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Home Kenny Richey The Case Trial Transcript - Hope Collins Trial Transcript - Hope Collins
Wednesday, 21 April 2004
16 years ago, June 30, 1986
... a tragic accidental fire killed 2 year old Cynthia Collins.
Kenneth T. Richey and Hope Collins were arrested.
Hope Collins (Sterling) got 45 days for Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Endangerment.
Kenny Richey got the Death Penalty.
For a crime that never was.
Opening statement from Kluge
Pages 54 and 55 of trial transcripts.
From line 21 page 54 to line 6 on page 55
"Hope Collins, the mother who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangering, the mother who gave this poor little two and a half year old girl sleeping pills so she wouldn't get up at night, the mother who cares so much about her daughter that she left her to stay with anyone, many times runs off without a babysitter, and, in particular, whose credibility is almost zero."
Direct Examination of Hope by Basinger
Page 73 Lines 1 and 2
Basinger
Q. What drugs have you used?
Hope Collins
A. Cocaine, marijuana, diet pills, prescription nerve pills.
Page 101 Talking of when Hope was at Denny Smith's house.
Line 5 and 6
Q. How long did you stay outside?
A. I'm not sure of that either.
Lines 7 and 8
Q. Can you give us an estimate?
A. Probably a good hour at least.
Lines 9 and 10
Q. So, it would have been approximately 4.30 in the morning or 4.40 when you went in?
A. Um hum.
Q. What time had you told anyone that you would be back; if you did?
A. Before seven, get back before Cynthia woke up.
Line 20
Hope: Denny and I sat around and talked for a while.
Line 22
Q. Then what happened?
Line 23
A. We went to bed.
Page 113 Line 12 About the charges against Hope.
Q. So after this incident, you yourself were charged; is that correct?
Line 13
A. Yes.
Line 15
Q. And, can you tell us what you where charged with?
Line 17
A. Child endangering and voluntary manslaughter.
Line 19
Q. And can you tell us what happened after you where charged?
Line21
A. I was arrested.
Line 22
Q. All right, and that would have been?
Line 23
A. July 2.
Page 114 Line 2
Q. Two days after the fire; so immediately after the funeral of Cynthia?
Line 3
A. Yes.
Line 5
Q. And, can you tell us the outcome of your case?
Line 7
A. My lawyer had me plead to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Line 12
Q. What did you plead to?
A. Involuntary manslaughter.
Line 14
Q. And what else?
Line 15
A. That was all.
Line 16
Q. Okay third degree felony?
Line 17
A. Yes.
Line 18
Q. And can you tell us what happened as a result of that plea?
Line 19
A. I got three years probation.
Line 20
Q. How long did you spend in jail?
Line 21
A. 45 days.
Line 13/14 Questions about the complaints against Hope
Q. Now do you recall meeting an individual by the name of Becky Leader?
Line 15
A. The name, I don't know the name.
Line 16/17/18
Q. The investigation was started on your home from the Putnam County Children Services; is that correct?
Line 19
A. Yes.
Line 23
Q. And, a young lady told you her name was Becky Leader, would that spark your memory?
Line 25
A. I don't know the name, but I know a lady came out.
Page 121 Line 2
Q. And how many times was this lady out to see you?
Line 4
A. Three. The first time she was out twice because Cynthia wasn't there when she came the first time. That's why she had to come back.
Line 10
Q. Three times. Would that have been?
Line 12
A. I'm not even sure, really.
Line 13
Q. Do you remember the nature of the first complaint against you that she discussed with you?
Line 15
A. She said I was neglecting her and not spending enough time with her.
Line 17
Q. "Her" meaning?
Line 18
A. Cynthia.
Line 19
Q. Cynthia?
Line 20
A. Um hum.
Line 21
Q. And, the nature of the second complaint lodged against you?
Line 23
A. Somebody said that I was giving her drugs.
Line 25
Q. You of course would never do that would you?
Page 122 Line 2
A. No, I would not.
Line 3
Q. You never gave her a sleeping pill?
Line 4
A. No, I did not.
Line 5
Q. A half of a sleeping pill?
Line 6
A. No, I did not.
Line 7
Q. Any type of a prescription or controlled substance?
Line 9
A. One time.
Line 10
Q. When was that?
Line 11
A. Probably sometime in the spring.
Line 12
Q. What was that for?
Line 13
A. To calm her down.
Line 14
Q. You gave her an adult prescribed medication?
Line 16
A. Yes.
Line 24
Q. Did you admit that to Mrs. Leader when she talked to you?
Page 123 Line 1
A. No.
Line 2
Q. So you lied to her?
Line 3
A. Yes.
Line 4
Q. But everything else you have told this court is true?
Line 5
A. Yes.
Line 7
Q. I see.
Page 146 Line 11 Kluge asking questions
Hope: The "goofy" I am talking about is, like, he (Kenny) would get out and play with the kids, you know, like a clown, you know with his hands.
Line 14
Q. So, he was pretty good with kids, was he?
Line 15
A. I thought he was excellent with kids.
Line 16
Q. Did he and Cynthia get along very well?
Line 17
A. Very well.
Basinger on Hope. Summing up
"Hope is partying, everybody else is partying. Hope comes and goes, doesn't seem really too concerned, in my opinion, about whether she takes care of Cynthia or not.
Her mom is not there: her mom is out somewhere else.
And at some point, somebody puts Cynthia to bed, not her mom, not her dad; somebody puts her to bed.
She goes to bed in the back bedroom and she is sleeping for a while until she hears some partying going on. She gets up and walks out.
And what does she see?
She sees Hope Collins and Doug Mull and Bob Nienberg out there smoking hash."