Stunning Twist in Killer Babysitter Case

I was just a mom a couple hours ago, couple minutes ago, and now I'm having. to precede a life without a kid. That's. when I real. realized I didn't get the baby at the. court. I forgot. >> A Florida babysitter left a 10-month-old. girl in a sweltering hot [music] car for. hours, killing her. She was convicted of. murder. She was sent to prison. But now, an appellet court says there may have. been a miscarriage of justice. Why? They. say that Rhonda Juul deserves a new.

trial. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by. Law and Crime. I'm [music] Jesse Weber. In the stifling heat of a July summer, a. new mother and her babysitter made a. horrific discovery at the same time. Aria Paige, little girl, hadn't even. reached her first birthday, was strapped. into her car seat and left inside the. babysitter's SUV as the temperature. soared well past 100°. Rhonda Juel ended.

up being charged with murder in. connection with the death of this. 10-month old girl. And this is a case. that might sound familiar to you because. we brought you gavvel to gavvel coverage. of Jules's 2024 trial. It's on Long. Crimes Trials channel right now. You can. see it for yourself. And we kept you. updated last year when her legal team. was working on an appeal. And now this. is the update. Now we know the result of. all of that work because Florida's first. district court of appeals says Jules's.

murder conviction is unlawful. Overturned. Three judge panel released. its opinion last week with two judges in. agreement. The chief judge dissenting. Now, Judge L. Clayton Roberts wrote, quote, "This is the most tragic of. cases. A beloved child has died. Her. family is left with an immeasurable loss. and it was Rhonda Jules's fault, but it. was an accident. This case highlights. how imperfect our criminal justice. system is to adjudicate an accidental. death. There are no winners here. Moral.

outrage is not assuaged. And beneath the. tragedy, the issues are legally. important. Now, that is what I'm going. to talk about because of course, a. really important thing to remember here. is that while Juul is back in the. spotlight with her appeal, a really. important thing to remember, what you. can't forget is Aria. We don't want to. forget about Aria, her family members. who are still dealing every day with her. loss. That conviction didn't bring this.

little girl back. It doesn't make it. easier. And you have to imagine, you. have to imagine that what we're seeing. here with this conviction essentially. being overturned is going to have a big. effect. And the horrific loss, this. destroyed longtime relationships. According to court paperwork, Ariah was. Jules's best friend's granddaughter. But. I want to explain why this happened. I. want to explain why legally this. happened. Because I know a lot of you. out there might be in shock. You might. be angry. You might not understand this.

So, let me explain. You go back to the. appeals court opinion. It says, quote, "Appelent Rhonda Juul seeks review of. her convictions for thirdderee felony. murder and felony leaving a child. unattended in a motor vehicle for which. she was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Our review is whether her convictions. are legally based on the evidence and. the law. We conclude they are not and. reverse." I'm going to explain why. Before I even get into that though, to. just put in perspective what this is. about, I think I just want to start with.

the deputies body cam footage. It tells. the story in this case, and I want to. look at that before we dive into the. court brief. So, Juel was also watching. other children at a third woman's home. when this happened. Aria came along to. that house for the day. Deputies arrived. shortly after paramedics and they tried. to help little Ariah inside the garage. and her mother Brooke was hysterical. outside. >> I can't do this. >> I CAN'T DO THIS. [laughter].

I CAN'T DO THIS. NO, I can't do this. I. JUST WANT TO HIT SOMEBODY so hard right. now. I can't do this. I CAN'T DO THIS. I SWEAR TO GOD IF SHE DIES I will I. can't I CAN'T DO THIS. [screaming and laughter] I CAN'T do. this. He's only 10 months old. She's in. the garage. >> Okay, real quick before we go any. further into this, you know, we share a. lot of clips on these rapidly developing. stories. And if you're into content. creation, if you're putting things out. on social media, this is a secret. This.

is what we use. We use something called. Opus Clips. So, Opus Clip is an. all-in-one AI editor that makes it just. so easy to cut, create, and upload. videos across any platform. Because Opus. Clip generates B-roll, it refframes. footage, and it even cleans up audio. through AI. They find the best moments. from your content. Visit. opus.pro/sidebar. You sign up, you upload, and in minutes, you'll have perfectly edited clips that. your audience is absolutely going to. love. Use OpusClip as your source for. Tik Tok, shorts, reals. This is the most. powerful tool there is to edit like a.

professional. You go to opus.pro/sidebar. to get a free week, then 50% off for the. next three months. That is. opus.pro/sidebar. Paramedics mentioned multiple times on. the body camera footage how hot the. child's skin was, saying it was like she. was on fire. They rushed her to a nearby. hospital. This is where Brooke and her. mother-in-law waited frantically for. updates. And that's when a doctor. delivered the heart-wrenching news. I.

just want to know something. >> I just want to know something. >> Y'all want to go in and talk to the. doctor? >> I don't know. I I just want to know. information. I don't. >> talk to you. >> Okay. >> You want your mother want to go with. you? >> Yeah. >> She can talk to the doctor. >> Talk.

Hang on here. Get real. [sighs]. 97. >> Grandmother.

>> [laughter]. >> I WANT OUT. I WANT OUT. I WANT OUT. I. WANT OUT. I WANT OUT. I SWEAR TO GOD. [screaming]. I don't know what to do. No. I DON'T [screaming]. [screaming]. [screaming].

want to be. I can't do this. I don't know what to do, but I want to. be in the medicine. No, no, no. >> Back at the home, investigators took. temperature measurements inside and. outside of the SUV, and the readings. were absolutely stunning. >> That was 134 interior. >> The door being open. >> The door being open. So, you know, it.

was probably 150 or 60 in there when it. happened. >> I'm sorry. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Tells you how long she might have been. in there, right? How long that car could. have heated up for. So, Juel eventually. went to trial on three counts. negligent. aggravated manslaughter of a child, thirdderee felony murder, and neglect of. a child by leaving them unattended in a. motor vehicle causing bodily harm. And. during the trial, an investigator named. Sergeant Brad Dardy talked about his. conversations with Juel after Aria was. found in that horrible condition.

>> What did she say happened? She said that when she got there. that. Aria was sleeping um because she wasn't. making any noises or she assumed she was. sleeping because she wasn't making any. noises. So she went on into the house um. met with Stacy Pascal, spoke with her. briefly and then sat down on the couch. and started her day with the other three. children.

Did she indicate to you that she had. forgotten the child? >> She did. >> And the sergeant's interview with Juel. was also played for the jury. >> The questions that will come up is, you. know, is anything on your mind? I mean, are you going through something. personally that would cause you not to, you know, think about it? Uh, I mean, we. have a kid moving to college, so we're. doing that. And. >> we're going to we're.

London and we're supposed to go on. vacation tomorrow. And [clears throat]. >> I mean, I don't that's not an excuse. >> I'm not I'm not asking to you to make. excuses. That's not what I mean. And I. mean, you know, u the question is, you. know, it is possible to forget things. and and even a child. And it's it's even. more possible if you got some type of. stress in your life at the time that. you're going through that kind of thing, you know, that would cause you to make. that forgetfulness, you know. Um, so I.

didn't know if there was something like. that going on in your life right now. >> Yes. Moving our kid to to college and. this trip coming up in England and we're. supposed to leave it August the second. and all of that. So, >> okay. >> No drugs or alcohol? >> That's okay. Mhm. >> All right. Well, I'm let your husband. come back in here. Um, we're currently. talking to the sheriff and the state. We're going to figure out where we go. from here. Okay. >> Juel, she took the stand in her own. defense. Her lawyer started off the.

questioning by having her talk about the. work that she does with children, how. she would never intentionally hurt a. child. >> Aria was Brooke and Justice's daughter. Um, >> can you describe for the jury what kind. of relationship [clears throat] you had. with Aria? Rhonda, >> I love her like she was my own. Um I was there for baby showers, um. weddings, um upwork and justice. Um she. just I gravitated to her just like I.

would any baby. >> And during the course of the dinners and. vacations and things that you've. described that you did with this family, would you spend time with Aria during. those events as well? >> Absolutely. and Juel explained what. happened when she pulled up to the home. and parked. >> What happened when you got to Stacy's? >> I got there and I grabbed my my water. bottle, my my cup and I had um my lunch. in the um the little tray right there.

where the cup holder is and I grabbed. it. My phone was right there as well. And I grabbed it, got out of the car to. to get to the inside before um 8:15 so. she could leave. She didn't want to. leave while the kids were she didn't. want them up. She wanted them asleep so. she could get out and she wouldn't be. late. And that's what was I was thinking. is get there and get there on time. before they got up. >> When you got out of the car, Rhonda, did. you get Aria out of the car?

>> No, ma'am. [clears throat] I forgot. I. forgot I had her. When you went inside, did you talk to Stacy. >> for a brief a brief minute? >> And as Juel reached the moment that she. realized something had gone horribly. wrong, this is when she got emotional. >> Whenever Brooke Paige called you, can. [clears throat] you describe for us what. happened? >> She said, "Hey." And I said, "Hey." And.

she said, "Um, what? Where?" She said, "I'm here." And. I said, "Here." I said, "Where you at?". And she said, "Um, I'm at the door." And. I said, "Oh." And. >> did you go to the door at that time? >> I did, but I didn't I didn't know why. she was there. So I was I was like, "What are you doing?" And she said, "I'm. here." And I So I asked her what where. was she was at? She said, "I'm at the. door.". >> Did you go to the front door?

>> I I did. >> What happened when you opened the front. door? Um, she opened I opened up the door and. I seen her and I was still in shock. while she was there. And so she had. money in her hand and her keys. and and. that's when I realized. I didn't get the baby at Lor. I forgot. I forgot the [laughter].

hurry. I already had the baby in the. car. [laughter] And so I pushed her out. the way and I'm screaming, "Oh my god, broke. Oh my god. Oh my god, bro." And. she's I could hear her saying, "What? What? What?" And I ran to ran to the car. and. I opened up the door and she was still. there. Right. Was in the backstage.

>> What happened after you opened the door, Rhonda? [laughter]. I opened up the back door and she was. left. I accidentally left her in the. car. Bro's like, "Oh my god, oh my god. Oh my god, bro. Oh my god, bro.".

She. and she said, "Call 911.". It's all right. I ran back inside. I. couldn't find my phone. and I couldn't when I found it, I I have. a code to get in and I couldn't remember. my code to get. to get the to get my phone [laughter].

>> at that point after you had found your. phone and you're trying to get into it. Have you come back outside to the car, >> ma'am? >> At that point after you had found your. phone, but you couldn't remember the. code to use it. Did you come back out to. the car? >> I did. >> At Was Brooke on the phone at that time? >> I think she was. Yes, ma'am. What did you do at that point? Um,

>> I got the baby out of the car. Out of. the car seat. >> What did you do with Aria after you got. her out of the car seat? >> [laughter and gasps]. >> I held her and I and I pray God would. take me instead. [laughter]. I beg God to give her breath to take me. instead instead of her.

at some point. [crying]. At some point did you take the riot. inside the garage? And I did. >> What did you do at that [clears throat]. point? >> Brooke came in. Then. I think she was on the phone with Miss. Paige or I don't know who she was on the. phone with, but she she had told me to. go to the road and wait for 911 to get.

there so they know where. to go. >> And um did you do that? >> I did. Did um I'm assuming that the EMTs. and firefighters they they came. >> Yes, I am. >> What happened after they arrived? Um. I remember. coming out of the garage. and I went to the front to front porch.

and Brooke went somewhere. I don't. remember where she went, but I just know. we weren't together. >> I'm sorry. You weren't. We weren't. together. >> Did you go back inside Stacy's home at. that point? >> No, I remembered. that they were supposed to be eating. lunch and I went to go check and see if. the stove was still on. I couldn't. remember if I turn turned it off or. what? What? And I just asked Maddie, the. oldest daughter. I said, "Please keep.

them in here. Please keep them in here. Don't let him come outside." Juel. testified that she urinated on herself. as she ran to the SUV, vomited after she. saw Aria. So, in other words, she claims. she made a terrible mistake, but it was. not intentional. She didn't even know. she left this girl in the car. Didn't. realize it until too late. And that is. going to be key. The jury had a verdict. in just about an hour because they found. her guilty on two of the three charges: thirdderee felony murder and leaving a.

child unattended in a motor vehicle. causing great bodily injury. The judge. ended up sentencing Juel to 15 years on. the murder charge, two years for child. neglect, sentences that she'll serve. consecutively, so 17 years in total. But. just a few months later, Juel was. released from jail on $100,000 bond. while her case was being appealed. And. her legal team argued, and this is going. to be key, and this is what we're going. to get into, Juel didn't intentionally. leave Aria in the car. And while her. actions may have been negligent, they.

weren't conscious. They weren't. malicious. So now I want to go back to. the judge's response to Jules's latest. legal maneuvering. And it reads, quote, "Appelent raises three issues on appeal. She argues her convictions by a. sixperson jury violated the sixth and. 14th amendments. We affirm this issue. Appellant was not entitled to a 12person. jury because she was not tried for a. capital offense." So we start right. there. Under Florida law, most cases. will have six person juries unless the. death penalty, unless it's a capital. case, unless that's being considered.

Quote, "In the remaining issues, Appellent argues her convictions must be. reversed because the state had to prove. she knowingly left AP in a vehicle, which is an essential element of section. 316. 61354. as properly construed. If this court. declines to read knowledge into the. statute, she argues her thirddegree. felony murder conviction must be. reversed because felony murder cannot be. predicated on a strict liability. offense. We interpret section 316.61354.

to require proof of knowledge and. reverse her conviction on count three. for leaving a child unattended in a. motor vehicle with great bodily harm. because count two felony murder is. predicated on the underlying felony and. count three. We reverse her conviction. on count two for thirdderee felony. murder. Felony murder is you basically. commit a felony and someone dies as a. result. Okay. So, the opinion then digs. into why the prosecution made a mistake.

here. Quote, "Under the state's. interpretation of section 316.61354, it only had to prove appellant caused. AP's death by leaving her unattended in. the vehicle for more than 15 minutes. Appellant challenged this interpretation. at trial. Appellant requested a special. jury instruction which the trial court. rejected. She twice moved for a judgment. of a quiddle, arguing that this section. required proof that she consciously or. knowingly left AP in the vehicle, which. the evidence did not show. The trial.

court denied the motions for judgment of. a quiddle. The court's rulings were. premised on its interpretation that this. section did not require any proof of. knowledge. The court reasoned that if. the legislature had intended to include. a men's rhea element in the statute, it. would have expressly done so. We. disagree. So yeah, basically this. appellet court said, "No, you actually. do need to show criminal intent here.". And the way they did that is they went. over the statute. They went over past. cases. They looked at the case law. And. I'm not going to get into all that. I.

won't bore you with all that. But. essentially, men's rhea knowledge of the. act valition that she knew she was. leaving her unattended. This is not a. strict liability crime like the state. wants. That's what the court says. So, in other words, the court says if you're. going to find her guilty, you have to. say to this jury, the state has to prove. beyond a reasonable doubt that Juel. knowingly or consciously left Ariah in. the car. Not that she just forgot, which.

is what Juel claimed. And therefore, the. trial court was wrong to not allow a. special instruction to the jury on that. Instead, the trial court said to the. jury, "All you need to find was that A, Juel was responsible for the death, B, Ariah was younger than six, C, Juel left. her unattended in the car for longer. than 15 minutes, and D, Juel caused. Ariah great bodily harm." That's it. And. according to the appellet court, that's. not enough. That wasn't right. That. wasn't correct. You need to instruct the.

jury that the state had to prove. knowingly or consciously leaving a riot. in the car. now doesn't mean that Juel. gets off scott-free. She'll potentially. have to face another trial, one where. the jury has been quote properly. instructed. No word yet on whether. that's going to happen and not entirely. clear if the prosecution has enough. evidence to support that she knowingly. or consciously left her in the car. I. mean, you can show that through direct. evidence. You can show that through. circumstantial evidence. We've seen.

these kinds of hot car deaths before, these kinds of cases. Now, I want to go. back to the personal side of this. So, Ariah's grandmother, Pam Page, reacted. to the news and reacted to the news in a. statement to outlet Action News. Jacks. says, quote, Rhonda Juul basically said. that she left the Ry in the car because. she assumed she was sleeping. So, that. to us said, okay, she initially meant to. leave her in the car. She just forgot to. go back. The laws are too relaxed when. it comes to children being left in.

vehicles. When you get this information. and you find out that someone can use a. defense as simple as, "Oh, I forgot. I. just forgot." We were extremely. disappointed. Also, I should tell you. the Page family filed a lawsuit against. Juul in Baker County last year. It was. alleging negligence. And according to. the county's court docket, that case is. scheduled to go to trial in March of. next year. So, we will see if that. should happen before another criminal. trial. But look, this is a major. development and this is a legal. development that we believe warranted an.

explanation for why this happened. because I know people out there will be. frustrated and angry and confused, but. this is our legal system. This is the. way it works and you heard the court's. rationale for this and we will see what. happens next. That's all we have for you. right now here on Sidebar. Thank you so. much for joining us. Always appreciate. it. [music] Please like and subscribe. I'm Jesse Weber. We'll speak to you next. time.