So relieved to learn the Kirby's have ML child. Glad the justice system worked.
This should be a learning lesson for young women. Bad relationships can and do lead to this scenario. Abuse doesn't have to be physical, mental abuse is often more deadly, in that once a person decides to leave they are in greatest danger.
Prayers for both children.
Virtual hugs to all
You are absolutely right on mental abuse being extremely dangerous. I think his abuse of Melinda began covertly with him manipulating her with his lies and she didn't even realize what was going on. The biggest lie, by far, in my opinion, was the lie about his wife and child having been killed in an accident.
Melinda obviously fell very much in love with him, but tragically, she fell in love with a liar. The man she fell in love with never existed. I think that by the time she realized she'd been lied to, she was already very invested in the relationship and had made life-changing decisions in order to have a future with him. She found herself unable to walk away from him.
If anything can be learned from this horrible tragedy, I think it is the importance of being able to recognize that if someone manipulates you into a relationship with a lie or lies about who they really are, you need to end that relationship and get away from that person immediately and don't look back. Know that their intentions toward you were never good and there will be no happily ever after with that person. Protect yourself in every way that you can from this person.
The kind of manipulation and covert abuse Melinda experienced happens to women every single day and young woman are particularly vulnerable. The women who are victimized usually end up emotionally and/or physically abused, and they end up with a broken heart, a broken spirit and broken dreams. Often they end up with one or more children they need to find a way to support on their own.
Melinda was cheated out of so many things by SL and his perpetual narcissistic agenda finally led him to cheat her out of her own life. I am so glad that this jury could see through all of the subterfuge that was thrown at them.
) I'm sure he's seen lots of crimes and I'm sure this one looked hinky to him too. Why wouldn't he encourage SL to try and work a deal? Maybe get this down to manslaughter and do 15? 
