Chapter 5 - SARAH'S PHONE
The first real break came from Sarah’s phone records.
Her mobile service had been active for six weeks after Dean claimed she left.
Location pings placed the phone mostly near the Carter property, Briar Ridge, and one highway corridor north.
Then it stopped.
Dean said Sarah left the phone behind.
But the records showed calls after the date she supposedly left.
One call lasted twenty-seven minutes.
Recipient:
Rebecca Sloan.
Except Rebecca never received it.
How?
The number had been forwarded.
A call-forwarding rule redirected incoming and outgoing calls through a family-management app installed on Sarah’s phone.
Administrator:
Dean Carter.
Dean’s lawyer gave the defense.
Dean had installed the app because Sarah had severe postpartum anxiety after the twins were born.
He claimed she asked him to manage calls while she rested.
Was that possible?
Yes.
Sarah had struggled after delivery.
Sleep deprivation.
Panic.
Overwhelm.
Medical records confirmed she sought treatment for anxiety.
Lauren said:
“My client did not imprison his wife. He tried to reduce stress.”
Rebecca replied:
“Then where is she?”
Lauren had no answer.
Not yet.
Investigators examined the app history.
Dean had not merely filtered spam.
He had:
blocked Rebecca,
muted Jack,
disabled voicemail notifications,
and restricted outgoing calls after 9 p.m.
Dean said Sarah asked for quiet hours.
There was one text from Sarah that helped him.
I CAN’T TAKE ANOTHER CALL TONIGHT. PLEASE HANDLE IT.
But that was not consent to permanent blocking.
The app settings remained long after that night.
When police asked why, Dean said:
“I forgot.”
Maybe.
Then they found Sarah’s handwritten planner.
One line:
May you like
ASK DEAN TO REMOVE PHONE APP.
Dated eight days before she disappeared.
