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A Secret Baby Led to the Murder Trial of Cheerleader Brooke Skylar Richardson
When a high school cheerleader secretly gave birth and buried her baby in the backyard, it led to a controversial trial.
To learn the full story, read my article on All That’s Interesting.
On the night of May 5, 2017, Brooke Skylar Richardson was just like any other high school senior — dressed up for prom, smiling for pictures, and dancing the night away. But less than 48 hours later, she was alone in her bathroom, giving birth to a baby no one even knew existed.
A month earlier, she went to see her doctor for what she thought was just a routine visit to get birth control. But instead, she got shocking news — she was eight months pregnant.
“I can’t have a baby! I’m going to college,” she told her doctor.
Sitting in the exam room, panic set in. She decided not to tell her mom, who was waiting for her in the lobby. Instead, she pretended nothing was wrong. Richardson kept going to school, cheering at games, and getting ready for the prom, all while carrying a secret no one knew.
For months, she managed to keep her pregnancy hidden. But after giving birth, her baby girl died, and she made a decision that would haunt her forever — she buried the tiny body in her backyard.
Richardson would soon find herself on trial for murder.