Chapter 11 - Ethan Without Amanda
Ethan asked the court to allow supervised visits without a professional supervisor.
He wanted his older cousin Mark Bennett to supervise.
I objected.
Mark had defended Amanda publicly on Facebook? We don't need social media. He had called me once saying “families handle discipline privately.” Not neutral.
Judge denied.
Professional supervision continued.
Ethan became angry.
Then Amanda stopped paying his legal fees.
Why?
Her own criminal defense cost money.
And she blamed Ethan for “letting Claire turn everything against her.”
Their alliance cracked.
Text messages from post charge period surfaced through discovery.
Amanda:
I did what you asked and now I’m facing charges.
Ethan:
You agreed.
Amanda:
You said Ava could not slip in that seat.
Ethan:
She didn’t.
Amanda:
You said Grace would walk in immediately.
Ethan:
She did.
Amanda:
Then why am I the monster?
Ethan:
Because you hit the panic button and grabbed Grace.
They were turning.
Amanda’s lawyer began negotiating cooperation on financial fraud.
She offered evidence Ethan assembled guaranty pages.
Ethan’s lawyer said Amanda was mastermind.
Truth was shared.
The bathroom had been Ethan’s idea according to recovered planning note:
Scenario: Amanda bathing Ava. Grace enters after Amanda steps out. Record Grace reaction, create argument that she caused unsafe situation / overstepped?
Wait this seems not clearly frame Grace as leaving baby unattended. Need scenario should make Grace look like she was responsible. How exactly? Their video could be edited so it starts when Grace enters and they accuse her of being the caregiver? But if full video withheld maybe yes. Perhaps Ethan planned to cut clip after Grace enters, then later claim Grace had been bathing Ava and Amanda walked in after hearing cries. But Grace's clothes wet, Amanda present. Hmm.
Better: They intended to show Grace removing Ava from bath against Amanda's instructions and then use confrontation to label her unstable? Yet draft petition specifically said nanny left newborn unattended. Need staged scene should make it look like Grace had been responsible before camera start. They planned to crop the footage beginning at Grace entering with no earlier context, then Amanda would say Grace had been bathing Ava, stepped away, then rushed back. But video would show Amanda set up phone first. Yes.
Ethan’s note:
Final edit begins 3:04. Mom states Grace left room.
There.
They would edit out setup.
Amanda would lie as witness.
Ethan would corroborate.
The red timer exposed the unedited beginning.
The plan relied on keeping original phone.
But Grace spotted it before Ethan could stop recording.
Their worst mistake was leaving evidence running.
At criminal pretrial, prosecutor demonstrated metadata:
Original file continuous.
No break.
Amanda’s phone auto uploaded to cloud because Wi Fi.
Even after Ethan later tried deleting local copy at clinic? Actually he never got phone. But perhaps Amanda deleted later. Cloud retained.
No evidence destruction succeeded.
Then family court evaluator issued final report:
Claire fit parent.
No evidence of significant mental illness impairing parenting.
Ethan demonstrated concerning willingness to manipulate evidence, poor insight, and prioritization of financial/custody strategy over infant safety.
Recommendation:
Primary legal and physical custody to Claire.
Ethan supervised contact until substantial therapeutic progress and resolution of criminal matters.
That was not final judgment.
But powerful.
Ethan called me after reading.
Court order prohibited harassment but allowed parenting logistics. He used another number.
“You won.”
I hung up.
He called again.
“You destroyed my life.”
I blocked.
Then a voicemail:
“I only did this because you were going to leave.”
I listened twice.
Not apology.
May you like
Justification.
That distinction made my divorce decision final.
