Mom Accused of Coaching Girl to Fabricate Child Abuse Claims, Police Say

A Missouri woman allegedly threatened to kill her daughter unless the girl repeated fabricated child abuse accusations against her father during a contentious custody battle, authorities said.

Amy Rinkler, 40, has been charged with child abuse.

A probable cause affidavit says the alleged abuse took place from 2024 through 2026.

The Aurora Police Department opened an investigation in April after receiving a child abuse report. The girl told officers she did not feel safe at her mother’s home, alleging that Rinkler had threatened to kill her.

According to the affidavit, the girl said Rinkler instructed her to falsely claim that her father had “hit, kicked and cursed at her.” The mother allegedly made the child practice written statements in a folder late at night and on weekends, striking her when she “made mistakes,” police said. The girl also accused Rinkler of cursing at her, repeatedly belittling her and calling her stupid.

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Counselors who spoke with the child described her as being in a “terrible emotional state.” Officers said she kept her head down, avoided eye contact, refused to speak and would not let anyone touch her.

One counselor concluded that the girl’s trauma was consistent with her fear of seeing her mother and sister after allegedly being coerced into lying under threat of death.

Police said officials involved in the custody dispute had concerns about earlier statements made by the girl and her sister. Those accounts were described as “largely identical” and appeared to have been shaped by their mother, according to the affidavit.

Rinkler denied coaching her daughter, threatening her or possessing a folder containing fabricated statements, the affidavit said.

Rinkler was booked into the Lawrence County Jail on Wednesday, where she remains held without bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 19.