911 Call: Critical Evidence

Sypnosis

During the sentencing phase of the James Irven Staley III trial in Wichita County, Texas, a 911 call from Amber McDaniel — Wilder’s mother — was played in court. In the recording, McDaniel discovered that her two-year-old son Wilder McDaniel had died, and she emotionally recounted the tragedy to dispatchers. This recording became a central piece of evidence, offering the jury direct insight into the immediate circumstances of Wilder’s death.

Our Role

Hawks Consulting LLC was retained by the prosecution to provide digital and communications evidence expertise for the case. Jason Hawks conducted a meticulous review of the 911 call and related digital records, ensuring the evidence was authentic, reliable, and fully verifiable.

Technology Involved

Call Detail Records (CDRs) analysis

Verification of the 911 recording through digital footprint

Expert Interpretation and Courtroom support

Key Findings

Hawks Consulting confirmed the authenticity and timestamps of the 911 call from Amber McDaniel, ensuring it could be reliably presented as evidence in court.

Analysis of the call provided critical context about Wilder’s death, helping the prosecution demonstrate the sequence of events leading up to the incident.

Cross-referenced the 911 recording with dispatch logs, verifying that the digital and recorded evidence aligned with the prosecution’s narrative.

Through expert interpretation and reporting, Hawks Consulting translated complex digital data into clear, actionable insights that prosecutors could confidently present to the jury.

The detailed digital analysis helped clarify the timeline for the jury, strengthening the prosecution’s ability to demonstrate responsibility and sequence of events in a high-stakes trial.

Outcome

James Irven Staley III was originally convicted of capital murder in the 2018 death of 2‑year‑old Wilder McDaniel and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in March 2023.