Carlisle buried baby case

The infant's skeletal remains were dug up from the backyard on July 14, 2017, and an initial autopsy determined that the baby's bones were partially charred and died of "homicidal violence".[10][11] However, forensic pathologist Dr. Elizabeth Murray, who had initially identified signs of charring on the bones, retracted that assertion before the trial.[8][12]

In a recorded interview by Police, with neither her parents nor her attorney present, Richardson was initially hesitant about the suggestion that she had burned the baby. But later, when a female officer was present, in response to being asked whether perhaps she had attempted a cremation, she agreed. And when her parents were brought into the interrogation room, she stated, "I tried to cremate the baby just a little."[13][8]

The prosecution alleged that Richardson had burned her newborn child's body before burying it in the back yard of her home.[12]

The defense argued that Richardson was subjected to an overzealous interrogation because of the baby burning theory, which was at this point unsupported.[12] A psychologist diagnosed her with dependent personality disorder and testified that this disorder could have led her to make a false confession.[14]

After the trial, a juror said that Richardson was not convicted on the more serious charges because the "prosecutors did not prove their case."[12]

Following the trial, Richardson attended college and worked part-time at the law firm that represented her. Her probation was terminated in 2020, nearly two years early.[3] In 2022, she won a bid to have records of her conviction sealed.[4]

• Kerry babies case - A similar case from Ireland.
• Concealment of birth
• Stillbirth
• Teenage pregnancy