The Trial of Richard Vale
Chapter 12 - The Trial of Richard Vale
Richard faced charges for fraud, conspiracy, unlawful guardianship, evidence destruction, and theft from protected funds.
The prosecution began with Margaret’s original engineering reports.
Then came decades of property transfers.
Samuel Brooks testified about losing his home.
Employees described fake invoices.
Evelyn testified that Richard knew Margaret was alive and paid North Ridge to keep her isolated.
Richard’s attorneys portrayed Evelyn as a jealous sister seeking revenge.
Margaret answered technical questions for six hours without contradiction.
The jury heard the SOS recording from the penthouse.
Richard’s voice said, “Do not leave marks. We need her afraid, not injured.”
The sentence revealed the entire strategy.
He believed avoiding visible injury made coercion acceptable.
Mason testified under a separate plea negotiation, but his answers attempted to minimize his role.
The prosecution played the hidden-camera footage showing him practicing the confrontation.
Richard was convicted on nearly every major count.
He received a sentence likely to keep him imprisoned for the remainder of his life.
His assets entered restitution funds.
Buildings bearing his name were reviewed.
Some were renamed.
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Others preserved his name in historical exhibits explaining what happened.
The public would not be allowed to mistake removal for forgetting.
