Chapter 15 - Marissa Takes the Stand
Marissa testified.
Her attorney almost certainly hated that.
She wanted the jury to understand she loved her children.
I believed she did.
That was not enough.
She described Monday.
Ninety minutes.
Tuesday.
Longer than planned.
Wednesday.
Again.
Thursday.
“Seventeen minutes.”
Then:
“I thought Tessa could handle Miles.”
The prosecutor asked:
“For how long?”
“I didn’t know it would be four hours.”
“At one hour?”
“I thought I was leaving.”
“At two?”
“Rhett said almost done.”
“At three?”
“I panicked.”
“At four?”
Silence.
Then:
“Tessa texted you she was hungry.”
“Yes.”
“Miles was out of formula.”
“I didn’t understand he was completely out.”
“She asked you to come home.”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
There.
Then threat.
“I said something horrible.”
“What?”
“That Miles could go somewhere else.”
“Why?”
“To keep her from calling Grant.”
“Did you understand she might believe you?”
“Yes.”
Then property.
“Did Grant say he would not sell?”
“Yes.”
“Did you proceed?”
“Yes.”
“Did you sign his name?”
“I provided documents to Rhett.”
Not answer.
The prosecutor repeated.
“Did you authorize use of Grant’s signature knowing Grant had not signed?”
Marissa cried.
“Yes.”
Then:
“Why?”
“I thought he would forgive me after.”
There.
Then defense redirect.
“Did you intend to permanently deprive Grant of every dollar of house value?”
“No.”
“Did you think $615,000 was real sale price?”
“Yes.”
“Did Rhett lie to you about resale?”
“Yes.”
“Did you intend for Tessa or Miles to be injured?”
“No.”
“Were they injured seriously?”
“No.”
True.
Then:
“Did you plan to return home?”
“Yes.”
True.
“Did you love your children?”
“Yes.”
Probably true.
The jury saw a mother who loved her children and still left them.
A wife who loved her husband maybe once and still tried to sell his house.
Human contradiction.
Then prosecution final question:
“You knew Tessa was nine?”
“Yes.”
“You knew Miles was eight months?”
“Yes.”
“You knew Grant had not authorized sale?”
“Yes.”
“You knew Tessa was begging you to come home?”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed?”
Marissa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
No more needed.
The jury deliberated nine hours.
Then sent one question.
Could a parent be guilty of neglect without intending physical injury?
The judge answered with Oklahoma law.
I sat beside Laura.
Tessa was at school.
Miles at daycare.
May you like
The world continued.
Then the jury returned.
