Chapter 6 - The Verdict and the Legacy
The jury deliberated for less than three hours—a record for a capital murder trial in the state's history.
When the court reconvened on Friday afternoon, the foreperson, a stern-looking woman in her fifties, stood up and read the verdicts.
Arthur Ericson: Guilty of three counts of First-Degree Capital Murder, guilty of felony Child Abuse, guilty of Human Trafficking. Sentence: Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus 120 years.
Martha Ericson: Guilty of three counts of First-Degree Capital Murder, guilty of felony Child Abuse, guilty of Human Trafficking. Sentence: Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus 120 years.
Evelyn Cross: Guilty of Racketeering, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Misconduct in Public Office, and Child Endangerment. Sentence: Forty-five years in maximum-security federal custody.
Judge Vance: Guilty of Judicial Corruption, Wire Fraud, and Obstruction of Justice. Sentence: Twenty-five years in federal custody.
When the judge pronounced the sentences, applause burst out in the gallery. Mrs. Ericson collapsed back into her chair, sobbing hysterically, while Mr. Ericson was dragged out by three bailiffs, shouting incoherently at the ceiling.
Outside the courthouse, dozens of microphones and news cameras were thrust toward Sarah Chen, Detective Martinez, and me as we walked down the front steps.
"Miss Vance! Miss Vance!" a reporter shouted over the crowd. "What's next for you? Are you joining the police department?"
I stopped at the podium set up at the base of the steps. The rain had stopped, and a ray of late afternoon sunlight was cutting through the clouds overhead.
"I spent years of my life feeling invisible," I said into the cluster of microphones. "The children who passed through 412 Elm Street were invisible to a system that treated them like administrative checks and paper files. Today, the system changed."
May you like
I looked out at the crowd of supporters holding candles and posters.
"I'm not joining the police department," I continued, my voice firm and clear. "Sarah Chen and I are launching the Gracie, Leo & Maya Foundation. We have secured three million dollars from the state settlement fund to establish an independent, non-governmental oversight network. From this day forward, no foster home in this state will operate without unannounced, third-party inspections. No child will ever be invisible again."
