1 00:00:05,914 --> 00:00:07,673 (suspenseful music playing) 2 00:00:09,084 --> 00:00:11,568 (line trilling) 3 00:00:11,587 --> 00:00:13,512 (dispatcher and woman speaking) 4 00:00:34,684 --> 00:00:37,036 Everybody involved in this case knows, 5 00:00:37,263 --> 00:00:38,537 Without question, 6 00:00:38,764 --> 00:00:40,522 That the person that killed ryder 7 00:00:40,541 --> 00:00:42,708 Was the mother's boyfriend, christopher trent. 8 00:00:53,203 --> 00:00:56,129 Male reporter: Christopher trent ran away after johnson died. 9 00:00:56,223 --> 00:00:58,615 Now prosecutors have filed first degree murder charges 10 00:00:58,634 --> 00:01:01,285 Against the boy's mother rebecca hogue. 11 00:01:01,303 --> 00:01:04,879 They say she should have reasonably known her son was at risk of child abuse 12 00:01:04,973 --> 00:01:06,732 When she left him with trent. 13 00:01:11,072 --> 00:01:13,888 Hogue: I don't know what went wrong that night, 14 00:01:13,908 --> 00:01:18,468 I still don't know. I don't think I'll ever know what went wrong. 15 00:01:18,562 --> 00:01:22,414 I know my son knows that I would never allow anyone to hurt him. 16 00:01:22,641 --> 00:01:27,336 And I know he does not want to look down and see me in jail for the rest of my life. 17 00:01:34,261 --> 00:01:36,261 (dramatic music playing) 18 00:01:42,845 --> 00:01:46,254 My name is andrew casey. I'm an attorney in oklahoma city. 19 00:01:46,348 --> 00:01:50,334 I represent rebecca hogue. 20 00:01:50,352 --> 00:01:55,597 Rebecca's son, a two and a half-year-old named jeremiah ryder johnson, 21 00:01:55,616 --> 00:01:58,283 Was killed by her boyfriend, christopher trent. 22 00:01:59,695 --> 00:02:02,937 But rebecca's charged with a very small subset 23 00:02:03,031 --> 00:02:04,531 Of oklahoma's murder law, 24 00:02:04,683 --> 00:02:06,683 Which is based upon a failure to protect. 25 00:02:06,702 --> 00:02:10,129 Which says that rebecca knew or should have known 26 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:14,024 That the boyfriend was a risk of child abuse to her child. 27 00:02:14,042 --> 00:02:18,453 If she's convicted, rebecca would have to serve about 38 and a half years 28 00:02:18,547 --> 00:02:20,430 Before she was eligible for parole. 29 00:02:22,718 --> 00:02:25,051 Rebecca is a single mother 30 00:02:25,146 --> 00:02:28,814 Who was working a lot 31 00:02:28,965 --> 00:02:32,893 To make sure that she was providing for her son. 32 00:02:33,045 --> 00:02:35,637 On December 31st, so it's new year's eve, 33 00:02:35,731 --> 00:02:37,898 Rebecca went to work at her job 34 00:02:38,050 --> 00:02:40,901 As a cocktail waitress at a local casino. 35 00:02:41,053 --> 00:02:44,721 And she left the child in the care of her boyfriend. 36 00:02:44,740 --> 00:02:51,152 She worked a double shift, came home in roughly the 4:00 a.M. Hours. 37 00:02:51,172 --> 00:02:52,562 When she woke up the next day, 38 00:02:52,581 --> 00:02:54,656 The boyfriend had left to go to work, 39 00:02:54,675 --> 00:03:00,512 And upon her waking up, she felt that the child was cold and he was not breathing. 40 00:03:02,349 --> 00:03:05,926 Ryder's death occurred because her boyfriend, christopher trent, 41 00:03:06,020 --> 00:03:09,246 Had caused blunt force trauma to his head. 42 00:03:09,264 --> 00:03:12,858 That produced what is called a subdural hematoma, which is a brain bleed. 43 00:03:15,771 --> 00:03:20,699 I took rebecca's case without pay as a pro bono client 44 00:03:20,850 --> 00:03:24,094 Because I truly believe that she did not know 45 00:03:24,112 --> 00:03:27,372 That christopher trent was a risk of child abuse to ryder. 46 00:03:29,117 --> 00:03:32,377 I feel absolutely saddened, 47 00:03:32,604 --> 00:03:35,105 Heartbroken and, at the same time, disgusted 48 00:03:35,198 --> 00:03:39,509 That this person is being subjected to this particular charge. 49 00:03:40,537 --> 00:03:42,512 (melancholy music playing) 50 00:03:59,723 --> 00:04:02,223 Hogue: This is what I sleep next to every night. 51 00:04:02,243 --> 00:04:05,244 This is, most importantly, my son. 52 00:04:06,138 --> 00:04:07,663 Right here in his urn. 53 00:04:09,992 --> 00:04:13,326 I have his handprints, his feet prints. 54 00:04:13,420 --> 00:04:17,739 These are my fingerprints and his father's fingerprints. 55 00:04:17,758 --> 00:04:21,001 I named my son after his father, 56 00:04:21,095 --> 00:04:24,763 And it broke my heart when he didn't wanna 57 00:04:26,934 --> 00:04:27,933 Be in a home with us. 58 00:04:36,852 --> 00:04:39,336 Hogue: So I was raising ryder by myself, 59 00:04:39,354 --> 00:04:42,781 And I wasn't exactly looking, 60 00:04:43,008 --> 00:04:45,450 But I was hoping that somebody would come along 61 00:04:47,454 --> 00:04:48,704 And take me and my son 62 00:04:50,866 --> 00:04:52,457 And want to be there for us. 63 00:05:01,468 --> 00:05:05,304 I was raised without a father and I didn't want my son 64 00:05:06,532 --> 00:05:08,698 To grow up without a father figure. 65 00:05:08,717 --> 00:05:11,217 I feel like every child 66 00:05:11,312 --> 00:05:13,478 Needs a father in their life. 67 00:05:13,705 --> 00:05:16,723 And chris told me that he would adopt my son 68 00:05:16,875 --> 00:05:18,892 And I didn't know a man would do that. 69 00:05:18,986 --> 00:05:21,061 And I was just like, 70 00:05:21,213 --> 00:05:24,990 "wow, I finally have someone that wants to stay in the home with me." 71 00:05:28,053 --> 00:05:28,994 Chris was 72 00:05:31,223 --> 00:05:34,458 Such a loving person and I don't know... 73 00:05:37,079 --> 00:05:38,837 I don't know what went wrong that night. 74 00:05:50,242 --> 00:05:52,576 We're going to spend today with rebecca, 75 00:05:52,594 --> 00:05:57,689 Trying to figure out a little bit more detail about the timeline of events. 76 00:05:57,841 --> 00:06:01,360 Because we've gotta come up with a strategy 77 00:06:01,511 --> 00:06:03,695 To prove that she couldn't have known 78 00:06:03,922 --> 00:06:07,181 That the person she'd left in charge of ryder 79 00:06:07,275 --> 00:06:09,034 Was a risk of child abuse. 80 00:06:10,929 --> 00:06:12,537 Casey: Thank you for being here with us today. 81 00:06:12,764 --> 00:06:14,539 I want to go over just a few different things 82 00:06:14,691 --> 00:06:17,117 About the day before and the day of. All right? 83 00:06:17,269 --> 00:06:18,602 Hogue: Okay. 84 00:06:18,620 --> 00:06:21,121 Casey: December 31st, 2019. 85 00:06:21,215 --> 00:06:23,773 -You're working at riverwind casino, right? -Hogue: Mmm-hmm. 86 00:06:23,792 --> 00:06:26,459 Casey: So you went to work. Did you talk to chris throughout the night? 87 00:06:26,612 --> 00:06:29,888 I was very busy, but I did get a video call in at 9:00 88 00:06:30,115 --> 00:06:32,616 And I got to speak to both of them, 89 00:06:32,634 --> 00:06:34,634 And my son told me that he loved me. 90 00:06:34,728 --> 00:06:36,119 He was smiling. 91 00:06:36,212 --> 00:06:37,971 And I was like, "it was good to see you guys." 92 00:06:38,065 --> 00:06:40,807 And then I got off the phone and I went right back to work. 93 00:06:40,901 --> 00:06:42,959 And then when do you get home? 94 00:06:42,978 --> 00:06:45,462 (sniffles) I get home around 3:00 a.M. 95 00:06:45,555 --> 00:06:49,724 Chris and ryder are asleep in bed, 96 00:06:49,818 --> 00:06:51,968 And I crawl in in between them. 97 00:06:52,061 --> 00:06:56,473 And I give my son a kiss and I was asleep. 98 00:06:56,566 --> 00:06:58,083 And then when did you wake up? 99 00:06:58,234 --> 00:07:01,402 (sniffles) woke up, I think, around 11:00 a.M. 100 00:07:01,496 --> 00:07:03,070 Do you know where chris is? 101 00:07:03,165 --> 00:07:05,072 Yeah, he wasn't in bed with me. 102 00:07:05,167 --> 00:07:09,335 He had an appointment that morning that he was going to go to work. 103 00:07:09,488 --> 00:07:11,430 Walk me through what's happening. 104 00:07:12,749 --> 00:07:14,916 I feel like it's late in the day. 105 00:07:15,010 --> 00:07:17,494 And usually, my son wakes me up a little bit earlier. 106 00:07:17,512 --> 00:07:18,603 That was my first sign. 107 00:07:18,755 --> 00:07:23,349 And I roll over and my son 108 00:07:23,502 --> 00:07:26,445 Doesn't look like he's breathing. 109 00:07:27,522 --> 00:07:29,339 And I call 911. 110 00:07:29,432 --> 00:07:30,949 And then the paramedics come and I step away, 111 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:34,453 So they could do their work and... 112 00:07:34,604 --> 00:07:37,939 Next thing I know, the police won't let me ride in the ambulance with ryder, 113 00:07:37,958 --> 00:07:41,442 Which I thought was odd, 'cause I wanted to. 114 00:07:41,462 --> 00:07:45,881 And me and a police officer get to the hospital before the ambulance. 115 00:07:49,786 --> 00:07:53,972 I'm sitting down with the police and telling them everything that I know. 116 00:08:18,073 --> 00:08:19,831 They're suspecting something, I guess. 117 00:08:20,726 --> 00:08:22,058 Of who? 118 00:08:22,077 --> 00:08:24,169 Of chris, since he wasn't answering the phone. 119 00:08:40,595 --> 00:08:42,245 Casey: Were you calling a bunch? 120 00:08:42,264 --> 00:08:43,170 Was it just going to voicemail or what? 121 00:08:43,190 --> 00:08:44,764 Yeah. 122 00:08:44,858 --> 00:08:47,675 I called him and told him that ryder wasn't breathing. 123 00:08:47,694 --> 00:08:49,694 "I think we lost him. I think I lost him." 124 00:08:49,921 --> 00:08:53,365 And then he hung up the phone and turned it off. 125 00:08:53,516 --> 00:08:55,033 Casey: And then you never heard from him again? 126 00:08:55,184 --> 00:08:58,185 No, his phone was off and he never showed up. 127 00:08:58,205 --> 00:09:01,206 That was kind of when I put two and two together. 128 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:13,276 And then finally, I get taken back into a room 129 00:09:13,295 --> 00:09:16,871 And like, it's just like in the movies, 130 00:09:16,965 --> 00:09:18,965 A doctor comes out and says, 131 00:09:19,117 --> 00:09:22,561 "we tried everything for your son and he's not alive." 132 00:09:24,881 --> 00:09:31,311 So in this case, they know you did not cause any direct harm to ryder. 133 00:09:31,405 --> 00:09:34,964 But you've been charged with the most serious crime 134 00:09:34,983 --> 00:09:36,741 That the state of oklahoma has. 135 00:09:38,412 --> 00:09:42,322 If we don't win at jury trial, 136 00:09:42,474 --> 00:09:46,326 Our only options are life or life without parole. 137 00:09:46,420 --> 00:09:48,402 Thirty eight and a half years. 138 00:09:48,422 --> 00:09:54,317 And we have to fight every day between now and then 139 00:09:54,410 --> 00:09:56,761 To make sure that we don't have to hear 140 00:09:56,913 --> 00:09:59,264 Any of those words come out of a juror's mouth. 141 00:10:07,423 --> 00:10:08,940 Night falls on the wichita mountains wildlife refuge 142 00:10:09,167 --> 00:10:11,017 Without any luck finding the suspect 143 00:10:11,169 --> 00:10:12,852 In the death of a norman two-year-old. 144 00:10:12,946 --> 00:10:15,071 (tense music playing) 145 00:10:19,102 --> 00:10:22,770 Casey: The manhunt continues until January 4th. 146 00:10:22,789 --> 00:10:28,534 And they've tracked what they think is his location down to the wichita mountains, 147 00:10:28,629 --> 00:10:33,114 But when they locate him, he is no longer alive. 148 00:10:33,133 --> 00:10:37,043 He had concocted a noose for himself 149 00:10:37,195 --> 00:10:38,970 And he hung himself to death. 150 00:10:41,475 --> 00:10:44,476 Christopher trent left a note, 151 00:10:44,703 --> 00:10:46,870 So to speak. 152 00:10:46,888 --> 00:10:50,556 He made his own burial and he carved some messages into it. 153 00:10:50,651 --> 00:10:52,317 You see an actual cross. 154 00:10:53,728 --> 00:10:56,062 He spends time and whittles out 155 00:10:56,214 --> 00:10:58,323 All of these different types of messages. 156 00:11:00,568 --> 00:11:01,826 "I'm sorry, mom." 157 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,165 And then he has one final message. 158 00:11:10,078 --> 00:11:11,461 "rebecca is innocent." 159 00:11:13,915 --> 00:11:17,901 It's vital to the defense that a jury hear and understand 160 00:11:17,919 --> 00:11:22,013 This is the guilty killer in this case 161 00:11:22,165 --> 00:11:24,331 Accepting responsibility 162 00:11:24,351 --> 00:11:26,075 For what he did 163 00:11:26,094 --> 00:11:28,019 To cause this child's death. 164 00:11:28,246 --> 00:11:30,079 There is no more important message 165 00:11:30,098 --> 00:11:32,190 Than "rebecca is innocent" on this cross. 166 00:11:33,676 --> 00:11:35,360 (suspenseful music playing) 167 00:11:40,425 --> 00:11:42,349 Hogue: A lot of my family is out of state, 168 00:11:42,444 --> 00:11:47,113 So I'm living with eileen and karen, my two aunts. 169 00:11:47,265 --> 00:11:49,690 Eileen kropf: I'll make some cheesy eggs, scrambled eggs, how's that? 170 00:11:49,784 --> 00:11:51,876 Hogue: Sounds good. 171 00:11:52,028 --> 00:11:55,529 Hogue: It fits because I'm not alone right now, 172 00:11:55,549 --> 00:11:59,442 Dealing with these emotions from the loss of my son. 173 00:11:59,461 --> 00:12:01,886 After my son's death on January 1st, 174 00:12:02,113 --> 00:12:04,614 I couldn't go back into that house at all. 175 00:12:04,707 --> 00:12:06,132 So I immediately moved out. 176 00:12:06,284 --> 00:12:08,375 Do you want fresh watermelon juice? 177 00:12:08,395 --> 00:12:09,953 -Yum. -Yummy. 178 00:12:09,971 --> 00:12:11,637 Hogue: Six to seven months later 179 00:12:11,732 --> 00:12:13,306 I found out that they were going to indict me. 180 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,734 Then I turned myself in and I stayed in jail 181 00:12:15,885 --> 00:12:18,737 For four months, almost five months. 182 00:12:20,298 --> 00:12:23,074 My time in jail was really hard on me. 183 00:12:23,301 --> 00:12:29,973 Mentally, emotionally, grieving for my son. 184 00:12:29,991 --> 00:12:33,643 If he was out running around here, I'd be a lot different. 185 00:12:33,736 --> 00:12:35,478 Oh, I know that, honey. I'm... 186 00:12:35,571 --> 00:12:39,148 -I'd be out and about, you know, with him and... -Kropf: Uh-huh. 187 00:12:39,167 --> 00:12:42,594 -It just feels so quiet and... -Uh-huh. 188 00:12:42,745 --> 00:12:45,388 We want you to know we're here if you need us. 189 00:12:46,582 --> 00:12:48,433 (kropf chuckles) 190 00:12:48,584 --> 00:12:53,496 Hogue: I couldn't imagine going to prison and being... 191 00:12:53,515 --> 00:12:58,943 And doing it all over again, but having years and years and years to count down. 192 00:13:03,283 --> 00:13:07,118 -I want to offer up a little prayer. -Both: Okay. 193 00:13:07,345 --> 00:13:12,515 Okay. I just want to say, thank you, lord, and... 194 00:13:12,534 --> 00:13:16,277 Hogue: I want the life where I'm married, I have children, 195 00:13:16,296 --> 00:13:17,629 We have a nice home, 196 00:13:19,132 --> 00:13:23,117 And I don't want to give up and let the state take 197 00:13:23,136 --> 00:13:27,472 My future away from me so I never get to experience those things that... 198 00:13:29,384 --> 00:13:32,143 That I want so badly and have wanted so badly. 199 00:13:39,060 --> 00:13:42,712 (intense music playing) 200 00:13:42,730 --> 00:13:46,140 Casey: Today, austin and I are going over the evidence in the case 201 00:13:46,234 --> 00:13:51,054 And we're trying to pinpoint some of the state's strongest evidence against rebecca. 202 00:13:51,072 --> 00:13:56,835 The state's case here is not about rebecca doing the child abuse. 203 00:13:56,986 --> 00:14:01,322 And so they can't just focus on January 1st when the child passes away. 204 00:14:01,341 --> 00:14:05,251 They have to go back in time to somehow prove 205 00:14:05,403 --> 00:14:07,253 That she knew that child abuse was going on 206 00:14:07,405 --> 00:14:08,346 Or that she should have known. 207 00:14:16,764 --> 00:14:20,841 The prosecution was able to find that rebecca had taken pictures 208 00:14:20,935 --> 00:14:27,514 Of small bruises on ryder going back 12 days before the child dies. 209 00:14:27,534 --> 00:14:31,427 The state's position is that the existence of those bruises 210 00:14:31,446 --> 00:14:33,262 Should have let rebecca know 211 00:14:33,356 --> 00:14:36,023 That the child was being abused, 212 00:14:36,117 --> 00:14:37,950 And that because of that, 213 00:14:38,103 --> 00:14:41,880 She should not leave the child in the hands of christopher trent. 214 00:14:42,031 --> 00:14:46,033 The first thing that happens where there's anything noted 215 00:14:46,127 --> 00:14:50,680 About something wrong with the child is December 19th. 216 00:14:52,967 --> 00:14:53,799 Vance: What we have here 217 00:14:53,894 --> 00:14:55,542 Is definitely a bruise 218 00:14:55,637 --> 00:14:57,803 And it's pretty dark in color, but it's not particularly large. 219 00:14:57,898 --> 00:14:59,397 If you see this picture, 220 00:14:59,548 --> 00:15:01,958 Is there any way you would say beyond a reasonable doubt 221 00:15:02,051 --> 00:15:04,402 You're alerted that this is child abuse? 222 00:15:04,553 --> 00:15:06,145 Casey: I don't think you get close. 223 00:15:06,239 --> 00:15:08,239 Not with this picture. 224 00:15:08,391 --> 00:15:10,391 She does take ryder to the doctor 225 00:15:10,485 --> 00:15:13,486 And he examines the ears, 226 00:15:13,638 --> 00:15:16,806 And I believe that, from her recollection, 227 00:15:16,899 --> 00:15:19,400 Nothing is stated to be wrong. 228 00:15:19,494 --> 00:15:23,546 So this is, uh, another photograph taken by rebecca. 229 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,927 Casey: To me, this looks like a kid might have busted his lip. 230 00:15:29,154 --> 00:15:31,554 Might have run into something face-first. 231 00:15:34,492 --> 00:15:39,495 Ryder is the kind of boy who runs around, tumbles, gets bruises, gets cuts, 232 00:15:39,514 --> 00:15:42,165 He's a "boys will be boys" kind of deal. 233 00:15:42,258 --> 00:15:45,334 So far, we have two pieces of evidence 234 00:15:45,353 --> 00:15:47,445 And there's not much here. 235 00:15:48,281 --> 00:15:50,189 And on the 21st, 236 00:15:50,341 --> 00:15:54,343 This is ten days before the child passes away. 237 00:15:54,362 --> 00:15:57,413 So, you know, ten days ahead, we don't have very much. 238 00:16:01,853 --> 00:16:03,444 The crux of the state's case is gonna come 239 00:16:03,538 --> 00:16:05,946 From the photos taken on 12/29. 240 00:16:05,966 --> 00:16:07,614 So... 241 00:16:07,634 --> 00:16:12,953 Yeah, the December 29th pictures are definitely the ones 242 00:16:12,973 --> 00:16:18,125 That start to bring larger questions about whether or not 243 00:16:18,219 --> 00:16:22,647 Ryder has actually been hurt before the day that he dies. 244 00:16:22,798 --> 00:16:26,225 This photo is the first where I think it's more definitive bruising, 245 00:16:26,377 --> 00:16:27,543 Rather than the other pictures. 246 00:16:27,562 --> 00:16:29,378 Casey: I've done enough child abuse cases 247 00:16:29,472 --> 00:16:31,322 Where I'm comfortable looking at this 248 00:16:31,474 --> 00:16:34,141 And having a high quality concern 249 00:16:34,235 --> 00:16:35,660 That this is child abuse. 250 00:16:35,811 --> 00:16:37,887 It's a little bit of a larger bruise 251 00:16:37,980 --> 00:16:39,555 And it's a hairline bruise. 252 00:16:39,574 --> 00:16:42,316 Vance: But do you think that the untrained eye 253 00:16:42,410 --> 00:16:46,078 Would be able to pick up on these kinds of bruises being child abuse? 254 00:16:46,172 --> 00:16:47,563 I don't think so. 255 00:16:47,582 --> 00:16:50,733 It's not one giant trauma that occurred at once 256 00:16:50,826 --> 00:16:54,345 That should've sent off, you know, alarms. 257 00:16:54,497 --> 00:16:56,014 How is the state is going to explain 258 00:16:56,165 --> 00:16:58,074 That rebecca is a negligent mother, 259 00:16:58,092 --> 00:17:00,667 When their only evidence of abuse 260 00:17:00,687 --> 00:17:05,189 Is photos taken by rebecca to record the incident? 261 00:17:07,418 --> 00:17:10,086 That doesn't scream of negligence to me. 262 00:17:10,104 --> 00:17:11,754 Casey: The state's case here 263 00:17:11,847 --> 00:17:13,680 Is because she took the pictures, 264 00:17:13,700 --> 00:17:15,925 She knew that he was being abused. 265 00:17:15,943 --> 00:17:18,369 And they try to tie all of them together to say 266 00:17:18,596 --> 00:17:21,372 The child was being abused over this period of time 267 00:17:21,524 --> 00:17:22,765 And she should have known about it 268 00:17:22,784 --> 00:17:25,025 Or she did know about it. 269 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:30,030 At the time, rebecca is not looking for answers about this, 270 00:17:30,050 --> 00:17:33,125 She is just going piece by piece and minute by minute 271 00:17:33,278 --> 00:17:34,794 Trying to get through work, 272 00:17:34,946 --> 00:17:37,113 Trying to get through taking care of the baby, 273 00:17:37,131 --> 00:17:39,282 And trying to move on to the next day. 274 00:17:39,300 --> 00:17:41,350 (pensive music playing) 275 00:17:48,626 --> 00:17:50,234 Hogue: I took the pictures of the bruises 276 00:17:50,461 --> 00:17:52,737 Because I wasn't at home when they occurred, 277 00:17:52,888 --> 00:17:55,406 And I wanted to ask chris what happened. 278 00:17:55,558 --> 00:17:58,301 He told me that my son never left his sight 279 00:17:58,319 --> 00:18:00,411 And I have nothing to worry about 280 00:18:00,563 --> 00:18:02,805 And he loves my son and he loves me 281 00:18:02,824 --> 00:18:04,640 And he would do anything to protect us. 282 00:18:04,659 --> 00:18:08,753 So I never thought twice about the injuries on my son. 283 00:18:10,832 --> 00:18:12,406 Being a first-time mom, 284 00:18:12,425 --> 00:18:15,151 Chris kind of lessened my worries 285 00:18:15,169 --> 00:18:18,154 And told me, "boys will be boys," 286 00:18:18,172 --> 00:18:20,823 And, you know, I was used to 287 00:18:20,916 --> 00:18:23,993 Seeing nicks and bruises on my son 288 00:18:24,086 --> 00:18:28,180 And I've seen him fall face down 289 00:18:28,333 --> 00:18:29,849 Off his scooters and everything, 290 00:18:30,001 --> 00:18:34,003 And so I really didn't think anything of it 291 00:18:34,096 --> 00:18:36,172 When he told me not to worry. 292 00:18:36,265 --> 00:18:39,099 Watching him interact with my son, 293 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,436 He would run and stop him from doing things that might get him hurt. 294 00:18:42,455 --> 00:18:45,364 And so, I never thought twice of leaving my son in care... 295 00:18:45,458 --> 00:18:46,624 In the care of chris. 296 00:18:49,945 --> 00:18:51,687 (voice shaking) I guess they wonder, 297 00:18:51,780 --> 00:18:54,357 How this could slip past me. 298 00:18:54,450 --> 00:18:58,527 But it did because I didn't think I had 299 00:18:58,546 --> 00:19:00,471 Someone like that in the home with us 300 00:19:00,698 --> 00:19:03,474 That would end up doing what he did. 301 00:19:08,055 --> 00:19:09,814 (intense music playing) 302 00:19:24,647 --> 00:19:31,410 This recording was made by a domestic violence advocate for rebecca, 303 00:19:31,562 --> 00:19:34,914 Who was also working at the police station. 304 00:19:35,066 --> 00:19:37,233 This advocate had a hunch 305 00:19:37,251 --> 00:19:40,827 That she wanted to start recording a conversation 306 00:19:40,922 --> 00:19:45,183 Between her and one of the detectives on the case. 307 00:19:59,532 --> 00:20:01,941 The recording is very unusual 308 00:20:02,093 --> 00:20:05,094 Because you have the lead detective on the case 309 00:20:05,187 --> 00:20:07,096 For the norman police department 310 00:20:07,189 --> 00:20:10,708 Openly stating that he believes rebecca is innocent of the crime. 311 00:20:24,465 --> 00:20:26,966 (detectives speaking indistinctly over recording) 312 00:20:27,060 --> 00:20:29,952 Casey: This was a recording between multiple detectives who were assigned to the case. 313 00:20:29,971 --> 00:20:31,470 It's a very unusual recording 314 00:20:31,564 --> 00:20:34,715 Because law enforcement is openly disagreeing 315 00:20:34,734 --> 00:20:36,717 With the choice by prosecutors 316 00:20:36,811 --> 00:20:38,569 To charge the person 317 00:20:38,796 --> 00:20:40,571 That is ultimately charged with the crime. 318 00:20:55,237 --> 00:20:57,255 (tense music playing) 319 00:21:04,597 --> 00:21:10,159 It starts to call into question the motives of the district attorney's office 320 00:21:10,252 --> 00:21:13,920 Because the district attorney doesn't interview a single person. 321 00:21:13,940 --> 00:21:18,017 I believe they have decided to charge rebecca 322 00:21:18,111 --> 00:21:20,594 Because they wanted to put the blame on somebody 323 00:21:20,613 --> 00:21:22,571 For the death of this sweet child. 324 00:21:28,179 --> 00:21:30,121 The evidence is very good for the defense 325 00:21:30,272 --> 00:21:35,459 Because we want the jury to be confronted with detectives who get on the stand and say, 326 00:21:35,611 --> 00:21:38,370 "we never thought that rebecca committed a crime." 327 00:21:38,523 --> 00:21:40,464 (suspenseful music playing) 328 00:21:50,977 --> 00:21:53,202 Casey: We know that the state of oklahoma 329 00:21:53,220 --> 00:21:55,629 Is going to try to paint christopher trent 330 00:21:55,648 --> 00:21:59,800 As malicious and bad of a guy as humanly possible. 331 00:21:59,894 --> 00:22:03,321 They want to project an image into the juror's head of, 332 00:22:03,472 --> 00:22:09,385 "why in the world would rebecca have dated this guy?" 333 00:22:09,478 --> 00:22:11,720 And then a second question of, 334 00:22:11,739 --> 00:22:14,623 "why would she ever let this person babysit her child?" 335 00:22:23,158 --> 00:22:24,658 We need to meet it head on. 336 00:22:24,677 --> 00:22:26,585 And I think the best way to do that 337 00:22:26,737 --> 00:22:29,847 Is to get behind rebecca's mind 338 00:22:29,998 --> 00:22:32,850 And find out everything that she went through 339 00:22:33,077 --> 00:22:35,001 That may have informed her decision 340 00:22:35,096 --> 00:22:37,930 That christopher trent was a good candidate for dating. 341 00:22:38,024 --> 00:22:40,358 -Casey: Hey, how are you? -Good. How are you? 342 00:22:40,509 --> 00:22:41,859 -Good, we can go right in here. -Okay. 343 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:48,440 We've been able to figure out from the prosecution 344 00:22:48,534 --> 00:22:51,594 That they're going to be leaning in very heavily 345 00:22:51,612 --> 00:22:54,538 On this one big theme in general, which is, 346 00:22:54,765 --> 00:22:57,616 "why would you be dating christopher trent?" 347 00:22:57,710 --> 00:22:59,359 And then later, 348 00:22:59,379 --> 00:23:02,104 "why would you let christopher trent babysit ryder?" 349 00:23:02,197 --> 00:23:05,716 And at this point, you know, ryder's dad, he's not in the picture. 350 00:23:07,220 --> 00:23:08,386 Where's he at? 351 00:23:08,537 --> 00:23:10,129 Hogue: He was in jail. 352 00:23:10,281 --> 00:23:13,891 And that's partially because of stuff that he had done to you? 353 00:23:14,118 --> 00:23:15,726 Right. 354 00:23:15,878 --> 00:23:21,399 So you and chris started dating towards the end of July, 2019. 355 00:23:21,550 --> 00:23:22,958 You all met online? 356 00:23:22,977 --> 00:23:25,552 -Yes. -What were you seeing? 357 00:23:25,571 --> 00:23:28,555 I saw someone with a good personality, 358 00:23:28,574 --> 00:23:30,866 A big smile, someone easy to talk to. 359 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:33,152 At some point, 360 00:23:33,246 --> 00:23:39,065 You decide to move forward with this relationship. 361 00:23:39,085 --> 00:23:40,142 Mmm-hmm. 362 00:23:40,235 --> 00:23:42,903 And you had kind of figured out, 363 00:23:42,922 --> 00:23:46,590 "okay, I know now he's got a dui." 364 00:23:46,742 --> 00:23:48,333 How is that affecting you? 365 00:23:48,428 --> 00:23:52,988 Well, I know it's not ideal to date anyone that's had a dui. 366 00:23:53,007 --> 00:23:54,581 But chris told me 367 00:23:54,675 --> 00:23:57,751 About the steps he has been taking to better himself 368 00:23:57,770 --> 00:23:59,845 And I... I believed him. 369 00:23:59,939 --> 00:24:02,940 -'cause we know the end result now. -(sniffles) 370 00:24:04,335 --> 00:24:06,927 And so it's so much easier for us to say, 371 00:24:06,946 --> 00:24:10,522 This person had issues with violence. 372 00:24:10,675 --> 00:24:12,858 Are you seeing any of that as you're dating? 373 00:24:13,010 --> 00:24:14,693 No. 374 00:24:14,787 --> 00:24:17,746 Had you been through domestic violence issues before? 375 00:24:19,033 --> 00:24:20,106 Yes. 376 00:24:20,126 --> 00:24:22,017 My mom was abused. 377 00:24:22,110 --> 00:24:27,631 And then my first boyfriend, when I was 15, started abusing me. 378 00:24:27,858 --> 00:24:30,784 And then I went to another man who abused me 379 00:24:30,803 --> 00:24:32,636 And it just was a chain of... 380 00:24:33,306 --> 00:24:34,430 Of men that... 381 00:24:35,308 --> 00:24:36,140 I mean, it's... 382 00:24:38,293 --> 00:24:40,144 I've had men choke me. 383 00:24:41,147 --> 00:24:41,979 Hit me. 384 00:24:43,541 --> 00:24:45,708 I've been thrown out of a moving car. 385 00:24:45,801 --> 00:24:47,634 I've had my clothes bleached. 386 00:24:47,728 --> 00:24:51,780 I've been beaten so bad that I thought I was going to die. 387 00:24:53,159 --> 00:24:56,994 I've had guns pulled on me. I've... 388 00:24:59,223 --> 00:25:04,243 So when we get, you know, back to 2019, 389 00:25:04,395 --> 00:25:06,895 Is chris reminding you of anything like that? 390 00:25:06,989 --> 00:25:10,415 No, he was a breath of fresh air. 391 00:25:10,568 --> 00:25:12,251 Chris didn't raise his voice at me. 392 00:25:12,403 --> 00:25:16,347 He told me he didn't put his hands on women. 393 00:25:16,498 --> 00:25:20,518 Was he aware that you had been through all this different stuff before? 394 00:25:20,745 --> 00:25:22,686 Yeah. And he told me I was safe with him. 395 00:25:27,676 --> 00:25:29,509 Casey: This is a situation where it looks pretty clear 396 00:25:29,529 --> 00:25:32,588 That christopher trent is manipulating her into believing, 397 00:25:32,681 --> 00:25:34,273 "I'm the man of your dreams." 398 00:25:34,425 --> 00:25:36,258 It had immense words for her. 399 00:25:36,277 --> 00:25:38,761 And so that's why she couldn't see it, 400 00:25:38,779 --> 00:25:42,264 Was because of everything he was representing himself to be. 401 00:25:42,283 --> 00:25:45,284 And so, trying to make a jury understand that 402 00:25:45,436 --> 00:25:48,045 Is the most important evidentiary thing. 403 00:25:54,111 --> 00:25:55,444 (suspenseful music playing) 404 00:25:55,462 --> 00:25:58,447 I think rebecca's case is going to come down 405 00:25:58,540 --> 00:26:00,465 To whether or not the jury believes 406 00:26:00,618 --> 00:26:03,452 That she should have been dating christopher trent. 407 00:26:03,545 --> 00:26:06,212 So, as backwards as it seems, 408 00:26:06,307 --> 00:26:10,383 We actually are really looking for witnesses who will tell us 409 00:26:10,477 --> 00:26:14,479 About how great christopher trent appeared as a person 410 00:26:14,574 --> 00:26:17,533 And say, "yeah, he really did, he put on the charm." 411 00:26:20,321 --> 00:26:22,228 I understand that you know rebecca pretty well. 412 00:26:22,248 --> 00:26:24,564 Yes. We were both cocktail waitresses. 413 00:26:24,584 --> 00:26:28,977 So, when did you first meet chris trent? 414 00:26:28,996 --> 00:26:30,588 Um, it was their first date. 415 00:26:30,739 --> 00:26:32,314 She had mentioned that she had met a guy and we're like, 416 00:26:32,333 --> 00:26:34,983 "well, let's all go out together for your first time." 417 00:26:35,002 --> 00:26:37,261 He shook our hands, was very, you know, polite. 418 00:26:37,488 --> 00:26:39,579 He was so respectful and he was easy to talk to, 419 00:26:39,673 --> 00:26:41,081 Like, carried on a conversation 420 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:43,583 To where he was a very likable person. 421 00:26:43,603 --> 00:26:47,179 -He didn't raise any eyebrows, suspicion or concern? -No, not at all. 422 00:26:47,273 --> 00:26:50,232 I mean, he was just a really nice, genuine person. 423 00:26:56,190 --> 00:26:58,598 Vance: So, through your friendship with rebecca, 424 00:26:58,618 --> 00:27:00,509 You got to observe her as a mother. 425 00:27:00,527 --> 00:27:02,845 Was there any indication that she was neglectful? 426 00:27:02,863 --> 00:27:04,938 No, not at all. 427 00:27:05,032 --> 00:27:08,016 If he went out, she was right there with him outside. 428 00:27:08,110 --> 00:27:09,852 She was very protective of ryder. 429 00:27:09,945 --> 00:27:12,112 Very, very protective of him. 430 00:27:12,206 --> 00:27:14,857 Based on, you know, knowing rebecca for almost a decade, 431 00:27:14,950 --> 00:27:16,133 Even with everything you know, 432 00:27:16,360 --> 00:27:17,784 Would you trust her with your kids? 433 00:27:17,803 --> 00:27:19,695 -I would trust her now. -Yeah. 434 00:27:19,713 --> 00:27:21,639 I do. I trust her with my life. 435 00:27:21,790 --> 00:27:23,599 I trust her with my babies' lives. 436 00:27:24,535 --> 00:27:25,976 She's a wonderful person. 437 00:27:26,887 --> 00:27:27,978 A wonderful person. 438 00:27:31,892 --> 00:27:35,043 Vance: The thought that the jury are going to come together, 439 00:27:35,062 --> 00:27:36,895 Hear this whole story that's been humanized, 440 00:27:36,989 --> 00:27:38,781 That I don't think the prosecutors care about, 441 00:27:40,067 --> 00:27:42,159 And then say conclusively, 442 00:27:42,310 --> 00:27:45,404 Beyond a reasonable doubt, she knew there was abuse, 443 00:27:45,556 --> 00:27:49,057 She willingly ignored it and that this is murder, 444 00:27:49,151 --> 00:27:51,669 Is just, I think, ridiculous. 445 00:27:59,512 --> 00:28:01,595 (dramatic music playing) 446 00:28:10,172 --> 00:28:13,248 Casey: We brought rebecca in to deal with some prosecution evidence 447 00:28:13,267 --> 00:28:16,268 Because they found some pdf documents on her phone 448 00:28:16,420 --> 00:28:18,946 About "what are signs of child abuse." 449 00:28:20,032 --> 00:28:21,699 So, they're going to treat it as 450 00:28:21,926 --> 00:28:24,201 One of their biggest pieces of evidence and say, 451 00:28:24,352 --> 00:28:28,205 "see, she was looking for signs of child abuse on the internet 452 00:28:28,432 --> 00:28:31,041 "at the same time this was happening." 453 00:28:31,268 --> 00:28:36,104 It's probably one of the only big problems in the case 454 00:28:36,123 --> 00:28:38,531 As far as what this piece of evidence is. 455 00:28:38,625 --> 00:28:40,459 Now, I don't see it as fatal, 456 00:28:40,611 --> 00:28:45,038 And I do see it as something that there is a reasonable explanation for. 457 00:28:45,057 --> 00:28:46,807 But we gotta figure that out with rebecca. 458 00:28:55,234 --> 00:28:59,978 It's christmas eve and you download this document. 459 00:29:00,072 --> 00:29:01,813 I'm just always on high alert 460 00:29:01,907 --> 00:29:05,634 In any relationship for myself and for my son. 461 00:29:05,727 --> 00:29:10,806 It was just something that I researched just for peace of mind. 462 00:29:10,899 --> 00:29:14,567 Casey: The state's going to make a big deal out of this document. 463 00:29:14,587 --> 00:29:16,587 Did you read this first section? 464 00:29:16,814 --> 00:29:18,330 Hogue: Well, looking at this document, 465 00:29:18,424 --> 00:29:23,151 It would say my child would show sudden changes in behavior, 466 00:29:23,170 --> 00:29:25,153 Which he had not. 467 00:29:25,247 --> 00:29:29,266 No learning problems. My son was very inquisitive and very curious. 468 00:29:29,417 --> 00:29:33,328 And so, let's just walk through these signs of physical abuse. 469 00:29:33,347 --> 00:29:37,941 No burns. No bites, no broken bones, no black eyes on my son. 470 00:29:38,168 --> 00:29:41,945 Did he have any points where he seemed frightened 471 00:29:42,172 --> 00:29:43,855 Whenever he had to stay with chris? 472 00:29:43,949 --> 00:29:48,452 No. Never did that. If anything, he was running towards chris. 473 00:29:48,603 --> 00:29:52,456 What was your conclusion at the end of reading that document? 474 00:29:52,607 --> 00:29:54,750 That there was no child abuse going on in my home. 475 00:29:56,687 --> 00:29:58,687 Casey: The state's stretching with this piece of evidence. 476 00:29:58,705 --> 00:30:01,857 The narrative that they're trying to promote 477 00:30:01,875 --> 00:30:04,450 Is that she should have immediately known 478 00:30:04,470 --> 00:30:07,546 That child abuse was at risk from these two injuries. 479 00:30:07,698 --> 00:30:12,551 That is such a very lofty thing to expect of somebody in the general public. 480 00:30:12,703 --> 00:30:15,370 For her to look for all the signs is one thing, 481 00:30:15,463 --> 00:30:19,041 And then for her to make a conclusion is a totally different thing. 482 00:30:19,059 --> 00:30:21,819 And they have to prove that she knew, 483 00:30:22,046 --> 00:30:24,304 And that's totally different than suspected. 484 00:30:24,323 --> 00:30:27,825 If you're searching, "what is child abuse?" 485 00:30:27,976 --> 00:30:31,311 Then it leads to the idea that you didn't know something was child abuse. 486 00:30:31,405 --> 00:30:37,075 But they're still going to try to run this one up the flagpole as many times as they can. 487 00:30:37,227 --> 00:30:39,169 So part of our strategy is really simple, 488 00:30:39,321 --> 00:30:40,912 We're here to show that the conclusions they reached 489 00:30:41,006 --> 00:30:43,006 About you were wrong. 490 00:30:44,176 --> 00:30:46,176 (dramatic music playing) 491 00:30:53,668 --> 00:30:56,520 Hogue: Today, we're going to my storage unit. 492 00:30:56,671 --> 00:31:00,524 I have to just think of the worst possibility 493 00:31:00,751 --> 00:31:02,767 And that would be they do convict me, 494 00:31:02,862 --> 00:31:07,772 And me being sent to prison for the rest of my life. 495 00:31:07,867 --> 00:31:11,368 And so, I have to get all my belongings in one spot. 496 00:31:22,047 --> 00:31:26,866 It definitely feels like every materialistic thing I have is here, 497 00:31:26,886 --> 00:31:30,387 But it's also everything in here 498 00:31:30,614 --> 00:31:34,374 I worked for, I bought, I paid for. 499 00:31:34,393 --> 00:31:35,309 Um... 500 00:31:37,379 --> 00:31:40,138 So it's... It's very insulting to me 501 00:31:40,232 --> 00:31:43,358 To have lost my son, my home. 502 00:31:44,962 --> 00:31:46,236 And now 503 00:31:47,131 --> 00:31:49,055 It comes to this. 504 00:31:49,149 --> 00:31:50,490 All my stuff in a unit. 505 00:31:54,821 --> 00:31:56,972 I'm facing life in prison. 506 00:31:56,990 --> 00:31:59,416 So it's... It's either... 507 00:32:00,753 --> 00:32:02,419 It's all or nothing right now. 508 00:32:14,324 --> 00:32:16,266 (ominous music playing) 509 00:32:16,418 --> 00:32:18,418 Casey: They're going to come in there 510 00:32:18,437 --> 00:32:20,162 And try to say everything negative 511 00:32:20,180 --> 00:32:22,230 And I've gotta punch 'em in the mouth real fast. 512 00:32:24,184 --> 00:32:26,276 I've really got to be able to go in there 513 00:32:27,446 --> 00:32:29,020 And start throwing haymakers. 514 00:32:29,173 --> 00:32:30,280 It's not a time to be meek. 515 00:32:36,288 --> 00:32:37,955 The fight starts now. 516 00:32:38,106 --> 00:32:39,623 We get a jury and the fight starts now. 517 00:32:44,371 --> 00:32:46,421 (pensive music playing) 518 00:33:03,148 --> 00:33:04,723 Casey: Hearing the state's opening, 519 00:33:04,817 --> 00:33:07,484 And I'll be honest, there was a lot of the opening 520 00:33:07,635 --> 00:33:10,045 That was just devoid of accuracy. 521 00:33:10,063 --> 00:33:14,566 The prosecution is 100% trying to say that rebecca just knew 522 00:33:14,660 --> 00:33:17,477 He was being abused and just tried to hide it. 523 00:33:17,496 --> 00:33:18,903 As far as what their strategy goes, 524 00:33:18,998 --> 00:33:21,498 I assumed it would be a little bit more reasonable. 525 00:33:21,649 --> 00:33:25,818 So we'll see what else they have as we kind of get closer to it. 526 00:33:25,912 --> 00:33:27,671 (intense music playing) 527 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,660 Shelby montgomery: Today, we heard testimony from a medical examiner 528 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:36,829 Who revealed the extent of the injuries. 529 00:33:36,849 --> 00:33:42,077 They revealed that the cause of the death was a homicide by blunt force trauma. 530 00:33:42,095 --> 00:33:44,021 (suspenseful music playing) 531 00:33:47,526 --> 00:33:49,768 Hogue: Definitely the roughest so far. 532 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,604 No mother should have to hear 533 00:33:52,698 --> 00:33:56,867 Or see or be around what the state presented today. 534 00:33:57,018 --> 00:33:59,202 It was awful. 535 00:34:03,283 --> 00:34:07,193 Casey: The question is what she knew or should have known, 536 00:34:07,212 --> 00:34:11,197 And nothing that we looked at today helped us get to that answer. 537 00:34:11,216 --> 00:34:12,624 The reason that you show a jury, 538 00:34:12,776 --> 00:34:16,053 "see all these gruesome horror show pictures 539 00:34:16,204 --> 00:34:18,947 "and have an emotional response to it," 540 00:34:18,965 --> 00:34:22,784 Where they want to do justice for somebody. 541 00:34:22,803 --> 00:34:26,638 The only person they can do anything to is rebecca, 542 00:34:26,732 --> 00:34:28,957 And you're hoping to motivate them to do that. 543 00:34:28,975 --> 00:34:31,126 It's... 544 00:34:31,144 --> 00:34:34,362 It's very difficult right now. It's just unbearable for her. 545 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:42,204 (suspenseful music playing) 546 00:34:55,168 --> 00:34:59,429 Casey: Today started taking a turn for the worse around the lunchtime hour. 547 00:34:59,581 --> 00:35:05,418 The prosecution stood up and said that they wanted to object to a bunch of our witnesses. 548 00:35:05,512 --> 00:35:11,441 And one by one, we lost several different motions that the state raised at the very last minute. 549 00:35:26,625 --> 00:35:28,850 Casey: And all that the jury is left with at this point 550 00:35:28,869 --> 00:35:31,628 Is, "well, the cops didn't do a thorough investigation." 551 00:35:31,855 --> 00:35:34,372 It just didn't have an impact to it 552 00:35:34,524 --> 00:35:36,207 For what the detective was able to talk about 553 00:35:36,301 --> 00:35:39,027 Because we didn't get to ask him any of the "why" questions. 554 00:35:39,045 --> 00:35:41,096 (intense music playing) 555 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:51,706 The carvings basically, in this case, were a suicide note. 556 00:35:51,725 --> 00:35:54,225 A dying declaration from christopher trent 557 00:35:54,378 --> 00:35:57,154 Saying that he was guilty and saying rebecca is innocent. 558 00:35:57,305 --> 00:35:58,780 We couldn't present it to a jury. 559 00:36:05,739 --> 00:36:08,498 Casey: Because the abuse wasn't "physical," 560 00:36:08,725 --> 00:36:11,501 It led to a situation where we got ruled out 561 00:36:11,653 --> 00:36:14,153 On getting to introduce our domestic violence expert 562 00:36:14,173 --> 00:36:18,566 To talk about why rebecca was acting in certain ways that she was acting. 563 00:36:18,585 --> 00:36:20,585 And that's kind of the point of the defense. 564 00:36:20,679 --> 00:36:23,305 She was being abused. She just didn't see it. 565 00:36:30,096 --> 00:36:32,430 That left us in a moment where we had to scramble 566 00:36:32,524 --> 00:36:35,600 And re-put together what our defense case was. 567 00:36:35,752 --> 00:36:38,937 Then we proceeded with about five witnesses that got up there to talk, 568 00:36:39,031 --> 00:36:41,606 But we were all hamstrung with every witness that we had 569 00:36:41,700 --> 00:36:44,201 Because some of them couldn't get into certain topics 570 00:36:44,352 --> 00:36:46,494 And some of them couldn't give their full opinion on things. 571 00:36:51,710 --> 00:36:54,619 We had very strong witnesses that we were planning on using 572 00:36:54,771 --> 00:36:56,621 Without rebecca testifying. 573 00:36:56,773 --> 00:36:59,382 And now we've gotta make decisions tonight 574 00:36:59,534 --> 00:37:01,551 About whether rebecca will or will not testify. 575 00:37:01,703 --> 00:37:04,295 These are "heat of the moment" questions sometimes, 576 00:37:04,389 --> 00:37:06,348 And so sometimes you can make a wrong decision. 577 00:37:07,559 --> 00:37:09,726 Ultimately, it's not my decision. 578 00:37:09,877 --> 00:37:11,210 It's rebecca's decision. 579 00:37:11,230 --> 00:37:12,729 Rebecca has to make that choice. 580 00:37:17,310 --> 00:37:19,236 (suspenseful music playing) 581 00:37:23,909 --> 00:37:25,909 Hogue: Last night, my attorney called me 582 00:37:26,060 --> 00:37:27,819 And asked me if I wanted to testify, 583 00:37:27,971 --> 00:37:29,395 And I couldn't sleep. 584 00:37:29,414 --> 00:37:33,583 I want to testify because I'm fighting for my life. 585 00:37:34,569 --> 00:37:35,827 It's a hard decision. 586 00:37:35,921 --> 00:37:38,404 I'm afraid they're going to twist me up on dates 587 00:37:38,423 --> 00:37:41,091 (voice breaking) and times and things that I've... 588 00:37:42,261 --> 00:37:43,334 (sniffles) 589 00:37:43,487 --> 00:37:44,836 I haven't focused on 590 00:37:44,988 --> 00:37:47,413 'cause I don't really walk myself 591 00:37:47,432 --> 00:37:49,432 Through my son's death every day 592 00:37:50,585 --> 00:37:52,269 And how everything happened. 593 00:37:52,938 --> 00:37:54,012 (sobs) 594 00:37:54,164 --> 00:37:55,397 If they convict me, 595 00:37:56,591 --> 00:37:58,257 Then that man's taken 596 00:37:58,351 --> 00:38:00,277 My son's life and my life. 597 00:38:01,947 --> 00:38:03,780 (dramatic music playing) 598 00:38:13,533 --> 00:38:16,626 Casey: If you think you can get up there and do a good job, 599 00:38:16,853 --> 00:38:19,537 Then get up there and do a good job. 600 00:38:19,631 --> 00:38:21,947 But make that decision from a place of freedom 601 00:38:21,967 --> 00:38:26,044 Because you think, "I need to do it. I want to do it." 602 00:38:26,138 --> 00:38:27,378 Hogue: I want to. 603 00:38:27,531 --> 00:38:29,455 Casey: Are you sure? 604 00:38:29,474 --> 00:38:32,550 We have to let the judge know at 8:30. 605 00:38:32,702 --> 00:38:34,644 -We've got to get over there. -Vance: We do. 606 00:38:58,170 --> 00:39:02,580 Casey: It was clear how just petrified she was. 607 00:39:02,732 --> 00:39:07,919 She was not able to answer questions, to even form full sentences. 608 00:39:08,071 --> 00:39:12,090 And that was something where I felt like 609 00:39:12,242 --> 00:39:14,759 This is a very real risk for her 610 00:39:14,911 --> 00:39:17,095 That if she's not in a mental place 611 00:39:17,189 --> 00:39:20,264 Where she can stand up and fight for herself, 612 00:39:20,417 --> 00:39:22,359 That they might get her to admit 613 00:39:22,586 --> 00:39:24,510 To any number of different things. 614 00:39:24,604 --> 00:39:27,255 Not because she's actually guilty or actually thinks it, 615 00:39:27,273 --> 00:39:30,367 But because she is in real pushover mode at this point. 616 00:39:42,214 --> 00:39:44,047 Casey: Twelve people are going to make a decision. 617 00:39:45,609 --> 00:39:47,609 And that decision will determine 618 00:39:47,702 --> 00:39:51,963 Whether or not rebecca gets to go home and sleep in her bed 619 00:39:52,115 --> 00:39:54,966 And continue her life and her dreams 620 00:39:55,118 --> 00:39:57,894 Or whether she loses her freedom for the rest of her life. 621 00:40:08,907 --> 00:40:10,815 Hogue: I have to have faith in the justice system 622 00:40:10,967 --> 00:40:12,242 That they're going to figure this out. 623 00:40:15,321 --> 00:40:17,080 (suspenseful music playing) 624 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:38,893 Brya berry: Rebecca hogue found guilty on first degree murder charges. 625 00:40:40,013 --> 00:40:41,438 (speaking indistinctly) 626 00:40:42,832 --> 00:40:44,348 Berry: Hogue's attorney emotional 627 00:40:44,501 --> 00:40:46,943 As they watch rebecca being carried away in handcuffs. 628 00:40:49,522 --> 00:40:51,096 Very emotional day in court today. 629 00:40:51,116 --> 00:40:52,523 We're live in norman. 630 00:40:52,676 --> 00:40:54,075 Brya berry oklahoma's news 4. 631 00:40:58,606 --> 00:41:02,274 Casey: It's a "pit in your stomach" feeling where it just drops out 632 00:41:02,294 --> 00:41:04,794 Whenever you hear the verdict go against her. 633 00:41:07,023 --> 00:41:10,191 They took this tragedy, this death of a child 634 00:41:10,210 --> 00:41:13,861 And got the jury angry enough where they would go with it. 635 00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:16,306 Everything right now is still focused on rebecca 636 00:41:16,533 --> 00:41:20,535 And trying to make sure that we do the best that we can ahead of her sentencing. 637 00:41:20,628 --> 00:41:25,056 Ultimately, it's a judge that has to enter a sentence in this case, 638 00:41:25,150 --> 00:41:27,633 And so we have a lot of fight that we have to go through. 639 00:41:27,727 --> 00:41:29,652 (melancholy music playing) 640 00:41:37,645 --> 00:41:39,787 (suspenseful music playing) 641 00:41:44,577 --> 00:41:47,003 Reporter: At Friday's sentencing, hogue saying... 642 00:41:48,231 --> 00:41:50,340 (reading) 643 00:42:04,097 --> 00:42:06,931 Reporter: Judge michael tupper overruling the jury's decision 644 00:42:07,025 --> 00:42:09,767 For her to spend life behind bars, saying... 645 00:42:09,861 --> 00:42:12,529 (reading) 646 00:42:22,115 --> 00:42:24,523 Unmitigated tragedy 647 00:42:24,617 --> 00:42:28,027 About what she went through and what her child went through 648 00:42:28,046 --> 00:42:29,604 And there's parts of it where I would wake up vomiting 649 00:42:29,622 --> 00:42:31,289 During this trial 650 00:42:31,383 --> 00:42:33,716 Just knowing what happened to that poor soul. 651 00:42:36,112 --> 00:42:41,391 I am thrilled that we get her back in our life in about 13 months.