Chapter 5 - WHY HE NEEDED MY FACE
The staged-collision scheme was already collapsing.
One cooperating driver had begun speaking to investigators. Caleb’s cousin had stopped answering calls. The shop’s bank had restricted a business account after receiving a federal preservation request.
Caleb needed money quickly.
Our SUV carried a large uninsured-motorist and personal-injury policy because he had insisted the coverage was necessary for my safety. He planned to submit a collision claim with me as the injured driver.
My fractures would support the medical portion.
The false vehicle report would support the crash.
My supposed confusion would explain any inconsistency.
If I later denied the accident, Caleb intended to say the head injury had damaged my memory.
He had transformed every part of the assault into a feature of the fraud.
The broken nose.
The swollen eye.
The concussion.
Even my fear.
On his phone, investigators later found a draft message to an insurance adjuster:
My wife is disoriented and may contradict herself. Please communicate through me until she stabilizes.
He had written it before we entered the hospital.
There was also an estimate from his repair shop for front-end damage that did not exist.
A tow invoice had already been prepared.
The date was blank.
Caleb expected to damage the SUV after leaving the hospital, then place it somewhere consistent with the claim.
May you like
He had rehearsed my statement because I was not only his victim.
I was supposed to be his most valuable piece of evidence.
