AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story will be updated frequently throughout proceedings in the punishment trial of Amber McDaniel. Refresh this page often for the latest.

FORT WORTH (KFDX/KJTL) — The prosecution will call more witnesses as it continues presenting its case to a jury of 12 Tarrant County residents in Amber Nichole McDaniel‘s sentencing trial on Thursday, September 14, 2023.

McDaniel, 33, of Wichita Falls, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to the felony charges of endangering a child and tampering with evidence related to the 2018 murder of her 2-year-old son Jason Wilder McDaniel. She faces a sentence ranging from probation to more than a decade behind bars.

The prosecution, led by Wichita County District Attorney John Gillespie, is expected to call several witnesses to the stand on Thursday. Thus far, only one of the state’s witnesses has taken the stand in each of the first two days of testimony.

KFDX Weekend Anchor Markeshia Jackson will provide a summary of Thursday’s proceedings live from Fort Worth during KFDX 3 News at 6 o’clock.

A running live blog of proceedings on Thursday, September 14, 2023, in the punishment trial of Amber McDaniel can be found below.

Judge McKnight released Wakefield from the stand and dismissed the jury for the day. The Court will be in recess until 9 a.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023, when testimony will resume with the defense calling its next witness.

5:13 p.m. — Gillespie asked Wakefield if she thought the “SIDS” message was psychotic. She testified it was an odd thing to joke about. Gillespie asked her if she was attempting to protect her sister with her answer. She testified she was not. Wakefield was observed becoming visibly emotional during their final exchange.

Barber passed the witness back to Gillespie for further cross-examination.

5:10 p.m. — Wakefield testified that she was aware that McDaniel was providing the police with useful information during their investigation into Wilder’s murder.

5:07 p.m. — Wakefield testified that she doesn’t discuss what’s being said in her text messages with McDaniel. She also testified that the context of the “SIDS” message is different than what Gillespie is describing.

Gillespie passed the witness back to Barber for further questioning.

5:05 p.m. — Wakefield testified that if she had known about the extent of the messages Staley had sent to McDaniel regarding Wilder, she would’ve talked to her sister to make sure he was kidding.

5:02 p.m. — Gillespie discussed some of the text messages between Staley and McDaniel. Wakefield testified that she wasn’t aware of them at the time. She testified that if someone said those things about her children she wouldn’t have liked it. She testified she wasn’t aware that McDaniel was hiding things from law enforcement.

4:58 p.m. — Wakefield testified that her love for her sister, McDaniel, is unconditional. She testified about a time when she had a creepy interaction with Staley, and then later, she recalled a time when Wilder ran to her rather than crossing paths with Staley. She testified that she doesn’t think McDaniel was intentionally withholding information or hiding things from her family even though it probably looks like that now.

Barber passed the witness to Gillespie for cross-examination.

4:53 p.m. — Wakefield testified that her love for her sister, McDaniel, did not change after she learned about the text messages.

4:52 p.m. — Wakefield testified she was shocked by the things Staley said in the form of text messages and that she was at a loss for words. She testified that she and her family members met with Gillespie in preparation for Staley’s trial.

4:48 p.m. — Wakefield testified that after McDaniel was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence and endangering a child, the affidavits revealed text messages between Staley and McDaniel. She testified that she still loves her sister despite those messages. She testified that she’s the most worried about Phoenix and what would happen to him if McDaniel has to serve time in jail.

4:43 p.m. — Wakefield testified that being a mother came very naturally for her sister, McDaniel. She testified that she’s a great mother to Phoenix now and she was a great mother to Wilder prior to his death.

4:41 p.m. — Wakefield testified that for a time, McDaniel visited Wilder’s grave at the cemetery every day, to the point they had to drag her out of the cemetery. She testified that she had to bring food to her at the cemetery. She testified that McDaniel is still struggling with grief following Wilder’s death.

4:38 p.m. — Wakefield testified that the last six months have been the hardest, even more than right after Wilder’s passing. She testified that her sister, McDaniel, is not the same, and that “we lost Amber, too” when Wilder died. She began crying and said she still loves her sister but she’s not the same. She testified that she was worried her sister was going to commit suicide, recalling a time when McDaniel had to be taken away in an ambulance.

4:34 p.m. — Wakefield testified that she loved Wilder and they were close. She testified that her three children and Wilder were also close, and when he died, it affected them. Wakefield was observed becoming visibly emotional. She testified through tears that Wilder’s death is affecting her more now than it ever has.

Judge McKnight dismissed Taylor from the stand and instructed Barber that he may call his next witness. Barber called Shalah Wakefield, McDaniel’s older sister, to the stand.

4:29 p.m. — Taylor testified that grief can affect memory recollection. He testified that McDaniel is still experiencing grief from Wilder’s death and that he’s dealing with the same thing himself.

Gillespie passed the witness back to Barber for further questioning.

4:27 p.m. — Gillespie asked Taylor if McDaniel shared with him anything about the incident on August 31, 2018, in which Wilder’s face had a lot of bruises. Taylor testified that he could not recall. Taylor testified that the investigation into James Staley regarding Wilder’s murder was the most important investigation to him.

Barber passed the witness back to Gillespie for further cross-examination.

4:24 p.m. — Barber questioned Taylor regarding whether or not he still loved McDaniel after hearing some of the text messages sent between her and Staley. He testified that he still loved her very much. He testified that McDaniel is a great mother to Phoenix and he still trusts McDaniel around Phoenix.

Gillespie passed the witness back to Barber for further questioning.

4:20 p.m. — Gillespie questioned Taylor regarding the text messages between McDaniel and Staley and which ones he was aware of. After reviewing several messages, Gillespie asked Taylor if he would’ve stopped McDaniel from taking Wilder to Staley’s home. After a long pause, Taylor testified that he would’ve.

4:17 p.m. — Gillespie questioned Taylor about what McDaniel hid from him regarding Staley and Wilder’s relationship. Gillespie asked Taylor if he would’ve put his foot down if he had known about it, and Taylor responded, “Yes sir.” Gillespie then said, “Because to love someone is to protect them, isn’t it?” and Taylor responded, “Yes.”

4:13 p.m. — Gillespie questioned Taylor about a time after a family barbecue in which McDaniel and Wilder showed up at his home after they were kicked out of Staley’s home after Staley screamed “shut up” at Wilder when he woke up crying. Taylor testified he was having trouble recalling specific conversations he had in 2018 with McDaniel.

4:09 p.m. — Taylor testified that the last time he saw Wilder was October 10, 2018, and Wilder grabbed Taylor by the face and said, “Papa, no James house.”

Barber passed the witness to Gillespie for cross-examination.

4:06 p.m. — Taylor testified that he read some of the text messages between Staley and McDaniel. He testified that he still loves McDaniel and still wants her in his life. He testified that actions speak louder than words and that McDaniel loved her son well. He testified that he loves his stepdaughter more now, if that’s possible, that McDaniel is a great person and he would be very sad if she wasn’t in his life.

4:03 p.m. — Taylor testified that he laid Phoenix down for a nap before coming to testify and he was crying for his mother. McDaniel was observed becoming visibly emotional and began crying. Taylor testified that Phoenix would be scarred for life if McDaniel had to go away for a significant amount of time. He testified that Phoenix will never know his older brother, Wilder, but he recognizes him in pictures and calls him “Bubba.”

4:01 p.m. — Taylor testified that McDaniel was a great mom to Wilder. He testified that if she wasn’t working to provide for Wilder, she was spending time with him and taking him places. He testified that Wilder was a very smart child because of McDaniel’s parenting. He testified Wilder was “attached” to his mother in a similar way to how Phoenix is now.

3:59 p.m. — Taylor testified that McDaniel became pregnant with her second child, Phoenix, after Wilder’s death. He testified that he and Phoenix already have a bond that’s very similar to the bond he had with Wilder. He testified that Phoenix shares several qualities with Wilder, but he still misses Wilder very much.

3:55 p.m. — Taylor testified that McDaniel would spend a lot of time at Wilder’s grave. He reiterated his concern for his stepdaughter and testified that he knows she is depressed. He testified that his entire family was a victim of Wilder’s murder. With a break in his voice, Taylor testified that he still sees Wilder every day in their home where he used to play.

3:49 p.m. — Taylor testified that he remembered an instance in which McDaniel was being taken to the North Texas State Hospital. Taylor was observed becoming very emotional as he recalled how he felt at Wilder’s funeral.

3:44 p.m. — Taylor testified that McDaniel and her biological father have an estranged relationship. He testified that when he arrived at Staley’s residence on Irving Place on October 11, 2018, McDaniel was hysterical. He testified that in the days following Wilder’s death, he was concerned McDaniel would commit suicide.

3:42 p.m. — Taylor testified that he began dating McDaniel’s mother when she was about seven years old. He testified he was close with McDaniel and her son, Wilder, who was also his grandson. He testified they got along from the very beginning.

Judge McKnight released Bea Staley from the witness stand and instructed Barber that he may call his next witness. Barber called David Taylor, McDaniel’s stepfather, to the stand.

3:37 p.m. — Barber asked Bea Staley a question about Staley and the abuse tactics he used in the past and asked if she thought he used those tactics against Wilder. Gillespie objected on the grounds that she did not have any information regarding McDaniel or Wilder. Judge McKnight instructed Barber to move on with his questioning.

Gillespie passes the witness back to Barber for further questioning.

3:36 p.m. — Gillespie continued to emphasize that Bea Staley provided the prosecution with information and did not withhold it, even though it was about her brother.

3:33 p.m. — Gillespie told Bea Staley that he admired her courage for coming forward regarding her brother, James Staley. At times, the exchange between the two is heated. However, Bea Staley testified that her brother previously abused her animals and would attempt to suffocate her while they were growing up.

3:31 p.m. — Bea Staley testified that during the time her brother and McDaniel were in a romantic relationship, she never met McDaniel or her son, Wilder.

Barber passes the witness to Gillespie for cross-examination.

3:30 p.m. — Bea Staley testified that she told her brother she was molested as a child, then said Staley would use that against her. She testified that Staley was a master manipulator, a gaslighter, a liar, and a charmer. She testified that she felt for her brother because he was abused, but he then repeated the cycle of abuse with Wilder.

3:25 p.m. — Bea Staley testified that she and her brother, James Staley, grew up in the same abusive household. She testified that she loved her brother and knew him better than anyone. She testified she hates talking about her brother in a negative way but she’s willing to do so for McDaniel because she was fooled by Staley just like she was.

Testimony resumed at 3:20 p.m., with McDaniel’s defense attorney Mark Barber calling Martha “Bea” Staley to the stand.

Gillespie rested the case for the prosecution. Judge McKnight dismissed the jury for an afternoon break. The Court is in recess until 3:20 p.m., at which time testimony will begin for McDaniel’s defense.

3:03 p.m. — Gillespie read a portion of Wakefield’s testimony in which she recalled the final time she saw Wilder. In that testimony, Wakefield said the last thing she heard Wilder say was, “No James” as she reached for her.

2:58 p.m. — Gillespie read portions of Wakefield’s testimony from Staley’s capital murder trial to the jury.

Judge McKnight released Sgt. Cervantes from the stand. Gillespie offered a transcript of the testimony of Shalah Wakefield, McDaniel’s sister, during the capital murder trial of James Staley. It is admitted into evidence without objection from the defense.

2:55 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified that when McDaniel mentioned a meme about putting a child in a cage and Det. Fowler asked a follow-up question, McDaniel did not mention any of the messages in which Staley discussed buying a cage for Wilder.

Barber passed the witness back to Gillespie for further questioning.

2:54 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes and Barber reviewed several of the messages McDaniel told the police about that weren’t in the Facebook message received by the police in October 2018.

Gillespie passed the witness back to Barber for further cross-examination.

2:53 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified that previously, she was a single mother. She testified that her children always came first in her dating relationships.

2:52 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified that she is a mother and she wouldn’t be able to forget text messages like the ones McDaniel received from Staley. Gillespie continued to ask about times he said McDaniel withheld information from police. Gillespie asked Sgt. Cervantes if most of the information McDaniel gave them during the July 2021 interview was from a Facebook message she knew the police already had. Sgt. Cervantes agreed.

2:50 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified that she’s known her husband for about five years and she’s still learning new things about him. Gillespie asked if 75 days is enough time to really know someone. Sgt. Cervantes testified that for her, it was not enough time.

Barber passed the witness back to Gillespie for further questioning.

2:47 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified she was aware of other instances in which McDaniel had given information to the authorities.

2:43 p.m. — Barber asked Sgt. Cervantes if she remembers every text message she’s received in the last two months. Sgt. Cervantes said she probably did not. Barber then asked Sgt. Cervantes if she remembers texts from three years ago. Sgt. Cervantes testified that she did not.

2:42 p.m. — Barber reviewed with Sgt. Cervantes the things McDaniel did disclose during the interview regarding the text messages sent by Staley about Wilder. Sgt. Cervantes testified that McDaniel would know Staley better than anyone else.

2:39 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified that she was on the Crimes Against Persons unit of the WFPD for 10 years, and during that time, she would witness people become involved in toxic relationships, and that some would remain in them for years.

2:37 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified that she is not an expert in memory, a psychologist, or an expert in how grief affects memory. She also testified that the interview was conducted about three years after the death of Wilder. She also testified that she was aware that McDaniel volunteered her phone to police on October 22, 2018, shortly after Wilder died.

Gillespie passes the witness to Mark Barber for cross-examination.

2:34 p.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified that defendants involved in a crime often minimize their role in a crime. She also testified that McDaniel downplayed the severity of some of the text messages Staley sent to her regarding Wilder. She testified that McDaniel gave them information she knew the police already had as another form of minimization.

2:31 p.m. — The video of the interview ends. Gillespie questioned Sgt. Cervantes about the events that transpired after the interview. Sgt. Cervantes testified that McDaniel never contacted them again after the interview with any additional information.

2:29 p.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler asks McDaniel if she’s able to recall anything else from the text messages between her and Staley. McDaniel says she wishes she could remember. Det. Fowler asks if Staley ever said anything about Wilder dying. McDaniel says she wishes she remembered because she feels as though that should stick out. She says she’s sure he did but she can’t remember anything specific.

2:26 p.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler and Sgt. Cervantes return to the interview room. McDaniel then begins recalling the events that led to her discovering Wilder’s lifeless body inside Staley’s residence on October 11, 2018.

2:17 p.m. — In the video of the interview, McDaniel has been seated in the WFPD interview room alone for about 5 minutes. She has remained in a posture with her hands folded and her chin rested on her hands with her elbows on her knees, slouched forward slightly. Other than receiving a bottle of water from Sgt. Cervantes, McDaniel has barely moved and has remained silent.

2:11 p.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler asks McDaniel how often she would leave Wilder with Staley. McDaniel says three or four times. Det. Fowler asks if that includes times when she’d leave briefly or when she was in school. McDaniel says Wilder was in daycare while she was in school. Det. Fowler and Sgt. Cervantes then step out of the room and tell McDaniel to take some time to think and see if anything jogs her memory of the messages.

2:07 p.m. — In the video of the interview, Sgt. Cervantes tells McDaniel that the perception of McDaniel deleting text messages looks really bad. McDaniel says Staley had a morbid sense of humor. She says she doesn’t care what other people think about her regarding the messages at this point and continues to emphasize she doesn’t want to be the reason Staley gets to walk free.

2:04 p.m. — In the video of the interview, Sgt. Cervantes says they are not intending to be sneaky or tricky with McDaniel, but that they cannot disclose the evidence that has been recovered. She emphasizes how important it is for McDaniel to tell them everything.

2:01 p.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler asks McDaniel how many times Staley kicked her and Wilder out of the house. McDaniel says three or four times. Det. Cervantes asks if they all happened in the short span of time when they were in a relationship, and McDaniel says yes.

1:58 p.m. — In the video of the interview, Sgt. Cervantes asks McDaniel about potential red flags she ignored and when she saw those red flags. McDaniel says she should’ve known Staley had an ill will toward Wilder after the name-calling, but she specifically points to the incident in which Wilder’s face was bruised after Staley alleged Wilder fell off the bed. She says she doesn’t know why she didn’t take Wilder to a hospital after that incident.

1:55 p.m. — In the video of the interview, McDaniel continues telling Det. Fowler and Sgt. Cervantes about Staley’s attitude toward Wilder and how angry he would become when Wilder cried. McDaniel tells Det. Fowler and Sgt. Cervantes about how Wilder didn’t like Bubba McDaniel’s girlfriend at the time either, causing McDaniel to think it was normal that Wilder didn’t like Staley.

1:50 p.m. — In the video of the interview, McDaniel tells Det. Fowler and Sgt. Cervantes about an incident in which Staley fired a gun at his residence when Wilder was asleep. McDaniel says Staley called Wilder a crybaby for waking up after the gunshot.

1:44 p.m. — In the video of the interview, McDaniel’s posture is observed shifting and her facial expressions becoming more somber, apparently displaying that McDaniel realizes how serious the text message exchanges really are.

1:42 p.m. — In the video of the interview, McDaniel continues explaining to Sgt. Cervantes and Det. Fowler the kinds of jokes she and Staley would make about Wilder, including insults to Wilder’s intelligence.

1:35 p.m. — In the video of the interview, Sgt. Cervantes continues emphasizing to McDaniel the importance of telling them everything, whether it be good, bad, or ugly. McDaniel eventually says that sometimes she’d joke about Wilder with Staley as well.

1:30 p.m. — Testimony resumes with Sgt. Cervantes on the stand. The video of an interview between Sgt. Cervantes, Det. Fowler and McDaniel resumed in the courtroom.

The interview is paused. Judge McKnight dismissed the jury to a break for lunch. The Court is in recess until 1:30 p.m. at which time testimony is set to resume.

11:58 a.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler tells McDaniel they’re trying to build the best case against Staley. McDaniel asks if they could get those messages from Staley’s phone since they can’t get them from her phone. Det. Fowler asks why she thinks they were asking her the questions they asked. McDaniel says she’s sure there’s something that makes her look guilty.

11:56 a.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler asks McDaniel if there were any other jokes made by Staley that didn’t seem too bad at the time. She said she was sure there were a bunch, but she couldn’t recall any other specific messages. She also said she was never instructed by anyone to delete her text messages with Staley.

11:53 a.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Cervantes asks McDaniel if she remembered anything else they would text about, regardless of whether they were jokes or not. McDaniel says Staley would say that he was going to put her and Wilder back in the dumpster where he found them.

11:51 a.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler asks McDaniel what else their text message conversations were about. She says Staley would say McDaniel was babying Wilder too much, but that she was the greatest mom in the world the next day.

11:48 a.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler asks McDaniel what her text message conversations with Staley were like. She says they would talk about everyday life, make sexual jokes, and make jokes about the kid. Det. Fowler asks McDaniel if Staley had any nicknames for Wilder. She says Staley would sometimes refer to Wilder with a racial slur and that she couldn’t remember specifically other names he called Wilder.

11:46 a.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler asks McDaniel why text messages with Staley were deleted from her phone. McDaniel says she doesn’t remember her state of mind when she deleted his contact number and messages from her phone, but thought it may have been to keep herself from attempting to contact Staley after Wilder’s death.

11:43 a.m. — In the video of the interview, Det. Fowler asks McDaniel about text messages between her and Staley on her phone. He asks if there’s any reason McDaniel had no messages between herself and Staley on her phone.

11:37 a.m. — Sgt. Cervantes testified that she was involved in the investigation into Wilder’s death. She said after the text messages were recovered from Staley’s phone, she along with Det. Fowler conducted an interview with McDaniel in July 2021. Gillespie offered a video of the interview between Sgt. Cervantes and McDaniel, which is admitted into evidence with no objections from the defense. The interview is then played in the courtroom.

Judge McKnight released Davis from the witness stand and instructed Gillespie that the prosecution may call its next witness. Gillespie called Sgt. Marissa Cervantes to the stand.

11:30 a.m. — Davis testified that a specific post made by McDaniel on her personal account included song lyrics that may have indicated suicidal ideations. He testified that they were concerned for her well-being.

Barber passes the witness back to Gillespie for further questioning.

11:29 a.m. — Davis testified that he didn’t recall whether posts made by McDaniel on Facebook were done on her personal account or the Justice For Wilder account.

Gillespie passes the witness back to Barber for further cross-examination.

11:29 a.m. — Davis testified that he and Gillespie asked McDaniel not to post on her social media accounts because Staley’s defense attorneys would be watching and could use it against her in the trial.

Barber passes the witness back to Gillespie for further questioning.

11:28 a.m. — Barber questioned Davis as to how he knew McDaniel received support from the community but that he wasn’t aware of the negative things said about her on social media. Davis testified that he would see yard signs in the community on his drive to work.

Gillespie passes the witness back to Barber for further cross-examination.

11:26 a.m. — Davis testified that McDaniel had received a tremendous outpouring of support and love from the Wichita Falls community following Wilder’s death and prior to learning of the charges against her.

Barber passes the witness back to Gillespie for further questioning.

11:23 a.m. — Davis testified that McDaniel testified against Staley during his capital murder trial without any immunity promised and with no “handshake” deal on the table. He testified that McDaniel’s testimony was helpful to the prosecution in Staley’s trial.

11:21 a.m. — Davis testified that he wasn’t familiar with some of the things said about McDaniel and Staley on Facebook, and that he wasn’t one to dive into “Facebook Land”.

Gillespie passes the witness back to Barber for further cross-examination.

11:19 a.m. — Davis testified that the charge against McDaniel for tampering with evidence stems from her deleting the text messages after she factory reset her phone in September 2018. He also testified that the relationship between Staley and McDaniel was very brief. He also testified that people can get into relationships for a number of different selfish reasons. He then testified that an outpouring of support for McDaniel came after Wilder’s death.

Barber passes the witness back to Gillespie for further questioning.

11:16 a.m. — Davis testified that the interviews between himself and McDaniel were not recorded and he made no report about the interviews. He testified that in his experience, some women can get into abusive relationships and cycles of abuse and he has wondered why some women stay in those relationships.

Gillespie passes the witness to Barber for cross-examination.

11:12 a.m. — Davis testified that he reviewed the text messages sent between McDaniel and Staley. He testified that after 20 years in law enforcement, he still has the ability to be shocked by some things. He testified that the text messages shocked him. He testified that McDaniel never disclosed the text messages to the District Attorney’s office.

11:08 a.m. — Davis testified that McDaniel told Gillespie some intimate sexual details of her relationship with Staley. He also testified that McDaniel told Gillespie about a favorite toy of Wilders that Staley had torn apart.

11:05 a.m. — Davis testified that following the arrest of Staley in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, in October 2020, he and Gillespie met with McDaniel voluntarily. He testified that Gillespie had told McDaniel it was important that she disclose any other information she may have to aide their case against Staley. Davis testified that McDaniel did not disclose the text messages between her and Staley during their meetings.

The jury returned to the courtroom at 11 a.m. Judge McKnight instructed the prosecution that it may call its next witness. John Gillespie calls Tye Davis, Chief Investigator with the Wichita County District Attorney’s Office, to the stand.

Judge McKnight dismissed Sgt. Sheehan from the stand and informed him he was still under subpoena and subject to being recalled. Judge McKnight dismissed the jury for their morning break. The Court is in recess until 11 a.m. when testimony is set to resume.

10:39 a.m. — Gillespie asked Sgt. Sheehan if he was familiar with Casey Anthony, Stormy Johnson, and several other well-known cases of a mother being involved in the murder of their child. Barber objected to the line of questioning due to relevance. Gillespie said he was attempting to point out the importance of ruling out the mother of a murdered child as a suspect.

Barber passed the witness back to Gillespie for further questioning.

10:36 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that when Staley was indicted for capital murder, he still had not ruled out McDaniel as a suspect in Wilder’s murder. He testified that the text messages were the final piece of evidence that convinced him McDaniel wasn’t a suspect. Barber stated that was six months after Staley was indicted. Sgt. Sheehan testified that two people can be involved in a murder.

10:33 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that Brooklynn Staley was interviewed and the forensic interview was recorded. He also testified that forensic interviews with children begin by establishing whether the child can distinguish between a lie and the truth.

Gillespie passes the witness back to Barber for further cross-examination.

10:30 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that the case against Staley was a highly circumstantial evidence case, and Dr. Dakil’s report was the final puzzle piece they needed to move forward with the case. Sgt. Sheehan also testified that due to the fact that the case was highly circumstantial, additional pieces of evidence are helpful. He also testified that the text messages recovered from Staley’s phone were a very important piece of evidence.

10:26 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified text messages can be a very important puzzle piece in building a murder case.

Barber passes the witness back to Gillespie for further questioning.

10:22 a.m. — Barber asked Sgt. Sheehan if he was aware of the hostility toward McDaniel following Wilder’s death before she was arrested on the charges pending against her. “Are you familiar with people on Facebook?” Sgt. Sheehan asked. “Facebook isn’t a place to have a rational conversation,” Sgt. Sheehan added.

10:19 a.m. — Barber asked Sgt. Sheehan if he had ever told Bubba or Amber McDaniel that text messages don’t make someone a murderer. Sgt. Sheehan testified that he didn’t recall saying that.

10:17 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that the opinion of Dr. Suzanne Dakil on Wilder’s death was a key piece of evidence in the case. He testified that Staley was arrested in October 2020, about 11 days after Dr. Dakil’s opinion was given. He testified that at that time, he felt they had enough evidence against Staley to file the charges.

10:13 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that the investigation into Wilder’s death was never made a cold case, but rather, it was transferred to the detective in charge of cold cases. Sgt. Sheehan testified that Wilder’s case doesn’t meet the criteria to be considered a cold case.

10:09 a.m. — Barber read the results of Wilder’s autopsy to Sgt. Sheehan. The findings of the autopsy could not determine the cause of Wilder’s death but said his death was highly suspicious of an asphyxial homicide.

10:04 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that Staley’s phone was sent to the Secret Service laboratory to retrieve the messages in May 2020. Barber asked if it was analyzed by the WFPD before that time and Sgt. Sheehan testified they did not. Sgt. Sheehan testified that Staley’s phone wasn’t taken to the Secret Service lab until about 18 months after Wilder’s death.

10:01 a.m. — Barber asked Sgt. Sheehan about the dates on which evidence was returned to the WFPD after it was processed by outside forensic laboratories. Sgt. Sheehan testified that multiple pieces of evidence, including the DNA results from Wilder’s pillow, were returned within a year of Wilder’s death.

9:57 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that he didn’t personally know Staley or McDaniel well and that he wouldn’t know whether or not Staley had a dark sense of humor. Barber pointed out the emojis and phrases in the text messages that would suggest the comments were made as a joke.

9:53 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that the WFPD received the photograph of the bruising on Wilder’s face and a Facebook message in which Staley said Wilder needed to be “culled” within weeks of Wilder’s death. Barber asked if those things could have been evidence of murderous intent. Sgt. Sheehan said not the same as multiple text messages.

Gillespie passes the witness to defense attorney Mark Barber for cross-examination.

9:49 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that their investigation showed McDaniel never took Wilder to the doctor following the incident on August 31, 2018, which left Wilder’s face significantly bruised. He also testified that a pediatrician would have been required by Texas law to report suspected child abuse, and he would have been surprised if a pediatrician didn’t report injuries like that.

9:48 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan said after McDaniel was arrested for endangering a child and tampering with evidence in 2021 and the affidavits were seen by the public, many people who contributed to the Justice For Wilder campaign felt like they had become victims of fraud.

9:47 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that between Wilder’s murder and Staley’s arrest, Staley spent most of his time in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He testified that Staley had several girlfriends during that time, two of which had children. He testified that if the WFPD received the text messages from McDaniel earlier, they could have imposed bond conditions that would have limited his access to children.

9:43 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that McDaniel’s destruction of the text messages significantly impeded the WFPD’s investigation into Wilder’s death. He also testified that multiple protests by the Justice For Wilder campaign took place prior to Staley’s arrest.

9:40 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that the text messages between Staley and McDaniel were important evidence that implicated Staley as a suspect in Wilder’s murder, but that they also served as evidence of McDaniel committing the felony offense of endangering a child. Sgt. Sheehan testified that based on the hours Staley kept, he had access to Wilder when McDaniel was asleep.

9:35 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that he is aware of the text messages between McDaniel and Staley. He testified McDaniel never made the police aware of the messages even when she was specifically asked if any such messages existed.

9:32 a.m. — Gillespie asked Sgt. Sheehan if the interview between McDaniel and the WFPD on January 26, 2019, around two weeks after the two Facebook posts that were read by Gillespie were made, would have been an opportunity to come clean about the evidence she destroyed. Sgt. Sheehan testified that it would have been.

9:30 a.m. — Gillespie read another Facebook post from January 2019 made by McDaniel, which repeatedly said “I should have known”, expressing her displeasure with the progress of the investigation into Wilder’s death and the fact that Staley had yet to be arrested.

9:25 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that a large support system was created in Wichita Falls through the “Justice For Wilder” campaign, more than any he’s ever seen.

9:23 a.m. — A social media post made by Amber McDaniel on January 11, 2019, is shown to the jury. The post reads, in part, “I’m ready to fight for my baby to get justice for my baby… I’m ready to be drug through the mud.”

9:21 a.m. — Gillespie offers several screenshots of social media posts made by McDaniel regarding the “Justice For Wilder” campaign. They are admitted into evidence without any objection from the defense.

9:20 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified he would primarily communicate with Bubba McDaniel, Amber McDaniel’s husband and Wilder’s father, for updates on the case. He also testified that the “Justice For Wilder” campaign was started within weeks of Wilder’s murder and that Bubba and Amber McDaniel made many posts on social media, appeared on local news outlets, and made t-shirts regarding the “Justice for Wilder” campaign.

9:14 a.m. — Sgt. Sheehan testified that he was assigned to oversee the investigation into Wilder’s death about 12 days into their investigation. He testified that more resources were used and more money was spent on this case than any other case in his career.

Judge McKnight instructs the prosecution it may call its next witness. John Gillespie, on behalf of the state, calls WFPD Sgt. Brian Sheehan to the stand.

9:07 a.m. — Before proceedings began, Judge McKnight informed the jury that he anticipated the trial would require a second week, likely lasting until Tuesday, September 19, 2023, however, he said it takes as long as it takes.

9:00 a.m. — Tara Campisi, the mother of James Staley’s daughter, Brooklynn, is sworn in as a witness outside of the presence of the jury, though it is unclear when she will take the stand.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texoma’s Homepage for the latest from the punishment trial of Amber McDaniel. This story will be updated as new information becomes available, so refresh this page often.