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 reported the incident to police. Richardson was acquitted of charges of aggravated murder, child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter. She was found guilty of abuse of a corpse and received three years 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
editBrooke Skylar Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 9, 1999 |
| Known for | Burying her newborn daughter in her parents’ backyard in 2017. |
| Conviction(s) | Abuse of a corpse |
Personal life
editRichardson is from Carlisle, Ohio, where she attended high school and was a varsity cheerleader. She is the daughter of Kim and Scott Richardson, and has a younger brother.[5][6] She developed anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa as a 12-year-old and was diagnosed with body dysmorphia. She has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.[6]
Pregnancy and birth
editOn April 26, 2017, Richardson, a high-school senior, learned at a gynecologist appointment that she was pregnant and in her third trimester.[1][7] Richardson kept her pregnancy a secret from her friends and family. Two days after attending her senior prom on May 5, 2017, Richardson gave birth to a girl in the bathroom of her parents' house.[1] She named the girl Annabelle before burying her in her parents' backyard.
At another visit to the gynecologist, Richardson admitted to having given birth and burying the baby in the backyard.[1]
Investigation
editOn July 14, 2017, the skeletal remains of an infant were exhumed from the backyard of the home of Richardson's parents. Following an autopsy, forensic pathologist Dr. Elizabeth Murray determined that the baby's bones were partially charred and died of homicidal violence.[8][9] Murray retracted the assertion that the baby's bones had been charred before Richardson's trial.[1][10]
In a recorded interview by police, Richardson agreed with an investigator's suggestion that she tried to cremate the baby. When visited by her parents, Richardson reiterated her statement that she had attempted to cremate the newborn.[1][11]
Trial
edit| The State of Ohio v.s. Brooke Skylar Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Court | Warren County Courthouse (Lebanon, Ohio) |
| Verdict | Guilty of abuse of a corpse. Acquitted of aggravated murder, child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter. |
| Case history | |
| Subsequent action | Released early from probation in 2020. |
| Court membership | |
| Judge sitting | Donald Oda II |
In a trial on September 3, 2019, Richardson pleaded not guilty to charges in Warren County, Ohio, of aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter, gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and child endangerment.[12] The prosecution alleged that Richardson burned her newborn child's body before burying it in the backyard of her home.[10] The prosecution asserted that Richardson had performed an internet search of “how to get rid of a baby.”[13]
The defense argued that Richardson was subjected to an overzealous interrogation.[10] A psychologist diagnosed Richardson with dependent personality disorder and testified that this disorder could have led her to make a false confession.[13]
Aftermath
editFollowing 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, Richardson won a bid to have records of her conviction sealed.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f Moriarty, Erin (May 23, 2020). "The case against Brooke Skylar Richardson". www.cbsnews.com. 48 Hours. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Pack, Lauren. "Carlisle mother convicted of abusing of her baby's corpse, released early from probation". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ a b Grasha, Kevin; Biery Golick, Keith. "'I suffer a lot': Skylar Richardson's probation terminated nearly 2 years early". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ a b Scanlan, Rebekah (2022-12-28). "Secret baby burial case: Former cheerleader Brooke Skylar Richardson wins court bid". NZ Herald.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Mehrotra, Kriti (July 22, 2022). "Where Is Brooke Skylar Richardson Now?". The Cinemaholic. Gomsy Media LLC. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Latest: Attorney for teen mom says she didn't kill baby". AP NEWS. 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ Staff, WLWT Digital (2020-11-17). "Skylar Richardson released from probation, judge rules". WLWT. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ a b c Richter, Ed (2019-09-14). "'There was no proof at all': Juror describes Brooke Skylar Richardson verdict decision". journal-news. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ BieryGolick, Keith. "Skylar Richardson trial: 'I tried to cremate the baby,' she tells her father in police video". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
- ^ Helling, Steve (August 15, 2019). "Ohio Cheerleader Who Admitted to Burying Newborn's Body Wants Charges Dismissed". Peoplemag. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Hisle, Janice (2019-09-12). "Young Ohio mother acquitted of killing newborn". AP News. Retrieved 2022-03-20.