I have read thread with interest. I really haven't decided whether I think the mother killed her son or not. But I want to make a comment regarding judging this woman's character by viewing her Myspace page.
I have 4 younger cousins, who I know well, but being 10-15 years older I am not so involved in their social lives apart from family functions. I keep up with their "party" lives through their Myspace pages! And let me tell you, what they have on their Myspace pages is only one facet of their personalities/lives.
1. My 23 year old female cousin's site is all about her friends, parties she attends, and her travels. There are hundreds of photos of her in nightclubs, or on the banks of a river in a bikini, and lots of comments about men she finds "cute". She is a college graduate, works full time, rarely drinks, lives with her parents, and the holiday trips to the river are taken with her parents. She is intelligent, kind, considerate, mature and sensible. And you'd never guess any of that by looking at her site.
2. My 25 year old female cousin's site is similar, except there's more alcohol involved! She is the most beloved member of our extended family because of her exuberant and loving nature. She works in a nursing home (and loves it), is studying to be a nurse, lives with her parents, and is a carer for her invalid mother. You'd never guess any of that by looking at her site.
3. My 27 year old female cousin seems to be permanently drunk and on the prowl for men on her Myspace site. She is also a college graduate who works full time, lives with her parents, and has just cautiously entered into a new relationship after a 7 year relationship ended. She is intelligent and is planning furiously for her future. You'd never know that from her site.
4. My 19 year old male cousin's site is black. He is "emo" and his site is all about love and loss, dark music, and has very few photos, other than graphics and drawings. In "real life" he is a sunny and loving boy who doesn't drink or smoke, is totally anti-drugs, and has come through some betrayals and losses exceptionally well. You'd never know that from his site.
I know that there is a difference; that none of my cousins are parents, but I want you to consider that Amanda Epps' site was probably only one facet of her personality. The vast majority of Myspace sites are similar, and it is a wise thing to do to keep pictures of your child off your page. Sure, she comes across as a party animal, but did any of you really notice that all those photos came from the SAME party, in September last year? And that that party was held for 4 birthday girls? I agree, it was an excessive amount of alcohol, but there is no indication Amanda was doing that every weekend.
I could easily set up a Myspace site with photos of a party I attended in my second last year of high school. Piles of alcohol, people doing silly things, and me writing about the party with no mention of anything else. It would be really easy for you (especially if you'd come to my page with a preconceived notion of what sort of person I was) and form the opinion that I was the next Lindsay Lohan. But you wouldn't know that it was the ONLY party I attended in high school! Myself and my friends talked about it for years to come because it was a really memorable night (not the least for me - I met my future husband there!) and you bet your buttons if I had set up some sort of website in the year after that party all the photos on there would have come from the party.
I think her behaviour is hinky too, but calling someone a murderer because they held a party with lots of alcohol is way off, IMO. Yes, she is a parent, but parents like to let off steam sometimes too, and like I said, it really only looks like she did it ONCE!!
Oh, and I drank sangria (similar to PJ) from a wash tub once. Mmmmmm....
