In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I continue Inside the Crime That Shook a Community with Part Three, focusing on the trial of the man responsible for the death of 7-year-old Athena Strand.

This is the part of the story where the legal process begins… but that doesn’t make it any easier.

As I walk through the courtroom proceedings, I do so with the same care and intention, because behind every testimony, every piece of evidence, and every legal argument is a family still living with unimaginable loss.

Trials are meant to bring answers.

They’re meant to bring accountability.

But they don’t always bring peace.

From an investigative perspective, I also share insight into what happens when a case moves from the scene into the courtroom, how evidence is presented, how timelines are reconstructed, and how the justice system works to piece together the truth in a way that can be understood by a jury.

And while this part of the story focuses on the trial…

I want to be very clear about something.

This is not about the man who committed the crime.

It is still about Athena.

Her life.

Her memory.

And the impact she left behind.

This episode contains discussion of child violence, courtroom testimony, and sensitive details surrounding the case. Please take care of yourself while listening, and step away if you need to.