Although a jury convicted Carolyn Aune of first-degree murder in connection with a toddler’s 2021 death, Aune continues to assert her innocence. The Cody resident recently asked a judge to acquit her of the crime.

In April, Park County jurors found that Aune caused the death of Paisleigh Williams, her boyfriend’s 2-year-old daughter. The child had been dealt a deadly blow to her abdomen and jurors determined that Aune failed to seek potentially life-saving medical care. Aune is awaiting sentencing and faces the prospect of spending the rest of her life in prison.

In a July 13 letter, however, Aune asked presiding District Court Judge Bobbi Overfield to overturn the jury’s verdict and acquit her.

“I understand that there is a dead child and it is excruciatingly tragic. I am sorry she is dead and I also agree that justice needs to be served,” Aune wrote, referring to the death of Paisleigh Williams, “but sending me away for my whole life when no expert testimony, no witnesses, and no evidence points to me, that is not justice, that is not part of the oath you took.”

Authorities say Paisleigh died as a result of a forceful blow that severed her intestines, followed by her caregivers taking far too long to get her to a doctor. By the time her father, Moshe Williams, brought her to West Park Hospital, it was too late to save her life, multiple medical professionals testified at trial.

Park County prosecutors asserted that it was Aune who injured the toddler, but they provided no direct evidence to support the theory and the jury acquitted Aune of the allegation. 

She testified that it was Williams who had injured the girl, saying he stomped on the child’s stomach. Aune testified that she witnessed the incident, but had no idea Paisleigh had been seriously injured until the afternoon of the following day, shortly before she was taken to the hospital.

However, prosecutors worked to undermine Aune’s account. For instance, in contrast to Aune’s account that Paisleigh seemed fine, a child abuse expert testified that would have been obvious that the toddler was very sick for an extended period of time.

Additionally, the prosecution presented evidence that Aune’s version of events didn’t match up with phone records and repeatedly noted that she lied to Cody police about the incident; Aune had told police she had no idea what happened, at one point floating a theory that one of her own children might have injured Paisleigh.

The jury ultimately agreed with the prosecution that Aune had “recklessly inflicted” physical injury on Paisleigh by failing to seek care for the child in the hours that passed between the blow to her abdomen and her arrival at West Park.

In this month’s letter, Aune asserted there was no evidence proving that she’d caused the toddler’s death. She also said her testimony was given before she’d seen the information that investigators had gathered against her.

In requesting an acquittal, Aune asked Judge Overfield to “search within yourself for the courage to do the right thing.” 

“Please think about what sending a person that was proven innocent but still found guilty away for their whole life, could [do to] a person,” Aune wrote. “I am dedicated to finding justice for P.W. [Paisleigh] and that is to send the person who actually inflicted the injury away. And [it’s] not me.”

Moshe Williams, 33, is also facing a count of first-degree murder in connection with his daughter’s death and is set for an Oct. 31 trial. However, Deputy Park County Attorney Jack Hatfield recently said that he expects to reach a plea deal in that case.

As for Aune, Hatfield says he plans to seek a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the 30-year-old. She faces a separate felony count related to an alleged fight she had with detention deputies while awaiting trial.

Both Aune and Williams have been held in the Park County Detention Center since their March 2021 arrests.