Chapter 19 - The criminal cases
Victoria was charged with offenses centered on unlawful confinement and reckless endangerment.
Prosecutors considered more serious theories.
They did not pursue attempted murder.
There was no evidence she intended my death or Elise’s.
Arthur’s liability was harder.
Failure to rescue is not automatically criminal simply because someone behaves terribly.
But his messages, presence, knowledge of the confinement, and decision to leave became relevant to aiding and conspiracy-related theories under the state’s law.
His attorneys fought them.
One charge was dismissed before trial.
Another survived.
Ultimately both cases resolved through negotiated pleas.
Victoria accepted responsibility for felony unlawful confinement and a related reckless-endangerment count.
She received a custodial sentence with part suspended, followed by probation, mandatory counseling, and a protective order.
Arthur entered a plea to a lower-level offense reflecting his assistance in the unlawful restraint and failure to act after participating in the plan to prevent me from leaving.
His sentence emphasized probation, community service, counseling, and compliance with family-court orders, with a suspended custodial term.
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People online wanted twenty years.
The evidence did not support twenty years.
