For the past eight days, jurors heard gripping testimony in the trial ofBrooke Skylar Richardson. Both the prosecution and the defense presented their respective cases, and the jury began deliberations on Thursday afternoon.
Later on Thursday, the jury delivered a verdict: they found Richardson not guilty of aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment. She was found guilty of only one charge: gross abuse of a corpse.
Now 20, Richardsonpleaded not guilty. On Tuesday, a judge threw out a charge of tampering with evidence, saying that the prosecution did not meet its burden of proof on that charge.
Here are some of the shocking trial’s biggest bombshells.
1. The Question of Cremation
In court last Friday morning, prosecutors played a recording of a police interview with Richardson in 2017. At the end of the interview, she spoke to her father — and the conversation was recorded. A transcript was read for the jury.
“Honey, tell us what happened,” her father said, according to the transcript.
Greg Lynch/The Journal-News via AP
2. Richardson’s Eating Disorder
Richardson’s brother took the stand on Wednesday to discuss their upbringing — and disclosed that the 20-year-old woman suffered from a longtime eating disorder.
Jackson Richardson was a character witness for his sister. He told the jury about family vacations and holidays, but said everything was not perfect in their home. He told the jury that she would hide food, and said he would sometimes hear her throwing up.
“I just wanted her to be happy,” he said.
Also on Thursday, the defense called Chris Curry, an English teacher at Richardson’s high school. He testified that she wrote an essay on her eating disorders.
Brooke Skylar Richardson and family.Greg Lynch/The Journal-News via AP
3. Her Incriminating Texts
In court on September 4,prosecutors presented textsthat Richardson allegedly sent her mother, who did not realize that her daughter was pregnant.
Prosecutors allege that Richardson texted her mother again the day after she buried the child. She had gone to the gym and was documenting her weight loss in photos, prosecutors said.
“I’m literally speechless with how happy I am,” Richardson allegedly texted. “My belly is back omg I am never ever ever evertrrr letting it grt like this again your about to see me look freaking better than before omg.”
“Last night was like the worst ever,” she wrote. “But I feel so much better this morning. I’m happy.”
Nick Graham/The Journal-News via AP
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Prosecutors allege that Richardson did not want to be a single teen mom with college only a few months away. In the weeks after learning of her pregnancy,Richardson didn’t return for an ultrasound, bloodwork, or any other treatment, while also ignoring calls from the doctor and assistants, prosecutors have said.
She also told police that she looked into an abortion, but it was too late to have one. She denied that she performed an abortion on herself.
source: people.com
