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[dramatic music]
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‐ It is incredibly rare
for criminal defendants
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to take the stand.
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It's a risk very few take.
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At stake, one's freedom,
or even their life.
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This is Jessica
and Daniel Groves,
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a couple
from Portsmouth, Ohio,
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charged with the murder
of their infant son.
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‐ 12 zip ties, 8 wire ties,
18 rocks.
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‐ They have both decided
to take that gamble.
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Will it help them convince
the jury they're not guilty?
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‐ Did you in any way cause
the death of Dylan?
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‐ Absolutely not.
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‐ Or will it come back
to haunt them?
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‐ You have devoured my family.
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‐ Take a courtside seat
with the prosecutor,
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the lead detective,
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the reporter
who covered the trial,
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and the victim's
foster mother.
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I'm Dan Abrams,
and this is "Under Oath."
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‐ Raise your right hand.
‐ Do you solemnly swear...
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‐ I'm being honest with
everything I've said here.
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‐ Do solemnly swear...
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‐ ...the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.
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‐ I would like to testify.
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‐ The testimony
you are about to give‐‐
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the whole truth and nothing
but the truth.
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‐ So help me God.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Do you understand that
whether you testify
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or you don't testify
is solely your decision?
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‐ Yes, I do.
‐ All right.
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‐ Thank you, Your Honor.
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Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,
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the defendants,
Daniel and Jessica Groves,
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are charged
with 11 felony charges.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Jessica and Daniel Groves
are standing trial
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for the unthinkable act
of infanticide‐‐
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the murder of their baby boy,
Dylan Groves.
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They've already lost custody
of their eldest son.
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They may now
lose their freedom.
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The state's charged them
with aggravated murder,
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which means the prosecutor
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believes Dylan's death
was no accident,
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that the Groves intentionally
killed their baby.
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If convicted, they face life
in prison without parole.
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While defendants seldomly
take the stand, in this case,
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both Jessica and Daniel Groves
have decided to testify.
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Their goal is to explain
in their own words
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how and why
this horrific act happened,
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in the hope that at least one
of them is found not guilty.
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‐ The parents of
a six‐month‐old boy
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who was found dead last week
in a well
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pleaded not guilty today
to all charges,
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including aggravated murder.
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‐ Jessica and Daniel Groves
are being represented
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separately
but being tried together.
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This seemed like their only way
of defending themselves,
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potentially save
a lengthy conviction.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Is the defendant
Jessica Groves
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prepared to offer their case?
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‐ Yes, Your Honor.
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‐ She was to ensure
that Daniel
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wasn't held
responsible for this,
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but also to appear
to be cooperative
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in front of the jury
and in front of the judge,
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so maybe the judge would
consider a lesser sentence.
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‐ The Groves and their
defense teams believe
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Daniel has a better chance
of being acquitted.
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Their challenge
is to convince the jury
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that he was just
an innocent bystander,
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unaware of the extent
of his wife's drug addiction
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and the harm she inadvertently
caused their infant son.
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If he's found not guilty,
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he can potentially reunite
with his eldest son.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Our community has been
and still is ground zero
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for this terrible drug problem.
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My client, Jessica Groves,
was and still is a drug addict.
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There is no doubt
about that fact.
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She and she alone caused
the injuries to Dylan Groves
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which led to his death.
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She murdered Dylan Groves.
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She will testify that
the murdered Dylan Groves.
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Daniel Groves had nothing
to do with the death
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of Dylan Groves and did not
cause these injuries.
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‐ I think Jessica went into
this trial
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knowing that she was likely
going to be convicted,
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which is why,
between her defense team,
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they decided that
she would take the stand
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and try to help Daniel's case.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Do you solemnly swear
the testimony you are
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about to give will be
the truth, the whole truth,
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and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
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‐ I think everyone
was surprised to learn
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that they would take
the witness stand,
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especially when Jessica's
defense attorney
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said that she was going
to take responsibility
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for her actions.
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‐ Jessica, did you,
and you only,
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cause the death of your son,
Dylan Groves?
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‐ Yes.
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‐ Did Daniel Groves participate
in the killing of Dylan?
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‐ No.
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‐ Was Daniel Groves aware
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of any of the injuries
that you caused Dylan
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that may have led
to his death?
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‐ No.
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‐ Did you hide
all the injuries
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that you caused Dylan
from your husband?
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‐ Yes.
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‐ The coroner who performed
the autopsy
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on the infant
determined the injuries,
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including rib, leg, arm,
and skull fractures,
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were in different
stages of healing,
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and in her opinion
that meant
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the injuries were caused
on different dates
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involving at least
three violent incidents.
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Although she couldn't determine
the exact cause of death,
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the coroner believed
the manner of death
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was "homicidal violence."
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So this was not
an accidental death.
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Could Jessica Groves
explain to the jury
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why the baby had
so many injuries?
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And even more important,
could they understand
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why she and her husband
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decided to dispose
of his body in a well?
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‐ Because baby Dylan was so
carelessly put into plastic
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and then placed into a crate
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and then dropped many feet
down a well,
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it was really hard for people
to understand
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why and how someone could do
that to someone they loved.
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‐ I was there for the recovery
of Dylan's body.
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I cannot even put it
into words what I seen
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when he was lifted
out of the well.
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‐ Daniel's argument
about the way
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they disposed of baby Dylan
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was that they wanted
to come back later and‐‐
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when they had more time‐‐
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and they wanted
to give him a better burial.
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‐ Where did you take Dylan
after he died?
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‐ To the well.
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‐ Did you murder Dylan Groves?
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‐ [sobbing]
It was an accident.
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‐ She decided to claim
it was an accident.
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‐ An accident allowed us,
as the prosecution,
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to point out all the things
that indicated
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that it wasn't an accident.
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My co‐counsel and I
just looked at each other
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and said, "Game on."
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‐ By saying the death of her
son was an accident,
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Jessica Groves
is giving the prosecution
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a new line of questioning.
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She will now be challenged
on every act she testified
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was "accidental",
not intentional.
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This kind of surgical
cross‐examination
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is the most difficult part
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for a defendant
taking the stand.
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It is the main reason
why defendants rarely testify.
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Stakes are always
incredibly high,
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making for a very tense
courtroom,
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as both Jessica Groves and her
husband face life behind bars.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Does the state wish
to cross‐examine the witness?
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‐ An accident allowed us,
as the prosecution,
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to point out the scientific
evidence, the hard evidence.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Tell the jury
how you killed this baby.
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‐ Nothing that I ever did
was intentional.
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‐ I'm not asking
for your excuse.
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How did you cause that
complete upper arm fracture?
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Tell the jury.
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‐ I have to live with this
for the rest of my life.
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‐ Answer the question.
How did you cause that‐‐
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‐ You have devoured my family.
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‐ Ms. Groves,
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you answer the questions
that are asked of you.
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‐ I've admitted to my guilt.
‐ How did you cause‐‐
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‐ And I have to live
without my children.
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‐ Tell the jury
how you caused that injury.
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‐ I'm done talking to you!
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‐ You are talking to me,
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'cause you're sitting
on the witness stand!
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‐ It was such
an uncomfortable experience.
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I mean, screaming
from both parties.
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It was tense.
It was very tense.
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‐ Judge, I ask you
to instruct the witness
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to answer the question.
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‐ Ms. Groves, you have
to answer the questions
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on cross‐examination.
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‐ [sobbing]
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‐ Counsel, approach.
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‐ She didn't want to give
Ms. Hutchinson the satisfaction
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of telling her
exactly what happened.
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‐ Try and rephrase
your questions.
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‐ How did you cause
those injuries?
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‐ I don't remember.
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‐ Then how do you remember
it was an accident?
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‐ Because I would never hurt
my children intentionally.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Look at this photograph,
Jessica Groves.
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How do you not remember that?
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Tell a jury how it's possible
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that you would not
remember doing that.
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‐ Because my mind wasn't clear.
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‐ Why?
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‐ Because of drugs.
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♪ ♪
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‐ Portsmouth, Ohio,
is inside a county
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which is on the banks
of the Ohio River.
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♪ ♪
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‐ They do have a long,
sordid history
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with the opioid crisis.
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‐ The drug problem here in
Scioto County is tremendous,
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just as it is
in a lot of cities,
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and I feel like it's impacted
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almost every family
in some way.
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‐ The Groves case was,
frankly,
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our worst fears come true.
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The tidal wave that somebody's
addiction could have
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on their family,
their neighbors, the community.
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‐ The night Jessica
gave birth to baby Dylan,
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she had tested positive
for drugs in her system.
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And so that immediately
sparks a case now
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for Child Protective Services
to get involved.
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‐ Scioto County Children
Services
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awarded emergency
custody of baby Dylan.
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‐ They asked if I would be
willing to go pick up
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baby Dylan at the hospital,
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and they were needing
a foster home for him.
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‐ During the time that the
foster mother, Andrea Bowling,
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had baby Dylan,
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he was free from injury
and progressing well.
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‐ Andrea is an angel sent
from heaven, basically,
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for baby Dylan.
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‐ Dylan, hey.
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‐ The little time
that she had him,
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baby Dylan knew he was loved.
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‐ He loved being held.
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He was happiest
when he was being held.
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‐ Baby Dylan lived with Andrea
until January 28,
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when Children Services
decided to place the baby
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back with Daniel Groves.
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‐ Unfortunately, the Groves
were able to convince
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Children's Services
that dad would be
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an appropriate placement
for the child,
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and Dylan was returned
to the father.
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‐ It was 12 days
that I had baby Dylan.
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Hearing that he's
gonna be reunited,
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you know, I was very upset.
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‐ But then the father started
missing court dates
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and doctor visits
for his son,
256
00:10:46,898 --> 00:10:48,524
and investigators
say they made
257
00:10:48,649 --> 00:10:49,942
several unsuccessful attempts
258
00:10:50,067 --> 00:10:51,944
to locate the child
and his parents.
259
00:10:52,028 --> 00:10:54,405
‐ After several months
without contact,
260
00:10:54,488 --> 00:10:56,073
Children's Protective Services
261
00:10:56,199 --> 00:10:58,451
filed a missing persons
report on baby Dylan.
262
00:10:58,576 --> 00:11:01,370
‐ They got a search warrant
Monday and raided the home.
263
00:11:01,454 --> 00:11:04,749
The mother, Jessica Groves,
was removed without incident.
264
00:11:04,874 --> 00:11:06,500
‐ The parents are in jail,
265
00:11:06,584 --> 00:11:09,837
but questions about the status
of the baby remain unanswered.
266
00:11:09,921 --> 00:11:13,799
‐ We instantly started working
on locating baby Dylan.
267
00:11:13,883 --> 00:11:16,844
During this,
we were able to learn
268
00:11:16,928 --> 00:11:18,971
that baby Dylan had died,
269
00:11:19,055 --> 00:11:20,848
and throughout
the investigation,
270
00:11:20,932 --> 00:11:23,392
was later to recover his body
from a well.
271
00:11:23,517 --> 00:11:24,852
♪ ♪
272
00:11:24,936 --> 00:11:27,939
Daniel Groves was awarded
custody, and he had one job,
273
00:11:28,064 --> 00:11:30,441
and that was to keep
the child safe.
274
00:11:30,524 --> 00:11:32,735
‐ Did you ever see or suspect
275
00:11:32,818 --> 00:11:35,821
that Jessica was causing
the injuries to Dylan?
276
00:11:35,905 --> 00:11:37,573
‐ Absolutely not.
277
00:11:37,698 --> 00:11:40,326
‐ How could you not have known?
278
00:11:40,409 --> 00:11:41,702
♪ ♪
279
00:11:46,207 --> 00:11:49,335
‐ Believe me, I have asked
myself that every day,
280
00:11:49,418 --> 00:11:51,003
a million times since.
281
00:11:51,087 --> 00:11:53,756
I knew about babies
being born addicted to drugs,
282
00:11:53,839 --> 00:11:55,424
and I done read‐‐
researched and read on it
283
00:11:55,549 --> 00:11:58,010
that said that newborns,
sometimes up to six months,
284
00:11:58,094 --> 00:11:59,553
would do excessive crying
be more irritable,
285
00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:00,763
and stuff of that nature.
286
00:12:00,888 --> 00:12:03,849
So I just took it
as that was what it was.
287
00:12:03,933 --> 00:12:07,812
‐ Did you have any other
responsibilities in this case?
288
00:12:07,895 --> 00:12:10,314
‐ Other than helping her
take him to the well,
289
00:12:10,398 --> 00:12:12,066
I had no other part in it.
290
00:12:12,191 --> 00:12:13,317
♪ ♪
291
00:12:13,401 --> 00:12:15,569
‐ Who did you interview first?
‐ Jessica.
292
00:12:15,653 --> 00:12:18,864
‐ Okay, if you would, describe
to the members of the jury
293
00:12:18,948 --> 00:12:20,700
what her demeanor
and appearance is,
294
00:12:20,825 --> 00:12:23,452
as you see her there
at the Sheriff's Office.
295
00:12:23,577 --> 00:12:26,080
‐ Very standoffish.
Cold.
296
00:12:26,163 --> 00:12:27,915
Didn't really want
to talk to me.
297
00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:31,711
‐ So at some point, they do
bring Daniel Groves to you.
298
00:12:31,836 --> 00:12:33,170
‐ That is correct.
‐ Okay.
299
00:12:33,296 --> 00:12:36,465
Well, you know your son
was sent up for an autopsy.
300
00:12:36,549 --> 00:12:37,925
Okay?
301
00:12:38,009 --> 00:12:40,261
He's got multiple injuries
that happened before death.
302
00:12:40,386 --> 00:12:41,887
‐ I did not know there
was anything‐‐if I‐‐
303
00:12:42,013 --> 00:12:43,472
Jodi, if I would have knew
that he had
304
00:12:43,556 --> 00:12:44,682
one broken bone
in his body,
305
00:12:44,807 --> 00:12:46,183
he would have been
to the hospital,
306
00:12:46,309 --> 00:12:47,310
I swear he would.
307
00:12:47,393 --> 00:12:50,354
‐ Was there a time during
that first interview
308
00:12:50,396 --> 00:12:53,691
when he admitted to you
that baby Dylan was dead?
309
00:12:53,774 --> 00:12:55,067
‐ Yes, there was.
‐ Okay.
310
00:12:55,151 --> 00:12:56,944
What did he tell you happened?
311
00:12:57,069 --> 00:13:01,157
‐ He initially told me that
he found him in the crib.
312
00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,159
Just found him in there,
deceased.
313
00:13:03,242 --> 00:13:04,035
♪ ♪
314
00:13:04,118 --> 00:13:05,786
At one point,
Daniel asked me
315
00:13:05,870 --> 00:13:07,830
if he could speak to Jessica,
316
00:13:07,913 --> 00:13:10,541
and I said, "Well, if she's
willing, that's fine."
317
00:13:10,666 --> 00:13:12,043
And of course she wanted
to speak to him,
318
00:13:12,126 --> 00:13:14,128
and they were placed
in the room together.
319
00:13:20,885 --> 00:13:22,345
‐ So when I heard
that conversation,
320
00:13:22,428 --> 00:13:26,432
I knew that baby Dylan
for sure was not with us.
321
00:13:26,557 --> 00:13:30,936
‐ Detective Conkel was angry
about his lying to her.
322
00:13:31,062 --> 00:13:33,731
‐ Why would you lie?
Why would you want to hide?
323
00:13:33,856 --> 00:13:35,191
‐ [indistinct]
it's not a lie.
324
00:13:35,274 --> 00:13:37,860
‐ Okay here, I'm just gonna
be straight up with you.
325
00:13:37,943 --> 00:13:39,695
There's amplifiers
in this room.
326
00:13:39,820 --> 00:13:40,946
I heard the whole,
entire conversation,
327
00:13:41,072 --> 00:13:42,531
everything you said.
328
00:13:42,615 --> 00:13:45,159
‐ She was adamant with him,
and she kept hammering.
329
00:13:45,242 --> 00:13:48,746
I think that was the turning
point in getting him to open up
330
00:13:48,829 --> 00:13:51,374
as to where they had
placed baby Dylan's body.
331
00:13:51,499 --> 00:13:53,376
‐ The Scioto County Sheriff's
Department confirms
332
00:13:53,501 --> 00:13:56,128
that missing six‐month‐old
baby Dylan Groves
333
00:13:56,212 --> 00:13:58,339
was found dead tonight
in a well.
334
00:13:58,464 --> 00:14:01,801
‐ The location of that body,
down a 30‐foot well,
335
00:14:01,884 --> 00:14:03,260
full of water‐‐
336
00:14:03,386 --> 00:14:06,097
no cadaver dog
in the world could found that.
337
00:14:06,222 --> 00:14:09,350
‐ They, for three hours,
fished around in this water,
338
00:14:09,433 --> 00:14:13,187
before they finally hooked
what they thought might be
339
00:14:13,270 --> 00:14:15,898
the container
that contained Dylan's body.
340
00:14:15,981 --> 00:14:18,567
Evidence will show
that the container consisted
341
00:14:18,692 --> 00:14:20,736
of two plastic milk crates,
342
00:14:20,861 --> 00:14:24,573
chained together,
zip‐tied and wire‐tied.
343
00:14:24,657 --> 00:14:26,575
‐ The evening we pulled baby
Dylan from the well,
344
00:14:26,659 --> 00:14:29,995
it was like a relief,
but it was sadness.
345
00:14:30,079 --> 00:14:31,539
It was hard to see.
346
00:14:31,622 --> 00:14:34,458
And still today, I can still
picture it in my head.
347
00:14:34,542 --> 00:14:37,878
‐ Mr. Groves,
you want this jury to believe
348
00:14:38,003 --> 00:14:40,506
you thought the baby just died.
349
00:14:40,631 --> 00:14:43,592
‐ Yes.
I thought he did just die.
350
00:14:43,717 --> 00:14:46,178
‐ You promised
to protect this baby,
351
00:14:46,303 --> 00:14:48,472
that you would be the father.
352
00:14:48,556 --> 00:14:49,765
‐ Yes.
353
00:14:49,890 --> 00:14:53,102
‐ And when this baby was shaken
by your wife,
354
00:14:53,227 --> 00:14:54,854
did you call
Children's Services?
355
00:14:54,937 --> 00:14:57,022
‐ No, I did not.
‐ Did you call 911?
356
00:14:57,148 --> 00:14:59,692
‐ No, I did not.
‐ Did you call Andrea Bowling?
357
00:14:59,817 --> 00:15:03,070
‐ No, I did not.
‐ You failed to act.
358
00:15:03,195 --> 00:15:05,823
We were able to establish
in Daniel Groves'
359
00:15:05,906 --> 00:15:09,076
cross‐examination that he,
at the very least,
360
00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:13,205
was complicit in his inaction
in the death of his son.
361
00:15:13,330 --> 00:15:16,208
So we wanted to paint
for the jury that the monster,
362
00:15:16,333 --> 00:15:18,002
the killer
of this child‐‐
363
00:15:18,043 --> 00:15:20,337
the door was opened for that
killer by the person
364
00:15:20,421 --> 00:15:22,423
that was supposed to be
protecting the child the most.
365
00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:28,679
‐ Jessica and Daniel Groves
366
00:15:28,762 --> 00:15:30,848
have testified and tried
to explain their actions.
367
00:15:30,973 --> 00:15:32,516
They're charged
with 11 felonies,
368
00:15:32,558 --> 00:15:34,518
including the aggravated murder
of their infant son,
369
00:15:34,602 --> 00:15:36,061
Dylan Groves.
370
00:15:36,187 --> 00:15:37,855
Now the prosecution
and the defense
371
00:15:37,897 --> 00:15:39,356
make their final arguments
to the jurors.
372
00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,275
For the Groves,
life in prison
373
00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:42,735
without the possibility
of parole hangs in the balance.
374
00:15:42,860 --> 00:15:44,111
♪ ♪
375
00:15:44,195 --> 00:15:45,863
‐ You were told,
at the beginning of this,
376
00:15:45,988 --> 00:15:50,034
Jessica Groves
is gonna take responsibility.
377
00:15:50,159 --> 00:15:52,953
Did she take responsibility
in here this morning
378
00:15:53,078 --> 00:15:55,539
when she spoke to you?
379
00:15:57,249 --> 00:15:59,335
She can't remember
what happened,
380
00:15:59,418 --> 00:16:02,254
but she does remember
it was an accident.
381
00:16:02,338 --> 00:16:07,176
You were told that
Daniel Groves panicked
382
00:16:07,259 --> 00:16:10,471
and dumped baby Dylan
in a 30‐foot well.
383
00:16:11,722 --> 00:16:13,933
Does this looks like
panic to you?
384
00:16:14,058 --> 00:16:16,644
Does it?
385
00:16:16,727 --> 00:16:19,522
A chain,
three padlocks,
386
00:16:19,647 --> 00:16:22,191
12 zip ties, eight wire ties,
387
00:16:22,316 --> 00:16:27,196
18 rocks, six layers
of plastic and duct tape?
388
00:16:27,279 --> 00:16:32,076
Does this look like panic?
389
00:16:32,201 --> 00:16:36,664
I submit to you it looks
like extreme planning.
390
00:16:36,747 --> 00:16:40,584
‐ There's power in images,
and that's why she picked it up
391
00:16:40,709 --> 00:16:43,671
and carried it and waived it
in front of their face.
392
00:16:43,754 --> 00:16:46,549
She wanted that to be the last
thing that they remembered
393
00:16:46,674 --> 00:16:48,968
before they go back
and deliberate.
394
00:16:49,051 --> 00:16:51,345
‐ She could have pled out
to this indictment.
395
00:16:51,428 --> 00:16:53,639
She could have got rid
of this case right off the bat.
396
00:16:53,722 --> 00:16:55,516
But she didn't.
397
00:16:55,599 --> 00:16:58,978
When I asked her,
"Did you murder your son?"
398
00:16:59,061 --> 00:17:00,396
She said yes.
399
00:17:00,521 --> 00:17:03,107
She said she put him
in this coffin.
400
00:17:03,232 --> 00:17:07,861
All that was not
to save herself.
401
00:17:07,945 --> 00:17:10,281
It's to save him.
402
00:17:10,406 --> 00:17:12,533
Because she knows the truth,
and she's told it.
403
00:17:12,658 --> 00:17:16,745
I present to you that
the state has not provided
404
00:17:16,829 --> 00:17:19,540
enough evidence that Daniel
was guilty of the murder.
405
00:17:19,665 --> 00:17:21,959
‐ You know, when you're
waiting on the verdict,
406
00:17:22,084 --> 00:17:23,961
it's like a match
where there's not a knockout.
407
00:17:24,044 --> 00:17:25,546
You've landed
some good punches,
408
00:17:25,671 --> 00:17:26,672
but did the jury see it?
409
00:17:26,755 --> 00:17:28,424
It's time for you
to deliberate.
410
00:17:28,549 --> 00:17:30,843
We appreciate your service.
Thank you.
411
00:17:30,884 --> 00:17:32,803
♪ ♪
412
00:17:32,886 --> 00:17:34,597
‐ As to the case
of State of Ohio
413
00:17:34,722 --> 00:17:36,181
versus Jessica Groves...
414
00:17:36,265 --> 00:17:37,850
‐ And how we typically draft
our indictments
415
00:17:37,975 --> 00:17:39,226
is count one is the big one.
416
00:17:39,351 --> 00:17:41,979
And so when you get
to that point,
417
00:17:42,062 --> 00:17:43,522
you couldn't
go an ounce more.
418
00:17:43,606 --> 00:17:46,191
You want to finish the case
knowing that the next day,
419
00:17:46,317 --> 00:17:48,235
whatever happens,
you gave it your all.
420
00:17:48,319 --> 00:17:53,282
‐ Count one of the indictment,
charge aggravated murder:
421
00:17:53,407 --> 00:17:55,159
"We, the jury,
having been duly empaneled,
422
00:17:55,242 --> 00:17:56,869
find,
beyond a reasonable doubt,
423
00:17:56,994 --> 00:17:59,371
the defendant Jessica
Groves guilty."
424
00:17:59,455 --> 00:18:06,337
♪ ♪
425
00:18:07,504 --> 00:18:10,341
‐ Jessica Groves is found
guilty on all 11 felony charges
426
00:18:10,466 --> 00:18:12,509
and sentenced to life
without parole.
427
00:18:12,593 --> 00:18:15,346
Now, all eyes turn
toward Daniel Groves.
428
00:18:15,429 --> 00:18:19,016
‐ The case of State of Ohio
versus Daniel Groves.
429
00:18:19,058 --> 00:18:21,852
♪ ♪
430
00:18:21,935 --> 00:18:23,687
Jury has returned
their verdict.
431
00:18:23,771 --> 00:18:26,523
Jury, as to count one,
aggravated murder.
432
00:18:26,607 --> 00:18:27,983
♪ ♪
433
00:18:28,067 --> 00:18:29,860
Jury, having been duly
empaneled,
434
00:18:29,943 --> 00:18:32,029
find the defendant
Daniel A. Groves
435
00:18:32,071 --> 00:18:34,031
not guilty of count one
of the indictment,
436
00:18:34,156 --> 00:18:36,533
aggravated murder.
437
00:18:36,617 --> 00:18:38,535
‐ When they read
Daniel's count one
438
00:18:38,619 --> 00:18:42,039
and found him not guilty,
that‐that hurt.
439
00:18:42,081 --> 00:18:43,582
That was like,
"Ugh."
440
00:18:43,707 --> 00:18:46,418
‐ As to count two, murder,
the jury has found,
441
00:18:46,543 --> 00:18:48,504
we the jury, having been
duly empaneled,
442
00:18:48,587 --> 00:18:50,464
further find
beyond a reasonable doubt
443
00:18:50,547 --> 00:18:52,549
the defendant Daniel A.
Groves guilty
444
00:18:52,675 --> 00:18:54,927
of count two
of the indictment, murder.
445
00:18:55,010 --> 00:18:56,637
‐ Although Daniel Groves
446
00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:58,764
is found not guilty
of the top charge,
447
00:18:58,847 --> 00:19:00,224
aggravated murder,
448
00:19:00,349 --> 00:19:03,435
he is convicted of the ten
other felony charges.
449
00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,189
On the day that would have been
baby Dylan's first birthday,
450
00:19:07,272 --> 00:19:08,941
his father, Daniel Groves,
451
00:19:09,066 --> 00:19:11,360
is sentenced to
47 years in prison.
452
00:19:11,443 --> 00:19:14,154
While their strategy
wasn't successful,
453
00:19:14,238 --> 00:19:16,240
it wasn't entirely
a failure either.
454
00:19:16,365 --> 00:19:17,700
Unlike Jessica Groves,
455
00:19:17,783 --> 00:19:20,869
Daniel Groves was not
sentenced to life in prison,
456
00:19:20,953 --> 00:19:23,372
perhaps because the jury was
able to separate his actions
457
00:19:23,455 --> 00:19:26,041
from the more intentional acts
of his wife.
458
00:19:26,125 --> 00:19:29,211
He'll be eligible
for parole in 2067,
459
00:19:29,336 --> 00:19:31,338
when he'll be 88 years old.
460
00:19:31,463 --> 00:19:32,756
‐ At this time,
I am gonna remand you
461
00:19:32,881 --> 00:19:34,216
to the custody of
the Sheriff
462
00:19:34,341 --> 00:19:36,343
for transport to Ohio
Department of Corrections.
463
00:19:36,427 --> 00:19:38,011
‐ I am speaking for Dylan.
464
00:19:38,095 --> 00:19:40,055
"My life was cut too short.
465
00:19:40,180 --> 00:19:43,517
"But my life
will have a huge impact.
466
00:19:43,642 --> 00:19:45,644
"My foster mommy
will make sure
467
00:19:45,728 --> 00:19:48,564
I help save
or protect others."
468
00:19:48,689 --> 00:19:50,482
♪ ♪
469
00:19:50,566 --> 00:19:53,026
‐ Defendants are never forced
to take the stand,
470
00:19:53,110 --> 00:19:57,281
but that decision is likely
the biggest one they ever make.
471
00:19:57,406 --> 00:19:59,742
For "Under Oath,"
I'm Dan Abrams.