Chapter 18 - The Verdict
The jury returned after a day and a half.
Guilty on administering a harmful substance causing serious injury.
Guilty on identity theft.
Guilty on financial fraud.
Guilty on fraudulent guardianship filings.
Guilty on unlawful possession of prescription medication.
Guilty on several trust related theft counts.
Not guilty on one charge alleging he intentionally attempted to cause my death.
The prosecution had not proved he wanted me dead.
I was relieved.
Not because I wanted mercy.
Because truth mattered more than maximum punishment.
He wanted me sick enough to control.
He nearly killed me doing it.
That was ugly enough.
Sentencing came later.
Ray’s attorney asked leniency.
No prior violent convictions.
Family support? Not much.
Ray apologized.
Not to me directly because court rules.
He said:
“I was trying to prevent my family from falling apart.”
The judge answered:
“You attempted to preserve your position by taking another adult’s health, identity, and property choices away from her.”
Exactly.
Sentence:
Nine years incarceration with eligibility structures according to law, plus restitution, financial restrictions, and no contact with me or Caleb during incarceration unless separately approved.
Longer than Franklin? Different case includes poisoning and multiple frauds.
Mom cried when sentence announced.
Ray was her brother.
She was allowed grief.
She did not ask me to comfort her.
Progress.
Then restitution.
Ray’s vehicle sold.
Tools.
Small retirement account.
Dalton Home Services assets.
Casino winnings? None.
Total recovered:
$47,000.
Rest remained judgment.
Stonebridge insurance and Mom repayment had already restored much trust loss.
The trust did not wait for Ray to repay every dollar.
Then credit.
Cleared.
Guardianship.
Dismissed permanently.
My record.
The court ordered sealing or correction of unsupported claims? Guardianship petition remains but dismissal clear. Medical records updated with notation that prior family statements were unreliable and suspected medication exposure.
That mattered.
No future doctor should see “dramatic” and stop looking.
Then Mom asked whether I wanted to change last name back to Collins.
I had been Emma Collins legally? User says Emma, no surname. Maybe after Daniel marriage maybe she kept Collins. Fine. Let's say I had never changed it.
“No.”
She smiled.
“Your dad would like that.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Stop making Dad vote on everything.”
She laughed.
First time in months.
Then Daniel and Mom decided not to divorce.
They continued separation another six months.
Counseling.
Eventually moved back together in a new rental.
Different finances.
Separate accounts.
Daniel had no access to her restitution obligations.
Caleb got therapy.
House rules:
No secrets about medication.
No adult telling child to hide financial information.
No Ray calls.
Clear.
I did not move back.
I rented a small apartment near Kirkwood Community College.
Trust paid reasonable housing distribution.
I worked part time at a bookstore because I wanted my own paycheck too.
First month, Mom asked:
“Do you need help budgeting?”
Then caught herself.
“Sorry.”
I smiled.
May you like
“I’ll ask if I do.”
That was how it should have been.
