In a recent deposition, Vanessa Carter revealed that she learned of her husband’s and daughter’s passing through social media notifications before receiving any official word from authorities. “I was holding my phone, trying to reach my husband, when countless notifications began to appear, stating ‘RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe,’” she recounted during her testimony on October 12.
The devastating helicopter accident claimed the lives of Kobe Carter, his 13-year-old daughter Gigi, and seven others on January 26, 2020. Following the crash, Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies and fire department personnel took unauthorized photos of the scene, with some sharing them with colleagues and even displaying them at a bar later that same night. Vanessa is now pursuing legal action against Los Angeles County for the emotional distress inflicted by these actions. “It’s unfair that I find myself here, seeking accountability. No one should have to face this kind of pain and the fear for their loved ones,” she stated.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva assured Vanessa that he would secure the crash site, though he ultimately failed to do so. Vanessa described the overwhelming panic she felt while trying to ascertain the fate of her husband and daughter. Initially told there were five survivors, she clung to hope as Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka drove her over two hours to the Malibu-Lost Hills station of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. Upon arrival, she was met with silence as she desperately sought answers about their safety. “I kept asking if my husband and daughter were okay, but no one would respond,” she shared.
After being moved around various rooms in the station without clarity, she and her companions were finally taken to a small waiting area. “There was one sheriff there, and I asked him, ‘What is happening? Why is no one telling me what is going on?’” Eventually, Sheriff Villanueva arrived alongside a pastor and a publicist. “He asked if there was anything he could do for me. I said, ‘If you can’t bring my husband and baby back, please ensure that no one takes photographs of them. Please secure the area.’ He assured me he would,” Vanessa recalled, according to her deposition transcript. Despite his assurances, the situation was far from secure.
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In summary, Vanessa Carter’s experience of discovering her family’s tragedy through social media highlights the emotional turmoil caused by unexpected news and the subsequent lack of communication from authorities. Her fight for accountability reflects the deep-seated pain that accompanies such devastating events.