CONVICTION OVERTURNED CA - Sgt. Todd Sommer, 23, fatally poisoned, San Diego, 18 Feb 2002

[Jeana (DP)]

She had many days between dosing him with poison and disposing of the evidence. And thereafter she had many months.

She dumped her computer and lied to investigators about it. Said it was the same one she had when Todd was alive. Too bad it wasn't even manufactured for 3 mos. after he died.

Arsenic isn't a rare substance. It's quite common and could have been purchased with cash in a garden supply or Home Depot. 15 months later, what kind of record could there be?

If a killer, like Justin Barber, throws away the gun that kills his wife, but all the other facts say he did it, should we let him walk because the gun is gone??

I'm sorry, but IMO, you really don't understand the nature of circumstantial evidence.

Darlin I understand the nature of circumstantial evidence quite well and believe me, there's not enough here to send this woman to prison for the rest of her life.

 

[JDB]

I tell you what if she did this . It will go in the books as oneof the dumbest of all time!!! Why in the world would she offer his organs for donation if she knew arnsenic was in his system? Also why was the level of posion not as high in his blood?

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I tell you what if she did this . It will go in the books as oneof the dumbest of all time!!! Why in the world would she offer his organs for donation if she knew arnsenic was in his system? Also why was the level of posion not as high in his blood?

No doubt! She also let them have free reign of everything in her life. She may be a horrible parent and a tramp, but that's a pretty far stretch to get to murder. Maybe the cheese slipped off her cracker after he died and she lost her mind. That's about all I can figure. My concern is that the organ tissue sat for so long before the testing. Maybe there was some problem in the way it was stored. All I know is that there is so much more than reasonable doubt here that the state really should be ashamed of itself for evening bringing this case.

 

[Dalilah]

Maybe the cheese slipped off her cracker after he died and she lost her mind.

DietCoke all over my 'puter screen! That is the funniest thing I've heard in awhile.

 

[tybee204]

Jury deliberation began this morning. I am anxious to see how this case is decided. I watched most of the testimony on CTV extra and IMO there isnt enough for a conviction.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Jury deliberation began this morning. I am anxious to see how this case is decided. I watched most of the testimony on CTV extra and IMO there isnt enough for a conviction.

I am as well Tybee. She's not going to win any mother of the year awards and frankly, I hope that she seeks parenting classes and the kids therapy before they consider giving them back to her.

 

[JDB]

Dang you mean finally I agree with two of our MODS???? Some one mark this on the WS calendar Laffin :crazy:

 

[Garnan]

Where are the children? Are they all together, with family??? I haven't heard anything regarding this.

 

[Nore]

Where are the children? Are they all together, with family??? I haven't heard anything regarding this.

-----------------------
I heard today the oldest child a girl,Jenna, has been in the Court room with her grandmom~they are living in Michigan.The boys are with Cindys brother in Michigan.I believe they had planned on the girl taking the stand but changed their minds.

 

[lisafremont]

I tell you what if she did this . It will go in the books as oneof the dumbest of all time!!! Why in the world would she offer his organs for donation if she knew arnsenic was in his system? Also why was the level of posion not as high in his blood?

She couldn't very well deny the "donation" which wasn't going to happen because he was already dead. It would have sent up red flags. As it is, she almost got away with it. It's only because he was a Marine that there was a heavy metals test of tissues before they closed the case.

Arsenic, as Dr. Lawrence Kobilinski, was explaining it on CTV the other day, goes right for the liver and that the organ that shows the highest concentration. About a third of that amount shows up in the kidney, consistent with Todd's results. An acute dose of organic arsenic clears the blood and shows up in very low levels in other organs. His results are very consistent with acute arsenic poisoning.

The DA even used a paper the main defense scientific expert wrote to prove her case. it's solid.
JMO

 

[lisafremont]

I am as well Tybee. She's not going to win any mother of the year awards and frankly, I hope that she seeks parenting classes and the kids therapy before they consider giving them back to her.

Sounds like you're pretty confident of acquittal.

 

[tybee204]

90% of familys deny organ donation. Its a personal decision that people struggle with everyday. How would that be a red flag? I totally support organ donation but I have never had to make the decision. The idea of my childs heart beating in a strangers chest gives me pause and I pray I am never confronted with that choice.

 

[JDB]

Sounds like you're pretty confident of acquittal.

I am The DA did not prove above reasonable doubt at all. All they have is speculation. And Gawd help us if that is the way Juries work

 

[Linda7NJ]

not guilty!!!!!!!!

 

[Amraann]

Linda where did you read/hear that??


Ctv still has the jury as being out??


ETA: From the court tv article http://www.courttv.com/trials/sommer/012507_ctv.html?page=3

Experts on both sides agree that they struggled with the seemingly inconsistent distribution of arsenic in Todd's tissues. If he had received a dose on Feb. 8 large enough to cause 1,020 times the normal level in his liver tissues, then why were his blood, urine, brain and muscle levels negative or only slightly elevated?

 

[JDB]

Linda where did you read/hear that??


Ctv still has the jury as being out??


ETA: From the court tv article http://www.courttv.com/trials/sommer/012507_ctv.html?page=3

Experts on both sides agree that they struggled with the seemingly inconsistent distribution of arsenic in Todd's tissues. If he had received a dose on Feb. 8 large enough to cause 1,020 times the normal level in his liver tissues, then why were his blood, urine, brain and muscle levels negative or only slightly elevated?

I think Linda was saying what she excepts to hear

 

[Elliemae]

Jury deliberation began this morning. I am anxious to see how this case is decided. I watched most of the testimony on CTV extra and IMO there isnt enough for a conviction.

I agree. Prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Some people go a little crazy during their grief. I know that I did some really weird things (out of character) while I was going through my divorce. I was greiving the end of our marriage.

Thank god my ex husband didn't turn up dead!

 

[SewingDeb]

I agree. Prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Some people go a little crazy during their grief. I know that I did some really weird things (out of character) while I was going through my divorce. I was greiving the end of our marriage.

Thank god my ex husband didn't turn up dead!

I can say the same, Elliemae.

 

[Peter Hamilton]

Well, if she does indeed get off, and she might, she won't be the first guilty perp to walk free---and If she is found not guilty, I hope the first thing she does is go to a specialist and get that hideous tattoo remvoved from her arm--They can do wonders these days with lasers

 

[nanandjim]

Well, if she does indeed get off, and she might, she won't be the first guilty perp to walk free---and If she is found not guilty, I hope the first thing she does is go to a specialist and get that hideous tattoo remvoved from her arm--They can do wonders these days with lasers

She may walk, which will show her that crime can indeed pay even for the average folk. I have no hope that she will change anything that she is doing if she is found not guilty. It is her children--the next generation--that concern me. I hope that they will be okay.