A Missouri woman is facing a child abuse charge after investigators alleged that she pressured her daughter to make false accusations against her father during a contentious custody dispute.
Amy Rinkler, 40, allegedly threatened to kill the girl if she refused to follow her instructions, according to a probable cause affidavit. Investigators said the alleged abuse took place between 2024 and 2026.
The Aurora Police Department launched an investigation in April 2026 after receiving a report of suspected child abuse. During interviews with investigators, the girl said she did not feel safe at her mother’s home and described threats and repeated pressure to make statements about her father that she said were untrue.
Girl Allegedly Forced to Practice Statements
According to the affidavit, Rinkler allegedly instructed her daughter to tell investigators that her father had hit, kicked and cursed at her. The girl reportedly told police that these accusations were false.
Investigators alleged that Rinkler kept written statements in a folder and made her daughter practice repeating them late at night or on weekends. The girl said her mother hit her when she made mistakes while rehearsing the statements.
The child also described repeated verbal mistreatment, including being cursed at, belittled and called names, according to the affidavit.
The allegations raised concerns about the pressure the girl may have experienced while the family was involved in a custody dispute. Investigators examined not only the alleged threats but also the circumstances surrounding statements previously made about the father.
Counselors Describe Girl’s Emotional Distress
The girl’s condition also concerned the counselors who interviewed her. According to police, the professionals described her as being in a terrible emotional state.
Investigators reported that the girl kept her head down, avoided eye contact, would not speak and did not want to be touched during the interviews.
One counselor concluded that the child’s emotional distress was consistent with the fear she described about seeing her mother and sister after allegedly being pressured to lie under threats of death.
The investigation also brought renewed attention to earlier statements made by the girl and her sister during the custody proceedings. According to police, officials involved in the case had concerns because the sisters’ accounts were largely identical and appeared to have been influenced by their mother.
Authorities have not publicly established through a court finding that the allegations against the father were fabricated. The claims described in the affidavit remain allegations connected to the ongoing case.
Mother Denies the Allegations
Rinkler denied coaching her daughter to make false accusations, threatening her or possessing a folder containing the alleged statements, according to the affidavit.
She was booked into the Lawrence County Jail on Wednesday, October 7, and remains in custody without bond, according to the latest available report.
Rinkler faces a child abuse charge, and her next court appearance is scheduled for October 19, 2026.
The case remains a matter of allegations, and the criminal proceedings will determine how the charges are resolved.
