Found Deceased MI - Venus Stewart, 32, Colon, 28 April 2010 - # 2 *D. Stewart guilty*

[Natal]

Assuming Douglas is a spouse abuser, a bully - he would stop at nothing to gain control. Filing for divorce on 'his' terms with 'himself' in charge gives him the control he needs to have at the time.

Spending money to get that control is irrelevant for the abuser - whatever it takes, including murder, is what he resorts to. Add to the pot, violence, arrogance, narcissism, the obsession to control, and manipulative behaviors - you have the recipe for murder.moo

The whole business of control is an obsession that can lead to murder. The survivor of the obsession should truly be congratulated. moo

You could equally well say that about the wife and there is enough in the history of this couple to suggest that may be true as well. The bottom line is at this point we don't have enough reliable information to know which version is true.

This case is an odd one, on one hand it would appear to fit a familiar pattern but on the other hand there are elements that seem very weird. But, now that LE have the vehicles and I'm sure they are investigating his alibi, we will probably know if he is involved or not by next week. If he is involved then then the general timeline will be established pretty quickly, if he is not involved then the investigation will be back to square one and focussed more on what was happening in the area where she lived.

 

[not_my_kids]

The warrants are a mess, the news reports are a mess.

At this point, it seems that her husband could have killed her, she could have gone underground, or simply walked away.

I want to judge the husband as 100% guilty and call this a body search, but there is a vague and indefinable something that won't let me do that yet.
The fact that he filed for divorce is part of it, but when it comes down to it, they had two kids and that could have been nothing but a power play on his part. In other words, "Look how much you need me." I don't know. This just doesn't feel quite typical, but I can't really pinpoint why it doesn't fit the mold.

 

[ATWC66]

Snipped...

Well, then why would he spend the money to hire up a lawyer and file for divorce against her...not once, but twice? It's not cheap to file when you have 2 children. Most lawyers want a $2500 retainer upfront for divorce proceedings where children are involved if they are any good. If he was really one of these "if I can't have you, no one will" type of people then it doesn't make much sense that he'd file for divorce, it would almost be counterproductive to his goals if that's really how DS is. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks all.

IF he had filed for Divorce while in MI and fell within the guidelines (of yearly earnings) he could have qualified for Legal Aid.

http://lawyers.justia.com/lawyers/divorce/michigan

Their city is included in this list.

 

[Calliope]

The warrants are a mess, the news reports are a mess.

At this point, it seems that her husband could have killed her, she could have gone underground, or simply walked away.

I want to judge the husband as 100% guilty and call this a body search, but there is a vague and indefinable something that won't let me do that yet.
The fact that he filed for divorce is part of it, but when it comes down to it, they had two kids and that could have been nothing but a power play on his part. In other words, "Look how much you need me." I don't know. This just doesn't feel quite typical, but I can't really pinpoint why it doesn't fit the mold.

I've been there, done that, escaped and lived to tell the tale. But I have to agree; from the limited information we have, something just doesn't sit right. Call it a gut feeling but I can't explain it. Obviously for Venus' sake, the best scenario would be that this was staged but then I think of the kids. No matter what happened, staged or DS involved or stranger abduction, they're the ones who'll suffer the most.

 

[pufnstuf]

Here's another thing...

If Doug had been in Virginia, carrying on his life as usual, at work... why would he only have two alibi witnesses? Anyone who works as a delivery person would have a dozen or more alibi witnesses putting him in Virginia on Monday.

This is why I don't think that he went to work on Monday. He only has two alibi witnesses, and those two could be anybody.

 

[pufnstuf]

You could equally well say that about the wife and there is enough in the history of this couple to suggest that may be true as well. The bottom line is at this point we don't have enough reliable information to know which version is true.

This case is an odd one, on one hand it would appear to fit a familiar pattern but on the other hand there are elements that seem very weird. But, now that LE have the vehicles and I'm sure they are investigating his alibi, we will probably know if he is involved or not by next week. If he is involved then then the general timeline will be established pretty quickly, if he is not involved then the investigation will be back to square one and focussed more on what was happening in the area where she lived.

She's missing. He's not. Kinda gives more credence to her version of events, in my opinion.

 

[Calliope]

Snipped...


IF he had filed for Divorce while in MI and fell within the guidelines (of yearly earnings) he could have qualified for Legal Aid.

http://lawyers.justia.com/lawyers/divorce/michigan

Their city is included in this list.

IMO, that doesn't negate her main point. The I'll-kill-you-if-you-ever-leave-me type isn't going to file for a divorce.

 

[fran]

IMHO, about the only thing 'odd' about this case is RIGHT out of the GATE, LE said, "she may have been killed."

That is VERY unusual for LE to say that on the very day the person is 'missing.' I mean, the 'signs' she was actually abducted, were a little vague.

I think I'll go along with LE on this one. They're the professionals.

As for the confusion of what's on the NG site. Her staff MAY have jumped the gun. In SWs, LE specifies WHAT they're looking for. Signs of a 'murder or struggle,' ie blood, hair, dna, and in this case more specifically tarp etc. It's on the RETURNED SW, AFTER forensics is done in the PHYSICAL search, do they say WHAT they located and WHAT they confiscated. From what I've seen in the past, it's like a check list or confirmation of what they were seeking and what they recovered.

JMHO
fran

 

[Calliope]

Here's another thing...

If Doug had been in Virginia, carrying on his life as usual, at work... why would he only have two alibi witnesses? Anyone who works as a delivery person would have a dozen or more alibi witnesses putting him in Virginia on Monday.

This is why I don't think that he went to work on Monday. He only has two alibi witnesses, and those two could be anybody.

Who said he has only two witnesses?

 

[Calliope]

IMHO, about the only thing 'odd' about this case is RIGHT out of the GATE, LE said, "she may have been killed."

That is VERY unusual for LE to say that on the very day the person is 'missing.' I mean, the 'signs' she was actually abducted, were a little vague.

I think I'll go along with LE on this one. They're the professionals.

As for the confusion of what's on the NG site. Her staff MAY have jumped the gun. In SWs, LE specifies WHAT they're looking for. Signs of a 'murder or struggle,' ie blood, hair, dna, and in this case more specifically tarp etc. It's on the RETURNED SW, AFTER forensics is done in the PHYSICAL search, do they say WHAT they located and WHAT they confiscated. From what I've seen in the past, it's like a check list or confirmation of what they were seeking and what they recovered.

JMHO
fran

Well considering her background, NG certainly is keenly aware of this. And she is ultimately responsible for what is posted on her site under her name.

 

[fran]

Well considering her background, NG certainly is keenly aware of this. And she is ultimately responsible for what is posted on her site under her name.

From watching NG on and off for a few years, I've come to the conclusion she's not always accurate. I believe that's why people were asking if this is confirmed on another news site, BESIDES NG.

JMHO
fran

 

[eyes4crime]

You could equally well say that about the wife and there is enough in the history of this couple to suggest that may be true as well. The bottom line is at this point we don't have enough reliable information to know which version is true.

This case is an odd one, on one hand it would appear to fit a familiar pattern but on the other hand there are elements that seem very weird. But, now that LE have the vehicles and I'm sure they are investigating his alibi, we will probably know if he is involved or not by next week. If he is involved then then the general timeline will be established pretty quickly, if he is not involved then the investigation will be back to square one and focussed more on what was happening in the area where she lived.

In my defense, I did use the word 'assuming' when referring to Douglas as an abuser. Simply can't make all the exclusions in a comment that make people happy. :angel:

I strongly feel that Venus is no longer with us and this will turn into a murder investigation. Even if the vehicles turn up little or no evidence, nobody will be cleared. A time-line could take weeks to put together. With no crime scene, no body, and not many clues, showing who done it beyond all reasonable doubt could take weeks, months, or years. The perp walks free for now. moo

 

[eyes4crime]

IMO, that doesn't negate her main point. The I'll-kill-you-if-you-ever-leave-me type isn't going to file for a divorce.

The filing for divorce maneuver is manipulative for control - that along with a myriad of other threats usually are used before resorting to murder. The I'll kill you if you leave me kind of person is psychologically abusive - not all murderers are.

 

[Natal]

Even if the vehicles turn up little or no evidence, nobody will be cleared.

That's not true. If the vehicles turn up no evidence and the husbands alibi holds up they will drop him as a POI and turn the investigation elsewhere.

It would be somewhat more murky if the vehicles do turn up evidence but the alibi holds up. What then? The question then would become does the evidence relate to the incident under investigation or does it come from unrelated things. For example, they were married and lived together for a long period of time, so evidence that she was in the vehicles directly or indirectly at some point has to be there. That would make interpretation difficult.

I think the pivotal question is going to be the alibi.

 

[fran]

I'm getting ready to leave for a few days, so I don't have time to look this up. But, IIRCC, it was just the week prior that the estranged husband was delivered some type of court order. It may have been the 'custody,' or something like that.

Anyway, that COULD trigger his rage into action. Remember, when a victim leaves is when she's in the MOST DANGER!

I don't take much from the previous police reports where Venus was sited. I KNOW FOR A FACT these guys know how to manipulate the situation. Look what happened to Kathleen Savio.

JMHO
fran

 

[pufnstuf]

Who said he has only two witnesses?

He did. He made a statement that two people can verify that he was in Virginia.

 

[eyes4crime]

I'm getting ready to leave for a few days, so I don't have time to look this up. But, IIRCC, it was just the week prior that the estranged husband was delivered some type of court order. It may have been the 'custody,' or something like that.

Anyway, that COULD trigger his rage into action. Remember, when a victim leaves is when she's in the MOST DANGER!

I don't take much from the previous police reports where Venus was sited. I KNOW FOR A FACT these guys know how to manipulate the situation. Look what happened to Kathleen Savio.

JMHO. She
fran

OT - OMG - poor, beautiful, kathleen Savio! She ran for her life and kept running head on into the barb wire Drew put up around her. MOO

 

[pufnstuf]

I'm getting ready to leave for a few days, so I don't have time to look this up. But, IIRCC, it was just the week prior that the estranged husband was delivered some type of court order. It may have been the 'custody,' or something like that.

Anyway, that COULD trigger his rage into action. Remember, when a victim leaves is when she's in the MOST DANGER!

I don't take much from the previous police reports where Venus was sited. I KNOW FOR A FACT these guys know how to manipulate the situation. Look what happened to Kathleen Savio.

JMHO
fran

One week to the day before Venus disappeared, the court ordered that she be awarded temporary custody.

The next step, of course, is that the order be mailed to Doug, unless it was given to a local attorney representing him at the hearing. I don't know if Doug had already retained this lawyer in Portage for the custody hearing or not.

 

[Natal]

The filing for divorce maneuver is manipulative for control - that along with a myriad of other threats usually are used before resorting to murder. The I'll kill you if you leave me kind of person is psychologically abusive - not all murderers are.

Except that usually the reverse happens in a manipulative relationship. People are persuaded to abandon divorce proceedings because they "need" the person they are leaving.

I don't see how starting divorce proceedings could be used to manipulate someone. What could you possibly be trying to get them to do? If it was something they didnt want to do you would have just provided them an out. It would seem to be a very counterproductive strategy to me.

 

[pufnstuf]

That's not true. If the vehicles turn up no evidence and the husbands alibi holds up they will drop him as a POI and turn the investigation elsewhere.

It would be somewhat more murky if the vehicles do turn up evidence but the alibi holds up. What then? The question then would become does the evidence relate to the incident under investigation or does it come from unrelated things. For example, they were married and lived together for a long period of time, so evidence that she was in the vehicles directly or indirectly at some point has to be there. That would make interpretation difficult.

I think the pivotal question is going to be the alibi.

Even if his alibi holds up, even if no evidence is found in the vehicles, it doesn't mean that LE will drop him as a POI. It's still possible that he arranged for her to be kidnapped/murdered, and even if he were sitting squarely in Virginia with 1000 alibi witnesses at the time of her disappearance, if police can find proof that he arranged her abduction, he'll face the same charges as the person who abducted her, PLUS conspiracy charges.