CHRISTINA & AMBER: 1988-1992
Amber Bennett, 1989
Christina gave birth to Amber Gail Bennett on September 29, 1988. Christina wanted Amber to have the childhood she never had. Christina said, “I wanted Amber more than anything in the world. That’s all I ever wanted was a child of my own and I didn’t want to give her up because I didn’t want her to grow up like I did thinking you know what’s wrong with me that my parents didn’t love me, didn’t want me, didn’t keep me, didn’t even try to raise me. And I felt like, you know, things might not be easy with her, but at least she would know that I loved her.”
Christina’s first husband, James Bennett, continued to stalk, threaten, and harass her from afar. He refused to sign divorce papers, called the electric company to cancel Christina’s electricity, and made reports about Christina to Franklin County Children’s Services (FCCS).
In 1990, after finally obtaining a divorce from James, Christina married Larry Boyer. After several months of living together, Larry started to beat Christina. While Christina said that he never beat Amber, she worried he might eventually. Concerned for Amber’s safety, a social worker told Christina that, if she did not leave the abusive relationship, the state of Ohio would likely place Amber in foster care. One night, while Larry sat in jail, Christina took the social worker’s suggestion and, with Amber in one arm and a suitcase in the other, hopped on a bus to Georgia to begin a new life.
Christina and Amber in Carrollton.
Christina moved to Carrollton, Georgia to be close to Jeannie and Bill, the parapsychologists from Christina’s early teenage years. Jeannie and Bill offered to help support Christina as she tried to rebuild her life in Georgia. In an interview Christina explained, “When I moved to Carrollton, I felt between a rock and a hard place because I didn’t really have a safe place to go with Amber. . . Carrollton was a safe place . . . I really wanted to come down and get away from everything and I really thought we could make a new start.”
Christina found an apartment in the local public housing complex and signed up for food stamps. She explained, “I was actually proud of myself. I was on my own for the most part. I had gotten us away from my ex-husband and I was making it. I had begun taking parenting classes at the local tech college and begun classes to brush up on my math skills. I thought I was doing alright.”
Still, Christina struggled to find steady work in Carrollton. She made a little money transcribing notes for Jeannie, but wanted a more secure job. Christina explained, “You know it’s hard to find a job, I didn’t want to be on welfare, but I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t get a job because I didn’t have a babysitter and I couldn’t pay for a babysitter because I didn’t have a job. And I don’t have a job because I don’t have a car and I can’t get anywhere to get a freakin’ job. Once you get caught in the cycle, you’re so caught.”
When the holidays rolled around in December of 1991, Christina worried about food, finances, and the possibility of eviction. She said, “My welfare check didn't come and neither did the food stamps. So, I couldn't pay my rent, even though it was a low budget place, nor could I pay the utilities or buy food.” Still, Christina wanted Amber to have a present to open on Christmas morning and called into the local Carrollton radio station to enter Amber as a participant in the station’s Christmas Wish Program.
Amber, age 3, during a Christmas 1991 visit to Bill and Lydia Roll’s home.
Christina, age 22, and Amber, age 3, November 1991 (photograph c/o Jan Banning)
In 1992, Christina started dating a Carroll County local named David Herrin. Though they maintained separate residences, they spent a significant amount of time together. David had a daughter around the same age as Amber and the two kids played together. Not too long after they started dating, Christina began to leave Amber with David so that she could work during the day.
Christina and Jeannie described Amber as a hyperactive child. Christina recalled that Amber often had toddler injuries – scrapes from sidewalk falls, bruises from tricycle tumbles, and bumps from trips down the stairs. Christina said she often reminded David that Amber and Ashley were very different kids. Ashley could sit alone quietly and color, while Amber needed much more supervision.
On April 14, 1992, Christina left Amber in David’s care for the day so she could transcribe notes for Jeannie. When Christina returned home six hours later, she found Amber dead.