A custody dispute in southwest Missouri has led to a child abuse charge against a 40-year-old woman accused of pressuring her daughter to make false allegations against her father.
Amy Rinkler is accused of threatening her daughter, forcing her to practice scripted statements and allegedly hitting her when she failed to repeat them correctly, according to an arrest affidavit. The alleged conduct reportedly occurred between 2024 and 2026.
The investigation began in April 2026 after authorities received a child abuse report. When investigators spoke with the girl, she reportedly said she did not feel safe at her mother’s home and alleged that her mother had threatened to kill her.
Girl Allegedly Told Investigators the Accusations Were False
According to the affidavit, the girl said her mother instructed her to tell authorities that her father had hit, kicked and cursed at her. However, the child reportedly told investigators that those allegations were not true.
Police allege that Rinkler kept written statements in a folder and made her daughter rehearse them, sometimes late at night or on weekends. The girl said her mother would hit her if she made mistakes while practicing.
The affidavit also describes alleged verbal mistreatment. The girl reportedly said her mother frequently cursed at her, called her stupid and repeatedly put her down.
The allegations raised concerns about the pressure the child may have experienced while navigating an already difficult family situation.
Counselors Reportedly Observed Signs of Emotional Distress
Counselors who interviewed the girl described her as being in a deeply distressed emotional state, according to the affidavit.
During the interviews, the child reportedly kept her head down, avoided eye contact, struggled to speak and would not allow herself to be touched. One counselor reportedly said the girl’s distress was consistent with her fear of seeing her mother and sister after allegedly being pressured to lie.
Investigators also noted concerns about earlier statements made by the girl and her sister during the custody dispute. According to police, officials involved in the case found the accounts largely identical and suspected that the children’s statements may have been influenced by their mother.
The allegations highlight the importance of carefully examining children’s statements in family court proceedings, particularly when conflicting accounts emerge during custody disputes. Investigators must assess the circumstances surrounding those statements rather than relying on similarities alone.
Mother Denies the Allegations
Rinkler denied coaching her daughter to make false accusations, threatening her or keeping a folder containing the alleged scripted statements, according to the affidavit.
She was booked into the Lawrence County Jail on October 7, 2026, and was listed as being held without bond in the available jail records.
Rinkler faces a charge of abuse or neglect of a child. The allegations remain accusations, and the charge itself does not establish guilt.
Her next court date was scheduled for October 19. Any further developments in the case will depend on the court proceedings and the evidence presented.
