Misadventure Or Malice?:The Death Of 5-Year-Old Cloe Chandler.

🌻 Cloe Marie Chandler🌻

“Love is putting someone else’s needs before yours."

Little Cloe or "peanut" as her grandmother called her, was born on November 11th, 2012 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Kelsie Thomas and Steven Chandler. 5-year-old Cloe had graduated in May 2018 from pre-school at Agassiz. She loved riding her bike, sticker books, sunflowers and everything purple. She liked to go to the park, color and blow bubbles. Cloe liked school and would work hard at it. She could count up to thirty. She liked to learn new things. She was a happy kid. Cloe's favorite movie was "Frozen."

Kelsie had Cloe when she was 16. Cloe's father, Steven, cheated on Kelsie and left her to be a single mother. Later, Kelsie met Aaron Thomas. They got married and had a little boy named Phoenix. After the birth of Phoenix, Kelsie grew distant from Cloe and became easily irritated by her. It got to the point where on several occasions, Kelsie asked her mother, Cloe's grandmother, Kaladra, if she'd just take her.

According to Cloe's mother, Kelsie, in their home on 127 North James Street in Ottumwa on July 19th, 2018, Kelsie made lunch for Cloe and then put her down for a nap sometime after 12 p.m. Kelsie said she also took a nap before work. Kelsie woke up around 3:15 p.m. found Cloe unresponsive in her closet. Kelsie said she found pajama pants strangling her neck. She then lifted Cloe down and the knot in the pants came undone. Kelsie then put Cloe on her bed and ravioli came out of her mouth in vomit.

Kelsie called 9-1-1. Around 3:30 p.m., Chief Deputy Fire Fighter, Corey Binge, was first on scene. He went into Cloe's bedroom and found her cool to the touch. Her airway was blocked by vomit. He tried to resuscitate her to no avail.

Cloe was pronounced dead at Ottumwa Regional Health Center at 4 p.m.

Around 8:30 p.m., Kelsie's mother, Kaladra, got a call about Cloe from one of Kelsie's ex-boyfriends. Kaladra then called Kelsie to ask her if Cloe was ok. Kelsie, who was eating dinner asked, "How did you find out?"

The next day, Kelsie told her cousin, Brittney, about how Cloe reminded her of  her ex, Cloe's father and how her behavior was becoming more like his everyday. About how much that had bothered her.

Kelsie said her daughter wanted to make a swing in the closet with those pants, but ended up choking to death and strangling herself instead.

An autopsy was performed at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner on July 23rd, 2018. The cause of death was determined to be Ligature Strangulation. The manner of death was certified as Homicide. The medical examiner stated to the police that her findings indicated that Cloe had not been hanged like Kelsie had claimed. The examiner said that since Cloe had hemorrhages inside her neck, that a struggle occurred. There was also hemorrhaging on the hyoid bone. 

On July 24th, Kelsie was brought in for an interview. 

On July 26th, Kelsie was brought in for another interview. She changed her story and told the officers that Cloe was never in the closet. She said that she left Cloe home while Aaron was sleeping. She took her father, Cloe's grandfather, Larry, to the doctor with Phoenix in tow. Kelsie said she wanted to leave because she was frustrated with her daughter. “She was misbehaving, acting out, I didn’t know why,” claimed Kelsie.

Kelsie then went to Walmart then back home around noon. Cloe came to the door and opened it for her mom and told her "I miss you." This upset Kelsie because Cloe was suppose to stay in her room. Aaron left for work and Kelsie tried to put Cloe down for a nap, but Cloe wouldn't stay in her room. This frustrated Kelise even more. She looped some pajama pants around her daughter's neck and started choking Cloe. As Cloe eyes looked at Kelsie's, they bulged. The little girl struggled and then went limp.

After the interview, Kelsie wrote a letter saying that she was sorry for doing this and that her family should have stepped up and helped her.

Kelsie was arrested on first degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She plead not guilty to the charges even though she basically told investigators that she killed Cloe.

One of the calls that Kelsie made in jail was to her husband, Aaron Thomas. She told him that she was sorry and that she didn't mean to do it. That it was an accident. Aaron told her to stop talking and that she needed a lawyer.

Aaron left Cloe and along with Phoenix, went to Arizona with another woman.

Kelsie Thomas Trial - Prosecution Opening Statement

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Opening statements of Kelsie's trial started on March 4th, 2020. The prosecution said that they were going to prove that the last thing that Cloe saw was her own mother strangling her, and robbing her her last breaths of life.

Kelsie Thomas Trial - Defense Opening Statement

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When the defense took the floor they wanted to remind the court that Kelsie was innocent until proven guilty. They also said that the state will never been able to prove that she is guilty in the eyes of the jury and that Kelsie's confession to Cloe's murder was false.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 1 - Kaladra Kochuyt & Brittney Johnson

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Kelsie's mother, Kaladra, testified that after Phoenix was born Cloe stopped getting attention. And that a month before Cloe's death, she ended up by a pond, all alone. Kaladra also said that Kelsie told her she was having a difficult time getting Cloe to listen. Kaladra said that she told Kelsie to spend more time with Cloe and that maybe she'd start listening better. Kaladra also talked about how Kelsie had asked her if Cloe could live with her. Kaladra told Kelise no, that Kelsie would miss her too much. According to Kaladra, when they went to the zoo two months before Cloe died, Cloe's shoes kept coming undone and they had to stop and kept retying her shoes because Cloe couldn't tie them tight enough.

If Cloe couldn't tie her shoe laces tight enough, could she have tied the pajama bottoms tight enough to accidentally strangle herself to death?

Kaladra also talked about the conversation she had with Kelsie after Kaladra found out about Cloe's death via an ex-boyfriend of Kelsie's.

Kelsie's cousin, Brittney then took the stand. She talked about how she grew up with Kelsie. Brittany also testified that after Phoenix  was born, that Kelsie payed him more attention than Cloe. That it seemed like Cloe was neglected compared to Phoenix and sometimes forgot about. That Phoenix was also dressed nicer than Cloe. 

Brittney also testified about how one of the reasons that Kelsie had broken up with Cloe's dad, Steven, is because he had cheated on Kelsie numerous times.

Brittney said that she found out about Cloe's death after reading a news article on Facebook. Brittney said that she then tried to get a hold of family members. When she finally talked to Kaladra, she found out that Kaladra learned about Cloe's death through an ex-boyfriend of Kelsie's. This prompted Brittney to drive to the police station and told them that she didn't believe that Cloe's death was an accident and asked to be wired.

After going to the police station, Brittney went straight to Kelsie's home. Brittney said that Kelsie didn't seem upset. They came to an agreement were Brittany would take care of Phoenix for a while. They then went to a friend's house to pick Phoenix up. On the way to the friend's house, Kelsie told Brittney how Cloe reminded her of Cloe's father, Steven. She also told Brittney that Cloe wouldn't listen and would get out of hand. That Cloe was not controllable  and would get on her nerves. Kelsie also told Brittany how it was sometimes hard to look at Cloe because she reminded her so much of Steven.

Once back at Kelsie's house, Brittney asked to go inside. Kelsie said that she didn't want to go back inside because she just saw her daughter die. Then Kelsie corrected herself and said that she found her dead.

Kelsie told Brittany that she wasn't happy that the police were investigating Cloe's death. She also discussed with Brittney how Cloe had allegedly tied the pajamas in a knot above the rod in the closet, which created a loop.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 1 - Brittney Johnson & Chief Deputy Fire Fighter, Corey Binge

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Binge testified that there was vomit in Cloe's hair and by her face. He also said that when he asked Kelsie what happened she stated that she had found Cloe hanging in the closet. Binge said that he had checked for a pulse and to see if Cloe was breathing. He said that their was no pulse and that her airway was restricted with vomit. He then moved her to the floor and checked her extremities and they were cool to the touch. Binge moved Cloe's head to the side to clear her mouth of vomit and then begun CPR. Binge also said that he noticed ligature marks on Cloe. He then went on to explain about the life saving measures that the EMT's tried when they showed up a few minutes later. Binge carried Cloe to the ambulance when it arrived where they continued to work on Cloe. Binge said that Kelsie seemed upset.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 1 - Chief Tom McAndrew & Aaron Thomas - Defendant's Husband

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I don't know the first guy's name, but he was an EMT that arrived on scene. He stated that when he arrived on scene, he did not see the pajamas tied in a knot, but they did appear like they had been previously pulled or cinched tight. He stated that Kelsie seemed upset and there was nothing odd about her behavior.

Chief McAndrew talked about how he walked into Kelsie's house and saw her holding Phoenix and Binge preforming CPR on Cloe. He then went back outside to wait for the ambulance. When the ambulance arrived McAndrew went back in and told Binge that it was there so he could run Cloe out to it. McAndrew was helping get the ambulance doors shut when Aaron Thomas came running up. Aaron then looked in the ambulance, became upset and then ran into the house. After a few minutes Aaron ran back out and McAndrew offered him a ride to the hospital. They got into McAndrew's vehicle to wait for the ambulance, but Aaron got impatient and went back to the ambulance. He returned a few minutes later with Kelsie and Phoenix in tow. After a few minutes Aaron got impatient once more and went back to the ambulance. As Aaron got to the back of the ambulance it started to take off, so he got back in McAndrew's vehicle and they followed the ambulance to the hospital.

On the way to the hospital Aaron asked Kelsie what happened. Kelsie told Aaron that they ate lunch and took a nap. After the nap she said she checked on Cloe and found her hanging in the closet by a pair of pajamas.

Once and the hospital, they followed EMTs as they took Cloe into the emergency room. Aaron went into the trauma room with Cloe as McAndrew stood in the hallway with Kelsie and Phoenix. Kelsie was crying and said that she felt like she was going to be sick.

After Cloe was pronounced dead, Aaron came out of the trauma room. Then Aaron, Kelsie, Phoenix, McAndrew and a Chaplin walked outside and the Chaplin talked to Kelsie and Aaron. The sun became too much for Kelsie and they went back inside the hospital. Aaraon went into the trauma room as Kelsie and Phoenix walked to the end of the hall with the Chaplin. And that was the last McAndrew saw of them.

Aaron testified that when he started dating Kelsie that Kelsie and Cloe's relationship was great. Aaron also talked about getting a nasty phone call from Kelsie on the day of Cloe's death. Ten minutes later he received a second phone call from Kelsie saying that Cloe was not breathing and that is when he rushed home. When he arrived, that was when EMTs were rushing Cloe out to the ambulance. He also said that he found Kelsie's demeanor very odd when she was talking to police.

Aaron didn't know why Kaladra accused Kelsie of being involved in Cloe's death. And that it was normal for Kelsie to put the kids down for a nap so she could also take a nap before work. He said however, that he had no idea that Kelsie had left Cloe alone with him while he was sleeping on the day of her death.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 2 - Amanda Misencik - Criminalist & Inv Michael Sieren - Defendant's Crime

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Criminalist Amanda Misencik stated that the tests she performed didn't show conclusive signs of sexual assault. She also stated that she found two DNA profiles on Cloe's pillow case. The main contributor was Cloe, but the minor contributor's profile was incomplete. There was two DNA profiles found on Cloe's pajama bottoms that she had died from. They were found on the legs. Cloe's was the Major and the Minor could not be identified. Cloe's fingernails were tested for DNA. Only Cloe's DNA was found underneath her fingernails which suggested that there was no indication of a struggle.

Investigator for the Ottumwa police department, Michael Sieren, testified about Brittney Johnson coming to the police station and speaking about her concerns with Cloe's death.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 2 - Inv. Michael Sieren Part 2

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Sieren testified that it appeared there had been no struggle in the closet. There was no vomit in the closet either. He also said that Kelsie had told him that she had found Cloe hanging by the crotch of the pajamas and that they had been tied around the rod in the closet. Kelsie also had told Sieren that when she picked Cloe up, the child felt like dead weight.

Sieren then talked about the search warrants and about cellphones, cellphone records and computers being seized.

The court listened to an audio clip of Kelsie being arrested. And the defense also talked about Sieren's interrogation tactics.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 2 - Dr Michele Catellier - Medical Examiner Part 1

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I don't what to go into the gory details, so i'll just say that Dr, Catelleier talked about that there was evidence that Cloe was asphyxiated by strangulation. Cloe's autopsy photos were also displayed.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 2 - Dr Michele Catellier - Medical Examiner Part 2

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Catellier talked about the difference between hanging strangulation and when someone is strangled by another person using a ligature. When someone is hanged, there is often no injury at the neck due to rapid loss of consciousness. When a person is strangled, there is often some kind of struggle that leaves injury. However, sometimes, when the aggressor is stronger or the victim is unconscious or barely conscious, there might be no sign of injury. 

Catellier explained that in Cloe's autopsy photos their is slight signs of strangulation as apposed to hanging.  She also stated that she doesn't know how the pajama bottoms would have supported Cloe's weight, but then just came loose. She did say that when she found out about the confession that Kelsie had made, what she had seen during Cloe's autopsy made sense. That Kelsie's confession about her strangling Cloe matched up with the evidence. That there was evidence of a struggle and movement. And in her confession, Kelsie said that Cloe just stared at her as she was strangled. Catellier testified that made sense. She said that the eyes get fixed after there has been compression of the neck causing asphyxia. She said that they stare, they can no longer move their eyes to gaze at something.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 2 - Dr Michele Catellier - Medical Examiner Part 3

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Catellier talked more about asphyxia as wells as reflex actions. She is also questioned about the ligature mark and how it is a sign of suspension, which is not usually present when someone is strangled by someone else. Catellier then said that there was unexplained marks on Cloe's neck that could have been finger marks.

One of the main reasons why Catellier thinks that Cloe was strangled instead of accidentally hanging herself was the prominent and irregular ligature furrow with hemorrhage of the soft tissues underneath it as well as in the back of Cloe's neck. Catellier said that if someone is suspended by a cloth ligature with a broad surface area she would not expect the furrow to be as distinct. More importantly she would not expect to see hemorrhage at all layers of the strap muscles on both sides of the neck as well as adjacent to the cornea of the laryngeal cartilage, the carotid arteries and the vocalist muscle.

So basically Catellier has said that Cloe has a lot of damage that would suggest that instead of accidentally hanging herself, which would have rendered her unconscious faster than a being strangled by someone which would have resulted in there being less time that she had struggled for her life and less damage, that she was strangled by someone which resulted in much more damaged caused by a longer struggle.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 3 Agt Don Schnitker Defendant Police Interview Part 1

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Don Schnitker talked about his interrogation technique. Also, video clips of Schnitker interviewing Kelsie about Cloe's death are played. 

In one of the clips Kelsie told the investigators that she didn't have to untie the pajamas when she pulled Cloe from the closet. She said that the pajamas just came undone. 

After another one of the clips, Schnitker explained how the medical examiner had told them that what Kelsie had claimed happened didn't match up with the evidence, which Schnitker explained that he had reiterated to Kelsie in the previous clip.

In another clip, Kelsie said that she loved Cloe and still loves her and would never have done anything like this to her. Kelsie also said that she was asleep when Cloe died.

Schnitker explained that when they were interviewing Kelsie, that she frequently would talk about how Cloe was frustrating her on the day of her death.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 3 - Agt Don Schnitker - Defendant Police Interview Part 2

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Most of the audio in part 1 and part 2 of the interview have not been the greatest. However, you can hear Kelsie tell the detectives that she found Cloe in the closet and it looked like she was hanging. She also keeps reiterating that she didn't kill her. Kelsie also wanted to know if they had physical proof that she "did it."

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 3-Agt Don Schnitker - Defendant Police Interview - Alleged Confession Part 3

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At this point in the interview is where Kelsie's story changes. Kelsie appears to cry or pretend to cry as investigators talk to her in the clip. The audio is still difficult to tell what they are saying some of the time, but Kelsie talked about how she was frustrated with Cloe getting into stuff and not listening. Kelsie said that as she was trying to take a nap, Cloe kept coming out of her room. She said that at one point, Cloe heard her coming and ran into her bedroom. Kelsie said that she followed Cloe and held her down on the bed with both hands around her neck and told her, "You need to say in your room." Kelsie said that her eyes got big and she saw that her daughter was scared. Kelsie said that she pushed herself off of her daughter, closed the door and left. She thought that her daughter was still alive and that she just scared the "shit" out of her.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 3-Agt Don Schnitker-Defendant Police Interview Part 4-Defendants Letter Read

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Schnitker explained how Kelsie said that she had used the pajama pants to strangle Cloe, place her on the bed and continued assaulting her.

Schnitker talked about how it is not that they were sure that Kelsie killed Cloe as much as that they believed that what she had originally told them happened didn't happen the way she had stated. He also said that strong denials in interrogations like that were common and he thought he wouldn't be doing his job if he took people at their word that they "didn't do it."

When asked why Schnitker and the other detectives focused so much on the pajama pants in the interviews, Schnitker said that it was because Kelsie had brought them up during questioning.

Schnitker was asked that if after Kelsie confessed to choking Cloe to death if she recanted at all. Schnitker replied that Kelsie made no attempt to take back her confession.

Schnitker then read Kelsie's letter to her family that she wrote after she confessed to killing Cloe.

"I just want to say how terribly sorry i am right now. I loved Cloe so much. I never thought anything like this would ever happen. I just wish more of you would have helped me when i asked or tried to get me the help we all know i needed. Please keep her memories alive. Let Phoenix know i love him and that i am very sorry that this happened. I'm sorry i lied to everyone. I was so scared of what i did and what would happen. i don't blame you guys if you never forgive me. I wouldn't either. Love you all so much, Kelsie."

Schnitker was asked if there was ever a stress test performed on the pajama bottoms which he replied that there never had been such a test performed on them.

Two different audio clips were played. The first audio clip is a phone call between Kelsie and Aaron Thomas after Kelsie was arrested for Cloe's death. During the conversation she told Aaron that she was sorry and that she didn't mean to do it. Kelsie said that she didn't mean to "hurt her."

In the second clip, in another phone conversation between Aaron and Kelsie, she said that "it was a complete accident."

Defense told the court that they don't believe that the prosecution proved that what happened to Cloe was an intentional act committed by Kelsie.

The prosecution basically said that Kelsie's anger got the best of her and that she intentionally and violently took Cloe's life.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 4 - Jill Gardner - Victim's Teacher & Dr Thomas Young - Forensic Pathologist

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With the jury absent, Cloe's teacher, Jill Gardner, said that the best way to described Cloe was "that little girl that skipped down the hall." Gardner said that Cloe seemed to be excited to be at school and to learn new things. She did well in school and worked really hard. She could count up to thirty. Gardner said that she looked well taken care of and that Kelsie seemed patient with Cloe and that she seemed like a responsible parent.

Thomas Young reviewed the autopsy report and photos and in his own opinion he believes that Cloe died of a accidental hanging that that Kelsie is innocent of her daughter's murder.  Young said that since there was no broken bones in Cloe's neck that that was one of the reasons why he thinks her death was an accidental hanging. Young also said that since Cloe could tie her shoes and she was obviously so good at it that she could tie a knot strong enough to hold her 45 pound body suspended. 

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 4 - Dr Thomas Young - Forensic Pathologist Part 2

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He talked about how many pounds it takes to totally block an airway, which is not much. He also said that one can lose consciousness relatively quickly. 

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 4 - Brian Cutler - Interrogation & False Confession Expert

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Brian Cutler talked about false confessions. He said that there are various ways that innocent people falsely confess. He said that the most common way is in the process of highly persuasive interrogation, the suspect basically succumbs to the pressure and confesses to the crime. Cutler states that there is 2,500 cases of know wrongful conviction in Michigan and out of those cases, 15% involved false confession.

Cutler said that after reviewing her confession, that he doesn't know if Kelsie was telling the truth or not.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Day 4 - Defense Rests

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The defense stated that Cloe's teacher had no reason to believe that Cloe was in danger and tat the teacher also had said that Cloe could tie a knot. The defense also stated that Young's findings were in direct conflict with Catellier's and that Cloe's death was an accident.

Kelsie Thomas Trial - Jury Instructions

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Kelsie Thomas Trial - Prosecution Closing Argument

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The prosecution talked about how Cloe will never graduate from kindergarten. They talked about how Cloe would never go on to and graduate high school and that she would never go to college. And how Cloe will never have her first job, first boyfriend or get married. That Cloe would never get to see her brother grow up either.

The prosecution said that Cloe's was a beautiful girl who was full of life and had that life cut short brutally when she was strangled to death by her mother. And that Kelsie failed to protect and care for Cloe. That everything became to much for her.

The prosecution claimed that when Kelsie returned home, she found out that Cloe hadn't been in her room like she was suppose to be. Cloe then said that she was hungry, so Kelsie made ravioli for he and Phoenix. After that, that is when Aaron got up and went to work at his friend's house. Kelsie wasn't happy about having to continue to watch the kids. Kelsie was tired and wanted the kids to take a nap so she could take one herself before she had to be to work. The prosecution then claimed that Kelsie told Cloe that she had better take a nap or she was going to beat her ass. Cloe didn't want to take a nap, so she ran away from her bed. That is when the prosecution said that Kelsie took the pajama pants, she threw them over Cloe and pulled her and strangled her with the pants. The prosecution said that Cloe fought for her life, staring at her mother. 

The prosecution said that Kelsie had hours to come up with a story to explain the marks on Cloe's neck. They said that Cloe was already dead before Kelsie made the 9-1-1 call and that the first responder to the scene testified that Cloe's extremities were cold to the touch. And they asked that how are we suppose to believe that the pajama's that Kelsie alleged that Cloe was hanged by accidentally, just came undone by it'self.

The prosecution then explained how Kelsie didn't tell her mother that Cloe had died. And how the mother had called Kelsie four hours after Cloe was pronounced dead and asked her what she was doing. Which Kelsie had responded that she was eating. Kelsie's mother then had asked how Cloe was. Kelsie's response to that was "how did you find out?"

They then talked about how in the interrogation video, Kelsie said that when she went in and saw Cloe hanging in the closet, that the chair was off to the side of Cloe and that it was in the same place it had been earlier that day.

The prosecution then talked about paying attention to Kelsie's demeanor in the first interrogation tape that was recorded 24 hours after Cloe's death. They also talked about how Kelsie's cousin, Brittney, said that the day after Cloe's death that Kelsie's demeanor didn't seem right. And about how Kelsie had told Brittney that she had witnessed her own daughter die. That Kelsie was talking about Cloe's bad attitude and that she couldn't look at her sometimes because Cloe reminded Kelsie of Cloe's father. And that Kelsie was mad at the police for investigating her.

They then talked about how there was sign's of a struggle because force equals injury and Cloe had a lot of injuries. That this was a manual strangulation where Cloe fought for her life.

The prosecution reiterated how Kelsie had stated that she had left Cloe home because she didn't want to deal with her and that how she had said a different story at first. They talked about how Kelsie told investigators that Cloe was acting out and wouldn't listen. And during the interrogation detectives had asked Kelsie if she ever had a break. To which Kelsie responded, "Now."

The prosecution then talked about Kelsie's second interview and her changing stories, ending up with her confession. The prosecution talked about how Kelsie said that she was so angry and that she hoped and thought that Cloe was still alive when she left that room. That Kelsie then went and took a nap.

Kelsie Thomas Trial - Defense Closing Argument Part 1

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The defense stated that the people that knew Kelsie the best, besides Aaron and Phoenix, which was "grandma Jody" and Kelsie's dad, never expressed concerns about Kelsie and never testified.

The defense then talked about how Aaron believed Kelsie until he found out about her confession. They also talked about how Aaron found Kelsie's behavior at the hospital was odd the day that Cloe died even though law enforcement didn't find her behavior odd.

They also said that Kelsie wasn't mad at the investigators, she was mad at the news reporters. And that Kelsie was getting harassed on social media.

The defense claimed that Kelsie wasn't emotionally appropriate  because of the way she was raised. They also claimed that the investigators knew what the findings of the autopsy were and so they influence Kelsie into a confession that would match the findings.

Kelsie Thomas Trial Defense Closing Argument Part 2

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The defense said that prosecutors are so hung up on the fact that there was no vomit from Cloe in the closet that that Kelsie must have been lying when she said she pulled Cloe out of the closet. The defense also said that the reason why there was no vomit in the closet is because nothing could come out of Cloe's airway. They said that her airway was constricted because she had hanged herself and that when Kelsie laid Cloe down on the bed to perform CPR, the airways became clear and that is when the vomit came out.

The defense also said that if Kelsie is guilty of anything it is her being negligent and leaving Cloe alone and that there was no history of Kelsie abusing Cloe. They said that every parent gets frustrated with their child, but that doesn't necessarily result in murder.

The defense then talked about reasonable doubt and that they don't feel that the prosecution didn't prove that in Cloe's case.

Kelsie Thomas Trial - Proescution Rebuttal Closing Argument

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The prosecution said that the defense twisted what the burden of proof is. The prosecution said it is up to them to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Kelsie committed the crime. That it's not beyond all doubt, or a shadow of doubt. And it is up to the jury to decide what beyond reasonable doubt is, not the defense to say or to tell the jury what the prosecution has to prove.

The prosecution also said that they proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Kelsie is guilty. And just that because Kelsie didn't post on Facebook or sent texts that she killed Cloe, doesn't mean that she didn't do the crime like the defense insinuated.

The prosecution then said that because there was no vomit in the closet that meant that Cloe was never in the closet. And that even if Kelsie's story was to be believed, why was their no vomit on Kelsie?

They also said that Kelsie's actions before and after Cloe's death prove her guilt along with the evidence that cooberated her confession. At that all of the different stories that Kelsie told before were shifting sands of a guilty mind.

The prosecution then said that just because Kelsie was crying during the 9-1-1 call doesn't mean that she is innocent of a crime like the defense claimed. The prosecution said that it was a traumatic experience and so it probably was upsetting to her. i believe that whether Kelsie is guilty or no of Cloe's death, that she loved Cloe and there for would be upset when she called 9-1-1.

They also pointed out the phone calls between Kelsie while she was in jail and Aaron. And how that if she was really coerced into a false confession that she would have told Aaron so. 

Kelsie Thomas Trial - Verdict

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On count one of 1st degree murder the jury was unable to agree on a verdict and a mistrial was declared on that count.

The State has the option to re-try Kelsie for first-degree murder within 90 days.

On count two of child endangerment causing death, Kelsie was found not guilty.

What do you think of the outcome of Kelsie's trial?

I think it was ridiculous to try to charge Kelsie with first degree murder in the first place. They should have maybe tried for manslaughter.

As for the child endangerment charge, i think she should have been found guilty of that. But that is just my opinion.

How ever Cloe died, her life was cut tragically short. And i have to hope that whether Kelsie was careless or whether she had a hand in her daughter's death, that the history doesn't repeat itself with those in Kelsie's care. And that Cloe's life and death meant something to those around her.