McDaniel’s trial continued Monday with playing of 911 call

TARRANT COUNTY, Texas (KAUZ) - The fifth day of Amber McDaniel’s punishment trial began Monday with the 911 call she made to the police the morning she found Wilder.

During this moment, Amber could be heard crying in the courtroom.

Defense attorney Mark Barber called Dina Taylor, Amber’s mom, to the stand. Taylor recalled how she and her husband spent every day with Wilder and how Amber always taught Wilder something.

Taylor then mentioned how she felt guilty after Wilder’s death because she recommended Wilder get his own crib. Taylor said she thought maybe if Wilder had been in bed with Amber, he wouldn’t have died.

Barber then asked Taylor if she believed it would negatively affect Phoenix, Amber’s child, if Amber were to be taken out of his life, to which she said yes.

Wichita Co. District Attorney John Gillespie then cross-examined Taylor and asked her if she knew about the “psychotic messages” Staley would send Amber, to which she replied, “No.”

The defense then pointed out how Wilder told Amber he fell off the bed, not that Staley pushed him, and that Wilder would also not want to be around some of Amber’s friends, not just Staley.

The defense rested at 11:02 a.m.

Amber invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to testify.

Alyssa Osterdock is in the courtroom in the Tim Curry Justice Center following the latest developments. Be sure to stick with News Channel 6 as we follow the court proceedings.

Read Friday’s coverage on our website.

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