My doubt about this case is the lack of convincing evidence. Regrettably, I can totally "fathom how a man, a father and a friend could be capable [originally spelling corrected] of such horror", given so many horrible news reports about man murdering their own children and wife. And it's more than likely this crime was committed by a man or men who were or are fathers and were friend(s) to Joseph or otherwise very close to Joseph. Joseph couldn't have fathomed that, but many of us can. However, regarding to the current accused, there is nothing I've read or heard about in this case that suggests he either has the violent nature, or the motive, or the capability to torture Joseph and murder this entire family.
SMR, I totally appreciate your point of view and the effort made with your well thought out posts here.
I do want to ask this though, about your statement, that there is nothing to show a 'violent' nature or a 'motive.'
Although thievery, burglary and selling stolen property is not considered 'violence', I see it as a cousin to violence. You are physically 'asaulting' someone in a forceful way, and in a way that makes other feel violated and attacked. And it takes a very low integrity person with a lack of empathy and compassion to steal from a wide range of people in their lives. From strangers, to clients to friends and family. And to do so for decades.
Also, your mention of the lack of motive -----I see a few intertwined motives. And there is a reason that the state is emphasizing the Gambling Addiction information. There are many murders that stem from addicted perpetrators. Addiction can take over and infiltrate some people's lives until they are capable of violent reactions to the life circumstances they created by lying and stealing from others. At some point they can become cornered and there seems no other way out.
His defenders like to say ' maybe he stole from his boss, but that doesn't mean he murdered him.' Sure, that is true.
But it could make him the most likely suspect because he stole thousands from him days before, and continuously thereafter. And in such a way that Joey would not be blind to it. So Chase had trapped himself into a corner.
I see that as a viable motive. Years of stress from being a lying, thieving person, hiding behind the cowboy hat of the good ol boy, that is everyone's friend. When in reality, there are dozens of victims, filing complaints and lawsuits and tax liens and judgements against him, piling up and up and up.
And meanwhile his boss and mentor is finally beginning to lose faith in him and is cutting back his pay, calling in the debts between them, and farming out most of the welding to others.
Right when these million dollars orders are about to roll in, Joey is backing away and cutting him out. I think that is why Chase suddenly began stealing from Joey so blatantly as he knew it was coming to an end.