http://www.macon.com/2011/07/15/1632018/mom-asked-mcdaniel-if-relationship.html#ixzz1SBzWOizB
Stephen Mark McDaniel considered Lauren Giddings, his neighbor and Mercer law school classmate, a friend, his mother says.
Glenda McDaniel said her son does have friends and is not a “lone wolf” recluse, as he’s recently been portrayed in media reports.
During law school, Giddings was president of Mercer’s chapter of The Federalist Society. Stephen McDaniel was vice president, his mother said.
On one occasion, Giddings was unable to attend a Federalist Society meeting in Washington, D.C., and she asked McDaniel to go in her place.
http://www.macon.com/2011/07/07/1623060/body-is-lauren-giddings-police.html
The family had seen McDaniel at a graduation party thrown jointly by the Giddings family and another law student’s family at the Fish N’ Pig restaurant in May.
McDaniel attended the party. Although both students’ family members and friends were at the party, it seemed to family members that McDaniel was there uninvited, Mann said.
He said Giddings was always kind to McDaniel.
http://www.macon.com/2011/07/08/1624328/macon-police-saying-little-about.html
Stephen McDaniel’s aunt, Melody Rucker, called the entire episode “totally bizarre.”
“We can’t believe it,” Rucker said.
She said her nephew is “one of the nicest, smartest people that I’ve ever known. ... We’re all very, very upset. Of course, we’re upset about the girl. But it’s like a dream really, because Stephen is just the straightest -- never been in trouble, never. ... I’ve never heard him say a cross word to anybody, very mild-mannered.”
http://www.startribune.com/nation/125172174.html
Giddings' father said he had met McDaniel a few times.
"I would describe him as very average — didn't speak a lot, kind of awkward," Bill Giddings said. "He seemed to be a light-weight, kind of a bookworm."
Above are just a few comments that depict McD from differing perspectives. LG's family didn't seem too impressed with him. The comments about the party and McD's silence and awkwardness suggest that LG's family consider McD a social misfit.
His family, on the other hand, views him as a young man with impeccable character and social graces. Of course, it's not unusual for the family to overlook the flaws of their loved one, and we know their assessment
isn't accurate since he has admitted to burglary.
McD, in my opinion, is fairly sociable and was generally well-accepted by his peers. But, he seems to have some idiosyncrasies that may have caused an uneasiness among his classmates. Considering LG and McD's involvement together in the Federalist Society, I'm inclined to think LG went out of her way to make McD feel included in the Mercer Law community. Maybe McD misinterpreted LG's kindness, fueled by his mother's comments (I'm not blaming her; her comments are typical of a mother), and he began to imagine a deeper relationship between them. That could certainly make LG begin to feel uncomfortable around McD.
IF McD is responsible for LG's death, maybe it was the unintended consequence of an advance he made toward her that was rebuffed. I can imagine LG trying to reason with McD while McD growing more persistent until they begin to tussle. Suppose in the scuffle LG hit her head or something happened, resulting in her death. At that point, McD would have panicked and even been guilt-stricken.
I wonder if McD has a friend who attends the medical school? Maybe McD called him, and the friend helped to dismember the body. The torso, though, he couldn't bear to part with immediately. Whether or not McD is involved, I wonder if the perp
did have an accessory? Unidentified DNA at the scene may be complicating matters for LE.
All just speculation, but I hope something will soon break in the case so there can be justice for Lauren, answers for her family and a sense of security for the community.
