Chapter 9 - The deleted checklist
Amanda used a notes app.
Investigators recovered a synced copy from her laptop because it was part of family computer? Under warrant, yes.
Title:
Safety filing
Checklist:
Gate latch photos.
Pool alarm.
Ladder.
Cover.
Tools.
Claire alone with Tyler examples.
Eric work calendar.
School distance.
Raleigh childcare comparison.
Nothing criminal in list.
Then one item:
Need conditions visible.
Ambiguous.
Another:
Do before Whitman appointment Thursday.
Then:
Kids inside / keep out of photos.
That helped her.
She did not want children in staged evidence.
Then another line:
Claire snoops. Keep folder away.
Then:
If she starts, kennel? 10 mins.
My hands shook.
It was written at 1:16 p.m. that day.
Not spontaneous.
She had considered using the dog cage before Claire confronted her.
Why?
Amanda said she meant:
Put Claire near kennel area? No.
Her lawyer argued:
“Kennel?” might refer to locking away paperwork in storage cage? Weak.
Amanda eventually admitted:
She had thought about using it as a “shock consequence” because Claire had repeatedly followed her outside after being told not to.
There.
Planned punitive confinement.
Ten minutes.
Then she left for twenty-five.
With key.
Then deleted checklist at 3:55 p.m.
She was in car.
Why delete?
She said:
Because she realized how bad the word kennel looked.
That was consciousness.
Not proof of pool intent.
Then one more note.
Photos show what happens when Eric doesn’t secure pool.
But Eric had not created those specific photos that day.
Then messages to her sister, Nicole Avery.
Amanda:
I’m done letting him call me paranoid about that pool.
Nicole:
Then document it.
Amanda:
I am.
Nicole:
Don’t do anything stupid.
Amanda:
I just need judge to see it.
Then 3:44 p.m., right before leaving:
Claire lost it. Put her in timeout. Heading to Whitman. Tyler watching TV.
Nicole:
You left them?
No reply.
Nicole called Amanda at 3:51.
Amanda did not answer because attorney meeting.
Then 4:09, police called.
Timeline.
No evidence Amanda knew Tyler was outside.
That kept prosecution away from intentional-harm theories.
Then criminal review.
Possible charges:
Child endangerment.
Unlawful confinement of Claire.
Reckless conduct related to pool.
Evidence tampering? Staging/deleting notes perhaps, but careful. Could be obstruction if after investigation, but deletion occurred before police involvement at 3:55. Not obstruction of known criminal case. Still relevant.
No attempted murder.
No kidnapping.
Then Amanda’s lawyer approached prosecutor about pre-charge discussions.
Not plea yet.
Main custody hearing still ahead.
Then Claire asked:
“Why hasn’t Mom been arrested?”
I said:
“Adults are still investigating.”
“She locked me in a cage.”
“I know.”
“If I locked Tyler in there, I’d be punished.”
“Yes.”
“So why does Mom get lawyers?”
I looked at her.
“Everyone gets to have a lawyer.”
“That’s dumb.”
May you like
Sometimes.
But important.
