Michael Peterson: The Staircase

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So I just found out from a friend (thank you, NM) that The Staircase got updated segments on Netflix. I had no idea! They are stirring the pot to make people question the justice system. Again. We just went through that with Steven Avery a few years ago.

I am all for questioning facts, wondering what really happened as we do make mistakes in society. Our justice system is not perfect, and any reasonable person would admit that. I am not against this, but the two cases I have seen chosen so far (this and the Avery case) are not ones I would have picked. I also don’t like when shows don’t represent the facts, but put spins on things. I wouldn’t call the Avery’s Making a Murderer a documentary. It was way too misleading. I wonder on the Peterson Netflix series, was it unbiased? Or are they spinning it again? Don’t get me wrong, there were times when questions brought up were legitimate, probably in both cases, but it doesn’t make spins in other areas reasonable.

I haven’t seen the Netflix updates, but spoiler alert, I have written about the Michael Peterson case many times in the past. You can search my blog if you want to know what I think.

I’m curious what you think! Did watching The Staircase make you question if the justice system got it right?

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The Last Defense: Darlie Routier

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Are you watching The Last Defense on ABC? It’s the story of Darlie Routier and the murder of her two sons.

If you aren’t familiar with the story, in 1996 in Rowlett, Texas, 26-year old Darlie Routier says a stranger broke into her home, when she was sleeping downstairs with her two young boys and they were all attacked.

Her boys were died from their injuries, and Darlie had wounds around her neck, which she wants you to believe were gravely serious, yet she ironically claims to have slept through it all. Does that even make sense?

Furthermore, her injuries were so bad, she had no problem talking to 911 on the phone and ambulating around after the crime when police had arrived–complaining her children were dying, no they are dead, no they are dying as she does nothing to help them. When the reporting officer says Darlie did nothing, she is quick to tell us she got towels already. Hello! That’s her help?

I could write a book on Darlie Routier clues, and her behaviors.  Her defense on this show has done nothing to make me question Darlie’s innocence at all. I could actually make really good arguments why their defense fails.

I can still hear her husband say if you heard her screams, you would know this is real. To which I say to Darin:  She absolutely screamed terror when she cut her own throat.  Of course that scream was real. It was HER pain. Darlie only shows true sadness at her pain and not at the loss of her boys.

I do not believe Darlie Routier is innocent, not even a niggle within me questions it.  Darlie is on death row, and while I am not a believer in the death penalty, I do not question this case at all.

Has this show made you question the truth?

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You can read my post in 2009 on Darlie here.

Truth, Lies and Memories

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How many times have you had an argument with a loved one over who said what, and you were sure they got it wrong and you were right?  More often then you care to remember, I’m sure.

Both of you insist YOU are correct, and truthful–truly believing it. One of you may even accuse the other one of lying (I don’t recommend this BTW)!

You feel it’s just absurd: There is only one truth!  You were there.

Maybe you think they were just too emotional to be logical.

Don’t be so quick…

The reality is, as science studies the human mind, they are finding that ALL people have really bad memories and that all people create false memories. It’s part of being human.

Yes, that means you!

And the more sure you are that what you are remembering is true has ZERO correlation to reality.  Gulp. Confidence sonfidence!

Did you just enter the twilight zone wondering what is real and what do I believe then?

Yeah, me too.

Think of how this affects the truth. It’s mind boggling and yes, it affects criminal cases every day with eyewitness testimony.

Rather scary, isn’t it?

Take this fun test and share your results with me below.

Next time you get into this battle with someone over who remembers correctly, why not teach your partner that we all are flawed. It’s part of being human. And seek a resolution instead.

Being human means that you are likely to be wrong as much as you are right.

Hello, knowledge. How will you use this knowledge today?

James Comey with George Stephanopoulos

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Many of you have been interested in my opinion on the Comey interview this week. Sadly, I missed the show! I so wish I hadn’t!

I have seen the clip above and this clip, so I will comment on these clips only. I cannot speak about what I have not seen.

Do I believe James Comey is honest in the clips shown above?

I do.

I see a sincere man who truly cares about our country.

What do you think?

Please feel free to share your opinion below. Please NOTE any comment that is offensive or disrepectful will deleted. Dissent in a respectful way is always welcome.

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Dan Markel Murder Story on Dateline

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Dateline this past weekend detailed the story of Dan Markel’s murder in twisted details that took so many turns, you have to watch it to understand them all!  Right now, I’m not finding the video online, but hopefully Dateline NBC will upload it shortly. The episode is titled “Cold-Blooded”.   20/20 covered the story before here.

Dan Markel was divorced from his wife, Wendi Adelson, when he was murdered in 2014 at his Tallahassee home. The police have found two men who are talking about the crime, have been arrested and they say they were hired, but so far there have been no arrests in the case for the person(s) who hired them.

Wendi wanted to move to be near her family seven hours south in Miami, but the judge in their custody case said she could not uproot the children. She was denied. There was incredible tension between Dan and the Adelsons, which could have been a motive for Wendi and her family.

I found Wendi’s interview with police interesting.  She pings me left and right in her interview.

I was digging around on the case and found this interview podcast of Wendi. She took a writing class after her ex-husband’s murder and read a piece she wrote.  At one point in her writing, she talks about marrying Markel.  She says, “We married when I was in my mid-20s, when I thought I could cheat the system and marry a man I lacked passion and love for because, hey, didn’t that die anyway during marriage?”

Ouch!

She also talks about how after the murder, she sat next to an older lady on bench when the older woman ask her, “What does your husband do?”  She says, “I hate this question.  I haven’t yet said, he doesn’t do much, because he’s DEAD, but I think it sometimes.”  The tone of her voice when she says that is startling. It’s whiny.  At another point she talks about her face as an “endless mask”–that smiles from muscle memory.  She’s quite an interesting person, and seems to come from quite the family!

What did you think when you watched Wendi?  Do you think Wendi Adelson is the one who is the person behind the hired hit of her ex-husband?

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