Murdered Boy's Mom Testifies in Dad Christopher Gregor's Trial — Full Testimony

[00:00:00] Brianna Michelo: It's Brianna Michelo, B-R-E-A-N-N-A-M-I-C-C-I-O-L-O. Thank you. [00:00:07] Speaker 2: Thank you, Ms. Hunter. [00:00:09] Speaker 3: Brianna, just before we start, I just want to remind you that you're going to have to keep your voice up, okay? The jury's going to have to hear you. So, Brianna, how old are you? [00:00:19] Brianna Michelo: I'm 27. [00:00:21] Speaker 3: And what is your birth date? [00:00:22] Brianna Michelo: November 7, 1996. And where do you live? East Brunswick. [00:00:28] Speaker 3: And whom do you live with? [00:00:30] Brianna Michelo: My boyfriend and daughter. [00:00:33] Speaker 3: And do you work? Yes. And what is your occupation? [00:00:37] Brianna Michelo: Data entry. [00:00:39] Speaker 3: Who is Corey Michelo? [00:00:41] Brianna Michelo: My son. [00:00:43] Speaker 3: And when did you give birth to Corey? [00:00:46] Brianna Michelo: May 1, 2014. [00:00:48] Speaker 3: And how old were you when you gave birth to Corey? 17. And what grade were you in when you gave birth to Corey? 11th grade. And who is Corey's biological father? [00:01:02] Brianna Michelo: The defendant. [00:01:04] Speaker ?: Ma'am, take this microphone and just slide it right in front of you, okay? Okay. There it is. Right in the middle of the floors. That's his heart. Let me turn this over to you. [00:01:13] Speaker 2: I want you to pretend that you're basically speaking all the way to the end of the jury box, all right? All the jurors need to hear you and see you. If they can't hear you down there, it's like you're not testifying, okay? Okay. So I know it may be difficult, but please try and keep your voice up. [00:01:26] Speaker 3: So who is Corey's biological father? The defendant. And what's his name? [00:01:31] Brianna Michelo: Christopher Greger. [00:01:33] Speaker 3: And how old were you when you first met Christopher Greger? [00:01:36] Brianna Michelo: 16. [00:01:37] Speaker 3: And do you know what the defendant's birth date is? [00:01:42] Brianna Michelo: Um, it's May 1992. [00:01:45] Speaker 3: Now, you're familiar with Christopher Greger, correct? [00:01:49] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:01:50] Speaker 3: And you've known him for many years, right? [00:01:52] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:01:53] Speaker 3: And you see him located in the courtroom today? [00:01:55] Brianna Michelo: I do. [00:01:56] Speaker 3: And can you please point to him and tell us where he's seated and what he's wearing? [00:02:00] Brianna Michelo: He's sitting over there wearing a suit. [00:02:02] Speaker 2: Identifying Mr. Greger, you're right. So no, thank you. [00:02:06] Speaker 3: Now, is your son, Corey, no longer with us? [00:02:10] Speaker ?: No. [00:02:11] Brianna Michelo: Well, yes. [00:02:13] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jury the day he passed? [00:02:16] Brianna Michelo: April 2nd, 2021. [00:02:18] Speaker 3: And how old was Corey when he passed? [00:02:21] Brianna Michelo: He was six. [00:02:24] Speaker 3: And what types of things did your son, Corey, like to do as a six-year-old? [00:02:29] Brianna Michelo: Um, he liked reading, coloring, painting, playing outside. [00:02:36] Speaker 3: And what type of demeanor did Corey have as a six-year-old? [00:02:39] Brianna Michelo: Um, he was happy, silly, loving. [00:02:46] Speaker 3: Permission to approach the witness, Your Honor? Yes, certainly. [00:02:49] Speaker ?: All right. [00:02:51] Speaker 3: Okay. I'm now showing you what's been marked. S1 for identification purposes. And do you recognize that? Yes. Okay. And is that a picture? Yes. And can you tell the jurors what that's a picture of? That's a picture of Corey. And did you take that picture? [00:03:10] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:03:11] Speaker 3: So you're familiar with your son, Corey, who's depicted in the picture? [00:03:16] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:03:16] Speaker 3: Your Honor, permission to publish S1? [00:03:20] Speaker 2: Any objections? None. Are you ready to get into evidence first? [00:03:23] Speaker 3: We can move it into evidence, yes. Move into evidence and publish. [00:03:26] Speaker 2: No objections into evidence? No, Your Honor. That's one of those. [00:03:44] Speaker 3: Now, Brianna, can you tell the jurors who's depicted in that picture? [00:03:48] Brianna Michelo: My son, Corey. [00:03:50] Speaker 3: And how old was he in that picture? Six. And who took that picture? [00:03:55] Brianna Michelo: I did. [00:03:56] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what you were doing when you took that picture of Corey? [00:04:01] Brianna Michelo: We were at the park playing in the snow. Okay. [00:04:14] Speaker 3: Now, Brianna, how old was Corey when the defendant entered his life? He was five. And was there a paternity test? Yes. And how old was Corey when it was determined that the defendant was his biological father? [00:04:34] Brianna Michelo: Around four. [00:04:36] Speaker 3: And calling your attention to October 28th of 2020, were you and the defendant granted joint custody of Corey? [00:04:47] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:04:49] Speaker 3: And when that happened, who became the resident parent of Corey? [00:04:56] Brianna Michelo: Christopher. [00:04:57] Speaker 3: And when I say resident parent, can you tell us what that means? [00:05:01] Brianna Michelo: He resided with him. [00:05:04] Speaker 3: And did you have visitation? [00:05:06] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:05:07] Speaker 3: And was this ordered by the family court in Middlesex County? Yes. Your Honor, permission to approach the witness, counsel? Yes, of course. The order? Yeah, sure. [00:05:35] Speaker ?: Thank you. [00:06:05] Speaker 3: Your Honor, permission to approach? Yes. Thank you. So I'm now going to show you what's been marked S-2 for identification purposes. And can you tell the jury what that is? It's a court order. Okay. And where is it a court order from? Is it from the family court? Okay. And on top of this order, is there a date present on S-2 where it says filed? [00:06:53] Brianna Michelo: Yes. It's October 28th, 2020. Okay. [00:06:56] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what the judge's name is on this order? [00:07:01] Brianna Michelo: Judge Silva. [00:07:02] Speaker 3: Okay. And going down into this order where it says it is on this 28th day of October 2020 ordered as follows. Can you please read for the jurors what it says in number one? [00:07:17] Brianna Michelo: Yes. It says the party shall attend court sponsored mediation on the issues of parenting time and defendant Christopher Greger's name change application. Said mediation will take place at a date and time to be set by the court's mediator. [00:07:31] Speaker 3: Okay. And continuing on, can you please read? [00:07:34] Brianna Michelo: The party shall share joint legal custody of the minor child, Corey, date of birth, May 1st, 2014, pendente-like basis. Defendant Christopher Greger shall continue to be the parent of primary residence. And defendant Brianna shall have unsupervised parenting time as follows. Could you please continue? Alternating weekends beginning November 6th, 2020 from Friday at 5:30 until Sunday at 6:00 PM. Brianna shall pick up and drop off Corey at Christopher's home. [00:08:03] Speaker 3: Okay. Can you continue on, Brianna? [00:08:05] Brianna Michelo: Wednesday evenings from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Brianna shall pick up and drop off Corey at Christopher's home. No one except Brianna and Rebecca shall be present in the home during Brianna's parenting time. And whoever has the child during his scheduled extracurricular activity shall transport him to the activity, however the other parent may attend. [00:08:23] Speaker 3: Okay. And then going to number three, does it talk about the parties unblocking each other from the other cell phone? [00:08:33] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:08:34] Speaker 3: And then going to number four, does it talk about the parties shall engage in co-parenting counseling? Yes. And then going to number six, it talks about the parties being barred from making disparaging remarks, correct? [00:08:52] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [00:08:53] Speaker 3: And then it goes to go on to give a holiday schedule for Thanksgiving and Christmas? Correct. And what does number eight say, please? [00:09:03] Brianna Michelo: Brianna Mitchell shall have Skype calls or FaceTime calls with Corey on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays and Sundays during the weekends when Corey is with Christopher. Similarly, on the weekends that Corey is with Brianna, Christopher shall have Skype or FaceTime with Corey on Saturdays and Sundays. Neither party shall record these calls. Okay. [00:09:22] Speaker 3: And the caption of this order is, who is the plaintiff in the matter? My mom. Okay. And who is listed as the defendants in the order? and Christopher. Now Brianna, have you struggled with substance abuse? Yes. And have you specifically struggled with drugs? Yes. And can you please tell the jurors about this? Yes. In my early 20s, [00:10:02] Brianna Michelo: I struggled with drug abuse. When I was younger I went through a lot and I feel like I used the drugs to like suppress my emotions. I didn't really have the coping skills that I do now. And yeah, like I said, I was just going through a lot, but I've been clean currently for a long time. And have you ever used [00:10:28] Speaker 3: drugs in front of your son, Cory? No. And can you tell us why you were granted custody of Cory [00:10:37] Brianna Michelo: in October of 2020? Um, I went through a drug program and I provided clean urines and I just fought really hard because I hated living without my son. [00:10:52] Speaker 3: Now calling your attention to September of 2020, where was Cory living? Um, in Barnegat. Okay. And who was Cory living with? Um, the defendant. And where did the defendant reside? In Barnegat. Okay. Um, Atlantic Heights. Okay. When you say the Atlantic Heights, can you tell the jurors what that is? Um, it's an apartment complex. And did the defendant move from his parents' home in Monroe Township to the apartment in Barnegat? Yes. And who else lived in the apartment in Barnegat with Cory and the defendants? Just them. Now, Rihanna, in October of 2020, can you tell the jurors where you were living? Um, in Englishtown. And what type of home did you live in in Englishtown? A townhome. And who lived in the [00:11:53] Brianna Michelo: townhome in Englishtown? Um, myself, my mother, my mother's boyfriend and my sister. And can you [00:12:00] Speaker 3: describe for the jurors what the townhome looked like in Englishtown? Um, it was two stories with a finished basement. And where was your room located in the house? In the basement. And can you tell the jurors how come you were living in your mother's home in October of 2020? Um, I wasn't working at the time so I couldn't afford it. And about how far away is Englishtown, New Jersey from Barnegat, New Jersey? About an hour. Now, in October of 2020, what grade was Cory in? He was in first grade. And what school did Cory attend? Cecil S. Collins. And the Cecil S. Collins, um, elementary school. What town is that located in? Barnigan. Now, calling your attention to March 19th of 2021, did you have visitation of Cory that weekend? Yes. And can you tell the jurors when did your visitation start with Cory that weekend? March 19th. Okay. And that would have been a Friday night? Friday. And where did you go to have your visitation with Cory on Friday the 19th? The defendant's home. And why did you go to the defendant's apartment [00:13:25] Brianna Michelo: on the 19th to visit Cory? Um, the court order made it hard to go back to my house and, um, I just didn't want to fight with him. It was just easier than actually fighting with him. Okay. And when you're [00:13:41] Speaker 3: talking about the court order, are you referring to the court order from October, um, 28th of 2020? Yes. And are you specifically referring to subsection C that no one except Brianna and Rebecca shall be present in the home during Brianna's parenting time? Yes. So, during that time frame, Brianna, um, was it common for you to go see Cory at the defendant's apartment? Yes. And calling your attention specifically to the 19th, did you sleep at the defendant's apartment that night? Yes. And why did you stay at the defendant's apartment that night? Um, the next day I had something to do with Cory early. And during that time period, was it common for you to stay over the defendant's home, um, during your visitations with Cory? Yes. And was the defendant always there when you would stay at the apartment to visit Cory? Yes. He was always there? Yes. Okay. And what if the defendant had plans? Um, he would leave and I would just be me and Cory. Now, calling your attention to Saturday, March 20th, at 2021, did you take Cory for the day? Yes. And did you previously discuss your plans with the defendant? I did. And can you tell the jurors where you and Cory went? I took Cory to Pennsylvania to visit my dad for his birthday. And what part of Pennsylvania did you go to? Abington. And what did you and Cory and [00:15:42] Brianna Michelo: your dad do in Abington, Pennsylvania? We went mini golfing and we got ice cream. And about how far [00:15:49] Speaker 3: of a drive would it be from Barnegat, New Jersey to Abington, Pennsylvania? About an hour and a half. And what time that day were you supposed to bring Cory back home from the visitation? Between two and three. And when you were driving back to Barnegat, what were the traffic conditions that day? There was a lot of traffic. And what happened due to the traffic? I was late. And besides the traffic conditions, why were you also running late? Cory was enjoying himself, so I didn't want to just rip him away from that. And who did you tell that you were going to be late that day in bringing him back? The defendant. And did the defendant send you a text message on March 20th at approximately 3:04 PM about you being late? Yes. Yes. Your Honor, permission to approach? Yes. [00:17:03] Speaker ?: Thank you. [00:17:33] Speaker 3: Brianna, I'm now showing you what's been marked S-5 for identification purposes, and do you recognize those? [00:18:00] Brianna Michelo: I do. [00:18:01] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what those are? [00:18:04] Brianna Michelo: They're text messages between me and the defendant. [00:18:06] Speaker 3: And you're familiar with those text messages? Yes. And are those text messages that were located in your cell phone? [00:18:14] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:18:14] Speaker 3: Okay, now during the course of this investigation, did you provide your cellular phone to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office? [00:18:23] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:18:24] Speaker 3: And when did you provide your cell phone to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office? [00:18:30] Brianna Michelo: The day Corey passed. [00:18:31] Speaker 3: And you provided your cell phone to Detective Mitchell? Correct. And by doing this, you voluntarily agreed that the prosecutor's office would search your phone? [00:18:43] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:18:43] Speaker 3: So, calling your attention now to S-5, in particular, at approximately 3-0-4, what did the defendant text you in regard to you dropping off Corey on March 20th, 21, at approximately 3-0-4? [00:19:07] Brianna Michelo: He texted me, when you get here, please just drop him off. And what was your response? I said, okay. And then, what did he say next? He said, you almost two hours late, what the fuck? [00:19:21] Speaker 3: And what did the defendant say next? [00:19:23] Brianna Michelo: He said, this Friday, however long late you are, is how long after 4-30 you can come. [00:19:28] Speaker 3: And you continue, please. [00:19:30] Brianna Michelo: What did he say next? FYI, this is beyond pissing me off now. My entire plans for today are ruined. [00:19:37] Speaker 3: What did you respond? [00:19:39] Brianna Michelo: I'm driving as fast as I can. There was traffic, I'm sorry. And he said, I don't care. Whenever you get here, we will take the difference in time from 2 o'clock until then, and that is how long we will add on to 4-30 for when you come on Friday now. [00:19:54] Speaker 3: And then, can you tell us? [00:19:56] Brianna Michelo: Yes. He said, I'm at the clubhouse gym, just drop him off here. I said, okay. And then, again, I said, he can't get in. And then I said, I apologize for being so late, and I mean it. I'm not saying this because I want you to change your mind about Friday. I will come at 6-45, no problem. It's understandable, but I did want to tell you that. There was no ill intentions there. I didn't mean to be so late. [00:20:18] Speaker 3: Okay, so the text message that you're referring to regarding the clubhouse gym, can you tell for the jurors what time that that text message is from regarding Corey not being able to get in? [00:20:34] Brianna Michelo: At 4-15, no, 4-14 p.m. [00:20:37] Speaker 3: Thank you, Brianna. So, Brianna, on March 20th of 2021, at approximately 4-15, did you drop off Corey to his father at the clubhouse gym at the Atlantic Heights apartment complex? [00:21:00] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:21:02] Speaker 3: And had you ever been inside the gym located at the clubhouse gym? [00:21:10] Brianna Michelo: I have. [00:21:11] Speaker 3: And can you just briefly describe what the clubhouse gym looks like? [00:21:15] Brianna Michelo: There's weights and treadmills. [00:21:20] Speaker 3: And where did you park when you dropped Corey off that day? [00:21:24] Brianna Michelo: By the entrance of the clubhouse. [00:21:26] Speaker 3: And did Corey have issues getting inside of the gym? [00:21:30] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:21:31] Speaker 3: And can you please explain what happened regarding Corey being able to enter the clubhouse gym on March 20th of 2021? [00:21:41] Brianna Michelo: The door was locked. So, I texted the defendant that he couldn't get in. [00:21:48] Speaker 3: And then what happened after that? [00:21:50] Brianna Michelo: He came and unlocked the door. [00:21:52] Speaker 3: And what was the defendant's demeanor when he let Corey into the gym and then at that point in time? [00:22:01] Brianna Michelo: He was very angry. [00:22:02] Speaker 3: And at any point during this, did he come to your car? [00:22:07] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:22:09] Speaker 3: After you dropped Corey off on March 20th, 2021, when is the next time that you saw Corey? [00:22:18] Brianna Michelo: I believe it was Tuesday. [00:22:21] Speaker 3: Would that have been March 23rd, 2021? And on that particular day, did you drive to Barnegat? [00:22:31] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:22:32] Speaker 3: And did you drive there to visit Corey? [00:22:35] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:22:36] Speaker 3: And where did you visit with Corey that day? [00:22:39] Brianna Michelo: The defendant's home. [00:22:41] Speaker 3: And about what time do you think did you arrive at the defendant's apartment to visit with Corey? [00:22:50] Brianna Michelo: Maybe 4.30. [00:22:52] Speaker 3: And that would have been your weekday visitation with Corey? Yes. So, it would have been like after the school day? [00:23:01] Brianna Michelo: Yes. I'm sorry. [00:23:03] Speaker 3: And where was the defendant when you visited Corey? [00:23:07] Brianna Michelo: He was home. [00:23:08] Speaker 3: And did you stay over the apartment that night? [00:23:12] Brianna Michelo: No. [00:23:14] Speaker 3: And what time did you leave the apartment? [00:23:18] Brianna Michelo: I would say around 9.30. [00:23:21] Speaker 3: And while you were with Corey, did you see any bruises on him? [00:23:28] Brianna Michelo: I did, yes. [00:23:29] Speaker 3: And can you describe for the jurors the bruises that you saw? [00:23:33] Brianna Michelo: Um, he had a bruise on his forehead and it was very odd shaped and it kind of looked like an imprint of something. [00:23:42] Speaker 3: And besides that bruise, did you see another bruise? [00:23:45] Brianna Michelo: He had one on his chest. It looked like a scrape. [00:23:49] Speaker 3: And where were you when you saw these bruises on Corey? [00:23:54] Brianna Michelo: Um, Corey and I went on a walk in the neighborhood. [00:23:58] Speaker 3: And did you speak to Corey about the bruises that you saw? [00:24:03] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:24:04] Speaker 3: And where were you and Corey when you spoke? [00:24:07] Brianna Michelo: We were on the walk. [00:24:10] Speaker 3: And what was Corey's demeanor when you spoke to him about the bruises that you saw? [00:24:16] Brianna Michelo: Um, he just seemed upset and scared. [00:24:20] Speaker 3: Now, calling your attention to March 26th of 2021, did you make a referral to DC P&P? [00:24:29] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:24:30] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors who DC P&P is? [00:24:33] Brianna Michelo: Um, they are the Department of Children, Children's Protection and Permanency. [00:24:39] Speaker 3: Yeah, or people know them as DIFUS? [00:24:41] Brianna Michelo: Yeah. [00:24:42] Speaker 3: And how did you contact DC P&P? [00:24:46] Brianna Michelo: Through the hotline. [00:24:50] Speaker 3: And why did you make a referral to DC P&P at this time? [00:24:55] Brianna Michelo: Um, I felt like Corey's abuse was getting really bad and I felt like they needed to do something about it. [00:25:03] Speaker 3: Now, drawing your attention to Saturday, March 27th at 2021, did you see Corey that day? [00:25:13] Brianna Michelo: I'm sorry, what day was it? [00:25:15] Speaker 3: Saturday, March 27th of 2021. Did you see Corey that day? Yes. And where did you see Corey? [00:25:24] Brianna Michelo: Um, in Stafford or Barnegat. [00:25:27] Speaker 3: And why were you at Stafford or Barnegat to see Corey? [00:25:30] Brianna Michelo: Um, it was, he was having flag football tryouts. [00:25:34] Speaker 3: And where did you go to see the flag football tryouts? [00:25:38] Brianna Michelo: Um, I think it was South Jersey, like Stafford or Barnegat. Okay. [00:25:45] Speaker 3: And did you see the flag football tryouts? [00:25:48] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:25:49] Speaker 3: And who brought Corey to the tryout? [00:25:51] Brianna Michelo: The defendant. [00:25:53] Speaker 3: And how did you arrive to the fields for the flag football tryouts? [00:25:58] Brianna Michelo: I drove myself. [00:26:00] Speaker 3: And why did you beat the defendant there that day? [00:26:03] Brianna Michelo: Um, he didn't want to drive with me because he didn't want to be seen with me. I'm too trashy. [00:26:09] Speaker 3: And what type of contact was allowed for first grade flag football? [00:26:17] Brianna Michelo: It's no contact. [00:26:21] Speaker 3: What, if any, injuries did Corey sustain at the flag football tryout? [00:26:26] Brianna Michelo: None. [00:26:28] Speaker 3: After the flag football tryout, did you take Corey back to your house in Manalbin for visitation? [00:26:35] Brianna Michelo: I did. [00:26:36] Speaker 3: And where did you take Corey to? [00:26:39] Brianna Michelo: My house. [00:26:41] Speaker 3: And did you have a conversation with the defendant at the tryout about bringing Corey back to your home for visitation? [00:26:49] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:26:50] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what the defendant said in regard to you bringing Corey back to your home? [00:26:57] Brianna Michelo: He told me just to take him for the weekend. [00:27:00] Speaker 3: And were you expecting that you were going to be able to take Corey home from tryouts? [00:27:06] Brianna Michelo: No. [00:27:07] Speaker 3: And that occurred during the tryout? [00:27:12] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:27:15] Speaker 3: Now, in regard to the court-ordered visitation schedule, did you and the defendant always follow what was specifically said in the court order? [00:27:26] Brianna Michelo: No. [00:27:27] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors why not? [00:27:30] Brianna Michelo: Um, I'm not sure. [00:27:35] Speaker 3: Well, what about, you know, were there circumstances which would... [00:27:38] Brianna Michelo: Oh, yes. Christopher would let me take him to my house knowing the people that he didn't want to be there were there a few times. [00:27:45] Speaker 3: Okay. Um. When did you bring Corey back, um, to the house in Bargain again after you brought him to your home after playing football? [00:28:01] Brianna Michelo: On Sunday. [00:28:02] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what time did you return Corey to his father the next day? [00:28:10] Brianna Michelo: Um, around six. [00:28:12] Speaker 3: And while Corey was at your home, um, after the flag football tryouts, what, if any, bruising did you see to his body? [00:28:23] Brianna Michelo: Um, he had a large bruise on his chest. He had, um, it looked like fingerprint bruises all over his arms and legs. And he had a very, it was very large on the, like, his hip, on his side. [00:28:38] Speaker 3: Now, besides the bruises, can you tell the jurors about Corey's physical condition? [00:28:44] Brianna Michelo: He, he was normal. [00:28:48] Speaker 3: Now, during your visitation with Corey at your home in Manalafin, was Corey exposed to anyone with COVID? [00:28:58] Brianna Michelo: No. [00:28:59] Speaker 3: And had anyone in your family attended a funeral? [00:29:03] Brianna Michelo: No. [00:29:04] Speaker 3: Had anyone in your family attended a mass gathering? [00:29:07] Brianna Michelo: No. [00:29:08] Speaker 3: At that time, what did you learn about Corey being out of school? [00:29:14] Brianna Michelo: Um, the defendant took him out of school for an apparent, or exposed, um, to COVID. [00:29:22] Speaker 3: Did you confront the defendant about this? [00:29:25] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:29:26] Speaker 3: And what did the defendant do in response? [00:29:29] Brianna Michelo: He blocked me. [00:29:31] Speaker 3: On March 30th of 2021, did you contact the pediatrician about getting Corey an appointment? [00:29:39] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:29:40] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors why you contacted the pediatrician? [00:29:44] Brianna Michelo: Um, well, because I suspected that, um, Corey was being abused, and I, um, went on the advice of a DCPMP worker. [00:29:54] Speaker 2: Objection. So, sustained, you should strike that as a, that's hearsay that someone else told her something, so you should strike that, not consider it. If the state calls that person, then it will deal with it at that time. Thank you. [00:30:05] Speaker 3: Did you get an appointment with the pediatrician? [00:30:08] Speaker 2: Yes. [00:30:09] Speaker 3: And what day was the appointment scheduled for? [00:30:12] Brianna Michelo: April 1st. [00:30:13] Speaker 3: And April 1st was a Thursday? Thursday. And what time was the appointment scheduled for, Brianna? [00:30:21] Brianna Michelo: Um, around 5. [00:30:22] Speaker 3: And why did you make the appointment at 5? [00:30:25] Brianna Michelo: Because that's when my parenting time was. [00:30:32] Speaker 3: And who was, um, the appointment made with? What, um, pediatrician? [00:30:38] Brianna Michelo: IV pediatrics. [00:30:42] Speaker 3: And did you have a conversation with the DCPMP caseworker? [00:30:47] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:30:47] Speaker 3: Without telling us the conversation, what was the caseworker's name? [00:30:52] Brianna Michelo: Name? Yes. Mark Waltonowski? [00:30:56] Speaker 3: Calling your attention to March 31st of 2021, did you file an emergent application for full custody of Corey with the family court? [00:31:07] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:31:08] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors why you did this? [00:31:10] Brianna Michelo: I was in fear for Corey's life. [00:31:14] Speaker 3: And was DCPMP involved in this process? [00:31:17] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:31:18] Speaker 3: Now, on April 1st of 2021, what time did you pick up Corey that day for visitation? [00:31:27] Brianna Michelo: Around 4:00 p.m. Around 4:30 p.m. [00:31:29] Speaker 3: And after you picked up Corey, where did you take him? [00:31:33] Brianna Michelo: Um, to the pediatrician. [00:31:35] Speaker 3: And what was the name of the pediatrician or the practice? Um, IV pediatrics. And what town was the pediatrician located in? [00:31:45] Brianna Michelo: Tom's River. [00:31:46] Speaker 3: And when you picked up Corey that day, what was Corey's demeanor? [00:31:50] Brianna Michelo: Um, he was fine. [00:31:52] Speaker 3: And when you picked up Corey that day, what was his physical condition? [00:31:56] Brianna Michelo: He still had some bruises, but other than that, he was normal. [00:32:01] Speaker 3: And when you got to the pediatrician's office, did Corey speak to the doctor? [00:32:08] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:32:09] Speaker 3: And was Corey examined by the doctor? [00:32:12] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:32:13] Speaker 3: Okay. And did you speak to the doctor? [00:32:15] Brianna Michelo: I did. [00:32:16] Speaker 3: Now, based upon this conversation, where did you take Corey next? [00:32:21] Brianna Michelo: Um, the community medical center. [00:32:24] Speaker 3: And where is community medical center located? [00:32:27] Brianna Michelo: I believe in Tom's River. [00:32:28] Speaker 3: And why did you, um, take, uh, Corey to community medical center in Tom's River? [00:32:36] Brianna Michelo: To be examined further and he needed to get x-rays and blood work. [00:32:40] Speaker 3: Okay. And while you were either at the pediatrician or on your way to, um, community medical center, did you receive, um, the family court order regarding your virgin application? Yes. [00:32:58] Speaker ?: Mariel. [00:32:59] Speaker 3: Your Honor, permission to approach? [00:33:04] Speaker 2: Yes, of course. [00:33:05] Speaker 3: Rihanna, I'm now showing you what's going to happen. What's been marked S, um, 17, um, for identification, uh, purposes? And, um, can you please read the caption at the top of, um, just saying that, who the court order is from? [00:33:30] Brianna Michelo: Honorable Patrick Bradshaw, JSC, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part. [00:33:37] Speaker 3: Okay. Now, calling your attention to, um, this order, um, can you tell us, um, who opened, um, this court order? I did. [00:33:54] Brianna Michelo: Okay. [00:33:55] Speaker 3: Okay. And the court, can you read on the first paragraph, starting with, and the court having considered, what was the quarter, the court considered? Objection. [00:34:06] Speaker 4: What's the basic position? [00:34:08] Speaker 2: How would she know what the court considered? [00:34:10] Speaker 4: It's in a document. [00:34:11] Speaker 2: Well, I think the, the question is, the order of sites with the court considered. Do you have an objection to that? Nope. All right. Thank you. [00:34:20] Speaker 3: Okay. That's the question. What, what did, can you read off the order please? Right here. Yeah. [00:34:25] Brianna Michelo: You could start with. Okay. And the court having considered the paper submitted and the court having reviewed a letter of investigatory findings submitted by the Department of Child Protection of Permanency and good cause having been shown is on this first day of April, 2021, ordered as follows. [00:34:41] Speaker 3: Okay. And as the court order continues, you were denied your request for emergency, emergent custody, correct? Correct. And then going, continuing with this order, specifically in subsection two, can you read for the jury what the court order says? [00:35:02] Brianna Michelo: It says upon recommendation by DCPMP, this court orders that the party's minor child, Corey, undergo a CPC evaluation as a part of its ongoing investigation. Okay. [00:35:14] Speaker 3: I could just stop you there. And a CPC evaluation, that would in essence be an examination for what was going on with Corey and the bruising. Correct? [00:35:27] Speaker ?: Okay. [00:35:28] Speaker 3: It doesn't matter, Judge. I can withdraw the question. Well, it's leading, so it's good to stay. Okay. We'll go to subsection three if you could read for what the order says. [00:35:38] Brianna Michelo: The court also orders the parties to confer with one another to agree upon a date and time in which Corey shall be made available for an examination by his pediatrician regarding Corey's bruising within seven days of this order. Okay. [00:35:52] Speaker ?: Okay. Okay. Now, after Corey was at the pediatrician, where did you take him next? To the hospital. [00:36:06] Speaker 3: And what hospital, again, did you take him to? Community Medical Center. [00:36:22] Speaker ?: And how did you drive Corey to Community Medical Center? In my car. [00:36:22] Speaker 3: And what was Corey's physical condition while in the car? [00:36:35] Brianna Michelo: He was okay. [00:36:37] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what Corey's demeanor was when he was in the car? [00:36:41] Brianna Michelo: Same as always. Same as always. He was normal. [00:36:44] Speaker 3: And about what time did you arrive at Community Medical Center? [00:36:49] Brianna Michelo: Probably between six and seven. [00:36:55] Speaker 3: And was Corey examined at Community Medical Center? [00:37:00] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:37:01] Speaker 3: And what department was this in? [00:37:04] Brianna Michelo: The emergency room. [00:37:06] Speaker 3: Okay. Did Corey speak to the doctor? [00:37:08] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:37:09] Speaker 3: And did you speak to the doctor? [00:37:11] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:37:12] Speaker 3: And based upon your conversation, where did you take Corey next? [00:37:17] Brianna Michelo: Jersey Shore Medical Center. [00:37:19] Speaker 3: Now, while you were at Community Medical Center, before you got to Jersey Shore, did the defendant send you a text message as to where you were? [00:37:33] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:37:34] Speaker 3: Your Honor, permission to approach? Yes. 7. Okay, I'm now showing you what has been marked S7 for identification purposes, and do you recognize these? [00:38:24] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:38:24] Speaker 3: And are these what? [00:38:26] Brianna Michelo: Text messages between me and the defendant. [00:38:29] Speaker 3: Okay, and calling your attention on S7 in particular to the first text message contained in the document, can you please tell the jury what the defendant texted you? [00:38:42] Speaker 4: Sure, don't get an objection, so it's a document, not in evidence. I don't know how she can read from it. [00:38:49] Speaker 3: Your Honor, we already had a 104 hearing. You want to move that into evidence? I can move that into evidence. I was going to do it at the end, but... Okay, I'll agree to that. Okay, so I have the other ones, too. I can move into evidence, so the state will move it into evidence as well. [00:39:04] Speaker 2: So, ladies and gentlemen, you're going to hear about these text messages, the statements of the defendant. You can consider his statements. I'm going to give you an instruction later about statements of defendant electronically or if there's any oral ones. So, I'll ask you to consider them at the end of the case in connection with that instruction. In addition, in terms of the statements of Ms. Mitchelow, they're actually hearsay, but she's here testifying about it. So, allowing them in for that reason, I concluded it wouldn't make much sense for me just to give you the defendant's statements or responses if you couldn't see the other half of the conversation. So, in order to be able to give you a full picture, I'm allowing both Ms. Mitchelow's messages and the defendant's alleged responses into evidence in order to give you that context to be able to analyze them. [00:39:48] Speaker 3: Okay, so turning your attention then to S7, in particular, at the top of the page at approximately 4-1, can you read the time for the jurors? 7-26. Okay, and what did the defendant text you? He said, where are you? And what did he text you next? [00:40:12] Brianna Michelo: He said, it'll be past 7-30 and I will take over and be with my son. And what did he say after that? I have no idea where you are and you will not tell me on the phone why is that. You were past your time by the court order and I want to be there for my son. [00:40:25] Speaker 3: Oh, and what was your response to that? [00:40:27] Brianna Michelo: I said, I am driving to Jersey Shore Medical Center. I am doing what a caseworker for DCPMP told me to do. [00:40:33] Speaker ?: Thank you. Thank you. [00:40:43] Speaker 3: Now, Brianna, while you were at Community Medical Center, did you sign Cory out of the hospital? [00:40:53] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:40:54] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors why you did this? [00:40:57] Brianna Michelo: Because I wanted to drive him myself to Jersey Shore Medical Center. [00:41:01] Speaker 3: And why did you want to drive him yourself to Jersey Shore Medical Center? [00:41:06] Brianna Michelo: Because I was already late and I didn't want to spend another 30 minutes waiting. [00:41:12] Speaker 3: And what had the hospital offered at the time? [00:41:16] Brianna Michelo: To transport Cory. [00:41:21] Speaker 3: Now, while Cory was at Community Medical Center, was he physically examined? [00:41:29] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:41:30] Speaker 3: And what was Cory's condition at Community Medical Center? [00:41:34] Brianna Michelo: He was fine. [00:41:38] Speaker 3: Now, did Jersey Shore Medical Center have a pediatric abuse specialist on staff? [00:41:48] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:41:50] Speaker 3: And while all this was happening, did you speak to BART, the DCPMP worker? [00:41:57] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:41:59] Speaker 3: Now, after you and Cory left Community Medical Center, where did you immediately go? [00:42:07] Brianna Michelo: Jersey Shore Medical Center. [00:42:10] Speaker 3: And what was Cory's physical condition while you were with Cory in the car? [00:42:17] Brianna Michelo: Um, fine. He was just watching videos on my phone. [00:42:21] Speaker 3: And what was Cory's demeanor? [00:42:24] Brianna Michelo: Um, normal. Happy. [00:42:27] Speaker 3: Now, approximately what time did you arrive at Jersey Shore Medical Center with Cory? Um, around 8. And did you speak to the doctor at Jersey Shore Medical Center? [00:42:43] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:42:44] Speaker 3: And did Cory speak to the doctor at Jersey Shore Medical Center? [00:42:48] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:42:49] Speaker 3: And what was Cory's demeanor while at Jersey Shore Medical Center? [00:42:54] Brianna Michelo: Um, he was okay. He was just a little tired because he was getting late. [00:42:59] Speaker 3: And was Cory examined by a doctor at Jersey Shore Medical Center? [00:43:04] Brianna Michelo: He was. [00:43:05] Speaker 3: And what tests were performed on Cory at Jersey Shore Medical Center? [00:43:09] Brianna Michelo: Um, he had an x-ray and blood work. [00:43:15] Speaker 3: And while Cory was at Jersey Shore Medical Center, was he seen by the pediatric abuse specialist? [00:43:23] Brianna Michelo: I believe so. [00:43:27] Speaker 3: Or is he seen by an emergency room doctor? [00:43:30] Brianna Michelo: Um, I think it was an emergency room doctor. [00:43:33] Speaker 3: Now, while you were at Jersey Shore Medical Center on April 1st of 2021, did you have a telephone conversation with the defendant? [00:43:48] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:43:49] Speaker 3: And about what time did that conversation occur? Um, around 8.30. And can you tell us about the conversation you had with the defendant? [00:44:02] Brianna Michelo: Um, he called me and he asked me to leave the hospital with Cory. And, um, I said I wouldn't. I want him to be checked out. And then he started just verbally attacking me and fighting with me. [00:44:15] Speaker 3: And did the defendant know that you were at Jersey Shore Hospital with Cory? [00:44:20] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:44:22] Speaker 3: And can you tell us what happened at the hospital regarding your cell phone? [00:44:29] Brianna Michelo: My phone died. [00:44:32] Speaker 3: Now, at 11.43 p.m., did the defendant send you a text message asking you where you were? Yes. Your Honor, permission to approach? [00:44:43] Speaker ?: No, you're asking. [00:44:45] Speaker 3: So, um, Rihanna, at approximately 11.43 p.m., while you were at Jersey Shore Medical Center, did the defendant send you a text message asking where you were? [00:45:01] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:45:02] Speaker 3: Your Honor, permission to approach the witness? Yes, absolutely. [00:45:14] Speaker 4: Good. [00:45:15] Speaker 3: Hey, Brandon, I'm now showing you what's been marked S-8 for identification purposes. And, um, do you recognize that? [00:45:33] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:45:33] Speaker 3: And those are text messages from your phone? [00:45:36] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:45:36] Speaker 3: And you're familiar with those text messages? [00:45:38] Brianna Michelo: I am. [00:45:39] Speaker 3: Your Honor, permission to enter into evidence and publish? [00:45:43] Speaker 2: That's S-8? S-8. Any objections? None. S-8 in evidence. [00:45:48] Speaker 3: Okay, now calling your attention to the first message, can you tell the jurors what the defendant said to you and what time that this occurred? [00:45:59] Brianna Michelo: Um, at 11.43 p.m., the defendant said, why are you now ignoring me? [00:46:03] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what your response was? [00:46:06] Brianna Michelo: I said, my phone died and I just got a charger. I'm at the hospital because DCPMP spoke to doctors and they told me to come here. You could have came here from the beginning. You said no. Drop him off. You could have taken turns the whole time. I'm not doing anything wrong. Stay up and I'll drop him off as soon as we're done. Can you please turn the page? [00:46:25] Speaker 3: No calling your attention. Can you please continue to read the first two messages with the dates and the time as well to the jury? [00:46:37] Brianna Michelo: On 4.1.21 at 11.52, I said, you're not going to stay awake. Then, um, on 4.2.21 at 12.48, I said, how are you going to go to court and say anything about me keeping him? You won't even stay up for me to drop him off and I'm offering now. [00:46:52] Speaker ?: Okay. Thank you. [00:46:57] Speaker 3: Now, after those, um, text messages, when is the next time you, um, heard from the defendant? [00:47:05] Brianna Michelo: Um, the next morning. Or that morning. [00:47:10] Speaker 3: Now, was Corey released from Jersey Shore Medical Center? [00:47:16] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:47:18] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors about his blood work? [00:47:22] Brianna Michelo: Um, it was all normal. [00:47:24] Speaker 3: And what about in regard to any x-rays or scans? [00:47:28] Brianna Michelo: That was normal as well. [00:47:30] Speaker 3: And was that text message at approximately 11.43, was that the last time that you had to go? And you had contact with the defendant that evening? [00:47:40] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:47:41] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors why would you try to bring Corey back to his father's house from Jersey Shore Medical Center? [00:47:51] Brianna Michelo: Um, so I didn't break the court order. [00:47:56] Speaker 3: Now, after you left Jersey Shore with Corey, um, can you tell the jurors where you went? [00:48:02] Brianna Michelo: I went to my house in English Town. [00:48:04] Speaker 3: And how long of a ride was it? [00:48:07] Brianna Michelo: Um, about 45 minutes. [00:48:09] Speaker 3: And what was Corey's demeanor in the car ride? [00:48:13] Brianna Michelo: Um, he was tired. It was 1 a.m. and he, um, fell asleep in the car. [00:48:18] Speaker 3: And about what time did you then arrive at your home? [00:48:23] Brianna Michelo: Um, I want to say, like, around 1.30. [00:48:27] Speaker ?: Okay. [00:48:28] Speaker 3: And when you got to your house, can you tell us who was awake? [00:48:31] Brianna Michelo: No one. [00:48:33] Speaker 3: And when you got to your house, where did you and Corey immediately go? [00:48:40] Brianna Michelo: We went to my bedroom. [00:48:41] Speaker 3: And where was your bedroom located in the house? [00:48:44] Brianna Michelo: In the basement. [00:48:48] Speaker 3: And where did you and Corey sleep that night? [00:48:53] Brianna Michelo: We slept in my bed. [00:48:56] Speaker 3: And while you slept in bed with Corey, what was his physical condition? [00:49:02] Brianna Michelo: Um, he was okay. [00:49:03] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what Corey's demeanor was while you slept in bed with him? [00:49:09] Brianna Michelo: Um, normal. [00:49:11] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors why you slept in bed with Corey that night? [00:49:15] Brianna Michelo: It was just easier because it was really late and I just didn't want to get him ready in his room. [00:49:21] Speaker 3: What time did, um, you and Corey wake up the next morning? [00:49:27] Brianna Michelo: Around 7, 7.30. [00:49:29] Speaker 3: And when Corey woke up, did you dress him? [00:49:33] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:49:34] Speaker 3: And where did you dress Corey? [00:49:36] Brianna Michelo: In my room. [00:49:38] Speaker 3: And what did you dress Corey in? [00:49:42] Brianna Michelo: Um, I put him in a sweatshirt, jeans, and, um, sneakers. [00:49:47] Speaker 3: And what about his underwear? [00:49:49] Brianna Michelo: Um, they were blue underwear. [00:49:51] Speaker 3: And what was the condition of the clothes that you dressed Corey in? [00:49:56] Brianna Michelo: Um, they were clean. [00:50:00] Speaker 3: And after you dressed Corey, where did the two of you then go? [00:50:04] Brianna Michelo: Um, we ate breakfast in the kitchen. [00:50:06] Speaker 3: And when you went upstairs to eat breakfast in the kitchen, um, who was there? [00:50:12] Brianna Michelo: Um, my mom and her boyfriend, Richie. [00:50:16] Speaker 3: And did Corey have breakfast? [00:50:18] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:50:19] Speaker 3: And did he eat? [00:50:20] Brianna Michelo: He did. [00:50:21] Speaker 3: And do you remember what he ate? [00:50:23] Brianna Michelo: He ate a bagel and a go-gurt. [00:50:27] Speaker 3: And were you with Corey the entire time that he was eating breakfast? [00:50:31] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:50:33] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what was Corey's physical condition in the morning when he was eating breakfast? [00:50:40] Brianna Michelo: He was okay. [00:50:41] Speaker 3: And what about his demeanor? [00:50:43] Brianna Michelo: Um, normal. He was fine. [00:50:46] Speaker 3: Now, that morning of the 2nd, at approximately 6.48 a.m., did you receive a text message from the defendant? [00:50:54] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:50:55] Speaker 3: Your Honor, permission to approach the witness? Yes. [00:51:00] Speaker ?: All right. Do you want to see him? [00:51:02] Speaker 3: I see him for the rest of them. You saw him already? [00:51:04] Speaker ?: Okay. Okay. [00:51:10] Speaker 3: Karana, I'm now showing what's been marked essay, which has already been admitted to evidence. Turning your attention to the text message conversation, can you please tell the jurors what the defendant said, starting with that particular message? And can you let the jurors know the time and the date as well? [00:51:33] Brianna Michelo: Okay. On 4-2-21 at 6.46 a.m., he said, I'm going to court because you decided to go when you had seven days last night, and by your text, you were still there at 12.50 at night. You had detriment to Corey's health, and I will be going to court today about it. [00:51:50] Speaker 3: And can you read the next message from the defendant as well? [00:51:53] Brianna Michelo: Yes. 6.46. He said, by the way, school starts at 8.30, so have him back before 8.30. Thank you. [00:52:07] Speaker 3: Brianna, after Corey had breakfast, where did you drive to? [00:52:12] Brianna Michelo: To the defendant's house. [00:52:14] Speaker 3: And when you were driving to the defendant's house in Barnegat, where was Corey seated in the car? [00:52:22] Brianna Michelo: He was in the back seat. [00:52:23] Speaker 3: And how long of it was a drive to Barnegat? [00:52:26] Brianna Michelo: About an hour. [00:52:27] Speaker 3: And what was Corey doing while you were driving to Barnegat with him in the car? [00:52:34] Brianna Michelo: He was watching YouTube on my phone. [00:52:37] Speaker 3: And what was Corey's demeanor in the car? [00:52:40] Brianna Michelo: He was okay. [00:52:42] Speaker 3: Now, while you were driving Corey to Barnegat, did you receive a text message from the defendant? [00:52:48] Brianna Michelo: I did. I did. [00:53:18] Speaker 3: Do you want to have permission to approach? Yes. Brianna, I'm now showing you what has been marked S-9 for identification purposes. Do you recognize this? [00:53:37] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:53:38] Speaker 3: And you're familiar with that? I am. And is that a text message that you received from the defendant, which was located on your phone? [00:53:46] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:53:46] Speaker 3: And can you please tell the jurors what the defendant texted you, including the date and the time of the text message? [00:53:53] Brianna Michelo: Yes. On 4-2-21 at 8.37 a.m., he said, I mean, considering you did kidnap my son for an entire day and night, the minimum that is happening is an entire day and night is going to be removed from your next visit maximum. Hopefully the courts will agree with my application this morning and you will lose all rights. [00:54:10] Speaker ?: Thank you. [00:54:16] Speaker 3: Now, when you got to the defendant's apartment complex to drop off Corey, where did you park? [00:54:32] Brianna Michelo: In front of the defendant's home. [00:54:34] Speaker 3: And about what time did you get to the apartment complex to drop off Corey that morning? [00:54:40] Brianna Michelo: Around 9 a.m. [00:54:42] Speaker 3: And when you got there, where was the defendant's car? [00:54:45] Brianna Michelo: I'm not sure. It wasn't there. [00:54:48] Speaker 3: And did you text the defendant asking where he was? Yes. And what did the defendant say to you in regard to where he was? [00:54:58] Brianna Michelo: He said he was home. [00:55:00] Speaker 3: And before Corey had left the car, did you provide Corey with a piece of paper? [00:55:06] Brianna Michelo: I did. [00:55:07] Speaker 3: And what did you give Corey? [00:55:08] Brianna Michelo: It was a paper from the hospital that had information so the defendant could look at his records. [00:55:15] Speaker 3: And why did you do that? [00:55:17] Brianna Michelo: I was just being nice. [00:55:21] Speaker 3: And did you speak to Corey in the car before you sent him into the defendant's home? [00:55:28] Brianna Michelo: I did. [00:55:29] Speaker 3: And was that the last time that you spoke to Corey? [00:55:34] Brianna Michelo: It was. [00:55:37] Speaker 3: Did Corey exit your car? [00:55:39] Brianna Michelo: He did. [00:55:41] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors where Corey walked? [00:55:44] Brianna Michelo: He walked inside the defendant's home. [00:55:46] Speaker 3: And how was Corey walking when he went to the defendant's apartment? [00:55:52] Brianna Michelo: Fine. [00:55:53] Speaker 3: And did Corey open the apartment door of the defendant's apartment? [00:55:59] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:56:03] Speaker 3: Now, continuing on in the morning of April 2nd of 2021, were you and the defendants arguing? [00:56:13] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:56:13] Speaker 3: Okay. Permission to approach? [00:56:16] Speaker ?: Yes. [00:56:18] Speaker 3: S11. S11. [00:56:22] Speaker ?: I ran out now showing you what's been marked S111. I ran out now showing you what's been marked S111. [00:56:43] Speaker 3: S111 for identification purposes. And again, are those text messages that were contained in your phone? And you're familiar with those messages? I am. Your Honor, at this time, the state would move to publish and into evidence of S11? No, adjourned. [00:57:07] Speaker 2: S11 on evidence. [00:57:08] Speaker 3: So, Brianna, starting with the top message, can you please tell the jury about your conversation with the defendant? [00:57:19] Brianna Michelo: Yes. At 9.48 a.m., I said, stop being so cocky. If I were you, I definitely wouldn't be. [00:57:25] Speaker 3: And then what did the defendant respond? [00:57:28] Brianna Michelo: He said, yes, I am a ludicrous charge by you that when you went to court yesterday was completely thrown out and disregarded. [00:57:35] Speaker 3: And can you continue with his next message? [00:57:39] Brianna Michelo: He said, shows how much evidence there is, doesn't it? You're going to be in for a rude awakening today. [00:57:49] Speaker 3: So, Brianna, what is the next time that you heard from the defendant on April 2nd of 2021? [00:58:11] Brianna Michelo: Around 3.30. [00:58:14] Speaker 3: And did you speak to the defendant on the telephone? [00:58:18] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:58:19] Speaker 3: And at 3.30 on April 2nd, what did the defendant tell you about Corey? [00:58:27] Brianna Michelo: He said, um, he was lethargic. Um, his legs were hurting. Um, he was sleeping all day. And, um, he was throwing up and just didn't feel good. And then he told me to send Corey's insurance card to him. [00:58:48] Speaker 3: And did you send the defendant Corey's insurance card? [00:58:52] Brianna Michelo: I did. [00:58:52] Speaker 3: And did the defendant say anything about taking Corey to the hospital? Yes. And did the defendant tell you what hospital he was taking Corey to? No. Um, was that the last time that you had spoken to the defendant on that day? [00:59:16] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:59:17] Speaker 3: And did you learn what hospital Corey was taken to? [00:59:24] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [00:59:25] Speaker 3: After the, um, phone conversation, did you know at that time what hospital Corey was taken to? [00:59:32] Brianna Michelo: No. No. [00:59:34] Speaker 3: And at that time, what did you do? [00:59:36] Brianna Michelo: Um, I started calling the hospitals to see if Corey was there. Um, I also called, um, my local police department, um, to, um, kind of, um, report Corey as, like, I don't know where he is and I, I, he's not feeling good. He's sick. [00:59:54] Speaker 3: And about six o'clock that day on the second, did the police come to your home? Yes. Yes. And did you learn at that time that Corey had passed? [01:00:10] Brianna Michelo: I did. [01:00:15] Speaker 3: Now, on that same day that Corey passed away, did you go to the police station and provide a statement? [01:00:23] Brianna Michelo: I did. [01:00:24] Speaker 3: And whom did you speak to? [01:00:27] Brianna Michelo: Um, Detective Dennis Mitchell. [01:00:30] Speaker 3: And what did you give to Detective Mitchell at the, uh, police station? [01:00:36] Brianna Michelo: My cell phone. [01:00:38] Speaker 3: And did you voluntarily provide that to the detective? Yes. And did you also, um, allow officers to photograph your home in Englishtown? [01:00:47] Brianna Michelo: Yes. The photos. [01:00:56] Speaker ?: Let's see. Marry him. Marry him. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. [01:01:52] Speaker 3: You want our permission to approach? [01:01:53] Speaker ?: Please. Marry him. [01:01:53] Speaker 4: Please. [01:01:57] Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm now showing you what's been marked. S21. S20. S23. S19. S35. S35. S35. S32. S33. And S24. And S... I'm sorry. S34. And also S24. Now, calling your attention to S22, are you familiar with the area depicted there? And can you tell the jurors what that is? It's a TV stand in my bedroom. And in your hands, you're holding a what? [01:03:12] Brianna Michelo: Photograph. [01:03:13] Speaker 3: And you're familiar with that because it's in your bedroom? [01:03:15] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [01:03:16] Speaker 3: I'm now showing you what's been marked S23 for identification purposes. And can you tell the jurors what that is? [01:03:23] Brianna Michelo: This is my bedroom. [01:03:24] Speaker 3: Okay. And what you're holding is what? A photograph? Yes. And you're familiar with the area depicted in that photograph? Yes. Okay. I'm now showing you what's been marked S20. Is this another photograph? Yes. Okay. And are you familiar with the area depicted in that photograph? [01:03:41] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:03:42] Speaker 3: And what is that? [01:03:43] Brianna Michelo: It's the entrance to my house. [01:03:44] Speaker 3: Okay. I'm now showing you what's been marked S21. Are you familiar with that photograph? [01:03:51] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:03:51] Speaker 3: And what is that a picture of? [01:03:52] Brianna Michelo: It's a hallway to my bedroom. [01:03:54] Speaker 3: Okay. So you're familiar with what's depicted in that photograph? I'm now going to show you what has been marked S19. Are you familiar with the area depicted in that photograph? [01:04:08] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:04:08] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what that is a photograph of? [01:04:12] Brianna Michelo: It's a photo of the defendant's room. [01:04:14] Speaker 3: And you've been to that location before? [01:04:16] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:04:17] Speaker 3: I'm now showing you what has been marked S24. And are you familiar as to what's depicted in that photograph? [01:04:29] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:04:29] Speaker 3: And what's depicted in that photograph? [01:04:31] Brianna Michelo: It's the paper I gave Corey to go inside with. [01:04:34] Speaker 3: Okay. So you're familiar with that paper because it was under your control and then you gave it to Corey? [01:04:39] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:04:40] Speaker 3: I'm now showing you what's been marked S34 for identification purposes. And do you recognize that? Yes. And what is that a photograph of? [01:04:50] Brianna Michelo: Corey's underwear. [01:04:51] Speaker 3: And is that the underwear that you put on Corey when you drove him to the defendant's house on April 2nd of 2021? Yes. And in regard to that photograph, is what's depicted in that photo the condition of the underwear that you sent Corey with that day in going to the home? No. And I'm now showing you what's been marked S33. And are you familiar with that? Yes. And what is that a photograph of? [01:05:27] Brianna Michelo: Corey's underwear. [01:05:28] Speaker 3: And again, is the underwear in the same condition as to when you sent Corey in that underwear to the defendant's home? [01:05:35] Speaker ?: No. [01:05:36] Speaker 3: I'm now showing you what's been marked S32 for identification purposes. And again, is that the underwear that you sent Corey in? A photo of that on April 2nd of 2021? [01:05:51] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:05:52] Speaker 3: That's not the underwear? [01:05:53] Brianna Michelo: Oh, yes. I'm sorry. [01:05:54] Speaker 3: Okay. And is the condition the same? No. Okay. And I'm now showing you what's marked S35 for identification purposes. And can you tell the jurors what that is? [01:06:07] Brianna Michelo: That's Corey's underwear. [01:06:08] Speaker 3: And again, you're familiar with that? And that's the underwear that you sent him in? Yes. And was that the condition it was when you sent him in that underwear? Your Honor, the state would ask the permission to publish and move into evidence, the photos. [01:06:23] Speaker 4: Your Honor, can I just see S22 and S23? Sure. [01:06:27] Speaker 2: Ms. Lentil, I'd like you to put them in order so we can go through them in numerical order and we enter them into evidence. Maybe you can show S22 and S23. [01:06:47] Speaker 3: I'm giving it to you. [01:06:48] Speaker ?: She's giving it to you. [01:06:49] Speaker 3: S22? Are you afraid? [01:06:56] Speaker 2: No objection, no objection. All right, so if I kept those numbers correct, it would be, let me know if I'm right, Ms. Lento. So S-19 through S-24 and S-32 through S-35, is that right? Yes, Judge. All right, so S-19 through and including S-24, in evidence, S-32 through and including S-35, that is. [01:07:36] Speaker 3: Yes. [01:07:36] Speaker 2: Thank you. [01:07:38] Speaker 3: Your Honor, at this point, we would ask for permission to publish the photos to the jury. Thank you. Okay, Brianna, so you're familiar with that location? [01:08:02] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:08:03] Speaker 3: And can you tell the jurors what that location is? [01:08:08] Brianna Michelo: That's the defendant's home. [01:08:09] Speaker 3: And the day that you dropped Corey off back to his father on April 2nd, can you show the jurors where you parked that day using the photograph of S-19, which is now before the jury? [01:08:26] Brianna Michelo: Yeah, it was all the way to the right, the second spot to the left. [01:08:32] Speaker 3: We can go to the next picture. Okay, I'm now showing you S-20, which has been published to the jury. And can you tell the jurors what that is a picture of? [01:08:46] Brianna Michelo: That's the entrance of my home. [01:08:48] Speaker 3: So when you came home with Corey around 1-something on April 2nd, is that where you and Corey entered the home? [01:09:01] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:09:01] Speaker 3: And what area in your home does that depict? [01:09:06] Brianna Michelo: The entrance and the living rooms to the left and my bedroom doors to the right after the hallway. [01:09:14] Speaker 3: We can move to S-21, please. Okay, now you can see S-21, which has been published to the jury. And can you tell the jurors what is depicted in that photograph? [01:09:27] Brianna Michelo: That's the stairs and the hallway to my bedroom. [01:09:31] Speaker 3: S-22, please. And can you tell the jurors what that is? [01:09:38] Brianna Michelo: That's a TV stand in my bedroom. [01:09:40] Speaker 3: Okay, and why is that TV stand there in your bedroom? [01:09:45] Brianna Michelo: Um, to hold the TV. [01:09:48] Speaker 3: And is that where you would generally sleep downstairs? [01:09:54] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:09:54] Speaker 3: Okay. If we could then go to S-23. And can you tell the jurors what that is a picture of? [01:10:02] Brianna Michelo: Um, my bedroom. [01:10:03] Speaker 3: Okay. [01:10:04] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:10:04] Speaker 3: Now, the night that you brought Corey back to your home in English Town on April 2nd at 1-something in the morning, can you show the jury where you and Corey slept? [01:10:18] Brianna Michelo: Yes, it was the bed on the left. [01:10:22] Speaker 3: Next picture, please. I'm now showing you what's been marked S-24, which has been published to the jury. And can you tell the jurors what that is a photograph of? [01:10:35] Brianna Michelo: Um, that's the paper the hospital gave me that I gave Corey to give to the defendant. [01:10:42] Speaker 3: And I'm now showing you, if we could move to the next photo, S-32. And can you tell the jurors what S-32, the photograph, shows? [01:10:58] Brianna Michelo: They're Corey's underwear. [01:11:00] Speaker 3: Now, is that the underwear that you sent Corey in to his defendant's home on April 2nd of 2021? [01:11:09] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:11:11] Speaker 3: And if we could move to the next picture, please. I'm now showing you what's been marked S-33. Is that the underwear that you, um, sent Corey in to the defendant's home on, uh, April 2nd? [01:11:25] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:11:26] Speaker 3: Now, when you sent Corey in this underwear, was that the condition of the underwear? [01:11:32] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:11:32] Speaker 3: And what was the condition of the underwear when you sent Corey, um, to the home? [01:11:38] Brianna Michelo: They were clean. [01:11:40] Speaker 3: And can we now go to S-34? And again, is this a photo of the underwear that you dressed Corey in when you brought him to the defendant's home on April 2nd? [01:11:54] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:11:55] Speaker 3: And is that the condition of the underwear? [01:11:57] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:11:58] Speaker 3: S-35? And again, the underwear on S-35 as the photograph, was that the condition of the underwear that, um, you sent, uh, Corey in when you, um, brought him to the defendant's home? [01:12:18] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:12:19] Speaker 3: And what was the condition of the underwear that you sent? [01:12:21] Brianna Michelo: They were clean. [01:12:23] Speaker 3: S-36? Oh, no S-36, Judge. All right, we didn't get that yet. Yep. [01:12:31] Speaker ?: Yep. [01:12:31] Speaker 3: Yep. And, um, do you recognize that? [01:12:50] Speaker ?: Yes. [01:12:51] Speaker 3: I'm now going to show you what's been marked. I'm now going to show you what's been marked F-15A for identification for the kids. And, um, do you recognize that? Yes. And what is that? It's a flash drive. And are you familiar as to what's contained on that flash drive? Yes. Yes. And have you previously viewed, um, what has been contained upon that flash drive? Yes. Okay. And can you tell the jurors what is contained in S-15A? [01:13:23] Brianna Michelo: Um, it's a conversation between me and my son. [01:13:28] Speaker 3: And when did this conversation occur? [01:13:33] Brianna Michelo: On April 2nd. [01:13:36] Speaker 3: And are you speaking to Corey in this conversation? [01:13:41] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:13:43] Speaker 3: Your Honor, at this time, the state would ask to move S-15A into evidence and, uh, publish to the jury. [01:13:51] Speaker 2: S-15A in it. [01:13:53] Speaker 3: Oh, and also, too, the transcript. Oh, yeah. [01:13:56] Speaker ?: And I'm just going to give those to Shannon, maybe. [01:14:02] Speaker 3: If I may approach the transcript. [01:14:05] Brianna Michelo: Because you went to the doctor, and I just wanted to make sure he sees that, okay? I'm not sure where he is. [01:14:15] Speaker ?: Are you going to call? [01:14:19] Brianna Michelo: Oh. Yeah, he's inside. I don't know why the car is on a human. It's strange. [01:14:35] Speaker 3: Okay, Brianna. So, in regard to, um, the, um, video recording that, um, you just saw and listened to, is that your voice depicted on the recording? [01:14:50] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:14:50] Speaker 3: And who is the other voice depicted on the recording? [01:14:54] Brianna Michelo: My son, Corey. [01:14:55] Speaker 3: And obviously, you're familiar with Corey's voice. [01:14:57] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:14:58] Speaker 3: And the conversation that you had with Corey on April 2nd of 2021, a little past 9, um, AM that morning, does that accurately depict the conversation that you had with him, what was shown in this, uh, video? [01:15:20] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:15:21] Speaker 3: Now, did you know that you were recording this conversation at the time? [01:15:28] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:15:29] Speaker 3: And how did it come to be that, um, this, uh, conversation that you had with Corey, um, was recorded? [01:15:38] Brianna Michelo: Um, Detective Dennis Mitchell from the prosecutor's office called me and asked me about it. [01:15:44] Speaker 3: Okay. And Detective Mitchell had your cellular phone? [01:15:52] Brianna Michelo: Um, yes. [01:15:52] Speaker 3: Okay. And was this video recorded on your cellular phone? [01:15:59] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:15:59] Speaker 3: And did you purposely record this on your cellular phone? [01:16:03] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:16:04] Speaker 3: And how did it come to be that the recording existed from your cellular phone? [01:16:09] Brianna Michelo: I must have accidentally took the video. [01:16:14] Speaker 3: Your Honor, uh, permission, uh, to approach the, uh, witness? Yes. Yes. I didn't know if it was. Yes. NBC tape. Yes, it's been on. [01:16:25] Speaker ?: Mario. [01:16:26] Speaker 3: Flash drive. Video. [01:16:28] Speaker ?: Yeah. Okay. [01:16:36] Speaker 3: I'm now showing you what has been marked S-18 for identification purposes. And can you tell the jurors what S-18 is? [01:16:49] Brianna Michelo: Um, it's a flash drive. [01:16:52] Speaker 3: And are you familiar as to the contents which are contained on this flash drive? [01:16:58] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:16:58] Speaker 3: And did you review the contents of this flash drive before you came to court today? Yes. Now, contained within this flash drive is, um, S-A. Um, and is S-A a surveillance video from the Atlantic Heights apartment complex in Barnegat from March 20th of 2021? Yes. And you are familiar with that location as to what is contained on S, um, 18-A. Yes. And you've been to that location before? Yes. And you're also, um, familiar, um, with who is depicted on that video, correct? [01:17:47] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:17:48] Speaker 3: And in regard to the A video, you are actually present on the video, correct? Yes. And you are familiar with the other parties as well? Yes. I'm now going to draw your attention to S-18, what would be B, C, and D. And those are also surveillance videos from the Atlantic Heights, uh, apartment, uh, complex gym, um, correct? [01:18:15] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:18:16] Speaker 3: And you have reviewed those videos before you came to court today, correct? [01:18:20] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:18:20] Speaker 3: And you are familiar with the location, which is depicted on, uh, C, I'm sorry, B, C, and D. [01:18:27] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:18:28] Speaker 3: And you're also familiar with the parties who are located on those surveillance videos. [01:18:35] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:18:36] Speaker 3: Your Honor, at this time, the state would move into evidence, um, S-18, A, B, C, and D of, um, S-18. No objection. [01:18:47] Speaker 2: S-18, A, B, C, and D. [01:18:49] Speaker 3: Thank you. And permission to, uh, publish, Your Honor, starting with A. [01:18:54] Speaker 2: Yes. [01:18:57] Speaker ?: All right. [01:19:01] Speaker 3: Okay, Brianna, um, in regard to, um, video A, um, I don't know. Um, there is a car located, um, on that surveillance video. [01:19:24] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:19:24] Speaker 3: And whose car was that? [01:19:27] Brianna Michelo: That's my car. [01:19:28] Speaker 3: And there was also an adult male located on the surveillance video. And can you tell the jury who that was? [01:19:35] Brianna Michelo: The defendant. [01:19:36] Speaker 3: And there was also a child located on the surveillance video. Can you tell the jury who that is? [01:19:43] Brianna Michelo: My son, Corey. [01:19:44] Speaker 3: Does that video accurately depict when you dropped Corey off to his father's apartment complex gym on March 20th, 2021, at approximately 4.15 p.m.? Yes. Now, there was a timestamp located on the video, correct? [01:20:07] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [01:20:08] Speaker 3: And is that accurate within, uh, uh, an approximate reasonable time? [01:20:13] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:20:13] Speaker 3: Uh, permission to publish videos B, C, and D, Your Honor? [01:20:20] Speaker 2: Correct. [01:20:21] Speaker 3: Thank you. [01:20:29] Brianna Michelo: Sorry. I'm sorry at the beginning. Thank you. [01:21:01] Speaker ?: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [01:24:01] Speaker 3: We're just going to move to the, um, next video, which would be S18C for purposes of the record. Very good. Thanks. [01:24:28] Speaker ?: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [01:32:59] Speaker 3: You got our permission to publish a video. Now, Briana, who is the child located in that video? [01:33:44] Brianna Michelo: That's Cory. [01:33:45] Speaker 3: And how old is Cory in that video? He was six. And who was the adult male located in that video? [01:33:52] Brianna Michelo: The defendant. [01:33:54] Speaker 3: And again, you're familiar with that area? [01:33:58] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:33:59] Speaker 3: Now, when was the first time that you ever saw that video? [01:34:05] Brianna Michelo: A few weeks ago. [01:34:07] Speaker 3: And have you ever had possession of that video? [01:34:10] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:34:11] Speaker 3: Your Honor, there's no further questions for the witness at this time? [01:34:15] Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you. [01:34:27] Speaker ?: How are you, Ms. Petrola? I'm okay. How are you? I'm okay. How are you, Ms. Petrola? I'm okay. How are you? Do you need a second? Um, I'm okay. Are you sure? Yeah. Are you sure? Yeah. Okay. So, when was Cor's boy? Um, May 1st, 2014. And where did he live, May 1st? Um, with me. Monroe Township. And who lived in the house with you? Okay. And who lived in the house with you? My family, my parents, my sister. Okay. My family, my parents, my sister. I'm sorry. How are you, Ms. Petrola? [01:34:49] Speaker 4: How are you, Ms. Petrola? I'm okay. [01:34:51] Brianna Michelo: How are you? Do you need a second? [01:34:53] Speaker 4: Um, I'm okay. [01:34:54] Brianna Michelo: Are you sure? Yeah. [01:34:56] Speaker 4: Okay. [01:34:57] Brianna Michelo: Okay. [01:34:58] Speaker 4: So, when was Cor's boy? Um, May 1st, 2014. [01:35:04] Brianna Michelo: And where did he live, May 1st? [01:35:07] Speaker 4: Um, with me. [01:35:08] Brianna Michelo: Monroe Township. Okay. [01:35:10] Speaker 4: And who lived in the house with you? [01:35:12] Brianna Michelo: My family, my parents, my sister. [01:35:15] Speaker 4: And how long did he live in Monroe Township? [01:35:18] Brianna Michelo: Um, a few months. [01:35:20] Speaker 4: And did there come a time when you guys moved from Monroe Township? [01:35:23] Brianna Michelo: Yes, we moved to Florida. [01:35:25] Speaker 4: To Florida? And how old were you in Florida? [01:35:28] Brianna Michelo: Um, a few years. Okay. [01:35:32] Speaker 4: And who lived with you in Florida? [01:35:34] Brianna Michelo: My parents and my sister. [01:35:36] Speaker 4: Okay. So it was just the four of you and Cory? [01:35:40] Brianna Michelo: Um, I think my brother lived with us at the time, too. [01:35:44] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:35:45] Speaker 4: And then there came a time when you moved back to Jersey or did you move to Pennsylvania? [01:35:49] Brianna Michelo: I was in New Jersey. Okay. [01:35:51] Speaker 4: So you moved from New Jersey to Florida, from Florida back to New Jersey? I did. And when did you move back to New Jersey? [01:35:58] Brianna Michelo: Um, maybe 2017. And how old was Cory in 2017? [01:36:02] Speaker ?: Three years old. [01:36:03] Speaker 4: And it comes a time when I believe, was either you or your mother make an application for child support from Christopher, am I right? Um, around now. Around the time you moved back from Florida to New Jersey? Yes. Okay. And was it you or your mother that made that application? [01:36:30] Brianna Michelo: Um, it was my mother. [01:36:32] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:36:33] Speaker 4: And prior to that, how were you supporting Cory? [01:36:38] Brianna Michelo: Um, through my parents. Okay. [01:36:41] Speaker 4: And there came a time where they didn't want to support him at all? [01:36:44] Speaker 3: Objection. Hearsay. Oh, thank you. [01:36:47] Speaker 4: Thank you. [01:36:48] Speaker 3: Thank you. [01:36:49] Speaker 4: So there came a time where your mother decided that she wanted to seek paternity. Who did this child was to get child support? [01:36:58] Brianna Michelo: Um, no. Okay. [01:37:00] Speaker 4: So, how did you come back? [01:37:02] Brianna Michelo: We actually, I applied to get food stamps and health insurance and, you know, assistance from the government. And they made us to name the defendant as the father and they ordered him to get a DNA test. Okay. [01:37:16] Speaker 4: And then you got a DNA test, right? [01:37:18] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [01:37:19] Speaker 4: And then you moved, at some point, back to New Jersey. [01:37:22] Brianna Michelo: I guess so. [01:37:23] Speaker 4: So, did he come to Jersey? He did. Okay. So, it's not a guess, right? Yeah. Okay. So, he moved to New Jersey? He did. When he moved to New Jersey, he not only paid child support, but he had custody along with you and your mother, am I right? [01:37:37] Brianna Michelo: He had visitation in the beginning, yeah. Okay. [01:37:40] Speaker 4: And the visitation would be at your house and at his parents' house, I guess, in Monroe? [01:37:45] Brianna Michelo: Yeah. Yeah, Cory would go to his parents' after school. Okay. [01:37:49] Speaker 4: And things were fine, right? Okay. [01:37:53] Brianna Michelo: I wouldn't say fine. Okay. No. Tell them what? Um, I think it was maybe the first or second visit, Cory came home with a busted lip. [01:38:02] Speaker 4: Okay. Yes. And you made a complaint about that, didn't you? [01:38:05] Brianna Michelo: I did. [01:38:06] Speaker 4: And it was investigated. It was. [01:38:08] Brianna Michelo: Yep. [01:38:09] Speaker 4: Okay. And when it was investigated, it was found out that Mr. Greger... [01:38:14] Speaker 3: Objection, judge. It's hearsay. Oh. Was it investigated? It was. Okay. It found it? No. [01:38:22] Speaker 4: Objection, judge. Yes. [01:38:24] Speaker ?: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. [01:38:28] Speaker 4: In March, I guess, of 2020, or January of 2020, we were having an issue with drugs. Yes. Yes. Yes. And at that point, you lose custody of Cory. Yes. Yes. Yes. And at that point, you lose custody of Corey. Yes. Am I right? And what was the drug you used? Methamphetamines. Methamphetamines? Yes. And what is a methamphetamine? I don't know. It's a methamphetamine. I don't know. It's a drug. Okay. And you lost custody of Corey in, I guess it was January of 2020 as a result of that addiction? It's around there. Okay. And did you go to rehab at that point? [01:39:06] Brianna Michelo: Um, I went to a drug program. Yes. Okay. And where was the drug program? Um, it's Jessica in Matawan. Okay. And how long was that program? Um, about eight weeks. Eight weeks? Yeah. And then in March, I believe that your mother makes an application to start to get visitation of Corey, right? I believe so. Okay. I don't recall. But you still don't have custody or visitation rights at that point. Am I right? Correct. And why was that? Because of the drug test. Um, because of the drug test. So did you fail a drug test after the rehab student? No. So what was it about the drug test that made you not able to take care of your child? Um, I just didn't apply for it yet. Um, to get custody back yet. I was still working on myself. You were working on your sobriety? Yes. Okay. And when, when did you become sobriety? Um, around the summer of that year. The summer of 2020? [01:40:05] Speaker 4: 20? Yes. So in the summer of 2020, you become sober. And up until the moment you're sitting here, you've been sober. No, I have relapsed. Okay. And when did you relapse? Um, probably around December 2020. December of what year? 2020. I can't remember. 2020. 2020. Yes. So in December of 2020, you relapsed again. Yes. Was it the same drug, the methamphetamine? It was. And how do you take that? Is that like something called a bump? I've heard that term. Yeah, you snort it. Okay. You snort it. So when you say the word bump, that means you're snorting a methamphetamine. Um, I guess. I don't know. That's, yeah. Is that how you adjust it? Yes. So in January of 2020, you have a drug issue. You lose custody of Corey. In March of 2020, you still don't have custody of Corey. I believe it's in October of 2020. I believe it's in October of 2020. I believe it's in October of 2020 that you're now allowed visitation. I am. Yes. Okay. And in October of 2020, you then relapse in December of 2020. Yes. Does Christopher know that you relapsed in December of 2020? Did you tell him? I don't believe I did. Okay. And did you go back to rehab? I did not. Okay. Were you able to get over the addiction at that point? Um, no. [01:41:34] Brianna Michelo: Yeah. So you really relapsed again? Yes. When did you relapse again? Um, I don't know. I have to think, um, maybe February. I can't recall. It was on and off like once or twice throughout. February of 2021? Yes. And was that the last relapse? [01:42:03] Speaker 4: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. So from February of 2021 until you sit here today, you've been sober? Um, no. Okay. So you relapsed again? Okay. Yes, I did. One time. Yes. Okay. And what was that? Um, probably around the same time. February of 2021? Yes. Mm-hmm. Okay. So sometime between February of 2021 and as you sit here today, you're sober. Yes. So do you know a person named Dustin Wondren? I do. Okay. And can you tell me who Dustin Wondren is? Yes. He is my ex-boyfriend. You're my ex-boyfriend. You're my ex-boyfriend. Were you dating Dustin Wondren in April 2021? Yes. Okay. And by the way, do you have something called Facebook? Yes. And on Facebook, I believe there's something called Messenger. Am I right? Okay. Yes. Okay. And did you and Justin Wondren ever use Facebook Messenger to communicate with each other? Yes. Okay. And the date Corey died was what? April 2nd. Do you remember having a conversation with Justin Wondren on April 2nd... [01:43:22] Speaker 3: Objection, Judge. It's hearsay. [01:43:24] Speaker 2: Well, her statements would not be hearsay. So the existence of a conversation doesn't convey any content yet, so that objection's overruled. [01:43:33] Speaker 4: Thank you. Do you remember having a conversation with Justin Wondren on April 2nd of 2021, Benning-Ginning at 2.54 p.m.? [01:43:45] Brianna Michelo: Um, I don't remember it, but... [01:43:52] Speaker 4: Okay. Please. [01:44:02] Speaker 2: You should identify the exhibit, please. Um, it's a Facebook... No, just by number. No, D4. [01:44:09] Speaker 4: D4. Thank you. [01:44:12] Brianna Michelo: You want me to read it? [01:44:13] Speaker 4: Well, why don't you tell me if you recognize the conversation between you and Dustin? [01:44:21] Brianna Michelo: Um, yeah. [01:44:22] Speaker 4: So you recognize that conversation? [01:44:25] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:44:26] Speaker 4: Back to the center. Now, on 4-2-21, what time had you dropped Corey off at Christopher's house? [01:44:39] Brianna Michelo: On April 2nd, you said? Yeah. Around 9 a.m. [01:44:43] Speaker 4: 9 a.m.? Yes. [01:44:44] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:44:44] Speaker 4: And then you went right home? [01:44:47] Brianna Michelo: Um, I believe so. [01:44:49] Speaker 4: And at what time did Christopher ask you to send him the insurance card information? [01:44:58] Brianna Michelo: Around 3.30. [01:44:59] Speaker 4: Around 3.30. Do you remember in this Facebook chat? At about 3.49 p.m., asking a person named Justin Baudranda to bring me a bump. [01:45:25] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:45:28] Speaker 4: You remember that, right? Yes. [01:45:30] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:45:31] Speaker 4: So that's the day Corey died. [01:45:33] Brianna Michelo: It was. [01:45:33] Speaker 4: Okay. That's the day that you don't know what's going on, right? You don't have any idea what's going on yet, right? Correct. All right? And you're asking Justin to bring you a methamphetamine? [01:45:44] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:45:44] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:45:45] Speaker 4: So, and you said that you relapsed in February. [01:45:49] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:45:50] Speaker 4: Is that true? [01:45:52] Brianna Michelo: Um, I actually, that day I didn't do it. [01:45:56] Speaker 4: Okay. But you wanted to do it. [01:45:57] Brianna Michelo: I mean, yeah, I was very upset about my son being abused. [01:46:00] Speaker 4: So you wanted a methamphetamine, what is it? [01:46:03] Brianna Michelo: Methamphetamine. [01:46:04] Speaker 4: Methamphetamine. Do you recall, on the same time, a little later in the afternoon, where you are saying, can I come over and buy one? [01:46:21] Brianna Michelo: What time was this? [01:46:23] Speaker ?: Wait. [01:46:24] Brianna Michelo: 4.03. I do, yeah. This is the same text message, though. [01:46:30] Speaker 4: And do you recall then going on and saying, I mean, I could get it by myself? Yes. I just don't want that much. [01:46:39] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:46:40] Speaker 4: And what does that mean, I don't want that much? [01:46:42] Brianna Michelo: I wasn't, like, in active addiction, so I don't, didn't need much. So, that's what that means. [01:46:48] Speaker 4: Explain to me what that means. I don't want that much. In active addiction, Judge, you should just answer the question. Can you refer to me? When you said, I don't need that much to Justin Vaudrin, are you discussing with him the amount of methamphetamine that you wanted? [01:47:05] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:47:06] Speaker 4: Okay, so when you said, I don't want that much, it's less than you normally take? [01:47:11] Brianna Michelo: Um, yeah. [01:47:12] Speaker 4: Okay. What did you normally take? [01:47:15] Brianna Michelo: More than that, I guess. [01:47:16] Speaker 4: Well, what was that? [01:47:18] Brianna Michelo: A bump. [01:47:18] Speaker 4: A bump? One bump? What happened is a bump? [01:47:21] Brianna Michelo: I don't know. Depends. [01:47:24] Speaker 4: What does it depend on? [01:47:25] Brianna Michelo: Whoever puts it out. I don't know what you're asking me, really. [01:47:29] Speaker 4: I'm asking you what you were asking for. [01:47:32] Brianna Michelo: Methamphetamine. [01:47:32] Speaker 4: And how much of it? [01:47:33] Brianna Michelo: A bump. I don't know how to explain it to anybody else. [01:47:37] Speaker 4: So, on the day that you were complaining that your son was allegedly abused by Christopher, you're asking your boyfriend to bring you a methamphetamine? [01:47:52] Brianna Michelo: I did. [01:47:53] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:47:54] Speaker 4: So, now let's go to the events. Yes. Before talk. Okay. When you dropped Corey off at the gym, Christopher had given you permission to take him to the party. [01:48:10] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:48:11] Speaker 4: Because it was an unscheduled... [01:48:13] Brianna Michelo: Visitation. [01:48:14] Speaker 4: Visitation. [01:48:14] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [01:48:15] Speaker 4: So, it's not, it was my scheduled visitation, he requested, you requested of him, on a day that's not yours, if you could take your son to a party in Pennsylvania. Am I right? [01:48:29] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:48:30] Speaker 4: And he agreed to that? [01:48:31] Brianna Michelo: He did. [01:48:32] Speaker 4: You said, sure, take him to the party? [01:48:34] Brianna Michelo: Yeah. [01:48:35] Speaker 4: And then, did you agree on a time you were supposed to bring him home? [01:48:39] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:48:39] Speaker 4: Okay. And, did you take him home that time? [01:48:42] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:48:43] Speaker 4: You took him home late? [01:48:45] Brianna Michelo: I was late. [01:48:46] Speaker 4: You were late. Yes. And he was upset? [01:48:48] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:48:49] Speaker 4: So, then you guys had an argument, right? [01:48:53] Brianna Michelo: Yeah, over text, yeah. [01:48:54] Speaker 4: Okay, over text. And we saw some of those next, so we'll get into some of those next in a while. [01:48:59] Brianna Michelo: Yeah. [01:48:59] Speaker 4: So, now there comes a time where, after April 20th, that you have visitation again? [01:49:09] Brianna Michelo: April 20th or March 20th? [01:49:11] Speaker 4: March 20th. Yeah. [01:49:12] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:49:12] Speaker 4: You have visitation again? [01:49:13] Brianna Michelo: I did. [01:49:13] Speaker 4: Right? [01:49:14] Brianna Michelo: Mm-hmm. [01:49:14] Speaker 4: And your visitation usually went on a Thursday? [01:49:17] Brianna Michelo: I think so, yeah. [01:49:19] Speaker 4: Well, that wasn't there, so it was... [01:49:21] Brianna Michelo: I think it was Wednesdays, honestly. [01:49:22] Speaker ?: Wednesday? [01:49:23] Speaker 4: Oh. [01:49:23] Brianna Michelo: Yeah. [01:49:23] Speaker 4: So, how often would you get him to arrive? [01:49:27] Brianna Michelo: Um, it depended on his mood. [01:49:30] Speaker 4: On whose mood? [01:49:31] Brianna Michelo: The defendant. [01:49:32] Speaker 4: So, the court didn't tell you what days you had? Well, yes. [01:49:36] Brianna Michelo: So, there was a court order, yes. Okay. That said, so it was Wednesday and then every other weekend. [01:49:40] Speaker 4: So, then it wasn't up to his mood, it was up to a court order, am I right? [01:49:44] Brianna Michelo: You're right. [01:49:45] Speaker 4: All right, I'm right. Yes. So, when you just said it was up to the defendant... [01:49:49] Brianna Michelo: For any extra days, it would be up to him. [01:49:51] Speaker 4: Well, did the court say that? No. Oh, so he would give you extra days if you asked him? [01:49:56] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:49:57] Speaker 4: And he gave it to you? [01:49:58] Brianna Michelo: If he was in the mood to give me them, yes. [01:49:59] Speaker 4: And he gave it to you? [01:50:00] Brianna Michelo: Sometimes. [01:50:01] Speaker 4: Okay, but the court order said Wednesday? Yes. And he gave it to you every Wednesday? [01:50:06] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:50:07] Speaker 4: Right? Yes. And sometimes when you ask, like on Halloween, right? Didn't he ask you once on Halloween? You asked if you could have Corey for Halloween, or he could go trick-treating? [01:50:18] Brianna Michelo: Oh, yes. I remember that. [01:50:20] Speaker 4: And he said yes. [01:50:21] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:50:22] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:50:24] Speaker 4: But every Wednesday was court order, right? [01:50:26] Brianna Michelo: I believe that's the day. I think so. Not 100%. [01:50:29] Speaker 4: But you had him... How many days a week were you allowed to visit? [01:50:32] Brianna Michelo: On Wednesdays, and then every other weekend. [01:50:34] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:50:35] Speaker 4: So, every Wednesday you would see him, and then every other weekend you would see him? [01:50:38] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:50:40] Speaker 4: So, the weekend that you took him on the 20th to the party, that wasn't your weekend? [01:50:46] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:50:47] Speaker 4: The following weekend was not? [01:50:48] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:50:49] Speaker 4: And you took him that weekend? [01:50:50] Brianna Michelo: I did. [01:50:51] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:50:51] Speaker 4: So, between April 20th, and I guess it would be the 27th... Right, which you could say April. April. March. March. I'm sorry. Thank you, Judge. March 27th would be... The 25th would probably be the beginning of that weekend, right? [01:51:07] Brianna Michelo: Um, I think it was the 28th, 27th, was that Saturday, yes. [01:51:11] Speaker 4: And wasn't that Saturday the day he had to do the flag football? [01:51:16] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:51:17] Speaker 4: Now, didn't he stay at Christopher's house that night? [01:51:21] Brianna Michelo: Friday night, yes. [01:51:22] Speaker 4: Friday night. Yes. It was your weekend, though, right? [01:51:25] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:51:26] Speaker 4: Where did you stay that night? [01:51:28] Brianna Michelo: At my house. [01:51:29] Speaker 4: You stayed at your house? [01:51:30] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:51:31] Speaker 4: Do you recall that Christopher asked you if he could have Corey... ...injection, hearsay? Why did you leave Corey there Friday night? [01:51:41] Brianna Michelo: Um, Chris wouldn't let me pick him up. [01:51:43] Speaker 4: Okay. Did he get to the practice on time? Yes. Oh, by the way, did you agree to that? Was it all weekend? [01:51:50] Brianna Michelo: No, he wouldn't let Corey go with me. [01:51:52] Speaker 4: To home? [01:51:53] Brianna Michelo: To my house. He wouldn't let me pick him up. [01:51:55] Speaker 4: Did you do anything about that? [01:51:56] Brianna Michelo: We met at the police station. He wouldn't let Corey out of the car. [01:51:59] Speaker 4: And the police department said that was okay? [01:52:01] Brianna Michelo: Yes. Yes? They did. So you're saying what the police department said? Well, okay. [01:52:06] Speaker 4: But the police are like, you would meet at the police station to exchange for him? [01:52:09] Brianna Michelo: Only when he was in a bad mood. [01:52:10] Speaker 4: When Corey was in a bad mood? [01:52:12] Brianna Michelo: Christopher. [01:52:12] Speaker ?: All right. [01:52:13] Speaker 4: So you would meet on Wednesdays at a police station if Christopher was in a bad mood? [01:52:17] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:52:18] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:52:18] Speaker 4: But if he wasn't in a bad mood, you would meet at his house? [01:52:21] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:52:21] Speaker 4: And if he was in a bad mood, you would actually sleep over his house? [01:52:24] Brianna Michelo: Yes. And how often did you do that? Um, it depended. Sometimes a few times a week, sometimes once. Sometimes just the weekends, sometimes the weekdays. [01:52:35] Speaker 4: And how long did that go? [01:52:40] Brianna Michelo: About four months, maybe. Three months. [01:52:43] Speaker 4: And was that in 2021? [01:52:45] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:52:47] Speaker 4: So, if March 20th was the treadmill, so we're saying from like January to the beginning of March, he was sleeping over his house during this time? [01:53:00] Brianna Michelo: Maybe early December. [01:53:02] Speaker 4: Did you guys discuss actually getting a house together? [01:53:05] Brianna Michelo: We did. [01:53:06] Speaker 4: Did you actually look at houses together? [01:53:08] Brianna Michelo: We did not. [01:53:13] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:53:26] Speaker 4: So, up until this point in March of 2021, you still only had visitation rights? [01:53:34] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:53:35] Speaker 4: No custody? [01:53:36] Brianna Michelo: I had half legal custody and every other weekend, yeah. [01:53:40] Speaker 4: Okay. So, half legal custody, meaning you had them on Wednesdays and every other weekend? [01:53:43] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:53:45] Speaker 4: But you didn't have parental custody? [01:53:46] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:53:48] Speaker 4: And why was that? [01:53:49] Brianna Michelo: Because I was working towards getting more custody. [01:53:53] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:53:54] Speaker 4: And how did you do that? [01:53:56] Brianna Michelo: What do you mean? [01:53:57] Speaker 4: How did you do that? What was the work you did? Tell me the work you did. [01:54:00] Brianna Michelo: I got clean and I was trying to go back to court and ask the judge for more time with Corey. [01:54:07] Speaker 4: And that's just around the time that you had made an emergent offer, order. Yes. You requested an emergent order. Correct. To get custody of Corey and have it taken away from prison. Temporarily. Temporarily. Yes. Because you saw bruises on Corey. [01:54:29] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:54:30] Speaker 4: And you immediately made an emergent application. By the way, weren't you active before practice? [01:54:35] Brianna Michelo: I was. Yes. [01:54:37] Speaker 4: So, now, you see the bruises on Corey, you make an emergent application, and that's denied. [01:54:43] Brianna Michelo: It is. [01:54:44] Speaker 4: And as a result of it being denied, you then get an order from the court that tells you and Christopher that together you should make an appointment with the pediatrician through DCP and Pay. [01:55:01] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [01:55:02] Speaker 4: You didn't do that, though. [01:55:04] Brianna Michelo: Yes, I did. No. I took him to the pediatrician. [01:55:06] Speaker 4: You did. Yes. You didn't do it together with him as the court order had stated. [01:55:10] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:55:11] Speaker 4: He didn't do it together with him. And you decided on your own. Did you decide on your own that you were going to take him? Yes. You violated the court order. [01:55:19] Brianna Michelo: I mean, I don't think it said he had to be present during that. It just said that he needed to go to a pediatrician. [01:55:26] Speaker 4: I've been talking about that all day. So, now, you take him to the pediatrician. [01:55:31] Brianna Michelo: I did. [01:55:31] Speaker 4: Take him to the IV pediatrician. [01:55:33] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:55:33] Speaker 4: And at IV, they tell you that, you know, these are some bumps and bruises, suspicious of child abuse. [01:55:41] Brianna Michelo: Yeah. [01:55:41] Speaker 4: Am I correct? Yes. And at this point, you don't know anything about the treadmill that we just saw. [01:55:46] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:55:48] Speaker 4: And they recommended to you that you take him to Jersey Shore Medical Center at that point? [01:55:53] Brianna Michelo: Yes. Well, Community Medical Center first. [01:55:56] Speaker 3: Like, they said Jersey Shore Medical Center. Objection, Judge. It's hearsay. They said, like... [01:56:03] Speaker 2: Right. So, it's hearsay, but in terms of how she reacts to that, I'm going to allow it, not for the truth of the matter, but for where you took the child. [01:56:11] Brianna Michelo: Okay. Thank you, Judge. [01:56:13] Speaker 4: So, you took the child to... [01:56:14] Brianna Michelo: Community Medical Center. [01:56:16] Speaker 4: And when you got to Community Medical Center, they also did the evaluation? [01:56:19] Brianna Michelo: They did. [01:56:20] Speaker 4: And they said... And you then, as a result of that, took them to Jersey Shore Medical Center? [01:56:27] Brianna Michelo: Because there is a child abuse pediatrician there. [01:56:30] Speaker 4: Okay. So, there was no child abuse pediatrician at the other two hospitals? [01:56:33] Brianna Michelo: Not that worked with DCP&P. [01:56:35] Speaker 4: So, when you got to Jersey Shore Medical Center, that's when they told you you should leave them here? Overnight? [01:56:43] Brianna Michelo: No. [01:56:44] Speaker 4: No? They never told you that? You never signed a piece of paper saying that you were leaving against their medical advice? [01:56:51] Brianna Michelo: At Community Medical Center, I did, because they wanted to transport him in an ambulance, and I said I was going to drive him. They didn't tell me why, but yes, I signed that. [01:57:03] Speaker 4: Okay. So, you signed it out? [01:57:04] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:57:05] Speaker ?: Okay. [01:57:05] Speaker 4: So, now, you take him to one hospital, one doctor. [01:57:10] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:57:10] Speaker 4: Take him to one community hospital center, and then you take him to a hospital, and you're doing this all because you think he's being abused, right? [01:57:20] Brianna Michelo: And it was under the advice of a DCP&P worker. Okay. [01:57:24] Speaker 4: And then, you take him, you try to bring him back to his house that night, right? Yes. And you're unable to do that. [01:57:32] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [01:57:32] Speaker 4: Right? Instead, you take him home. [01:57:35] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:57:35] Speaker 4: You go to sleep with him. [01:57:37] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:57:37] Speaker 4: You wake up the next morning, and you bring him back to the person that you say is abusing. [01:57:44] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [01:57:45] Speaker 4: Did you contact DCP&P at that point? [01:57:50] Brianna Michelo: I, no. Not that morning. [01:57:54] Speaker 4: No. That morning, you actually decided to sit down with Dustin Baudrin and try to get methamphetamine. Objection, Judge. [01:58:03] Speaker 3: That's not accurate. [01:58:08] Speaker 4: I think the time frame is wrong. It's later in the afternoon that you decided that you were going to get, [01:58:15] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:58:16] Speaker 4: What is it called? [01:58:17] Brianna Michelo: Methamphetamines. [01:58:18] Speaker 4: Methamphetamines. So, you believe your child is being abused, you take him to three different hospitals, you make an application to DCP&P, you don't have custody of your child at this point, because you're not allowed to have custody of your child, and you decide. That's, that's. You're an argument. You decide, and you decide, I'm going to try to get methamphetamines. [01:58:40] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [01:58:41] Speaker 4: And you actually negotiate with him. [01:58:43] Brianna Michelo: Who? [01:58:44] Speaker 4: Justin. [01:58:45] Brianna Michelo: I did, yes. [01:58:47] Speaker 4: Negotiate. [01:58:48] Brianna Michelo: I never said I was in, you know, I was weak-minded when it came to that, yes. And I was going through a stressful time. Not the best, um, yeah. [01:59:13] Speaker ?: So, Ms. Schron, uh, Ms. Lentz, I'm sorry, on her direct examination gave you a series of text messages between you and Chris that occurred on April 1st of 2020. [01:59:22] Speaker 4: So, Ms. Schron, Ms. Schron, Ms. Schron, I'm sorry, on her direct examination gave you a series of text messages between you and Chris that occurred on April 1st of 2020. Ms. Schron, Ms. Schron, I know there's a lot of them, I don't know which one do you want, which one do you want? [01:59:52] Speaker ?: Ms. Schron, I know there's a lot of them, I don't know which one do you want. Which one do you want? Which one do you want? [02:00:04] Speaker 3: Which one do you want? [02:00:05] Speaker 4: I think it's just nine. [02:00:26] Speaker 3: There's a lot of people. [02:00:55] Speaker 4: Mr. Schron, Mr. Schron, Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. Mr. Schron, Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. Mr. Schron, I don't know. Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. [02:01:03] Brianna Michelo: Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. [02:01:06] Speaker 4: Mr. Schron, I don't know which one do you want. [02:01:07] Speaker 3: Cory, who else was there? That was just Cory and I. Just two of you? Yes. Christopher wasn't there that day. No, he was not. It was snowing out that day. It was. It was December. I don't know which one you want. You can figure out which one you want. Just a second. Sure. [02:01:37] Speaker ?: Thank you. [02:02:07] Speaker 4: So it's S5, S7, and probably S8. Do you remember that Ms. Lento had showed you these exhibits? [02:02:16] Brianna Michelo: I had to look at them. They're just text messages. [02:02:21] Speaker 4: Now, do you recall if that was the entirety of the text exchange between you and Christopher? [02:02:30] Brianna Michelo: I don't remember. I don't know. [02:02:33] Speaker 4: Let me show you D5. Did you have a D5 or something? [02:03:00] Speaker ?: No, it's text messages. Sure. This is all of them. If you want to look at those. [02:03:37] Speaker 4: Do you recognize it? Yes. That's not just a snippet, am I right? That's the whole entire text exchange. [02:03:45] Speaker 3: Judge, can just, we interrupt, can the state see the exhibit? I've never seen the exhibit before, and you didn't show it when we walked up. [02:03:51] Speaker 2: I'm sorry, I assumed that since they had snippets from that exhibit, that they had seen it. But there's a lot, there's a lot of exhibits, I'm sure, so as a courtesy, you can show that. Thank you. You're showing the witness. [02:04:03] Speaker 3: Just so we can follow along. [02:04:05] Speaker 2: Just for where, nobody moved S5 or 7 into evidence. 8 and 11 were moved into evidence. [02:04:15] Speaker 3: Yes, Judge. We're going to move them, but we just want to see if we could have a minute. [02:04:20] Speaker 2: 4, 1, 10, 30. [02:04:22] Speaker ?: 10, 39 a.m. [02:04:25] Speaker 4: 2, 3, 4, 1, at 8, we can see that. [02:04:27] Speaker ?: Can I get to that? I figure. [02:04:30] Speaker 4: 1, at 10, 30. [02:04:33] Speaker 3: 2, 3, 4, 1, at 9, we can see that. [02:05:03] Speaker 4: So once again, D4 is the whole entire conversation between you and Christopher on that day. Am I right? [02:05:17] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:05:18] Speaker ?: Okay. [02:05:18] Speaker 4: By the way, on that day, you just testified that if Christopher was in a good mood, you would drop him off at the house. If he was in a bad mood, you had to drop him off at the police station. [02:05:31] Brianna Michelo: Mm-hmm. Yes. [02:05:32] Speaker 4: On April 1st, he must have been in a good mood because you dropped him off at the house. You saw a video of that. [02:05:40] Brianna Michelo: That was March, oh, on April 2nd? Yeah. Yes. He must have been. [02:05:45] Speaker 4: All right. So he was in a good mood because you dropped him off at the house. [02:05:50] Brianna Michelo: I guess so. [02:05:51] Speaker 4: Okay. Oh, by the way, how many videos do you accidentally have in your, well, not the police possession, but in your possession where it just randomly takes a video of a conversation you have with Corey? [02:06:10] Brianna Michelo: That was the first time. [02:06:11] Speaker 4: That's the first time. Yes. So the first time you ever record Corey is after you've taken him to three different hospitals, right? Well, medical centers. [02:06:22] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:06:22] Speaker 4: Right? You made a emergency order request, right? Yes. You wrote him back to the guy that you're blaming is having all these issues. Yes. So let's go to this text exchange. Law exchange. [02:06:46] Speaker ?: Okay. [02:06:46] Speaker 4: So this is an exchange between you and Christopher, am I right? Yes. That starts on April 1st of 2021 at about 1039. [02:06:55] Brianna Michelo: Yes. Okay. [02:06:58] Speaker 4: This is the owner. That would be you. [02:07:05] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:07:08] Speaker 4: First question, am I picking Corey up for your place if you were there? Right? [02:07:14] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:07:16] Speaker 4: Then you responded with question marks because I guess you got no response. [02:07:19] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:07:20] Speaker 4: Okay. Then he says, police station, I don't feel safe. You're coming near my home. Right? Yes. You say, sure, sounds good. You, where are you? I'll be past 730 and I will take over and be with my son. [02:07:44] Brianna Michelo: That was Christopher. [02:07:45] Speaker 4: Right? Yes. Then Christopher again. I have no idea where you are. You will not tell me on the phone. Why is that? You passed your time by the court order and I want to be there for my son. [02:07:59] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:08:00] Speaker 4: That's actually in evidence. I'm driving to Jeremy Shaw Medical Center. I'm doing what a caseworker for DCP and told me to do. [02:08:08] Brianna Michelo: Right? Right. [02:08:09] Speaker ?: And Chris, where are you? Right? Correct. [02:08:13] Speaker 4: Caseworker said, you have up to seven days to do this and you choose to do it now and exceed your time which will be subtracted from your next visit. That's Christopher to you, right? [02:08:24] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:08:26] Speaker 4: Christopher again to you, feel free to bring him to the police station of Barnegat whenever you're done and however long you go over 730 is the amount of time that will be subtracted from your next visit. [02:08:36] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:08:37] Speaker 4: Bad wound, right? [02:08:39] Brianna Michelo: I'm sorry. [02:08:39] Speaker 4: That's bad wound? [02:08:41] Speaker ?: Yeah. [02:08:43] Speaker 4: Then you, the doctor sent me to the hospital, then Mark, I'm assuming Mark is a caseworker, called me and said not only to stay there, sent me to DCP doctor at the hospital. Right? That's what you said? [02:08:57] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:08:58] Speaker 4: Then you said, when's my next visit that you will allow? You to Chris, right? [02:09:03] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:09:07] Speaker 4: Chris, just let me know when you guys will be arriving down here and I will come pick my son up, right? [02:09:14] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:09:15] Speaker 4: And you, I absolutely will. [02:09:17] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:09:18] Speaker 4: Chris, I will follow the court order, unlike you, I also won't file an immersion application, is what he said. [02:09:26] Brianna Michelo: Yeah. [02:09:27] Speaker 4: For the reason, just to spite you. But if Corey doesn't want to go because your mother will be there, that is his choice. You responded, yeah. Right? [02:09:38] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:09:39] Speaker 4: Sorry, he said that it is arguing between your mother and Richie, as well as your sister, who is also present during the visit. You responded, sure he did. So, was there arguing going on in the house? [02:09:56] Brianna Michelo: No. No. [02:10:00] Speaker 4: Then, Chris, to you, just drawing it out there, that we both know that it is against the order, especially when your sister... [02:10:07] Speaker 3: It's based upon relevance, we're really going outside of the scope of what was proffered, and... [02:10:17] Speaker 2: Go ahead, I'm sorry, I didn't interrupt you. [02:10:18] Speaker 3: No, that's it, Judge. We're going outside the scope of what's proffered, and we did not have the opportunity to go through these messages to see what appropriate redactions would have been made or not made at this point now. We're just using this, really, as a way to just get all this hearsay into the courtroom. [02:10:37] Speaker 4: I understand that, yeah. [02:10:40] Speaker 2: So, the statements between the parties made out of court are hearsay, but this defendant's here testifying to them. So, in the interest of completeness, if there's text messages before and after the text message the state has introduced, and my understanding is this is on April 1st into April 2nd, in all fairness, I should go out with the entirety of those text messages. If I find the need to make any redactions, then I'll advise you that if they're given to you, and you shouldn't... There are redactions made, you shouldn't speculate as to what the content of the material has redacted, nor the reason for the redactions. But right now, the cross-examination is appropriate in the interest of completeness of the conversation between the parties, generally for the reasons I gave you in my prior instruction, that the addition or subtraction of certain words or statements can change the context of a particular statement when viewed in isolation. [02:11:33] Speaker 3: Thank you. [02:11:35] Speaker 4: So, back to this. [02:11:36] Speaker 3: Yes. [02:11:36] Speaker 4: So, Chris, to you, it's 4-1, 7.33 p.m. Just drawing it out there that we both know it, and it's against the order, especially when your sister just got out of jail for drugs. Your response, Chris's response, they present during his visits, or is he making that up? Your response, I'm not in the mood for this. Right? Correct. That happened, right? [02:12:05] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:12:07] Speaker 4: Oh, but I thought that was the reason why you also wanted to have your visit at my place, because of the toxic environment your family creates. That's first to you, right? [02:12:17] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:12:18] Speaker 4: I'm not under you now. I'm not under investigation right now. You are. I'll drop him off when he's done. His response, and now you're spreading the toxicity to our son, trying to convince him that football is bad, and those bruises are horrible because he has to be, has to be me abusing him, and he knows your allegations, and knows why the police have come to the house. [02:12:46] Speaker 2: Chris, again. We have to answer to say that. That's the content of the message. Is it being right for everything now? [02:12:52] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:12:53] Speaker 4: Chris, again, keeps spreading toxicity. Keep letting him know that it's more important for you to spite me than love him, and his very healthy mother and son relationship. We wouldn't be here if nobody agreed with me. Chris, I'm under investigation from your ludicrous claim that it had any shred of evidence when you applied for your emergent order. It would have been granted. Keep pulling your strings and separating us further. Thank you for providing, not making a fatal mistake, and allowing you to live in the same house with us, which you're a horrible person, and you will never have that opportunity ever again to offer to you. Chris, to you, right? [02:13:34] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:13:35] Speaker 4: Try to coach Chris, to you again. Try to coach him up and see what you need to him as much as you can, but also knows the value of honesty and the truth. Right? [02:13:45] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:13:46] Speaker 4: You. That's why they wanted me to take him to the pediatrician. I'm not fighting you. I'm not fighting with you. I'm doing what the case worker and the supervisor told me to do. [02:13:59] Brianna Michelo: Right? Right. [02:13:59] Speaker 4: Okay. They requested me, Chris, they requested me at noon, and I said that I would take him next week and not tomorrow at noon because I couldn't get off work. I was informed that we had up to seven days to go, which they obviously informed you, and you still made the reckless decision to go over your visitation hours and not even inform me so I would make sure I'd stop texting me unless it is to give me an ETA to the police station for the droplet. Right? [02:14:25] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:14:26] Speaker 4: You called me and asked me to speak to the doctor here, and then the doctor told me to go to the other hospital, right? [02:14:31] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:14:34] Speaker 4: Chris, what was your excuse for not informing me and having me call you at 725, five minutes before your visit is supposed to end? Get it together seriously and stop being spiteful. Text me your ETA when you have it. Time past 7.30 will be taken off your next visit. You can find it if you want. That's the way it's going to go, to be. I will not stand for you exceedingly late with zero communication. Right? Correct. When we leave there, by the way, the cord or other that you went today and received afterwards says you've got seven days and it didn't have to be done today, you called DCP and talked and said, I'm about it, I'm at the hospital, I'm going to come later. [02:15:14] Brianna Michelo: I said you're more than welcome to come. [02:15:17] Speaker 4: That's the complete text exchange. [02:15:19] Brianna Michelo: It looks like it. [02:15:21] Speaker 4: Not the state exchange. [02:15:22] Brianna Michelo: No. [02:15:24] Speaker 4: So, after Corey passed, did you, your mother, and two other people have occasion to go to Christopher's parents' home? [02:15:47] Brianna Michelo: How about what? I'm sorry. [02:15:48] Speaker 4: Go to Christopher's parents' home. [02:15:50] Brianna Michelo: We did. [02:15:51] Speaker 4: Okay. And when you went there, did you, your mother, and others throw several objects at that house? [02:16:00] Brianna Michelo: My mother was not involved. It was me and two friends. And yes, we did. [02:16:04] Speaker 4: And at that time, you threw eggs? [02:16:07] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:16:07] Speaker 4: Dead goldfish? [02:16:09] Brianna Michelo: I don't think they were goldfish. It was fish from the supermarket. [02:16:13] Speaker 4: So, let me understand this. You woke up on this tank, you decided you were going to drive to his parents' house, but before you did that, you actually put the thought in to go to a supermarket and buy fish. [02:16:28] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:16:29] Speaker 4: And you drove to his house, and you threw the fish, were they dead, or did you get fresh fish? [02:16:36] Brianna Michelo: It was fresh, it wasn't fresh, it was food. [02:16:38] Speaker 4: Well, did you get it from a market that had one of those tanks? [02:16:40] Brianna Michelo: No, it was, no. It was a dead fish. What kind of fish? I don't remember. [02:16:44] Speaker 4: Was it expensive fish? [02:16:45] Brianna Michelo: Not really. [02:16:46] Speaker 4: All right, so you got cheap fish. [02:16:48] Speaker ?: Yeah. [02:16:49] Speaker 4: So you got this fish, meat bones. What's a meat bone? [02:16:54] Brianna Michelo: I don't remember that. [02:16:56] Speaker 4: And goose eggs. Goose egg stones. [02:16:59] Brianna Michelo: Oh, stones, okay. [02:17:01] Speaker 4: What is a goose egg stone? [02:17:02] Brianna Michelo: I don't know. It sounds like a stone, but... [02:17:05] Speaker 4: Okay, so you're throwing rocks. So you're throwing rocks, dead fish, bones, and eggs at Christopher's parents' house? [02:17:13] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:17:16] Speaker 4: By the way, did you ever set up a GoFundMe page when Corey passed? [02:17:25] Brianna Michelo: I didn't do it directly myself, no. [02:17:27] Speaker 4: Was a GoFundMe page set up? [02:17:29] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:17:30] Speaker 4: By who, do you know? [02:17:31] Brianna Michelo: I'm not sure. I can't remember that. [02:17:33] Speaker 4: Was it set up on a website or a Facebook group called Justice for Corey? [02:17:38] Brianna Michelo: No. [02:17:38] Speaker 4: Do you know what Justice for Corey is? [02:17:40] Brianna Michelo: I do. [02:17:40] Speaker 4: Okay, and who set that up? [02:17:42] Brianna Michelo: That was me. [02:17:43] Speaker 4: You set that up. And in the Justice for Corey site, was it posted that you had a GoFundMe? [02:17:56] Brianna Michelo: It could have been. [02:17:57] Speaker 4: Well, you're the administrator, aren't you? [02:17:59] Brianna Michelo: I am. It's been a few years. Okay. There's a lot of posts in that group. [02:18:02] Speaker 4: Okay, well, you're the administrator. [02:18:04] Brianna Michelo: Yes. There's other ones too, yeah. [02:18:06] Speaker 4: How many administrators are there? [02:18:07] Brianna Michelo: There's two others. [02:18:08] Speaker 4: Two others. [02:18:09] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:18:09] Speaker 4: Okay. So, I'm assuming the administrator, I'm not a Facebook group guy, but I'm assuming that, and you tell me, maybe I'm wrong, but a Facebook group administrator gets notices when things are posted on the page. [02:18:24] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:18:24] Speaker 4: Okay. So, you're the administrator? [02:18:27] Brianna Michelo: I was. Yes, I am. [02:18:28] Speaker 4: Are you telling me you didn't know that on the Facebook for Corey webpage, there's postings up there for a Justice for Corey cash out and GoFundMe? [02:18:47] Brianna Michelo: Possibly, but there are a lot of posts that went up. The group was very popular. [02:18:53] Speaker 4: Did you earn any money from the GoFundMe page that was set up? [02:18:57] Brianna Michelo: Did I what? [02:18:58] Speaker 4: Earn any money from that GoFundMe page? [02:19:00] Brianna Michelo: I did. [02:19:01] Speaker ?: Okay. [02:19:01] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:19:01] Speaker 4: How much money did you earn from the GoFundMe page that was set up that you say you know nothing about? [02:19:07] Brianna Michelo: I knew it was set up. I'm not the one that set it up, and I don't recall who set it up. [02:19:11] Speaker 4: But you profited. [02:19:12] Brianna Michelo: I did, yes. [02:19:13] Speaker 4: All right. So, how much was... I don't recall. So, do you recall how much the GoFundMe was for? [02:19:21] Speaker ?: No. [02:19:22] Speaker 4: Are you also aware that in addition to the GoFundMe that you made money off of, they also started a cash out campaign? [02:19:30] Brianna Michelo: I don't remember. [02:19:32] Speaker 4: You don't remember? [02:19:32] Brianna Michelo: No. [02:19:37] Speaker 4: Just like having a minute. [02:19:38] Speaker ?: Sure. [02:19:39] Speaker 4: May I have her? Yes. Ms. Mitchell, let me show you something. This is defense exhibit D6. [02:19:47] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:19:48] Speaker 4: Do you recognize that? [02:19:52] Brianna Michelo: I see it. Yep. I recognize it. [02:19:54] Speaker 4: And that is a request for people to donate your money on cash out so you could attend court hearings. [02:20:07] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:20:09] Speaker 4: So, and the reason they set up the Cash Act, am I right, is because when you set up a GoFundMe page, they take too much to profit. [02:20:20] Brianna Michelo: She said that, yes. [02:20:22] Speaker ?: Okay. [02:20:22] Speaker 4: So, you agree with that? [02:20:24] Brianna Michelo: I don't agree with it. That's what she wrote. [02:20:26] Speaker 4: But you got money from that. Objection judge, she... [02:20:28] Brianna Michelo: I did, yes, I said that. [02:20:30] Speaker 4: But somebody else said this, you said it. [02:20:31] Brianna Michelo: Yeah, I didn't post this, so I don't know. [02:20:33] Speaker 4: But you got money from it. [02:20:35] Brianna Michelo: I said yes. [02:20:35] Speaker 4: Okay, you got money from Cash Act and you got money from GoFundMe. [02:20:39] Brianna Michelo: Yes, can I tell you what that was used for or you don't want to know? [02:20:42] Speaker 4: Well, we'll talk about it tomorrow. [02:20:43] Brianna Michelo: Okay. [02:20:43] Speaker 2: How's that? [02:20:44] Speaker ?: Cool. [02:20:45] Speaker 2: All right, thank you. So, ladies and gentlemen... Morning, Ms. Mitchell. [02:20:48] Brianna Michelo: Good morning. [02:20:49] Speaker 2: How are you? [02:20:50] Brianna Michelo: I'm okay, how are you? I'm good, thanks. [02:20:52] Speaker 4: So, last night after we left, did you have an opportunity to meet with either one of these prosecutors? I did not. You didn't talk to anybody about this case after you left here in court? [02:21:04] Brianna Michelo: No. [02:21:05] Speaker 4: So, yesterday we discussed a video that you had taken the morning you dropped Coriwell at Christopher's house. [02:21:15] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:21:15] Speaker 4: You said that you had taken that video and that it was accidental, that you had no idea who I'd taken it. Am I right? [02:21:22] Brianna Michelo: You're right. [02:21:22] Speaker 4: Now, on direct examination, you said that as you were driving to Christopher's home, your son was on your phone watching YouTube videos. [02:21:35] Brianna Michelo: Yeah, he would give me my phone back when Christopher texted me and when we got to his house. [02:21:40] Speaker 4: Okay, so you're saying that he gave you your phone back, you turned off YouTube, and then accidentally hit the camera? [02:21:48] Brianna Michelo: I must have, yes. Okay. [02:21:50] Speaker 4: And that's the first time you ever did that? [02:21:52] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:21:52] Speaker 4: Now, yesterday you also testified that you left Community Medical Center against medical advice because you thought it would be quicker for you to get Coriwell to Jersey Shore Medical Center, correct? Yes. Can I look, this is D-7. [02:22:36] Speaker ?: Mr. Rose, she's about to do this. [02:22:47] Brianna Michelo: Can I say it? Yep. [02:23:05] Speaker 4: I'll show you decent. Take a look. [02:23:12] Brianna Michelo: What do you want me to read? Just look at it? Okay. [02:23:33] Speaker 4: Yes. Okay. Now, does that refresh your recollection as to why you left Jersey Shore Medical Center? Yes. Okay. Can you tell us what you did? What you told them? [02:23:43] Brianna Michelo: It says given that she needs to bring her husband, or her child to her husband within the next few hours. [02:23:53] Speaker 4: So you didn't leave because you wanted to get to Jersey Shore Medical Center. You left, according to that record, you told people at the hospital that you wanted to take your son to his father. Yes. [02:24:07] Brianna Michelo: Yes. That's what I said yesterday. I didn't say it was because I was rushing because I was on limited time. [02:24:13] Speaker ?: Okay. [02:24:14] Speaker 4: So, once again, that hospital, Community Medical Center, advised you to not take your child from the hospital. [02:24:23] Brianna Michelo: Um, it says they offered to transfer the patient, and then it also says he gave me the opportunity to leave the hospital. What did you mean the whole thing? Against medical advice. Against medical advice. [02:24:35] Speaker 4: So they wanted you to leave Cory at the hospital and have him transported to another hospital, and you said no. I drove him myself. [02:24:45] Brianna Michelo: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:24:47] Speaker ?: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:24:49] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:24:51] Speaker ?: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:21] Speaker 3: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:34] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:35] Speaker ?: I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:36] Brianna Michelo: I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:37] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:48] Brianna Michelo: I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:49] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:52] Speaker ?: I had a small business in the hospital. [02:25:53] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:05] Speaker ?: I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:06] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:10] Speaker ?: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:34] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:36] Brianna Michelo: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:39] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:41] Brianna Michelo: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:46] Speaker ?: I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:47] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:49] Brianna Michelo: I had a small business in the hospital. [02:26:50] Speaker 4: I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. I had a small business in the hospital. While in Florida, did there come a point where you... [02:27:09] Speaker 3: Objection, judge. This is really outside the scope. We didn't go into this area whatsoever. Can I ask the counsel, sir? Yes, thank you. So while you were at Jersey Shore Medical Center, you had a conversation with the defendant? [02:27:30] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:27:34] Speaker 3: Now, did you offer to bring Corey home back to Barnegat after Jersey Shore Medical Center? [02:27:45] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:27:46] Speaker 3: And did the defendant ever respond to your request to do this? [02:27:53] Brianna Michelo: No. [02:27:54] Speaker 3: And while Corey was at Jersey Shore Medical Center, was he ever diagnosed with sepsis? No. And was Corey medically cleared from Jersey Shore Medical Center? Yes. And was there a scheduled appointment for April 2nd for Corey to see a CPC pediatric specialist? Yes. And did the defendant cancel this appointment? Yes. Yes. And did you take Corey to... Could you take Corey to see the specialist without the defendant? [02:28:32] Brianna Michelo: No, he wouldn't allow it. [02:28:35] Speaker 3: And when you dropped off Corey on April 2nd, what choice did you have in bringing him back to his father's house? [02:28:46] Brianna Michelo: Well, he already called the cops on me for kidnapping so I didn't really have any other choice just for keeping him a few hours late at the hospital. Can I see the defense exhibit? Okay. [02:28:55] Speaker 3: The community is... Let me show her. Do I have permission to approach the witness? [02:28:58] Speaker ?: Yes, sure. [02:28:59] Speaker 3: Now, Brianna, you took Corey to Community Medical Center, correct? Yes. And I'm now showing you what's been marked D7 for identification purposes and can you read this paragraph in terms of the emergency department course and treatment, the entire paragraph? Starting here, patient scene. Yes. Patient scene. Patient scene. Yes, please. Patient scene and examined in the emergency department. History and physical obtained. Prior medical records requested and reviewed. Initial assessment and exam completed. I had an extensive discussion with the mother at bedside and discussed with her the plan for the patient. [02:29:39] Brianna Michelo: I offered to transfer the patient to Jersey Shore Medical Center where the CPAP specialist as well as his pediatrician were located for further management, evaluation, as well as blood work. I also gave the mother the opportunity to leave the hospital against medical advice and drive her child to the hospital herself. She states that she would rather leave against medical advice given that she needs to bring her child to her husband within the next few hours. [02:30:19] Speaker 3: Okay. And I'm now showing you what's been marked D8. Now this was a release form that was given to you at Community Medical Center, right? Yes. And that's a standard release form that would be utilized regarding any patient who would sign a child out of the hospital. Correct. And your purpose, again, of signing Corey out of the hospital would be so he could get there faster. [02:30:54] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:30:55] Speaker 3: Now, in regard to justice for Corey, is that a private Facebook group chat? [02:31:04] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:31:05] Speaker 3: And if you would like to become a member for justice for Corey, then it would have to be an accepted friend request. Yes. [02:31:14] Brianna Michelo: Objection leading. [02:31:15] Speaker 3: Can you describe the, can you describe the, the website? Yes. [02:31:20] Brianna Michelo: Or the Facebook chat? It's a Facebook group. If you want to join, you have to answer a few questions and then an admin has to approve you to join the group. And if you want to post, then it gets approved as well. [02:31:30] Speaker 3: And do you personally know all the members who are a part of this group chat? No. [02:31:36] Brianna Michelo: No. [02:31:37] Speaker 3: And what was the purpose of setting up justice for Corey? [02:31:42] Brianna Michelo: To get justice for Corey. [02:31:44] Speaker 3: And in particular, there are members who were on this site who had set up donation or fundraising. Correct. And can you tell the jurors about that? [02:31:57] Brianna Michelo: Um, the first, like, so most of it was spent for his funeral and then the other was spent for a plot for myself in the cemetery with him. So when I pass, I can be buried next to him. [02:32:08] Speaker 3: And there was a GoFundMe page set up? [02:32:11] Brianna Michelo: That's what that, yeah. That's what that was. [02:32:13] Speaker 3: And what were the expenses for the GoFundMe page for? [02:32:16] Brianna Michelo: That was for the funeral and the plot. [02:32:18] Speaker 3: And what about this cash app? Can you explain to the jurors what that was for? [02:32:22] Brianna Michelo: Yes. So members were asking one of the admins if they could help us with just, like, everyday things. So the admin decided to set it up just so people were just saying, like, go get some coffee, go get dinner. They just wanted to help. [02:32:35] Speaker 3: And did you set up this cash app? No. And who set up the cash app? [02:32:41] Brianna Michelo: Um, one of the members. [02:32:42] Speaker 3: And that would be for donations? Yes. We don't have any further questions, Judge. Any report? [02:32:50] Speaker 4: Did you use any of those donations to buy the fish that you threw at the Greger family? I did not. [02:32:55] Brianna Michelo: No. [02:32:56] Speaker 4: Now, you said that you paid for the funeral? Yes. Okay. Didn't the Greger family pay for the funeral? [02:33:02] Brianna Michelo: No. They didn't? No, you didn't. Okay. No. So... [02:33:08] Speaker ?: I'm sorry. [02:33:10] Speaker 4: Okay. This Justice for Cory... What's the chat? Group? It's a group. [02:33:16] Brianna Michelo: Okay. [02:33:17] Speaker 4: Are you one of the administrators? I'm one of them, yes. Who set it up? I did. You did? Yes. And when you set it up, you set yourself up... I don't understand it, but you set yourself up as the administrator, right? [02:33:28] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:33:29] Speaker 4: And the administrator is the person that's in charge of the group. Yes. Okay. So, when you set up a Facebook chat group, you as the administrator set up the rules, right? Yes. Okay. And the rules are, like you just told Ms. Lento, are I can let people in if I choose to, or not let people in as I choose to, right? Right. And initially, that group was open to the public, right? For like a month, yeah. [02:33:55] Brianna Michelo: Okay. And then... [02:33:57] Speaker 4: The very beginning. Okay. And then it was not. It became private. Yes. [02:34:02] Brianna Michelo: And who did that? The admins made a decision. Okay. We had a conversation and decided. [02:34:07] Speaker 4: So, you were the initial administrator, right? [02:34:12] Brianna Michelo: Correct. [02:34:13] Speaker 4: Okay. And now you said that there are additional admins. Correct. [02:34:17] Brianna Michelo: How many? There is two others. [02:34:19] Speaker 4: Okay. [02:34:20] Brianna Michelo: And do you know who those people are? [02:34:21] Speaker 4: I do. Okay. So, you just said you had a meeting with your admins. [02:34:26] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:34:27] Speaker 4: Okay. And at that meeting, you and your other two administrators, I'm assuming that's what you're called, right? [02:34:32] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:34:33] Speaker 4: To make a decision to make this group private. [02:34:35] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:34:36] Speaker 4: Okay. So, when you say you don't know who's in the group, are you saying that you set rules up on who could get in the group? You have to answer questions? [02:34:45] Brianna Michelo: Yes. [02:34:46] Speaker 4: Okay. And if you answer the questions in a way you or the other two administrators don't like, then you don't let them in your group. Correct. Okay. But if the answer to the question's right, then you let them in the group. [02:34:56] Brianna Michelo: Right. [02:35:08] Speaker 4: No further questions. Thank you. [02:35:10] Speaker 3: Nothing further, Judge.