Chapter 12 - THE CHARGES
Derek faced the strongest case.
Forgery.
Fraud related to the guarantee.
Evidence tampering tied to Clara’s phone.
Potential unlawful restraint issues evaluated.
Prosecutors declined to charge homicide.
Medical causation was too uncertain.
They also declined a serious kidnapping theory.
The restraint was brief and factually contested in scope.
But Derek could not escape what was provable.
He eventually pleaded to:
financial fraud-related charges,
tampering,
and a misdemeanor unlawful restraint count.
Sentence:
custodial time followed by supervised release, depending on jurisdiction and final loss calculations.
Not life.
Not murder.
Teresa faced:
obstruction-related investigation,
false statements,
possible aiding financial fraud.
Her role was smaller.
She entered a plea on obstruction and financial misrepresentation-related conduct.
Probation.
Restitution contribution.
No prison fantasy.
Alex hated the asymmetry.
Clara was dead.
Their punishments were measured in years, months, money.
May you like
That was law.
Not grief.
