Chapter 19 - WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN THE BATHROOMBethany eventually gave a fuller statement through counsel.
She admitted the suction-dart “game.”
She admitted Rosie asked her to stop.
She admitted following Rosie toward the bathroom.
She admitted grabbing Rosie’s arm.
She denied intentionally striking her at first.
Then investigators confronted her with the location of the bruise, Rosie’s consistent account, and one guest who heard a sharp sound followed by Rosie crying.
Bethany changed again.
“I tapped her face.”
A tap does not usually leave the bruise Rosie had.
Finally, months later, she admitted:
“I slapped her once.”
Why?
Rosie called her mean.
Bethany was already angry from the argument with Daniel.
Angry that her parents were watching her.
Angry that the birthday was not perfect.
Angry that Rosie would not stop crying.
She used the suction cups to mock Rosie for being “sensitive.”
Rosie resisted.
Bethany grabbed her.
Rosie called her mean.
Bethany slapped her.
Then Rosie ran behind the toilet.
Bethany walked out because Mom called her name from the hallway.
Mom saw Rosie crying.
Bethany told her:
“She’s having a tantrum.”
Mom did not check.
That was the fact Mom struggled with most later.
Not the glass.
Not my declaration at the door.
The hallway.
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She was perhaps fifteen feet from her granddaughter.
She chose Bethany’s explanation without looking.
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