An Indiana woman accused of strangling her 10-year-old stepdaughter and hiding her body in a shed on her property reportedly plans to represent herself in court.
People magazine obtained a probable cause affidavit stating that Amanda Carmack, 34, confessed to killing Skylea Carmack but couldn’t recall what prompted it, only telling police that she was “very angry” at the time. The pair had reportedly gotten into an argument after the 10-year-old was caught stealing a charm bracelet from one of her siblings.
Amanda Carmack had allegedly admitted to slapping her stepdaughter and getting on top of her while she was on her back.
“She started choking her with her hands then she thinks she tied something around her neck,” the document detailed.
Citing the autopsy, the affidavit also revealed that a pair of pants was found “tied very tight” around the victim’s neck, according to People.
Skylea Carmack was initially believed to have run away from her Gas City home on the afternoon of August 31. At the time of her disappearance, she was reportedly left with Amanda Carmack and six siblings as her father worked. The stepmother was said to have waited until that evening to report her disappearance to authorities.
Authorities issued a statewide SILVER Alert for Skylea Carmack on September 1. Though AMBER Alerts are typically for missing children who are considered endangered, SILVER Alerts are used when an elderly person or someone with a cognitive disability vanishes.
On September 4, Skylea Carmack’s body was reportedly discovered in a trash bag in a shed located behind her family home. Police believe Amanda Carmack had strangled her on the afternoon of her disappearance.
One of the slain girl’s sisters claimed Skylea Carmack was in her room when she went to ride a bike but was gone when she returned at 6 p.m., according to The Indianapolis Star.
The suspect’s children reportedly described her as “a strict disciplinarian” who would routinely abuse them with belts.
According to WXIN, Amanda Carmack came into the police station and asked to speak with someone. She was reportedly found sobbing on the interview room’s floor before confessing to killing the 10-year-old.
Since then, police told The Star that the stepmother had failed a polygraph test.
Amanda Carmack is charged with murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, strangulation, and domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury. She said she “doesn’t need a lawyer” and will be representing herself instead, court documents obtained by WXIN stated.
Meanwhile, the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office announced that they will seek life in prison without parole.
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[Featured image: Skylea Carmack, Amanda Carmack/Gas City Police Department]
