Chapter 6 - Linda is interviewed
Linda did not come to the hospital.
Police went to her.
By then Jenna and Caleb had left.
Jenna later told me:
“Mom told me you attacked her.”
That part was true.
I had slapped Linda.
Then Linda said Ellie grabbed the mug.
False.
Jenna asked:
“Did she get burned?”
Linda:
“Megan is exaggerating.”
At 2:30 that afternoon, Officer Morgan and another officer interviewed Linda at her home.
She had counsel by evening.
Her initial statement was already recorded.
According to the report:
Ellie reached toward Caleb’s cup.
Linda stood to move it.
Ellie suddenly grabbed Linda’s coffee mug.
Linda pulled back.
Coffee spilled accidentally.
Megan attacked Linda.
Problem:
Linda’s mug had remained in her own hand.
The recording contained no sound consistent with a two-year-old grabbing or Linda shouting in surprise before the coffee left the mug.
And her later recorded statements contradicted accident.
“You threw it.”
“I didn’t mean for it to hit her face.”
“Maybe she’ll remember next time.”
That did not automatically prove Linda intended to burn a toddler’s face.
It did strongly undermine:
She grabbed my mug and I spilled.
The investigation moved from ambiguous accident toward intentional reckless conduct.
No handcuffs that afternoon.
No dramatic raid.
Linda’s lawyer contacted detectives.
Evidence preservation.
Interview scheduling.
The system moved.
I hated how slowly.
May you like
Then I remembered my father.
Tonight is Ellie.
