Okay. >> Okay. Hold on a second. When you say you had the baby, where were you? >> I was in my bathroom. >> You were in your bathroom. Okay. Were you on the toilet or in the bathtub or on the floor? >> Were you seated on the toilet? >> Yeah. That's when I had a baby. >> Okay. How did you um How did you know you were going to have her? Did you have it? >> I can feel it. And something needed to come out. I can feel it. >> That is 18-year-old Brook Skyler Richardson telling police about the morning she gave birth alone in her family's bathroom in Carile, Ohio. Her daughter Annabelle was later found buried in the backyard. Whether Annabelle was ever alive and what happened to her became the question at the center of everything that followed. >> I can sometimes be selfish, but I would like to think that I've become better in the knowledge that I've upset everyone and hurt so many people with what I've done. >> Carile, Ohio, a small town in Warren County between Dayton and Cincinnati. In the spring of 2017, Skyler Richardson was a senior and a cheerleader at Carile High School. In late April, a test at a doctor's office showed she was pregnant and already far along. She kept it a secret. On May 5th, she went to her senior prom. 2 days later, on May 7th, she gave birth alone in the bathroom of her family's home. Her daughter, Annabelle, was buried in the backyard. In July, Skylar went back to that doctor's office and told the doctor she had given birth and buried the baby. On July 14th, the office contacted authorities. That same day, Skyler sat down with police, and that night, investigators found Annabelle's remains. Weeks later, prosecutors alleged the remains had been burned, and Skyler was charged with aggravated murder. But the forensic anthropologist behind that finding later said she could not say with reasonable certainty that the bones had been burned at all. what happened in that bathroom and what Skylar told detectives would decide her future. >> You know how you hear people talk about your rights, your right to remain silent and that sort of stuff. We have to go over that since when we're doing an interview with someone, okay? It doesn't mean you're charged with a crime obviously or you ask about being arrested, all that, but it's something we have to do before we ask even a witness if it's something serious. Okay. >> Is your your first name is Brooke. Is there an E or >> E? You go by Skyler. Yes. >> And what's your last name? >> Richardson. >> Richardson. Okay. >> You probably have We don't have that in here anymore, do we? >> I can grab it. >> No, I can Yeah. What's your um social security number? >> Uh I don't do it. No. >> That's okay. That's okay. That's okay. A lot of people don't. You'll one day you'll know that. You'll know that like the back of your the back of your hand. So, um I forgot to start. You will learn accept fresh college. >> And she did say that she is going to go to UC. >> Oh, cool. Psychology. >> Oh, really? >> What do you want to do with that? >> Maybe like developmental psychology, working with kids, maybe. >> Oh, that's cool. 14207. I'm sure the time is about 1:30. Um, this is Lieutenant John Fame with the Warren County Sheriff's Office. I'm also here with Officer 8. Yeah, I'm sorry. >> And Cardinal Police Department and we're sitting here with Brooke Skyler Richardson. She goes by Skyler and I guess the time is about 13:30. And before we talk to you, this is the sheet I was talking about. Okay. What I'm going to do is I'm going to go over these things with you and if you understand them, I'm just going to have you write your initials on the first line right there. Okay. The first one says, "You have the right to remain silent." Second one says, "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him or her present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before questioning if you so wish. And then you can decide any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Um, and then can you can you read this part out loud for me? This that just that last paragraph. declare that I knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently wave my constitutional rights. >> Um, and are you under the influence of anything right now? Any alcohol, any drugs or anything like that? Okay, that's part like where it's like intelligently and all that stuff. So, if you're okay, then just sign right sign right there. >> I know. I've like a child. Okay, Skyler, this is kind of different because a lot of times when we we do an interview like this, there's there's a lot to talk about and get into, but this is more of a simple thing. Um, it might be hard for you to talk about. You might feel embarrassed and everything, but really with this one, there's no way other than just to come out and say, "Okay, we we got a call that we prepared. We got a call from the doctor's office." Okay. So, are you familiar with what doctor's office with OBGYn? Yeah. >> Okay. So, um I'll just share with you the information, you know, that they they gave us. Um I'm going to say these dates, but I can't say for sure these are the exact dates, but they're the dates that they gave us. Okay. So, we're just going off the the information they gave us. And according to them, on April 26th, you went to a doctor's appointment. Does that sound right? Okay. Um, and also according to that day you found out you were pregnant. Okay. Is that true? Okay. Um, and do you tell me about like how did you end up um making that appointment? I mean you're 18 by then cuz your birthday was March, right? You turned 18 in March. Okay. Um, how did you make that doctor's appointment? I mean, or did you just want to go to the doctor? Did you want to get on birth control? >> On birth control. >> Okay. Did you make an appointment yourself or did you talk to your mom? My mom helped me make this. >> Okay. Your mom helped you make it. Did she go with you? >> She did go with you. Okay. Did she find out that day that you were pregnant? >> I didn't tell either. >> She didn't. And since you were 18, the medical staff wasn't required >> required to tell her. Um, and if I got information right from the doctors, they maybe did an ultrasound, >> I think. So, yeah. >> Okay. And did they tell you how far pregnant you were? How many weeks? >> Oh, we can put the honest here. I don't >> you didn't hear. >> Okay. >> Could they have told you 32 weeks or maybe they could >> maybe I know I was far away >> and you was probably you know you're far along. You um was it a shock to you? >> It it was kind of >> okay cuz I >> Reason reason I asked that is um cuz they they said you didn't know you were pregnant even though you were that far along. You didn't know. Did you have some suspicion or >> Yeah. I just didn't want to like I didn't want to let myself know. I feel nervous, especially to tell me I think was her biggest fear because she just thought, I don't know, just had all the thoughts that a young young girl was going to have, you know, and that's not really what you're planning. You're just planning on being a freshman at UC. I mean, you know that for sure, you know, and you're you're pregnant. So, um again, I can understand like all that like that fear and just the shock and and everything. So, how did you um how did you know you might be or what made you think you might be? >> I was really big. >> Pretty big. >> Okay. You're getting Could you feel your baby? >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. Cuz I cuz I mean at 30 let's say it was 32 weeks. Like they're >> pretty active, right? I mean, obviously I didn't feel it, but I've seen that my wife had seen um and you probably I'm going to guess hadn't had a period in several months, >> but um before then I was a little irregular with my period. So I tried to think that maybe it was normal. >> Think maybe that was it until you started. Well, and then when you could feel um so when you let me go back a little bit now when you were making the appointment, even though your mom didn't know this where you kind of wanted to find out if you were pregnant or confirmed if you were. >> Yeah. I just like I had a feeling if I were they told me and stuff, I just I didn't like Well, my parents, they're going to be so mad at me. Do me a favor cuz set this real quick. Um, if you can and your nurses try to speak a little bit louder, okay? Just like make sure we can hear you. So, you find out they they confirmed that you are pregnant. Um, what goes through your mind? >> My parents are going to kill me. I didn't like want to tell them. I didn't like want to tell them. I still don't really want to tell them, but now they're going to know. Um, >> okay. >> They'll probably be very disappointed in me. >> Okay, that sounds kind of like what my daughter said. the same thing went through her mind and stuff. I mean, I can see all that, especially you're you're 18 years old and and everything. And so, what do they do at the doctor's office? What do they tell you? I mean, they tell you you're pregnant, but do they do they want to talk to your mom or anything? Or do they want you to tell your mom? What? >> Yeah, I think they wanted me to tell my mom, but I did not want to tell her. >> You didn't want to did you tell them that that was your wish? You don't want them to tell. And you you were 18, so they had to go by, >> you know, it's not like you were a minor or anything. You're an adult now. >> Did you tell say anything to them about it or ask him about any options or anything you could do or what you should do? >> I didn't I didn't really want to have my baby, but I didn't get rid of it. Um I didn't really know what I should do. Um I never called the place back or anything to see my >> Which place? The doctor. >> The doctor. I never called them back to make another appointment. >> Okay. But they wanted me to, but I didn't cuz I was scared. >> Okay, I understand. Understand that, too. Let's jump ahead now to Let's jump ahead to this week to Wednesday. Was it Wednesday? >> Yes. >> You went back to that doctor's office. >> Okay. What was the purpose of that visit? >> To check back up on my birth control. Um, and I told her what had happened. >> Okay. You told them what happened. Okay. What did you tell them happened? But I had to have a baby and it wasn't alive. >> Okay. Um, >> I didn't kill the girl. >> Oh, we're we're we're not we're not saying anything like that. That's not why you're here today. We're not saying that. Um, did you say her? Okay. It was a girl. Um, so so what did you tell tell them? So you you had you told them you had to have the baby and she wasn't alive. Um, did you know what date that it happened on? >> May 7th. >> It was for sure. Okay. cuz that's the date they told us. But I didn't I just want to make sure the information they gave us was the same. Okay. And I'm sure you remember it for sure cuz it was a horrible day. I'm just going to assume it was a horrible day. So now, and this is probably hard, but but again, we're just um we're just trying to get this, you know, that kind of gives you a chance you a chance also to >> Am I in trouble? >> What's that? >> In trouble? No, I we're just we're just trying to figure out just kind of what the whole reason we're here today is just try to figure out um just like on May 7th what what happened are are you okay and what the information we got from the doctor. So let's um let's go to May 7th that day and um tell us about and and try to make sure we can hear you on here, but tell us about what happened. Kind of walk us through exactly what happened. you know what you what you felt or where you were and just kind of tell us what happened. >> I had the baby and I didn't >> Okay. Hold on a second. When you say you had the baby, where were you? >> I was in my bathroom. >> You were in your bathroom. Okay. Were you on the toilet or in the bathtub or on the floor? >> Were you seated on the toilet? >> Yeah, that's when I had the baby. >> Okay. How did you um How did you know you were going to have her? Did you have it? >> I could feel it. And something needed to come out. I could feel it. >> So, you felt that feeling? Um, do you know, have you ever heard the term when people say their water broke? >> Yeah, I don't think I >> But you didn't. Well, you would. I think you would probably know. >> It just came out um when I pushed and it was breathing. >> Um, >> did you just make any sense? >> Okay. Um, so you're you're seated on the toilet and I guess and and I'm just just trying to So, do you have your hands or are you going to try to catch her? >> Try to sit on anything. >> Okay. So when she I assume cuz you were able to deliver there by yourself, she wasn't breached or anything else. So she came out head first. Is that right? >> I think because I don't know what happened. They just kind of came out and tried. I tried. >> Okay. No. And I I understand. I understand. When when she came out, did were you able to catch her? Did she go into the toilet or were you kind of >> No, I kind of caught HER BY THE HEAD A LITTLE BIT. >> Caught her by the head. Okay. And so when you say a little, are you are you holding her head and like maybe feet or something or hanging down into the toilet or how? Okay. >> Well, and it's probably hard to remember exact details and I'm just trying to just trying to visualize it. There will be things that you can't specifically remember cuz it's traumatic and it's not your fault. You know that you can't I I understand that no one here No one here thinks that you did, Skyler. There's we're not judging you where we think you are a scared 18year-old, you know, girl who even though 18 is when you're an adult, you know, it's like I said, I've had kids a long time. So, you're still a very young woman at 18 years old and you're going through this alone because you told anyone yet? Okay. So, >> have you ever told anybody? >> Yeah. See, that's what I mean. So, you're you're doing this all on your own. You've got no help. So, it's going to be overwhelming. I mean, I wouldn't expect it any other way. [screaming] So, let's go back and you're holding her. So, and maybe you should probably hang down. So, what do you what do you do next? >> Put her on my arms like I don't know where she's breathing. She have a heartbeat. Just stop breathing. >> Um, how did you how did you I know the breathing part you can kind of tell. See, did you ever did you ever hear a cry or a whimper? Um, did you um when you say she didn't have a heartbeat, did you try to check in? trying to feel. I'm trying to help. >> Tried to feel on her chest to push hard. >> And did you Were her eyes open or closed? They were closed. >> They were closed. Okay. Um, can you remember whether or not she still had the umbilical cord attached to her belly button? >> I don't remember. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Understand. Um, so now you're you're holding her in her lap. Is that correct? Do you have a towel or anything or is she just on your legs? >> There's a towel. I have a towel. Um, it's just all fill in the bathroom. >> Yeah. >> And this is this is at your house. I think you said earlier, right? Okay. >> So then it it's okay. It is it is okay. I mean, we're like I said, I said I can't we're not judging you. We're not doing anything. I mean, I feel horrible for you. You're 18 years old. You're doing this by yourself. Um I've seen my oldest daughter when she was pregnant. the guy that was the dad who I mean it was determined later on for sure he was dead. He denied it the whole time. He was not there. I was the one in the delivery room with her. I mean he just so other than me, you know, she was on her own, but still it wasn't considerably. She had me and you had no one. So I know what she went through even with me being there to help her and you were by yourself. So I I can't even imagine how how you've been you've managed to make it, you know, and just carried this weight on your shoulders all by yourself. So, um, and again, I'm so sorry that you have you've had to do that by yourself. And so, now you've got her wrapped up in the tow you've been holding. And so, you decide you decide you have to bury her. Why do you decide you have to bury her? >> I couldn't tell anybody >> because you hadn't told anybody and you still didn't want to tell anybody. >> I didn't It's just It's not for us to say, Scott. It's not for us to say it's really bad cuz we're not we're not trying to judge you or do anything like that. Okay. >> You going to put me in jail because of that? >> No, I'm I'm not that's not why I'm here today to try to put you in jail. We're still all we're trying to do is find out. We're still just trying to find out what happened. Okay. And so you decided you needed to bear because obviously it's the proper thing to I mean every every person even a baby at 34 weeks roughly everyone deserves a burial, right? >> She deserves better. Yeah, I mean she's well a lot of times people are in situation where they may deserve better. You know, you probably deserve you deserve better than to be all by yourself on this. But you know, we don't always get to have a say so and what what life hands us. So, um, so you decide you got to bear because it's the right thing to do and it's the best thing. If you're not going to tell anybody, it's probably the best way to do right by her, right? I mean, then you want to do right by her. >> Um, which that is very noble. I mean, I I get that and it says a lot about you because even going through that and how awful it is, you want to do the right thing even though I'm sure your heart was probably torn out. Absolutely torn out, but yet you still want to do the right thing. Um, so you decide you got to bury her. Um, how did you even think about that? Did you know where you would bury her? >> I didn't want to bury her. My god, you are so >> Okay. A Kleenex or anything? >> Did she grab a Kleenex? Are you sure? Well, just let us just let us sit down. Yeah, we we are. And I I know I feel bad cuz I'm making you talk about like the worst parts of it now. And >> get to go home. >> We're going to talk. Yes. So, we're still trying to figure out exactly so what happened. Um, [screaming] >> I'm sorry. >> So, Skyler, she's getting your SC. You don't have to apologize, okay? Like I said, I mean, I hope you believe me. I'm telling you the truth about my daughter and everything. So, I I've seen her go through this, so I know you're going through a horrible thing and you've had to do it all by yourself. So, you wanted to bury her in the backyard again and and do flowers. So, um, is that what you did? How did you take us through that? So, what did you do with Did you bury her immediately? >> I tried to I tried to, but after >> Okay. So, what did you do with her um when you got ready to go down and I guess maybe look for a shovel or whatever you'd need. Where did you put her? >> I had her with me. >> You had her with you? In a towel? Okay. Um did did you did you end up burying her at your house? Okay. Was the shovel or whatever you used? Was it at your house? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, so just just kind of help me, you know, walk through this. So what did you do? I guess is your bedroom upstairs or bathroom upstairs? Okay. So you have to walk downstairs. >> I had to clean myself up a little. >> Are you carrying her? >> Yes. >> Um, did you go into the garage or do you have an outdoor shed like where you have a shovel? >> My garage. >> Okay. And what did you find or what did you use? She kind of shuffled. I just put a little hole in my backyard and put her in it. >> Okay, I understand. What did you do? Did Did you have And you didn't have any help, right? Okay. What did you do with her while you were digging the hole? >> I put her down. >> Was she outside with you or were you um were you worried that anybody was going to see? >> Yeah, I should have told my mom. She could have >> understand. But I mean, what was it? Daytime. >> No, it was the middle of the night. Oh, it was the middle of the night. Night time. Did it wake you up like you felt like something was >> I didn't sleep that night. >> Oh, you didn't sleep? Okay. Cuz you already feel like something was going on with her. >> No. >> Okay. Um, so this was the middle of the night. Were your parents home? >> Yeah, they were asleep. >> They were. And they were asleep. Um, >> they didn't hear me. They didn't hear me. >> Did the dogs hear you or anything or my dog upstairs? >> Okay. So, you take her with you. How far how far down do you think that you dug? >> Not that deep. >> I'm sorry. >> Not that deep. >> Not that deep. >> Strong enough. Hurt really bad. >> Well, and that's what the reason one reason I asked that is cuz I know um the ground can be pretty hard and and you're trying to do it by yourself. You're upset. It's horrible. You just have a shovel, right? Like that. And you just have a pick to help break stuff up. Oh, a little shovel. How far down would you like if you could even guess do this? Would you say like this far? This far? this far. Maybe only that far. She So, you dig a hole. You dig a small hole. Um, did you place her in the hole? >> Okay. Was she still in the towel? >> No, I took her out of the towel. >> You took her out of the towel? Did you lay anything down there in the dirt or was it just the dirt? It >> was just her dirt. >> No, I'm I'm I'm not saying that. I'm just trying to um try to figure out and try to picture. And then you you covered her up. with with dirt, right? And then then what did you do as as far as did you do anything else? And there were only reason I guess were you worried that someone was going to notice that or see that or >> I planned this to tell my parents? >> What what part of your yard is it? Like if you're >> backyard, >> right, the back yard, but let's say I looked at your backyard a little bit. off like at your back deck your like that door there [sighs] looking out into your yard which would it be off to the left to the right straight back >> curve straight back just a little >> it's all the way back there like where that tree line is where the trees are >> um and would you be able to show us exactly where it is? >> Yeah. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Um >> did you um wait stay with me for just a second. Did you ever get a chance to plant flowers yet or anything? I just found some my phone was put on her. >> You put them on there. Okay. Are they still there or was that back when it happened? >> Back when it happened. >> That was back when it happened. Okay. And now then, have you have you been back there since? >> Maybe once. It's hard. >> Yeah. Oh. And I'm not saying that you should or shouldn't. I'm just trying to figure out. I'm wondering what does it look like now? Can you still see the spot where you dug? >> Yeah. Cuz I got a little face by her. It's a little flower pop by her. >> Okay. Obviously, there was so much going through your head and everything. And when you um when you buried her, um can you tell us about how what did you do right after did you tell us about now um going back in the house? Like what do you do right after you bury her? >> Clean up the wood. >> Did you um did you have anything to clean up? I had a towel. >> Yeah. What did you do with that towel? >> Just threw it away. >> You threw it away? Okay. Did you throw it away inside the house or in like the rumpy bin out in the garage or threw it away? Maybe like a couple days later. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Did you think about telling anyone at that time or were you still pretty sure? >> No, telling my mom. I should have told my mom. >> You thought about it? >> Yeah. I was really sorry if it was over. >> Well, it's okay. I mean, no one, [sighs] again, we're not, no one can judge, you know, what you did at at that time, you know, we weren't we weren't going through what what you went through at all, you know, so I can't say you definitely should have told your mom, you know, because I I wasn't going through it. So, and we're not here to try to do that. Um, you said, so this is in the middle of the night, right? >> Yeah. >> You said the next day you delivered your after birth, would it have been later on that same like calendar day, but later during the day? Can you remember? because I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT was supposed to look like. >> What the um it >> I just came out like something like came out with the body, but there was like it was just a lot. >> Yeah. Well, and that that was probably it because it's a lot and it kind of looks it I just won't really even describe it. It's kind of it looks very unique, but then once you see it, you you know what it looks like. But um so that came out. Have you gone to any other doctors after that? Not including the appointment you went to 2 days ago. Did you go anywhere to get checked out or anything after after you delivered her? And Okay. Are you still doing okay? >> Okay. >> It's going to be over soon. >> It it will be. Let's let's talk about exactly what happened. Tell me the first thing when when you say you didn't sleep that night that this happened, you know, leading up to you didn't sleep. Is there a reason why you weren't sleeping? It was always hurting. >> It was always hurting. So you felt like something was wrong. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And so did you maybe think you were going to or just there was so much pain you couldn't sleep or you felt like >> Yeah, it was just a lot of pain. >> Okay. Had you had any pain prior to that? >> Uh that day. Yeah. >> Like what what kind of pain? >> Just it hurt like I was going to tell like cramps. >> Okay. Cramps like were they piercing like sharp? >> Yeah. Like in my back >> and in your lower back. Okay. Up to this point, Skylar has described giving birth alone and burying her daughter in the backyard in the middle of the night. The detectives have been gentle, reassuring, and patient. Now, the questions turn. Back in late April, a doctor's office had told her she was pregnant and already far along. Investigators want to know what she did after that visit, whether she ever tried to end the pregnancy, and what her phone might reveal. you know, and now I've, you know, I've got some hard questions, you know, still still too to ask you that we're we're obligated to ask because um we want to make sure not just for for your health going forward and stuff, but um I I know, you know, because of that and also because this wasn't something that you planned or or expected or hoped for, you know, we can't help but wonder, you know, I'm going to need to talk to you about the possibility of um did to help yourself with an abortion, you know, to help um >> you you would never use >> I'm not saying that you did, but I'm, you know, just following the reason we we've got to talk about this a little bit is because I know that um this wasn't planned. It wasn't expected. And the medical staff, you know, they were actually concerned when you left that day. You found out that that you were going to get an abortion or or try to, you know, give yourself one possibly just as a result of, you know, cuz this wasn't, you know, what you planned and expected or anything. Um, but you're saying that there was there was nothing like that. Um, let me be fine. Let me ask you this. Did you um did you ever think about it? >> I mean, I'll be honest. I I thought about when they told me I was pregnant, I asked if I could not have it, like if I could get an abortion, but I was too far in the home. >> I think cuz you were too far along. Okay, which I I understand that. My daughter thought about it. My daughter thought about it, too. Um [sighs] did you um did you do any research on it? >> Um I kind of thought maybe if I could like figure out if it wasn't like if I wasn't actually, but no, I don't think. I can't honestly remember. I promise I couldn't try and kill her. >> Okay. Um, that's what that's what we're we're trying to figure out. And >> and I don't think um we you know I I I guess I'm not mean to say did you try to kill her? You know, I'm just asking you if you you know considered giving yourself an abortion because that happens a lot. You know, people give them spouse an abortion. Um, did you ever did you ever search anything um on the internet about giving yourself an abortion or having an abortion? >> No, I just kind of thought of maybe looking up ways to maybe see if I could not have it, but I never followed through with anything. >> Um, what kind of ways did you look at or where did you >> maybe how to have an abortion without going to the doctor, but that was it. And I never did anything. >> Okay. Did you um how did you look that up? just Google it. >> Google it. Um on your phone or on a tablet or >> I believe it's my phone, I think. I don't know. >> Okay. Do you um do you have a tablet or a desktop computer at your house that you use? >> Yeah, I have like I have a couple I have a Kindle, but I didn't look it up on my Kindle. >> You didn't look it up on your Kindle? Okay. So, probably your phone, right? I mean, most of us, everything we >> we do is >> um >> Did you not try and kill my baby? >> So, what did you um what did you find out when when you looked up um how to have an abortion? >> Nothing that even sounded relevant really. Nothing. >> Okay. Um I mean, were there were there no sites that popped up as far as like like helping yourself have an abortion? Uh >> and and reason and Skyler, reason I'm asking you this is one thing we have to do. Um is we're going to have your phone and we're have to do what's called a forensic examination of your phone. Um and what that does is it's almost kind of scary because how much we use our phones, but what what that does is it will go back in our phone and it will bring everything up. like let's say my phone here. Um well actually I just remember I bought something from Home Depot. I bought a ceiling fan for a house I'm building about 6 months ago. When we go in and we do a forensic download of my phone, it will go back and it will show the date and time where I put ceiling fan home depot and then it will show as I clicked and clicked and it will literally show everything everything I looked at um the duration of how long I was on that page. And so, and I'm not trying to scare you, but I'm just I'm just wanting to make sure, you know, that this is that you're completely honest with us because the the phone is is going to show everything, you know? So, I I need to know because I feel like you've been really honest so far and but this is a big part right here because if you say one thing and then your phone shows another, then that's when we would really have a big problem. And I don't you've already been through so much. I don't want to have a big problem where we've got a big discrepancy. >> No, I I'm I'm just trying to rack my brain. I don't want >> Okay. Well, take I mean, take your time. If you need to get a drink and just try to try to think try to wrap my brain about it because because this is really really important. And um if um I mean that cuz I I know I know it's hard to say because you already feel so bad. You feel so guilty. You say you you felt like she deserved so much more. And I believe you. But also there's part of me that knows you've already been through so much. You're going through this on your own and you've got a healthy baby, you know, at 32 weeks and then on April 26th and then on May 7th, you know, suddenly you deliver her in the middle of the night. And I know just based from from my experience and doing this doing this job since before you were born, um there are a lot of times where people just get so overwhelmed and it's too far along to get an abortion at a place and they they still feel like it it's the better choice because um for for everyone kind of. And so I I need to know and I need you to think really hard about this moment right now because it's so it's okay if you're able to tell me and you want to tell me the truth. You know that I that I I assist her. Not that you tried to abort her or kill her, but you tried to assist your delivery so you could deliver it all. >> I promise I didn't truth anything like that. She just came out and I wasn't ready. I didn't want to. >> Okay. Okay. Um, what about So, let's go to your phone. Um, when we look in there, how much research are going to are we going to see about having or getting an abortion? >> Probably not a lot. I really don't think I really didn't think that much into it. I really don't know what I planned to do. >> Okay. Well, and and I'm I'm just again I wasn't there, so I don't know. And I know you're you're going through so much. There's so much everything going through your mind when this happens. Is there going to be any any sites or links or anything you visit or where you looked up where it said, you know, how to give yourself an abortion or how to do a selfortion? >> I don't think there should there's no No, I don't think um >> you don't think or I think the only thing I search is how to not have a baby or how to get rid of a baby, but I never did anything. >> Okay. Well, but but see how to get rid of a baby is kind of >> sounds really bad now. >> That's like how to No, not that it sounds bad, but it's just a different terminology for, you know, how you can help yourself, you know, with an abortion because that's technically what it is. You're not actually, you know, you're not getting rid of a baby. You didn't wish her any harm or anything, but it's just it's trying to have an abortion, which is, you know, it is a legal it is a legal thing to do. Um, >> is it illegal? I said abortions are legal like people are allowed to have people are allowed to have abortions but wasn't going to >> I just nothing was like nothing how to do it and I promise you I didn't I nothing was going to I didn't try anything. I just kind of looked at it. I didn't want >> What did it say? What did you see? What kind of information did you see on there? There was like it gave you like different pills or different things to do in like different ways, but I never did any of the things. >> You didn't take any of the pills? >> No. No. No. No. No. >> Was there um did you see any any sites that showed you any physical things to do as far as ways you can put things inside yourself? And did you see anything like that? >> Maybe. I don't like I don't remember, but I never did anything like that. I never I never tried to do anything like that. >> Okay. And and I'm not I'm just trying to I'm trying to see what you found in the research cuz it's almost crazy on the internet. I mean, you can put you know something in and you know you'll pull up a 100 pages of of things that it is it is hit on during the search. >> Did you get birth control pills when you went then to the doctor? >> Yeah. >> Did you take any of those? >> Yeah, I I didn't think any of them hurt. Okay. How many of those did you take? Just a little of them. Just what the days I was supposed to all at once. >> No, no, no, no. One day per day. >> Yeah. >> Starting on April 26th. >> The day they were prescribed. >> Okay. That I didn't think I was going to hurt them. >> Okay. All right. Um, second question. Do you remember what kind of pills they were? >> Just birth control pills. >> You don't remember what kind? This is the first time you went on birth control. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I never meant to kill my baby. I didn't do it on purpose. I did it. >> I understand. I understand. Now, when you got rid of when you threw away the towel that you used to clean yourself up, did you also throw away the towel that the baby had been wrapped in? The same towel was throw away. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, you have to step out. I have to step out for just a second. Okay. >> Can I talk to my parents? >> Um, in just a minute. I But I've got to step up just real quick. >> The lead detective steps out. Skyler is left with another officer and her questions turned to her parents and to jail. She was not arrested that day, but the investigation was only beginning. That night, investigators found Annabelle's remains in the Richardson's backyard. Within 3 weeks, Skyler Richardson would be indicted for aggravated murder. >> Come on, honey. You're just just take a deep breath, okay? I'm going to stay in here with you, okay? Just be honest. What's going to happen? I don't know. Okay. I'm in here observing. >> No, no, no, no. You're not going to jail. I know. >> No. And I'm not going to jail. >> Just relax. Okay. Listen. Listen. Just relax. Okay. >> Can I just say you don't want to go to jail? >> I know you don't. Just relax. Go to jail. Don't worry. >> Listen. I understand that you're that you're sorry. I understand that you're upset. I understand that you didn't want this to happen. Okay. Just take some deep breaths. Okay? Things will be okay. You don't have to go to jail. >> You're not going to jail. Okay? We're not taking you down today. You're not going to jail. Okay. So, just for it's going to happen. Honey, I don't know. This isn't my case. Okay. He's talking. He just wants to get some things straightened up so that we can figure out exactly what happened. Are you being 100% honest? He's so hurt. >> Okay. All right. Just deep breaths. Okay. I know the press has been really hard on you. I'm sure there's part of you that is glad that the weight has been lifted off of you. Okay. I just want everybody to believe me cuz I want to be in trouble. >> I understand. You're a very nice young lady. I know that you're smart. I know that you're honest. I know you have a big heart. Okay. I I believe that. I don't think you're a bad person. Okay. Just like you said, we're not judging you. We just have to get facts. Okay. It's a deep breath. Things are going to get better from here. Okay. Going to get better, right? >> Yeah. We're going to It's going to get better. Okay. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Your parents are right out there. Okay. You're just 18 now and talk to you a lot. And I think it's probably better that you talk to us alone. It might be really uncomfortable for you to talk about a lot of this. >> You need to tell them. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're going to have to tell them what happened. They'll be okay though, right? Everything's going to be okay. >> No, we're together. >> They're going to love you no matter what, honey. You're their daughter, okay? Your mom and dad are going to love you no matter what. That's their job. That's part of who they are, okay? So, don't worry about that. Nobody hates you. We don't hate you, okay? Nobody's going to hate you, okay? We understand that you went through some really bad stuff and it was really hard on you, okay? And now you got some people to turn to, okay? And you don't have to deal with this on your own, okay? Take a deep breath. Wait yourself down. I don't want you to get yourself too broken. Okay. >> I'm really afraid he's going to arrest me. >> He's not going to arrest you. Okay. That's not what we're here for today. That's not We're not here to take you to jail today or put handcuffs on you today or anything like that. Okay. >> No, no, no, no, no. You're not wants to understand. He wants to understand what happened. Okay. We got to figure out what happened. Okay. >> What happened? >> What was wrong? >> Is there anything else that we don't that you didn't tell us? Maybe we didn't ask the right questions or anything. Anything else that you should think of? >> No. >> I know you do, honey. I And I believe you when you say that. I know that you do. Okay. >> This one's hold my mom. I want to see my parents. >> I know. And you're going to be seeing here in a few minutes. Okay. Okay. >> He had to make a phone call to somebody else. I don't know. It's not I think he's working on another case, too. So, just deep breath. You got to go home today. Okay. >> I think I can go to jail, right? >> You're not going to jail today. We're not I told you that we're not taking you to jail today. You're You're going home to your parents. Okay. Okay, you're going to see me here in just a few minutes. I wouldn't lie to you, okay? I'm telling you everything that I know, okay? Deep breath. I call myself It's hard being a teenager and it's hard dealing with all the regular teenager stuff and add things like this on top of it and it's super hard. You never told the father. I don't want to talk to him. I don't want to kill him. >> Do you know who the father was? >> Yeah. Okay. Just waiting for it to be over. >> I know it will be over though, right? It's going to be Yes. Yeah, it's going to be over. We're going to get this taken care of. Make sure we know everything that's going on. Okay. Just calm down. You can be relieved that you don't have to keep this inside anymore. Okay. And that you can work towards healing from this. Okay. The hard part. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think that this is probably going to be the hardest part right here. And I appreciate the fact that you were honest and you talked to us and Okay. Take a deep breath. Calm yourself down. >> What else do you think you can ask? I I don't know. I'm not sure. I don't know. Let me ask you anything else. I'm not sure. Okay. Are you cold? >> I understand. Understand. It's going to get better. >> Yes. Yeah. Honey, it's going to get better. You're going to have a support system now because there's going to be other people that know about this other than just you. Okay. And you need that. You're going to need a support system. You needed a support system long before now. You know, it's too hard to deal with things like that on your own. Yeah. Because I'm going to jail, right? No, your parents, honey. Your parents are going to be your support system. Yeah. You can talk to your parents about it and your mom can help you through this, okay? Cuz you're only 18. I know that you're an adult now, but you're still 18, okay? So, you can you'll be able to talk to your mom about this and she'll be able to help you through this. Moms, you're good at that kind of stuff, okay? I mean, obviously, they're going to be surprised. You know, they're not expecting this. They don't know anything about this, right? Yeah, they're going to be surprised. I'm not going to lie to you. And I'm sure they're they're going to be upset that you didn't come to them and tell them, but they're going to love you no matter what. And they're going to help you from here on out. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. They they're good parents. They will help me. >> You have a good relationship with your mom? >> Uh, pretty good. >> Yeah. What about your dad? >> Um, we weren't he's very supportive. Um, I just don't know about him that much. We're not as close as my mom. >> Yeah. to court. Uh, >> honey, that we're not even to that right now. Okay. We're not even thinking about that right now. Okay. >> Okay. Because I didn't I didn't hurt her. I did not want to hurt her. >> I understand. I understand. Do you need anything else? >> No. Just just want to call. >> I understand. I understand. I sit tight for just a second. I've got to go check with him and and see what's going on and I'll be right back. >> Okay. DON'T BE MAD. >> NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. Not at all. No. Just relax. Okay. Just still relax. Calm down. Okay. >> This case was never about whether Annabelle died. It was about how she died and whether anyone could prove what happened in that bathroom. Prosecutors argued that Skylar hid her pregnancy, never intended to keep her baby, and took her daughter's life. The defense argued that Annabelle was still born and that Skyler's secrecy came from fear, not intent. At trial, medical experts called by both sides agreed there was no proof that Annabelle was ever alive. Without a medical cause of death, the most serious charges rested on interpretation. And the claim that had shaped this case from its first weeks that the remains had been burned was no longer supported by the expert who first raised it. On September 12th, 2019, the jury returned its verdicts. Skyler Richardson was found not guilty of aggravated murder, not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, and not guilty of child endangering. She was convicted of one charge, gross abuse of a corpse. The next day, Judge Donald Oda sentenced her to 3 years of community control and 7 days in jail, credited as time served. She walked out of the courthouse that day. In 2020, the judge ended her probation early, and in 2022, her record was sealed. Annabelle never had the chance to be known by the world. Her story began and ended in secret. After the trial, the court released her remains to the Richardson family. On September 26th, 2019, she was laid to rest in a private ceremony in Franklin Township, Ohio. She is remembered not for how this case ended, but as a daughter and a granddaughter who was loved. If this case made you think, share your thoughts respectfully in the comments. And for more real police interrogations, investigative analysis, and true crime documentaries, subscribe to Stay Alert Interrogation. Thank you for watching and remember to stay alert.