Chapter 8 - A Husband’s Version
At the original crash investigation, Brent told the deputy he was at home.
Phone location records now placed him at a gas station nine minutes from the crash site.
Why?
His lawyer said he had gone out for coffee.
At 7:46 a.m.
On a route he almost never used.
The prosecution said he was following me.
No direct camera showed him at ravine.
But a gas station camera showed his truck.
Time:
7:51.
My crash:
8:02.
Emergency vehicle alert notified my phone contacts including Brent at 8:03.
He did not call 911.
Another motorist did at 8:06.
Brent called me at 8:20.
Then 911 at 8:21, acting as though just learned.
Why wait?
Defense would say panic.
Prosecution would say observation.
Kevin claimed Brent told him later:
“I needed to know if she was talking.”
I shivered when I heard.
Still, Kevin was an accomplice seeking deal.
Jury would judge credibility.
The prosecution built corroboration.
Deleted search history from Brent’s laptop:
What happens to spouse business ownership after death.
Spouse rights if partner incapacitated.
Life insurance accidental death exclusions.
None illegal.
People search strange things.
Timing mattered.
Weeks before crash.
Then:
How long bank fraud records retained.
Worse.
Again, not guilt alone.
Pattern.
My life insurance policy was $1.2 million.
Brent primary beneficiary.
I had set it years earlier.
He knew.
Did prosecutors claim financial motive?
Yes.
But I survived.
He got no insurance.
Then he pivoted to control my assets while disabled.
That theory made sense.
It terrified me.
I changed beneficiary after filing divorce.
Not as revenge.
Estate planning.
My sister? I had no sibling established. Better beneficiary to a trust for charitable? Could name Dana? No. Let's say my estate plan designated a special needs and family trust for my niece and charitable remainder? Too much. Simpler: my revocable trust with Dana as successor trustee and several relatives/charities. But no need detail.
I updated powers of attorney.
Medical proxy:
Dana Keller first.
Megan? Lawyer maybe not. My cousin Beth Carter second? Could introduce. Not needed.
Professional fiduciary.
No Brent.
My home security access changed.
Vehicle arrangements changed.
No secret dramatic moves.
Administrative safety.
The party criminal case had overwhelming video.
Brent’s defense eventually stopped claiming consent because my repeated “do not touch me” was audible.
Instead:
He intended a “prank” that escalated.
No intent serious injury.
Prosecutor disagreed.
For party charges, intent to humiliate plus deliberate dragging enough for serious assault.
Attempted murder from party?
They did not charge.
That surprised me.
“What about what I said? Audience for murder.”
Porter replied:
“You believed you could die. But evidence supports assault, not necessarily specific intent to kill in that event.”
Good.
Accuracy.
The attempted murder charge rested on crash.
Not yard.
That distinction made case stronger.
Allison pleaded guilty to misdemeanor unlawful restraint.
Sentence:
One year probation.
Community service.
Mandatory victim impact education.
No contact with Brent beyond testimony needs.
No jail.
She lost job because Brent’s office closed under investigation.
She started elsewhere.
I did not object.
Kevin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault/vehicle tampering and accessory conduct, with sentencing deferred until after testimony.
He faced substantial prison time.
He knew.
Scott was not charged.
Some party guests were subpoenaed.
Several admitted they laughed.
One woman cried on stand during preliminary hearing.
“I thought Rachel had agreed.”
“After she screamed stop?”
“No.”
“Why didn’t you intervene?”
“I froze.”
Human failure.
Not conspiracy.
Then one guest, Megan? no conflict with lawyer. Call Laura Price, produced a phone video.
She had recorded from porch.
In background before dragging, Brent whispered to Kevin:
“If she signs, none of this matters.”
Kevin:
“And if she doesn’t?”
Brent smiled.
“She’ll wish she had.”
That line became prosecution exhibit.
The signature, violence, and financial fraud were all one timeline.
But the crash remained separate question.
Did Brent intend to kill me ten months earlier?
May you like
The trial would turn on Kevin.
And I still did not know whether I could watch him testify.
