A Kansas mother who killed three young Girl Scouts — including her own daughter — in a car crash while making an illegal U-turn has blamed the legal system, the other driver and her own car for causing the fatal collision laid.
Amber Peery, 35, was found guilty in August of murdering her daughter, Brooklyn Peery, eight, along with Laila El Azari and Kylie Lunn, both nine, in the October 2022 car crash after the mother made an illegal U-turn had taken on I -335 while on her way to a Girl Scouts event.
Her van, which was carrying five girls, was hit by a truck, killing three girls and injuring two.
She was found guilty of three felonies of involuntary manslaughter, two felonies of aggravated battery and two traffic violations.
During her first sentencing hearing on Friday, a series of jailhouse calls were played in court, showing her feelings after the sentencing.
‘It’s so manipulated. I feel like the (expletive) got paid or something,” Peery said on the phone.
In another phone call from September, Peery made it clear that she hoped she would get probation for the crime.
“This is a vacation in a two-star hotel and it’s almost done,” she said, appearing to chuckle.
Amber Peery, 35, who was found guilty of murdering her daughter and two other girls in a fatal car crash in October 2022, has placed blame on the legal system after her conviction
Kylie Lunn (left), nine, died in the horrific crash in October 2022. Her best friend, Laila El Azri (right), also nine, was the third fatality in the crash
“Kansas likes to keep families together. This is a case where my children should not be taken from me,” she said before bringing up the aggravated battery charge that would make it difficult for her to gain custody of her two living children.
She also appeared to say, “I wish I had taken a plea” during a phone call, as she turned down the deal she was offered at the time.
In another phone call, also in September, the convicted mother blamed the truck driver for what happened that terrible day.
She claimed that the truck driver, whom she said she never saw, “should have seen my flashing light and braked.”
“I literally didn’t know what (expletive) was happening to me. I thought a bomb went off,” Peery said.
During another exchange, she claimed her vehicle was defective, which caused the fatal accident.
She also suggested she “take a probationary period,” adding that “everyone has been pinning this (expletive) (expletive) on me.”
‘It was a real accident anyway. I hope the judge sees that,” Peery added.
Peery’s own daughter, Brooklyn Peery, eight, also lost her life that day
Peery made an illegal U-turn on I-335 in her car (pictured) while on her way to a Girl Scouts event, driving five girls in her van, which was hit by a semi-truck
In October, while speaking about the case’s accuser, the mother said, “He’s just… you know.”
‘They are really after me. I understand that the other families are also suffering.”
Peery also blamed the Kansas Highway Patrol investigation.
“Everything just went my way,” Peery said. ‘It’s not fair. It’s just not that,” she said during a phone call.
“God wanted me to go to jail.”
In addition to blaming the other driver and authorities, Peery also accused the parents of the two other girls she killed of committing perjury. The Topeka Capital Journal reported.
Peery’s attorneys have filed for a “non-jail sanction” from Shawnee County District Judge Jessica Heinen, saying her mental health issues would be better treated outside of jail.
Some of her supporters have argued that her two living children would benefit if she is not sentenced to prison.
Meanwhile, Kylie and Laila’s families continue to push for a harsher sentence for Peery.
Shortly afterwards, Peery shared a heartbreaking message to her late daughter via Facebook, saying: ‘I honestly don’t know how to go on without you.’ (photo: Peery and Brooklyn)
Two children were still in Peery’s van at the time of the crash and one was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Peery also required hospital treatment.
The tractor-trailer truck was driven by Robert Hosey Russell, then 70 years old. He was uninjured in the collision and has not been charged.
Shortly afterwards, Peery shared a heartbreaking message to her deceased daughter on Facebook.
“I honestly don’t know how I’ll go on without you, but I know I have to and that everything I do will have a purpose for you,” she wrote at the time.
“Mommy loves you so much sweet girl and all I want is to be able to hold you in my arms again.”
Residents told us WIBW 13 at a time when cars often use the emergency U-turn opening at the dividing wall where Amber’s car was hit.
Kylie’s mother, Tiffany Lunn, said her late daughter was best friends with Laila.
“She was my everything and I was her everything and my heart is just broken right now,” Tiffany wrote on Facebook.
“I just don’t know where to turn, she was my goal, she was my everything, I’m just lost without her.”
Neighbors of Laila and Kylie have set up a memorial where the girls often played
A GoFundMe page for Laila was set up by loved ones at the time to help her family pay for funeral costs.
“Laila was out on a day out with her Girl Scout troop,” the page read. “What was supposed to be a fun day turned into a tragedy.”
The families’ neighbors also set up a memorial for Kylie and Laila at a local park they visited.
Peery, who has been held in the Shawnee County Jail since August 15, is expected in court on December 3 to continue her sentencing hearing.