From inside the a choice who does return to haunt their unique, Beth selected their husband, and you can she called Steven when deciding to take Marie. “I never ever consider I found myself pushing Marie aside. I was thinking you to definitely their proceed to Steven’s flat manage simply be short term hence Frank create soon alter their notice,” she told you. “She believed that Honest is treated for their particular moved,” Rate said. “Marie’s ongoing presence and her relationship together with her mommy was basically hindering him out-of putting his wedding right back also Beth.”
Getting their region, Steven Robards was thinking about new change away from occurrences. By 1992 medication got mostly healed your away from their bouts having anxiety. Most important, he had discover a constant job holding send on the U.S. Postal Solution. “For Steven, Marie’s going back to help you him is such as for example icing with the pie,” recalled their aunt, Stephanie Older. To suit Marie, Robards applied for a-two-bedroom apartment in his cutting-edge.
Considering Beth, Marie delivered their own emails in which she described exactly how she disliked their own this new college, Eastern Mountains Highschool, that was much larger than Granbury Highest. She plus published one to their dad is without most homemaking knowledge. He had few kitchen items. The guy don’t brush this new flat. Marie must sleep in good rollaway sleep regarding the eating room because they waited to own a much bigger flat to open. Steven failed to frighten or harm Marie. “He was extremely anxious regarding the enjoyable their own, and then he did everything he could and make their own feel comfortable,” told you Sandra Hudgins, who lived in an equivalent apartment state-of-the-art 
. “The guy took Marie out over restaurants and you can videos. But I understand that people first few weeks, Marie is actually always towards the cellular telephone getting in touch with their mommy. She is actually pleading to get home.”
He previously a budding connection that have Sandra Hudgins, an individual mom he had satisfied in the a parents Versus Partners appointment
Beth generated zero promises to Marie from the coming back in order to Granbury, no matter if Marie blogged her a separate letter claiming she try self-destructive. “We instantly titled Marie and you may shared with her lives was as well precious for their unique to express such things as you to definitely,” Beth told you. “I really thought atic in the manner teenagers shall be.”
After a couple of weeks, it appeared to be Beth was proper. Marie’s levels began boosting in the East Hills. “She was at the big two to three percent out of my personal students,” told you Tracie Arnold, this new school’s chemistry teacher. “I actually do consider reading their particular point out that she wished to disperse back in along with her mom, however, she try usually an excellent, bubbly girl.” Hudgins asserted that by Christmas, Marie is actually significantly more relaxed together with her land. “She never ever talked back to Steven. She try usually collaborative. She actually requested me if she may help me personally wrap Christmas gifts,” Hudgins told you. “Genuinely, she is what you desired a teen to-be.”
So just why, when you look at the February 1993, given that teacher was not lookin, did Marie afin de out of a bottle designated with a skull and you can crossbones and also the phrase “poisonous” in higher red emails particular barium acetate on a good napkin, and that she next hid inside her knapsack? “It’s among those secrets-good teenager’s desperation,” told you Price. “For reasons uknown, Marie did end up being permanently involved. She said that before the barium experience, she got thinking that if the she you can expect to shed off Steven’s apartment as he was not there, she’d be able to end up being reunited with her mom.”
She are while making a good 98 from inside the French, good 91 within the English, and you will an effective 95 during the chemistry
However, based on just what Marie afterwards told the authorities, she decided on the evening of February 18 to get the barium acetate towards their refried kidney beans. Shortly after Steven consumed his Mexican dinner, the guy visited a good Wednesday night church provider during the the local Church regarding Christ. The guy returned below an hour or so later on, moaning regarding a great stomachache. He started to vomit. Marie visited Hudgins’ flat and informed her you to definitely Steven was not impression well.