have a baby” and “how to get rid of a baby" on the internet.[7] She attended her senior prom on May 5, 2017, but, within 48 hours, she gave birth to the child in the bathroom of her parents' house. She then buried the baby in her parents' backyard. The prosecution alleged that the baby was born alive while the defense argued that it was stillborn.

Since sixth grade, Skylar had suffered from an eating disorder.[8] The morning after the birth, she texted her mother from the gym, "I'm literally speechless with how happy I am. My belly is back omg".[9] For two months, the baby remained buried, and she did not tell anyone about the event. At another routine visit to the gynecologist, she admitted to having given birth and subsequently burying the baby in the backyard.

Investigation

The infant's skeletal remains were dug up from the backyard on July 14, 2017, and an initial autopsy determined that the baby's bones were partially charred and died of "homicidal violence".[10][11] However, forensic pathologist Dr. Elizabeth Murray, who had initially identified signs of charring on the bones, retracted that assertion before the trial.[8][12]

In a recorded interview by Police, with neither her parents nor her attorney present, Richardson was initially hesitant about the suggestion that she had burned the baby. But later, when a female officer was present, in response to being asked whether perhaps she had attempted a cremation, she agreed. And when her parents were brought into the interrogation room, she stated, "I tried to cremate the baby just a little."[13][8]

Trial

The State of Ohio v.s. Brooke Skylar Richardson
CourtWarren County Courthouse (Lebanon, Ohio)
VerdictGuilty of abuse of a corpse. (Acquitted of aggravated murder, child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter.)
Case history
Subsequent action(s)Released early from probation in 2020.
Court membership
Judge(s) sittingDonald Oda II

The prosecution alleged that Richardson had burned her newborn child's body before burying it in the back yard of her home.[12]

The defense argued that Richardson was subjected to an overzealous interrogation because of the baby burning theory, which was at this point unsupported.[12] A psychologist diagnosed her with dependent personality disorder and testified that this disorder could have led her to make a false confession.[14]

After the trial, a juror said that Richardson was not convicted on the more serious charges because the "prosecutors did not prove their case."[12]

Aftermath

Following the trial, Richardson attended college and worked part-time at the law firm that represented her. Her probation was terminated in 2020, nearly two years early.[3] In 2022, she won a bid to have records of her conviction sealed.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The case against Brooke Skylar Richardson". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  2. ↑ Pack, Lauren. "Carlisle mother convicted of abusing of her baby's corpse, released early from probation". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  3. 1 2 Grasha, Kevin; Biery Golick, Keith. "'I suffer a lot': Skylar Richardson's probation terminated nearly 2 years early". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  4. 1 2 Scanlan, Rebekah (2022-12-28). "Secret baby burial case: Former cheerleader Brooke Skylar Richardson wins court bid". NZ Herald.
  5. ↑ Helling, Steve (2019-09-13). "Ohio Cheerleader Sentenced to Probation After Judge Says She Showed 'Grotesque Disregard for Life'". People Magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  6. ↑ Baker, Jennifer Edwards; Schupp, Kim (4 September 2019). "OBGYN says Skylar Richardson told her 'I had it alone in my house and I buried it in my backyard'". www.fox19.com. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  7. ↑ Steinbuch, Yaron (2019-09-06). "Ex-cheerleader 'didn't mean any harm' to her slain newborn". New York Post. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  8. 1 2 3 "The case against Brooke Skylar Richardson". www.cbsnews.com. 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  9. ↑ London, John (2019-09-05). "'My belly is back': Text messages sent by Skylar Richardson after alleged baby's killing revealed in court". WLWT. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  10. ↑ "The Latest: Attorney for teen mom says she didn't kill baby". AP NEWS. 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  11. ↑ Staff, WLWT Digital (2020-11-17). "Skylar Richardson released from probation, judge rules". WLWT. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Richter, Ed (2019-09-14). "'There was no proof at all': Juror describes Brooke Skylar Richardson verdict decision". journal-news. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  13. ↑ BieryGolick, Keith. "Skylar Richardson trial: 'I tried to cremate the baby,' she tells her father in police video". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  14. ↑ Hisle, Janice (2019-09-12). "Young Ohio mother acquitted of killing newborn". AP News. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
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