Her body went unnoticed for nine full days, even as police, family, and volunteers scoured the city for her.

When asked how such a mistake could happen, the Attorney General admitted that investigators had focused their search efforts entirely outside the home, never imagining she was just a few feet away the whole time.

Recording surfaces

During the investigation, a recording surfaced of Farah speaking with Lizette, in which Farah allegedly instructed her daughter not to reveal anything about Paulette’s disappearance to avoid being blamed.

”[Lizette] asks, ‘Why mom?’ and [Farah] replies, ‘Because otherwise they will blame us for stealing her or that you took her away to be stolen,’” the recording captured.

Initially, Farah denied the claims, insisting the audio had been edited to make it seem like she was telling her daughter to hide information. She later admitted to having the conversation, clarifying, ”I had the conversation with my daughter, but not in the context they showed it.”

Authorities maintained that Paulette had not been kidnapped and that her death was caused by asphyxiation after becoming trapped at the foot of her bed —essentially ruling it an accident.