My brother's killer goes free...

djd

My brother's killer goes free...

djd

For those who may recall, my brother was shot and killed by his wife in February.  Today, we learned that all charges against her are being dismissed, as the DA believes she acted in self defense.

It is a stunning and painful blow to me and my parents.

If you have followed my story and might be interested, here's a link to the "In Memoriam" to honor my brother that will be published in several newspapers very soon.

http://djdailey2007.spaces.live.com/default.aspx

Please keep my mom in your prayers - she is feeling very broken-hearted right now.

hugs to all my cyber-sisters who have helped us through this ordeal,

Anonymous

Donna,

I didnt know about your brother as I dont think we have participated in any common threads, but sadly, we do have more than just BC in common.

I also have a jaded opinion of our judical system here in the United States....

My grandmother was murdered in her own home..fortunately the person who committed these (yes, many many unthinkable!!!!) crimes against and 85 yr old woman was caught and prosecuted...but due to a law that was still on the books in the state, even though it was 92 yrs old and had NEVER been enacted, he was able to get a lesser sentence after being on death row for the first 6 yrs of his enprisionment...Now given the right circumstances he could possibly obtain prarole in his lifetime to do something as horrendous to someone elses family as he did to mine......

Am I bitter with our judical system....HELL YES.....

I basically just wanted to say that Im proud to be connected in any way with someone who isnt afraid to stand up and say our judical system sucks when it so obviously has not done its job correctly...

Jule

LisaSDCA

I am sorry that you and your family will not even have the satisfaction of a trial for a presentation of the facts of this murder. I am glad you are telling your brother's story for him.

Lisa

celia088

Donna,

I think you have done a brilliant job of tilting the scales back again regarding the public's understanding of your brother.  The story is pretty horrific--the points that you made about the evidence and her insurance policy, etc., were astonishing to me, especially since the case has been dropped against your ex-SIL.

I know that it is not much consolation for you and your family, but i hope that publishing this account of your brother will help you all to find some peace.  I am really glad that you are doing this--it is a wonderful tribute to your brother.

celia 

Anonymous

I'm so sorry to hear this, Donna. Hugs and prayers to you and your family - especially your mom!

ravdeb

Donna..how maddening.

Beesie

Donna, I'm so sorry.

I think the "In Memoriam" is well written.  And as was suggested in the earlier thread about this, why don't you email the In Memoriam to Nancy Grace and to various investigative shows (20/20, Dateline, etc.)?  Nothing might come of it, but you never know.  Charges can be reinstated, and there's nothing like a spotlight from the media to help district attorney's see things differently. 

roseg

Donna - I'm sorry to hear about this.

It seems pretty unbelievable that she's walking given the circumstances. 

PuppyFive

Donna, My heart is boken for You and Your Mom and Your Brother! Justice is SO Not a Lady!!!

Puppy

nowheregirl

D,

I have no idea how the judical system works in your country but it's just unbelievable to me that she's dropped all charges against her. I am so very sorry for you and my cyber parents. Do tell them that I am thinking of them. What a year to you all. I sure hope 2008 is going much better for you. Hang in there my friend.

xo

Fumi

Anonymous

Donna, what a very sad, sad story.  More than that at this time in the scheme of things is that your ex-outlaw is going free without a jury trial.  I've seen people convicted with less evidence than this piece of ______. 

I remember asking you why in the heck did she move into a battered woman shelter AFTER she killed him?  Does NOT make sense to me except for the fact, like you said, to get a defense.  On the other hand, WHY did they let her move in?  She could have gotten "counsel" without living there.  She could have visited and talked about here "post traumatic shock" with one of them without living there and taking a room from a woman who really needed it.

I sent my dd who used to work with at the domestic violence shelter (as the court advocate) your story.  She's now an attorney.  I just wanted to know if there's anything she could think of that would make a difference. 

Donna, I'm like some of the other ladies here.  Send it to Nancy Grace.  She was a prosecutor in Atlanta.  Her fiance was murdered many years ago and I believe that's why she became an attorney.

Get it out in the public.  If you've ever watched the "On the Record" with Greta Van Sustern you've seen where keeping some things in the public is a positive thing to do. 

It's a shame that the outlaw could have his body cremated.  I would have fought that, but perhaps it was just too much for you mom and dad to do.  The reason I say that is because it was just too suspicious. 

And this "person" was extremely vicious in how she only let you and your family view his body for 10 minutes!  I just cannot believe ANYONE with any sense of decency could have done this. 

On the other hand, bringing this to the public may be too much for your parents.  She will get her "just dues" in time.  But it sure is hard waiting.

I am so sorry, Donna.

Shirley

Traci-----TripNeg

Donna,

I just read your story and my blood is boiling. You are right. She will get what she deserves. It's the only cliche' I believe in: "What goes around, comes around."

I am so, so sorry for you.

I really can't imagine how you must feel. I have two brothers who I am very close to. I just can't imagine.

Her evil will not always, go unpunished.

Hugs to you girl.

Traci

pconn03

Donna:

What a sad sad story for you and your family.  I just pray that your Mom will come to know some sense of peace in the coming years and that your whole family will also be comforted in God's own special way.

God bless,

Pat

Emelee26

Oh Donna..I'm so sorry!

celia088

I also agree with all of those who said to get this story out to the media (i.e., Nancy Grace, etc.)

tawyna1

oh donna,

i am so sorry about this. 

Harborwitch

Donna, this is so so wrong on so many levels.  Sometimes you have got to wonder where our judicial system has their collective head stuck. 

Must agree with everyone - get this out to the news media and get this low life piece of $h!t behind bars, and failing that let everyone know what kind of pond scum she is.

Hugs to you and your family. 

djd

You are all so kind for understanding and caring for my family at this difficult time...

Julie - I learned that the justice system was extremely flawed when I was in law school and clerked for an attorney.  I remember Mike calling me more than once, asking me how I could go into a profession where I might have to defend a criminal.  I always argued with him about the importance of our system of justice, but by the time I finished law school, I realized I didn't have the stomach for it.  The irony never ends.

Lisa, Celia, Felicia, Deb, Rose, Puppy, Traci, Pat, Emelee - Thank you for your kind words of support.

Beesie, Shirley - I have really been struggling with whether I should make this a "cause" to pursue, either through the media or the courts.  I believe there would be a strong civil case, even if it's just seeking an injunction to get Mike's ashes, that would give us full access to all of the evidence so we might finally make sense of this tragedy.   But there's a voice in my head saying "let it go."   I don't know if it's because I'm afraid of what I would learn, or if it's because I am anxious for my mother and father to be able to close this god-awful chapter and move forward in the new year.  It just seems like we finally have an opportunity move forward, even if we are pissed as hell!  My parents are in their 70's and I am afraid that they can't take much more pain (my cancer took it's toll already!).

Fumi,  My sweet sister across the pond, thank you so much for sending my mom the bouquet of flowers.  She was deeply touched and you put a bright moment into an otherwise dark day.

The newspaper called me today and said they will have to edit my "In Memoriam" because they can't (or won't) independently verify some of my claims, but it will run in the local newspaper next Wednesday.  If you want to read what the reporter quoted from me, go to http://times-herald.com/, click on "news" in the left hand column and scroll down to the story about the charges being dropped.

hugs and deep gratitude,

Anonymous

I'm so sorry for you and your family, Donna, and especially for your mother. I hope that you all will somehow, some day, find consolation and peace with having lost him in such a violent, unfair way.

~Marin

celia088

"My parents are in their 70's and I am afraid that they can't take much more pain (my cancer took it's toll already!)."

Donna,

This sounds like a strong, intuitive hunch, so pay attention to it for sure.  Sometimes it IS better to let go, having made your point, and move forward.  Finding peace and healing may be better at this point for all of you. Just a thought.  As always, i wish you and your parents successful healing.

celia 

nosurrender

Dear Donna,

OMG I can't believe this.

There is no justice. That is it plain and simple.

I think what you wrote is a wonderful testament and a very strong case for your brother who cannot speak for himself any longer.

I lost my brother five years ago. And my parents are still not over it. I know they are haunted by "what ifs" and "maybe if we did that" and they never really had closure because it was so sudden.

Would your mom have closure if she was able to clear her son's name? Or would it prolong the anguish? This is such a hard thing. I am sorry you have to deal with this horrible reminder on the holidays too.

If it were me, i would want to clear my brother's name. I know my dad would too. But my mother sounds like your mother and it would probably just make all the wounds open again. I don't know if she could handle it.

I knew a criminal defense lawyer once. I saw him out having a huge party in a restaurant with a bunch of the people he worked with. He was celebrating that he had just gotten a man off - innocent- when there was irrefutable proof that he shot a 17 year old boy in the back five times because he was urinating in the alley of his store. His defense? Self defense! The boy had a "gang" supposedly and this was a threatening act- peeing in his alley- and it was life or death. The kid was unarmed. And he shot him IN THE BACK.

I have never been so disgusted with anyone in my life. I, of course, said something along the lines of "and you are proud of this??" (You know me and my mouth)

Ever since then I have had no respect for the judicial system we have here.

Hugs to you,

Love,

g

PS Fumi that was a really cool and loving thing to do. 

Jaybird627

(((Donna)))

I had no idea this had happened and I'm so sorry.....

Jaybird

ginger2345

Donna,

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Pretty unbelievable outcome. And she walks with some dough.... As far as a civil suit, if you're up to it-- O.J. got off scott free, but didn't the Browns win a civil judgment??

Beesie

Donna, some of what's written in the article must really frustrate you, but the quotes from you are good and do get the point across.

As for your desire to "let it go", I can completely appreciate that.  I also certainly understand your desire to spare your parents further anguish, if this were to go to trial in a civil trial.  That's partly why I suggested sending your In Memoriam to some of the better known investigative reporters.  All this would involve on your part would be few emails; after that, you could just let it go.  If you never hear back, so be it.  But if you do hear back and if one of the investigative reporters decides to pick up on the story and investigate further, this would mean that there would be a lot of new resources checking into the story.  That can't be bad.  And even then, initially you could probably request that your parents be kept out of it, at least until they knew for sure that this is a story that they plan to stick with.   And if they do investigate and then drop the story, that might in it's own way be a comfort, since it would suggest that there may have been some validity to the DA's decision, at least in terms of not being able to make a 'winnable' case.

If it was me, I know I would have a much harder time putting this past me knowing that she's out free.  So trying another approach to get at the truth, outside of the justice system, would help me cope.  But I completely understand that you may feel that it will be easier for you and your parents if you leave it be now.  Do whatever is best for your family. 

ilenee

I lost me twin sister to a drunk driver. He only got 3 months.

Anonymous

Why did the reporter leave out the FACT that she only gave you 10 minutes to be with your brother before he was cremated!?  That would show how mean-spirited this woman is.  And why didn't they report that she lived in the domestic violence shelter AFTER she killed him?  I would think the public would think this is strange.

Again, I am so sorry.  Donna, you must do what's best for you and your parents. 

Shirley

Poppy

Donna, I am so sorry that your family has to endure this horrible injustice. Too many families are touched by violence and to have this woman walk away is a slap in the face.

You should write "Snapped" on Oxygen and convince them do a story on her. I love that show and they always get the point across that the woman did it... even when the legal system drops the ball.

At least it'd be a way to show your brother in a good light and let the world know that this woman...this murderess... is out there, free to do this to someone else's brother or son.

I hope your family finds peace. xoxo

Erica

Traci-----TripNeg

ilenee, I am so sorry for your loss too......more than words can say.

Celia088, your post gave me chills and almost brought me to tears. Wow....not exactly sure why but...it did.

Donna, I hope you will be o.k. girl. My heart goes out to you.

Sincerely,

Traci

Traci-----TripNeg

ilenee, I am so sorry for your loss too......more than words can say.

Celia088, your post gave me chills and almost brought me to tears. Wow....not exactly sure why but...it did.

Donna, I hope you will be o.k. girl. My heart goes out to you.

Sincerely,

Traci

Traci-----TripNeg

My post posted twice for some reason...sorry....