Chapter 8 - The Arraignment and the Crack
Two weeks after their arrest, Evelyn and Taylor were brought before the Boulder County District Court for their formal arraignment.
I sat in the front row of the gallery, holding a small notepad, flanked by Detective Vance.
Evelyn walked into the courtroom in an orange jumpsuit, her hair unstyled, her posture slightly rigid, though she still tried to maintain an air of haughty defiance. Taylor walked behind her, looking hollow, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen from endless crying.
The charges were read aloud by the court clerk:
Count One: Felony Child Abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.
Count Two: False Imprisonment in the First Degree.
Count Three: Reckless Endangerment.
When the judge asked how they pled, Evelyn’s defense attorney stood up. “Not guilty, Your Honor.”
Before the judge could move to set a trial date, something unexpected happened.
Taylor stood up abruptly beside her mother, her chair scraping loudly against the polished wood floor.
“Taylor! Sit down!” her attorney hissed, grabbing her arm.
“No!” Taylor sobbed, shaking her head violently. Tears streamed down her face as she looked directly at the judge. “I won't do it anymore. I won't take the fall for her.”
Evelyn whipped her head around, glaring at her daughter with eyes cold enough to freeze blood. “Taylor, shut your mouth right now.”
“You told me to do it, Mother!” Taylor screamed, breaking down completely in the center of the courtroom. “You said she was too sensitive! You locked her in there first, and when I tried to stop you years ago, you told me you’d ruin me and take custody away from me too! You’re a monster!”
The courtroom erupted into a flurry of murmurs and camera shutters. Bailiffs rushed forward to separate them as Evelyn lunged toward Taylor with a face contorted in pure, murderous rage.
“Get her out of here!” the judge shouted, banging his gavel repeatedly. “Bailiffs, remove the defendant Evelyn to holding immediately!”
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As Evelyn was dragged out of the courtroom, kicking and screaming obscenities, Taylor collapsed onto the defense table, weeping uncontrollably.
Detective Vance leaned over to me and whispered, "Well, Mr. Miller, looks like your ex-wife just decided to turn state's evidence. Evelyn’s going away for a very, very long time."
