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November 28, 2006
Anatomy of Motive - The Young Case
Three years ago on this blog, we were speculating the possible motives a man like Scott Peterson would have for murdering his pregnant wife. By all accounts, Peterson was a pampered child with overindulgent parents. He led a privileged lifestyle with country club memberships, a low golf score, a nice house and truck, and all the trappings of California Yuppiedom. So, why would he throw it all away? Was he a victim of pathological self-sabotage, or did he really believe he would never get caught?
How does this apply to our discussion of Jason Young, if he is, in fact, responsible for his wife, Michelle’s murder? The following excerpt is from John Douglas’s book, The Anatomy of Motive. Douglas is a former chief of the FBI’s Investigative Support Unit and pioneered modern behavioral profiling of criminals.
What motivates many, if not most, of these guys is a desire for power and control that comes from a background where they felt powerless and out of control. Being able to manipulate, dominate and control a victim, to decide whether that victim lives or dies, or how that victim dies, makes them feel grandiose and superior, as they believe they are entitled to feel.
Did Jason feel emasculated by Michelle’s academic and professional success? Did she earn more money and have control of the purse strings? Did he feel minimized by the rapid inclusion of a baby early in the marriage and then a second baby who would usurp even more of Michelle’s love and attention? Did Jason grow up in a broken family where he had to vie for his mother’s attention? We know his birth father was displaced by a step-father, but what do we know of his childhood and adolescence? Little information is forthcoming from any sources close to the family. We are left to speculate.
It is difficult to know when the breaking point occurred for Jason, if he went to these lengths to destroy his wife and unborn baby. Their marriage was still in its early years; not nearly enough time to develop long-seated bitterness. Clearly, if Jason is responsible for Michelle’s murder, he has been simmering with oppressed rage for some time. If he committed the act in question, he must have become completely overwhelmed by his responsibilities as husband, father, and provider. He felt trapped, unmanageable, frustrated, and resentful of his lack of freedom. It is also possible that he was in some kind of secret debt that was about to be exposed. With the reality of even more financial demands looming ahead with the new baby, he may even have hatched this plan during Michelle’s second pregnancy that was abbreviated.
As bizarre as this may seem to newcomers to true-crime stories, according to John Douglas and other experts on criminal behavior, emancipation is a very common motive for murder.
Posted by lorelei at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (249)November 27, 2006
A Late Indian Summer
Indian Summer Thanksgiving on the lakeside.
This year, unlike last year, we are having a genuine Indian Summer, when a spell of warm weather follows a frost. In this case, we had a month of frost in an unseasonably cold, wet October. Sunny days were rare and the foliage was a big disappointment. The weather in Cleveland is never anything to brag about, but we can usually rely on a nice October. Not this year.
We took advantage of the warm weather over Thanksgiving weekend to clear out the last of ten trees’ worth of leaves in my backyard. These aren’t wimpy, new trees, either. They are tall, leafy maples that blanketed my backyard like a crispy, brown snowfall. But, you won’t hear me complain even though I was a little stiff and bruised from the labor. If I have to do yard work, it means I have a yard.
The holiday season seems to begin earlier every year. I went to the grocery store today and the muzak was chirping some jazzy Christmas music. The ornaments, lights and cheesy paraphernalia were all on display, and the only thing missing was the Salvation Army Santa Claus. The thrust into the holiday trimmings felt rather odd when it was 60 degrees outside. This must be what it’s like to live in Florida. Without blizzards, bad drivers, slippery streets and lung-burning cold, I can’t quite get into that true Cleveland Christmas zone. Despite the tyranny of the commercial Christmas crunch, I refuse to put up my new pre-lit tree until there’s a number 12 on the calendar.
I bought a new snow shovel last month (I haven’t owned one in years) just to stave off the inevitable. So far, so good! You know if I didn’t have my ice scraper in the front seat and a shovel in the garage, we would have been buried in six inches already. You're welcome, neighbors.
Posted by lorelei at 08:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (120)November 22, 2006
The Secret
For the past week or so, I have been recommending the movie, “The Secret” to friends on and off the blog. Several of the producers of “The Secret” appeared on Larry King Live last week, and the broadcast can be viewed here:
Most of the principles outlined in “The Secret” were not new to me. In my various journeys down rabbit holes of myths, religion, history, art, music, conspiracies and the occult, I had picked up a few tips along the way and utilized them with success. Nevertheless, this movie inspired me to take more direct action in my life to set goals, visualize and feel the goals being achieved, focus on the positive outcome of every circumstance rather than entertaining the negative possibilities, and declare my intentions to the “universe”.
Every day since viewing the movie, I have found a way to use the “secret” tools with people in my sphere of influence, including family, friends, neighbors and email pals. There really is no limit to where you can apply the law of attraction; and once you understand how it works, you can teach others to use it in their lives as well. I wake up now looking forward to the new day, eagerly awaiting the next wonderful thing that will occur!
The keys to living in the secret are simple: first, begin your day with an attitude of gratitude and encourage your loved ones to do the same. Gratitude isn’t just for Thanksgiving; it must be a daily habit. Before heading off to school, my children share a list of five things for which they are thankful. They bring that feeling of gratitude with them to their environment, instead of any feelings of dread or worry about tests, homework, rules, and little social squabbles. This new attitude has produced some amazing results.
Next, we set real goals with real visuals: we write down the goals and post them on the refrigerator to remind us. We cut out pictures of things we want and tape them in a place we can see them. We write down our intentions in our plan books and on index cards to carry with us. I read affirmations while sitting at red lights. I visualize events occurring or the outcome of an unknown situation and wait for it to happen. And, it does. I ask for what I want and encourage others to ask for what they want. I believe the universe is conspiring to help me succeed and to give me everything I want, and each day several things happen to bolster that belief. I attract people and things into my life that propel me to high levels of creativity and happiness.
After only ten days, I can absolutely testify that this works. If you’re ready to make your life more incredible than you ever dreamed possible, watch “The Secret” and use the tools immediately. The results will surprise you.
Posted by lorelei at 06:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (340)November 18, 2006
I Love You to Death - Reprise
Sam and Marilyn Sheppard
Jeffrey and Colette MacDonald
Eric and Pegye Bechler
Michael and Jennifer Blagg
Michael and Kathleen Peterson
Bruce and Jana Koklich
Greg and Kristin deVillers
Scott and Laci Peterson
Mark and Lori Hacking
What do these couples have in common?
- Proclaimed by friends and family to be doting lovebirds.
- Affluent, professional, well educated and living in nice neighborhoods.
- Statistically very low chances for victimization by strange assailants.
- The victims were found dead under suspicious circumstances, murdered, or vanished without a trace.
- Most of the victims were pregnant at the time of their murder.
- The accused or suspected spouse was guilty of major deception, chronic infidelity or was carrying on an extramarital relationship at the time of their spouse’s “disappearance” or murder.
- All of the accused staged dramatic scenarios (staged domestic homicides, per FBI parlance) to deflect suspicion.
- None of the couples had a history of abuse or domestic violence. The Bechlers and the Koklichs ran businesses together. Most were first marriages where the couple met in college.
- In most cases, there were severe financial problems that were not disclosed until after an investigation of the crimes, and large life insurance policies on the missing or murdered spouse.
- What were previously close family relationships among in-laws and siblings were irreparably divided by the incidents. The family of the victim tirelessly pursued justice and actively assisted the prosecution.
The Scorecard:
Sheppard – conviction was overturned, accused passed away rather young.
MacDonald – convicted of multiple murders; was eligible for a parole hearing in 1991, still working on an appeal based on DNA evidence, but don’t expect to see him strolling on the beach anytime soon.
Bechler – convicted (without the body of his wife ever being found) - currently serving a life sentence.
Blagg - convicted of murdering his wife, but has not been charged or tried for his daughter's murder.
Michael Peterson – convicted and sentenced to life without parole.
Bruce Koklich – convicted of second degree murder (with no body found), sentenced to 15 years to life.
Kristin Rossum – sentenced to life.
Scott Peterson - convicted of double murder and condemned to death.
Mark Hacking - pled guilty and is serving an inexact amount of time.
Oh yeah, they loved them to death!
Posted by lorelei at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (275)November 15, 2006
Trotting out the “Constitutionally Incapable” Defense
In the annals of spousal murder cases, the first line of defense from family members or friends of the accused is often, “He couldn’t have done it.” None of us is willing to believe that our loved one is capable of murder; it’s not fathomable to most people that their sons, brothers, friends or priests have a double life or an insane impulse to resort to such a cold-blooded act. Years after a trial, some supporters of convicted murderers persist in defending the innocence of their loved ones. They invest time and resources into appealing convictions, setting up web sites as ad hoc defense cases, petitioning courts, hiring investigators and attorneys, and refusing to accept the verdict. This is not unusual or unexpected.
We naturally resist accepting the evil nature of the human condition, especially in ourselves or someone we love. Despite the barrage of actual crime stories in our midst, and the plethora of crime-related television programs, somehow when it comes to our own family or friends, these dark realities don’t apply. Yet, isn’t it a fact that prominent members of the community: celebrities, sports figures, rabbis, fertilizer salesmen, scout leaders, elders in the church, postal carriers, teachers, scientists, millionaires, and drifters alike have been convicted of murder with no previous history of criminal behavior and, rather, otherwise sterling reputations?
Have we not seen people we would never expect to behave in a manner inconsistent with their values do horrendous and despicable things?
There are cases where the natural suspect was falsely accused and wrongfully convicted, but these are rare. While the court of public opinion may jump to erroneous conclusions and try and convict without the legal standard of reasonable doubt and admissible evidence, criminal courts across the land (arguably) do not. I am the last to claim that our justice system is infallible; however, white middle- or upper-class men usually receive fair trials. It is not the purpose of this blog to be a venue for discussing the justice system. I prefer to look at cases in the context of history, statistics, the psychology of evil, and patterns that appear to recur in staged domestic homicides.
In a recent article about the Young murder, investigators are said to be looking at a peculiar car accident the couple was in prior to Michelle Young’s murder. Armchair sleuths on crime forums are speculating that this was a possible attempted murder that went awry. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. A man in California was convicted recently for murdering his wife and children by driving his car off a cliff into the ocean where his wife and child drowned as he resurfaced unharmed. It’s a crazy way to kill someone, but it’s not unprecedented. As the saying goes, “There is nothing new under the sun.”
Still, they are examining every aspect of the couple's life together, including a May 29, 2005, car accident in Transylvania County when Jason Young drove off a road down a 100-foot embankment into the French Broad River. Neither he nor Michelle Young were seriously injured."They just wanted to know the circumstances and if I saw anything unusual with the wreck, which I did not," said sate Highway Patrol trooper David Hicks, who investigated the crash.
The couple’s house is still an “active crime scene”, but Jason Young has not been declared a suspect. Neither has anyone else:
Over the course of the investigation, they have taken fingerprints from any person who has had access to the house, including Young's husband, Jason Young, who gave his fingerprints under a court order.Investigators have also interviewed and collected fingerprint evidence from other people, although they have declined to say how many and whom.
Statistically, the longer the crime goes unsolved, the more difficult it becomes. If there were compelling evidence that this murder was committed by a stranger, a neighbor who didn’t belong in the house, a “goth” teenager copycatting Scott Dyleski, or a serial killer who had stalked Mrs. Young and knew her husband would be out of town that night, I suspect there would have been some hint of this from police. As it stands, or until more information points to a different conclusion, Occam’s Razor must apply.
Posted by lorelei at 07:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (193)November 10, 2006
Jason Young - Murderer?
A week ago, in a bucolic setting near Raleigh, North Carolina, in a neighborhood quieter than Covena Avenue in Modesto, Michelle Marie Young was found lying face down in her bedroom, apparently murdered by blunt force trauma. Michelle was 29 and five months’ pregnant with her second child, a son. Her two-year-old daughter, Cassidy, had tracked blood throughout the house in the approximately 12 hours between the time of the murder and the discovery of Michelle’s body by her sister, Meredith Fisher.
Michelle Young's resemblance to Laci Peterson is uncanny. Will the resemblance end there?
Jason Young, the husband, allegedly left for a business trip rather late on Thursday evening, some three hours before Michelle was murdered. The following day, for whatever reason, he called his sister-in-law, Fisher, to retrieve a fax that had been sent to his house. Why would he call Fisher rather than call his wife? This is just one of several suspicious events in what has become a textbook example of staged domestic homicide.
First, we have the husband creating an “out of town” alibi. Possibly cell phone records or witnesses can corroborate his whereabouts that night. Then, we have him arranging for a third-party discovery of the body, typical of these types of cases. Then, he lawyers up right away and refuses to speak to the press.
Finally, we have the suspect’s family expressing the all-too-familiar outrage over the confiscation of Young’s car and luggage:
McIntyre said he told Jason Young to get a lawyer. He said he was afraid that police would pin the death on his stepson, regardless of evidence."I do not want my son to be talking to any type of investigators," he said. "They're not going to be trustworthy when they talk to him."
McIntyre criticized the sheriff's office for not immediately returning the belongings, which included medical prescriptions, purses and cell phones.
How many cell phones? Was one of them Michelle’s? Why would he have a purse with him on a business trip? Is it Michelle’s purse? Was this a murder for hire?
Young has been questioned and fingerprinted by Raleigh police, but officials are giving little information to the neighbors, who, according to news stories, expressed the following:
"What I remember mostly about Michelle is that her smile just lit up the room," said friend Laura Studdard. "She was so nice, and she was so smart and so pretty -- it's just so sad to me, right now."
"You couldn't imagine anything happening to a nice couple like this," said Martin, the neighbor.
I believe we have heard this song before.
Let’s look at the facts so far:
- No sign of forced entry into the home.
- Victim found in the couple’s bedroom.
- Investigators insist that it was not a “random act of violence” but fail to elaborate.
- The house wasn’t ‘tossed’ and nothing was stolen, thus indicating no burglary was in progress.
- The couple’s toddler was left unharmed. It is likely she was asleep at the time of the murder, so she did not witness what happened.
- Police are reassuring the neighbors “not to worry about their own safety.”
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…stay tuned. We have a local misfit keeping tabs on this case.
Posted by lorelei at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (257)November 07, 2006
Get Out and Vote!
I woke up with a start this morning, chest tight, alert but tired, anticipating with part dread, part hope, that the outcome of today’s election would be the beginning of a revolution. After the sickening shock in 2000, and the crushing concession in 2004, if things don’t go well today, I might have to fall on my proverbial sword or move to Costa Rica.
I was going to volunteer for various “Get Out the Vote” campaigns, but the Democratic organizations annoyed me almost as much as the stories about Republican robo-calls (of which I was spared, since I don’t have a landline), or the smutty political ads that spread like mold in a frat house refrigerator. Frankly, I’m disgusted with both parties, and I hope that all the incumbents lose. I realize that this would create a temporary paralysis in Congress, but it wouldn't be any worse than the current moral, intellectual, and incompetent cesspool that is our government.
When I vote today, it will be on a touch-screen machine. Yes, this paranoid tin-foil-hat-wearing kook will watch for any anomalies in my choices, just in case. But, there won’t be any long lines or disenfranchised voters in Pleasantville. We’ll probably get working units and low turnout, since this is an affluent, white bread Republican community. I will vote Democratic for the State offices like governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer. I would prefer to vote Libertarian or Green, but I don’t want that evildoer, election-fixer, Ken Blackwell to benefit from those votes.
I’ll deviate from the “Throw the Bums Out” mission in one race only, and reelect Dennis Kucinich, because he voted against the war in Iraq, against the Patriot Act, and because he always responds to my letters. I’ll vote for Sherrod Brown against that weasel, Mike DeWine, and against Issues 18 and 5 which involve punishing the congregation of the Church of the Holy Smokes. Pick on someone else, for crying out loud! Ohio has a state issue that would raise the minimum wage, for which I’ll vote (our state minimum wage is lower than the national average). And there’s a casino issue that doesn’t affect me one way or the other, so I may abstain.
As far as judges and other races, I’ll default with my usual voting tactic: when in doubt, vote for the woman; if there is more than one woman, vote against the incumbent. It’s a very simple system. Locally, I’m not worried about who is steering the ship. We have a woman mayor (for the first time in history) who was appointed after our former mayor was involved in a nepotism scandal. Yes, even here in Pleasantville we have graft and corruption! But, she’s not up for reelection until next year. I think she’s a Republican, but I’ll put a sign in my yard for her. See, I can be fair and balanced, too.
Since I have so many names and addresses, I get to vote three or four times today. (JUST KIDDING! I wish.) Seriously, wouldn’t it be great if voting was transferable, like a coupon for a free Frosty? If you don’t want to use your vote today, can I use it?
Part II - The Photo Essay:
One lone volunteer willing to stand out in the drizzle to promote Issue #122, which allows liquor sales before 1 pm on Sunday. I told him I'd vote for it. What the heck, let the congregation have their booze Sunday mornings at the Church of the Holy Drunkard.
Innocent looking, isn't it?
Eight (8) voting machines, no lines, but I did have to show ID for the first time, thanks to evildoer Blackwell.
The sparkly new Diebold machines.
After you vote, your abstention votes show up in pink. You have to click on this again to get them to process.
To verify your result, you can check the paper documentation that prints inside the machine. You can't tear it off like a receipt, though. Mine appeard to correspond accurately with my votes.
Posted by lorelei at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (151)November 03, 2006
Hypocrisy thy name is Pastor Ted
"Art" in an altered state
You probably heard about the shocking (!) revelations of mega Pastor Ted Haggard's secret life as a drug user and purveyor of illicit activities with (gasp) other men. Haggard vehemently denied the relationship with hustler Jones, but oddly admitted to buying drugs just to "throw them away" untouched. Alrighty! Unfortunately, the voice mails that were saved and have now been attributed to him by expert voice analysts belie this dubious claim.
Here is Haggard's first voice mail message, left on August 4 at 2:18 p.m.:
"Hi Mike, this is Art. Hey, I was just calling to see if we could get any more.Either $100 or $200 supply. And I could pick it up really anytime...I could get it tomorrow or we could wait till next week sometime and so I also wanted to get your address.
I could send you some money for inventory but that's probably not working, so if you have it then go ahead and get what you can and I may buzz up there later today, but I doubt your schedule would allow that unless you have some in the house. Okay, I'll check in with you later. Thanks a lot, bye."
Emphasis in italics and bold mine.
Ok, ol' Art not only has used before and knows this dealer, but he knows the amounts to buy, wants it today or tomorrow (really today), is willing to pay for "inventory", and is extremely eager to get more.
Haggard was obviously jonesing (pun intended). This was no "experimental" phone call or a casual inquiry about what and where and how. This was not the first time, he did not throw it out, and he is no stranger to this transaction.
He sounds like a budding addict. I can't say "full blown" but certainly budding. Sounds like the "we" part is just a cover.
Whereas he's willing to fudge about his copping dope, he denies the gay relationship.
Apparently, in Haggard's version of Christianity, it's less of a "sin" to buy meth, but the flock might not look too kindly on being unfaithful to your wife, especially with someone of the same sex.
As the cock crows three times, evangelical theocratic buddies like Jerry Falwell are denying knowing him.
How many more of these grandstanding, bigoted, fascist hypocrites can one religion bear? Is that like asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, or how many camels can fit through the eye of a needle? You be the decider!
Posted by lorelei at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (62)