There are 3 main issues of conflict that are central to this case for me.
1. MM's infatuation with the kids and JC's refusal to allow adoption.
We know for example that JC made a specific point of keeping the kids passports in his office at work.
2. The trip to Ireland for JC's dad's upcoming birthday party.
We know that TL testified that JC had intended to travel to the birthday in Ireland with the kids only. She also testified that MM contacted her separately to enquire about the date and to suggest she would be travelling too. Which TL found very odd.
3. The bigger picture of JC's desire to return to Ireland.
We know from earlier reports and media articles that JC had told a co-worker that he intended on returning to Ireland permanently without MM. We know TL testified that he was homesick and lonely.
These three issues tell me that there was a long running battle going on between JC and MM. MM probably had a sense of some of JC's plans, this would explain why she called TL fishing for information on the party date. It also shows that JC was not communicating his plans or the finer details to MM. This is something that would obviously cause a lot of tension. TL also testified that JC never actually booked any flights to Ireland, despite making several attempts to do so. So he was clearly in regular contact with his sister with updates about this trip. We know that money was no object so the question is, what was he waiting for? The opportune moment to book everything without MM finding out? Or was he intending to leave it as late as possible to book so that himself and the kids could just up and go in a flash?
Then we have TM's 'hatred' of JC. We also have TM & SM making a sudden decision to drive to North Carolina on Aug 1st instead of attending a pre-planned dinner party. TM conveniently brings a baseball bat with him (which we now know was an old second hand bat belonging to his son when he was a kid). We also know that MM repeatedly called her parents during their journey. I'd be inclined to suggest that MM was regularly on the phone to her parents, venting about JC and feeding them information. I'd also suggest that this is one of the main reasons why TM 'hated' JC - MM was painting a bad picture of both JC and the marriage to her family on a regular basis. Remember also that the Irish media printed claims that the kids told law enforcement in the US that they witnessed JC and MM have a number of physical and verbal altercations.
So here's what I think happened. I think MM & JC had been having tensions and issues for months. JC had his own plans but MM was aware that something was in the offing. JC's brother had been over visiting only the week before so it's highly implausible that there wasn't at least some talk of the upcoming trip to Ireland. I think JC and MM had some sort of major disagreement or argument possibly around 31st July/August 1st whereby things came to a head, and MM challenged JC about his plans to go to Ireland with the kids but without her. It is possible, and it's my belief, that in the heat of this argument JC let it be known that he intended to return to Ireland with the kids permanently, and that they may not even return from their upcoming trip. This would have enraged MM, and most certainly would have had her contacting her parents in a state of panic. So her parents, being appalled by this, cancelled their plans and headed for North Carolina.
Remember both MM & JC had been drinking for most of the evening. It's possible that another argument or exchange of some sorts took place between MM & JC in the evening, or simply tensions were high, prompting JC to have an early night. It's possible TM & SM involved themselves in any exchange too - they didn't drive all the way to say nothing. JC goes to bed, MM stays downstairs with her parents. The events of the evening then lead a worked up and emotional MM to the bedroom, where she ransacks the room, opening all the drawers looking for the kids passports. JC tells her she's wasting her time because he keeps the passports in his office. This antagonises MM even more, so she goes downstairs, picks up a paving brick, returns to the room and attacks JC multiple times with the brick as he lies in bed. This would explain the blood on the bed and duvet. JC then starts defending himself by struggling to his feet and out of the bed. It's probably a chaotic scene. At this point TM enters the fray, possibly at the behest of MM. TM then proceeds to beat JC with the bat until he is down and not moving. This would be consistent with the evidence of the blood spatter expert who testified that JC was beaten down from a standing position. The forcefulness of the overkill is explained by all that has gone on in the lead up to the event. After they realise the JC is dead, TM stages the scene, they compose themselves and get their stories straight and then they ring 911.
In the following days they waste no time emptying bank accounts and attempting to access JC's office to get their hands on the kids passports. It's also very possible that the life insurance amendment made days prior to JC's death is also connected and not a coincidence.
I don't believe TM's story from start to finish because it simply doesn't add up. He's protecting his daughter, he's prepared to lie and he's hoping that his unblemished FBI record will stand to him. He only has to convince one juror and he's home and hosed. His denial of any knowledge of domestic violence is simply to avoid an accusation of a pre-meditated attack.
This is what happened, or something similar, in my opinion. JC was murdered in a frenzied attack by an alcohol fueled woman infatuated with his children and by a father in law who had an open and long standing dislike for him. I hope they both get sent down for a very long time.
