April 29 weekend of Sleuthiness

[ncsu95]

I tend to think he has a high intelligence Q but a low emotional Q...I think you need both to be considered "smarter than the average Joe" !!

I would agree with this.

 

[ncsu95]

Yes, Bradley removed it.

I guess Brad removed it before she went to HT on the 11th too, right? The necklace theory has gone poof....just like the duck theory.

 

[FullDisclosure]

Here's my take.
The State's long, drawn-out case was based largely on hearsay (what Nancy had told her friends) that was allowed "not for the truth of the matter, but to determine state of mind." We heard the same story (I won't state it here, as we all know what it is) over and over and over, to the point of it becoming tiresome (and wasting the jury's time). The State's theory of the actual murder was tenuous to begin with, as the ME testimony and the bug testimony were inconclusive. The Fielding Dr. search was the proverbial smoking gun, but some doubt was introduced on cross examination.

Then came the Defense's case. It was short and to the point. Kurtz and Trenkle systematically (and respectfully, I might add) poked holes in so many of the friends' stories that now just about anything that they said is now suspect. (They had already poked holes in the CPD's credibility during the State's case on CE.) Then, as I pointed out earlier, the day of testimony from MH and Mrs. C was IMO the tipping point for the jury. I was in the courtroom. Cummings cross of MH, followed by his cross of Mrs. C, may have been the undoing of the State's case. What may have come across as "squirmy" testimony by MH on camera actually came across as sympathetic in the courtroom. Cummings was beating him up, trying to trip him with his questions about using Nancy's phone for the tennis plans. Then the tennis grip questions were ridiculous, and the jury did not respond favorably at all. The questions themselves were just plain stupid, IMO, and Cummings really showed himself after the objection from the Defense. Later, when he produced the Websleuth's posting and made MH read it--well, let's just say that was the icing on the cake for MH's testimony. MH was embarrassed, nervous, and did squirm in his seat. But what he did, in that moment, was give a plausible alternate theory to the jury. After tuning Cummings out because of his earlier line of tennis grip questions which he followed with some aimless rambling, the jury focused again as MH (thanks to a huge tactical error by Cummings IMO) reluctantly and sincerely read aloud his interpretation of the autopsy. His alternate theory alone introduces reasonable doubt. MH left the stand looking embarrassed and bruised, but what he did for the defense was HUGE, IMO. He actually probably should have shaken Cummings' hand and thanked him.

Mrs. C, with the ducks finally in a row, was the cherry on top.

That the note from the jury stating that "we want our lives back!" came the following day is no coincidence, IMO.

So, unless this new router evidence is an irrefutable slam dunk/home run/whatever sports analogy you choose, I predict an NG verdict.

 

[Palomine]

She said that she had interviews lined up and needed a suit. Fair enough, he was probably happy that she was going to be working. If she wanted to move to Ottawa, he was probaby agreeable. We know that he and Nancy discussed him hiring a nanny for the children, presumably that he would have a nanny so Nancy could move.

How could anyone today actually believe that child support would not be a factor in divorce with children? Again, we have to believe that Brad was completely stupid to have thought that Nancy would not continue to ask for money after the divorce.

I read she would be staying in the Toronto area with/or near her sister..that would make the most sense
also her friend Brett was working in that area at the time


http://74.6.238.254/search/srpcache...8&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=c37ybpfGcYXF_qmWfYcaPw--

 

[ncsu95]

It's unfortunate that prosecutors did not realize, prior to presenting their case, that the ducks were irrelevant. As it stands, they wrapped their theory around the missing ducks, and then blurted out in court that the discovery of the ducks meant their string of witnesses looked like liars.

He also mentioned that it disproves their theory that a struggle occurred in the foyer and the ducks were busted. I mean Coomings was nice enough to point that out in court. So I believe him.

 

[ncsu95]

You must then believe that:

1) NC took it off before she was murdered
2) BC took it off before he murdered NC
3) BC took if off after he murdered NC

2 & 3 beg the question, why?

And, why would he not keep the earrings as well? Am I remembering correctly that NC was found wearing only one earring? If so, where is that other earring?

She was found with both. One was removed at the scene because it looked like it was going to fall out. Both earrings are accounted for.

 

[dramamama]

It's unfortunate that prosecutors did not realize, prior to presenting their case, that the ducks were irrelevant. As it stands, they wrapped their theory around the missing ducks, and then blurted out in court that the discovery of the ducks meant their string of witnesses looked like liars.

Their theory wasn't based on the ducks. Their theory was around the fact that BC was the last one to see her alive, and the foyer floor was cleaned impeccably while he supposed to be playing tennis with a friend that NC okayed. If he really wanted to clean up, and since he was playing with the girls, why didn't he sit in the playroom and attack that mess? The fact the ducks were missing only pointed to their theory that she was killed in the foyer. It was just an added detail that furthered that theory. It was not like the CPD went in and said, oh, JA said there were ducks here. Obviously, since they are gone, there must have been a murder.

 

[ncsu95]

I will always think that Cummings' reaction to the ducks was more harmful than the actual discovery of the ducks.

This is true because of how extreme it was. But it absolutely destroys the credibility of some of the witnesses such as JA who was so sure those ducks were there on the 11th. It shows an agenda on her part.

 

[ncsu95]

She was wearing both earrings but one was very loose when her body was discovered. Leads me to wonder if somebody tried to remove them, or at least the one, and couldn't.

That is a very real possibility. I forgot to tape my daughters ears before her soccer game (she had them pierced a couple of months ago). So I thought I would just take them off. I had no idea how to get the dang things off. I ran to the vehicle and got bandaids instead.

 

[ncsu95]

How do we KNOW he cleaned the floors? Perhaps he just said he did to account for time spent.

Right. Eveyone points out that Brad is a liar and they don't believe anything he says. Yet this is the one thing they do believe him on. Sounds convenient to me. I do believe he cleaned the floors that morning.

 

[SleuthinNC]

I want to understand the investigative process here.

I keep hearing CPD could not exclude BC as a suspect.

JP was excluded as a suspect apparently because he claims his ex-wife had someplace else to be so that must mean he was home with is kids. Of course this was never actually verified or anything. (There is evidence BC was called from his home as he claims by NC herself)

JP can't remember anything about where he was or what he did that saturday. (BC doesn't remember all the specific minutia of what he did during that time so he's guilty right?)

JP knew the path she ran which matches up to eyewitness accounts of seeing somebody who resembles NC.

JP lied in multiple interviews with CPD including trying to throw suspicion from himself to some "strange guy named Michael" or "Somebody NC knew who lives near Kildaire Farm Rd." (lies in deposition is how we know BC did it right?)

JP was angry with NC for spreading some rumor about him shortly before her death. (Anger, BC was angry right?)

JP repeatedly makes reference to the importance of his reputation for his kids and his livelihood. (Money, that was a motive for BC right?)

JP lied to the police about how often he was in contact with NC in the time leading up to her death. (Again those pesky deposition lies that just shout guilt for BC.)

How exactly is it that BC can't be excluded but JP can?

 

[ncsu95]

And his story changed. In one version, NC was doing the laundry, and in another version, he was doing laundry. For someone with yellow sheets, you would think he could remember WHO initiated the laundry. After all, NC would not have been doing his clothes, and we know he didn't do hers. So who was doing their laundry? Which one? And why can't he remember because it seems that it was a rare event for him to do his laundry? Maybe he can't remember because this was a facet of his alibi story.

I believe they both did laundry that morning.

 

[gracielee]

Google "raleigh jogger attacked" (without quotes) and you will see quite a few reports about area joggers being attacked over the years. Such attacks certainly are not common, but they do happen. So it's not much of a reach to think that she could have been attacked while jogging.

This wasn't an *attack*, this was a clean, proficient murder. No defensive wounds on the victim, no sounds. No one *heard* a thing. No robbery, no rape, just a murder. So how many other 'murders' of joggers in the raleigh/cary area remain unsolved? And that would have to be 'murders of joggers' where the body is also transported to a different location. Random killers of joggers don't normally transport the body away from the scene of the crime. Too bad brad didn't have enough 'common sense' to dump the body along a jogging path. MOO

 

[Just the Fax]

I guess Brad removed it before she went to HT on the 11th too, right? The necklace theory has gone poof....just like the duck theory.

Though I think she had it on when he killed her, neither the ducks or the necklace came close to proving murder in the first place.
It's just 2 small pieces of CE that were shot down.
There is MUCH more, don't worry.

 

[ncsu95]

Another thing to consider...

Kurtz is being paid $85/hr to represent Bradley. Rest assured he has racked up many hours to bill the state of NC, and has done little else in his own private practice.
The prosecution is on a piddly salary and juggles 100's of serious cases at any given time. I have said, this trio of prosecutors have not done a good job for the state and the people of Wake County.
Boz and Amy are on the DA drug squad....hardly seasoned for 1st degree murder cases.

What exactly is your point? The state also had unlimited access to experts that the defense doesn't. Are you excusing the crappy job the ADAs did because they aren't paid as much? They chose to go into public service (and God Bless them for it). Oh, and Kurtz isn't exactly seasoned in 1st degree murder cases either. His specialty is drug cases.

 

[ncsu95]

no they only would have to buy two ducks..one was still on fridge..but oddly ended up in the same box as the two missing ducks

So now you think the defense bought the ducks?

 

[ncsu95]

I have wondered all along if he just didn't like the ducks, and packed them away himself after he knew she wouldn't be coming back.

You think he killed her and them immediately thought "I don't like those damn ducks" and took the time from cleaning and covering up the murder to go and pack the ducks in a box? Remember...they weren't there in the pictures from the 12th.

 

[gracielee]

It's not the "same" in amount - but $75,000 would help pay some of the debt BC had hanging over his head - or gotten him to France for a new life.

I'm wondering how much money Ann Miller had on Eric Millers head? The point was to get rid of the spouse, whether a bit of a windfall came along, well, that was just a little icing on the cake, so to speak. I've not heard if Nancy's policy had a double indemnity clause in it? Most of those standard work policies do. When my husband was working, my life insurance, like Nancy's, was through his employment.

 

[Just the Fax]

Wow, so JA was wrong? Weren't the ducks in your list of things that proved him to be guilty? Yet because CPD didn't look for the shoes until October, it means he ditched them. That's absurd.

Yep, JA was wrong about seeing the ducks.
Yes, they looked in October and the shoes were gone.
I drew my own conclusion he ditched them.
You can come up with your own excuses.

 

[gracielee]

I remember when posters were discussing the jury yukking it up and the sentiment there was that they were very stressed, they had to sit all day very somberly, they needed to be able to relax. I think everyone has their own opinions about people's actions. I say Bradleeee acted like a guilty person. You might say JP acted like a guilty person. So it's an even playing field - everyone acts differently, no two people handle a situation the same, people laugh when nervous, people cry when sad while others (Bradleee) don't... 'just sayin'

And I remember hearing 'let's leave the cooper family out of this', 'they've suffered enough.' Doesn't that hold true towards the Rentz/Lister families too? Among all these adults, the one who has suffered the most is Krista, losing her TWIN. Twins do have a special bond, they have been together 9 months longer than anyone else. Been bonded together inutero. Most likely slept together in one crib as babies........ of all the sadnesses involved, let's not forget Krista's loss of her identical soul mate.