By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-25 22:22:00 | Updated at 2024-11-26 00:31:42
2 hours ago
A Kansas mother who killed three young Girl Scouts - including her own daughter - in a car crash while making an illegal U-turn has shifted blame to the judicial system, the other driver, and her own car for causing the fatal collision.
Amber Peery, 35, was found guilty in August of killing her daughter, Brooklyn Peery, eight, along with Laila El Azari and Kylie Lunn, both nine, in the car wreck in October 2022 after the mother made an illegal U-turn on I-335 while on her way to a Girl Scouts event.
Her van, which was carrying five girls, was struck by a semi-truck, leaving three of the girls dead and two injured.
She was found guilty on three felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, two felony counts of aggravated battery and two traffic violations.
During her first sentencing hearing on Friday, a series of jailhouse calls played in the courtroom showing her feelings following the conviction.
'It's so rigged. I feel like the (expletive) were paid or something,' Peery said on the phone.
In another call from September, Peery made it clear that she hoped she would get probation for the crime.
'This is a vacation at a two-star hotel and it's almost done,' she said while appearing to chuckle.
Amber Peery, 35, who was found guilty of killing her daughter and two other girls in October 2022 in a fatal car crash, has shifted blame on the judicial system after being convicted
Kylie Lunn (left), nine, died in the horrific crash in October 2022. Her best friend, Laila El Azri (right), also nine, was the third fatality in the crash
'Kansas likes to keep families together. This is a case where I shouldn't be taken from my kids,' she said before bringing up the aggravated battery charges that would make it hard for her to gain custody of her two living children.
She also appeared to say: 'I wish I would have taken a plea' in a call, as she rejected the deal offered to her at the time.
In another call, also in September, the convicted mother blamed the truck driver for what happened that dreadful day.
She claimed that the truck driver, who she said she never saw, 'should have seen my (expletive) blinker and braked.'
'I literally didn't know what (expletive) hit me. I thought a bomb went off,' Peery said.
During another exchange, she claimed her vehicle was faulty, causing the fatal crash.
She also suggested that she would 'take probation,' adding that 'everyone pinned this (expletive) (expletive) on me.'
'It was a true accident anyway. I hope the judge sees that,' Peery added.
Peery's own daughter, Brooklyn Peery, eight, also lost her life that day
Peery made an illegal U-turn on I-335 in her car (pictured) while on her way to a Girl Scouts event, as she drove five girls in her van, that was struck by a semi-truck
In October, while speaking of the case's prosecutor, the mother said: 'He's just... you know.
'They're really out for me I understand that the other families are suffering too.'
Peery also blamed the investigation conducted by the Kansas Highway Patrol.
'Everything just went toward me,' Peery said. 'It's not fair. It's just not,' she said in a call.
'God wanted me to have a sit down in jail.'
In addition to blaming the other driver and the authorities, Peery also accused the parents of the two other girls she killed of committing perjury, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
Peery's lawyers have requested a 'non-prison sanction' from Shawnee County District Judge Jessica Heinen, stating that her mental health issues would be treated better outside of jail.
Some of her supporters have argued that her two living children would benefit if she is not sentenced to jail time.
Meanwhile, Kylie and Laila's families have continued to push for a tougher sentence for Peery.
Shortly afterward, Peery shared a heartbreaking message to her deceased daughter over Facebook, saying ''I honestly don't know how I'm going to keep going without you.' (pictured: Peery and Brooklyn)
At the time of the crash, two more children were in Peery's van and one was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Peery also needed hospital treatment.
The semi-tractor trailer truck was driven by Robert Hosey Russell, then 70. He was unharmed in the collision and has not been charged.
Shortly afterward, Peery shared a heartbreaking message to her deceased daughter on Facebook.
'I honestly don't know how I'm going to keep going without you, but I know I have to and everything I do will be with a purpose for you,' she wrote at the time.
'Mommy loves you so much sweet girl and all I want is to be able to hold you in my arms again.'
Residents told WIBW 13 at the time that cars frequently use the emergency U-turn opening by the barrier wall where Amber's car was hit.
Kylie's mother, Tiffany Lunn, said her late daughter was best friends with Laila.
'She was my everything and I was her everything and my heart is just broken right now,' Tiffany wrote on Facebook.
'I just don't know where to go from here, she was my purpose, she was my everything, I'm just lost without her.'
Neighbors of Laila and Kylie set up a memorial site where the girls often played
A GoFundMe page for Laila was set up by loved ones at the time to help her family pay for funeral costs.
'Laila was on a day out with her Girl Scout troop,' the page read. 'What was going to be a fun day turned to tragedy.'
The families' neighbors also set up a memorial site for Kylie and Laila at a local park they frequented.
Peery, who has been held in the Shawnee County Jail since August 15, is expected in court on December 3 to continue her sentencing hearing.
