"We just want to come on and share what we do know and share truth and hopefully keep getting opportunities where more people will be open to that and be able to listen." - Melani
"I’m having to spend all this time telling the truth because everything’s been manipulated into lies in the media. People aren’t seeing the whole picture of things. And this is a whole deflection on the truth. Everything that’s being thrown around – all these ideas that people are bouncing off each other – they’re missing the truth. That’s our exes’ goal, to distract from everything they’re doing and confuse it in this case to take advantage of it." - Melani
and
"I know everything’s going to come forward eventually. As we just keep trying to tell the truth and be ourselves and try to do the right thing, I know things are going to work out." - Melani
Having watched the interviews it seems to me like they're more interested in painting a narrative that casts themselves, Lori, et al., in a positive light than in actually telling the truth. Which is understandable, of course, considering the position they're in. But at the end of the day, if truth itself becomes the victim in exchange for the expediency of protecting oneself and ones own self-interests, then it becomes at once disingenuous, dishonest, and even duplicitous on their part to pretend they stand with the banner of truth. I would then like to examine some of the things I've observed from this interview and weigh them to see if truth really is what they seek, or if they are only looking after their own self-interests and welfare.
First off, let's start with the presence of the attorneys. Let me be clear, I'm not against having attorneys present in the least, and I'm not going to speculate or infer guilt or innocence based on their presence. Attorneys aren't there to make sure the truth is known and told, they are there simply to represent and protect their clients interests, regardless of guilt or innocence. This fact alone would indicate that there is at least some level of self-interest on the part of those being interviewed to make sure that they were there. Contrast that with all the interviews with the Woodcocks, Colby, BB, etc., who never had attorneys present when being interviewed - they aren't interested in self-preservation or protecting themselves legally, rather, they are seeking to make truths known, find answers, and looking out for the best interests of others - namely the children and other innocent people involved.
In a similar vein, the location of the interviewees is noteworthy. Ian and Melani are not doing the interview in person, but rather appear to be doing it electronically from the safety and comfort of the Attorney's office. That office represents a refuge and safe place for them, again indicative of self-preservation, rather than meeting with a potential adversary on their own home turf which could be viewed as dangerous.
Melani: My mom got really sick a couple years after having me. She almost died having me because she had a deep vein thrombosis blood clot. And the Cox side doesn’t really have great genes. My grandpa’s had cancer and blood clots, and initially my grandfather was told by the police that Alex – they thought a lung clot was the reason for his death initially. So that’s what we thought this whole time.
I think my parents had a rough time when my mom got really sick with type 1 diabetes and gastroparesis. She didn’t have the ability to absorb nutrients and was in and out of doctors and hospitals, and I think it was hard on my dad. I know there was some infidelity on his part, and they tried to work through things, and they just couldn’t make it work.
I spent a lot of time in the Cox home. Barry and Janis, my grandparents, lived in California, and I lived with them for a while. My mom was sick and I remember my dad traveling a lot for his job, and my mom finally felt like she was healthy enough when we moved to Seattle, and my dad got a job there. It was just me, my mom and dad. My mom couldn’t have any more kids.
When I was 6, I can remember the night my dad took me and said, “We’re going to go get gas,” and we never came back. We left my mom there, and he turned the power off. He took all her credit cards, her planner and just left her there. She was really sick to the point she couldn’t really take care of herself. We hid out in a hotel for a couple months, and that started a nasty custody battle between them.
I remember just being quiet and not really understanding what was going on. I just remember not seeing my mom a lot, but she fought as much as she could. I grew up with my dad and then later my stepmom when my dad got remarried. I heard all manner of things about the Coxes, but my dad kind of cut off communication with them.
My mom later passed away when I was 9. Lori was the one that called and told me the news. She said, “Your mom’s in a coma and she’s probably not going to make it.” I remember that phone call and I’ve always loved and trusted. Lori. She’s always been somebody that has so much unconditional love and no judgment, no drama, and I admire her so much. I don’t think I would have wanted to have that phone call by anybody else to have to give me that news.
I remember flying up with my dad, who took me to see my mom last time in hospice. She passed, and my dad didn’t let me talk or see any of that side of the family. I didn’t know why other than he was saying all sorts of things about them.
Finally, when I was 15, I found my uncle Adam (a radio DJ). I think I Googled him on the computers in high school, and I found him, and he was one of my favorite, favorite people in my life. I remember growing up and connecting all the ties from age 9 to 15. For all those years, they didn’t have me, and they tried sending packages, and my dad would return them. I never understood why I just felt something off in my heart, but I have
no judgment or resentment on why my dad did the things he did. I wish to this day he would just say it for what it is and be real about it because that’s how we grow.
BBM. Based on what she's telling us, it actually does sound like she resents and blames her dad for everything, in spite of her protestations to the contrary. She was 6 when her world was turned upside down. She wouldn't have even been capable to understand and process what was going on at that tender age, and she even admits it here. And she certainly wouldn't have been aware of the facts of the situation. And yet all the "facts" she shares is very pointedly against her dad. How did she come to hold these beliefs and have this perspective? Almost certainly from her Cox family members. It sounds to me like the story she is telling us is that she believes her dad tore her away from her mother, which she couldn't understand why being so young, and then as she grew up and would ask questions like "where's mommy?" or "why can't I see her?" her dad would tell her "all manner of things about the Coxes" and so she began to resent her father for 1) taking her away from her mother, and 2) talking bad about the Cox side of the family (of which she was a part).
Later, after she had grown up a bit, was a teenager and began to exercise her independence and perhaps became a bit rebellious, she naturally wanted to reach out to her Cox side of the family and hear their side of the story. Of course they would have welcomed the opportunity and wouldn't have had anything flattering to say about her dad, and anything they said would have served only to continue to feed her resentment.
Here's some questions:
How would have Melani come to believe that "there was some infidelity" from her dad towards her mother and that's what initiated the seperation? At 6 years old? I can almost certainly guarantee it wasn't her dad that told her this story. I'd be willing to bet she learned this only later in life and from the Coxes. And, if there were truth to the accusation of infidelity, then how did she end up in the custody of her father instead of her mother? While such may happen on occasion it is my experience and understanding that in the vast majority of cases, when there is infidelity in marriage which leads to divorce, the children usually end up with the other parent. This doesn't pass the sniff test to me. There must be more going on which she isn't telling us.
I'm willing to believe Melani's memory of "going to go get gas" is fairly accurate, even at 6 years old, because I have similar memories of events at such a young age. When something especially traumatic or good happens it can be ingrained into our memories with surprising clarity. And leaving one's home and mother pretty much to never see her again would definitely be traumatic for a child. However, I seriously doubt everything else she shares about that event is from her own memory, but rather a narrative the Cox family fed her later in life when she finally got in touch with them. How could a child of that age know or understand if her father had turned off the power, stolen her mother's credit cards and personal belongings, and then left her basically to die on her sickbed with no means of caring for herself? That would have been an atrocious thing to do! And yet, if such were true, then how did dad later end up with custody of Melani? Again I'm willing to bet she never heard of these things from her father, but rather much later from the Coxes.
Based upon the facts of the case (primarily that dad ended up with custody of Melani), along with the narrative Melani shares, it sounds to me like her dad did the right thing in trying to keep her away from the Cox family because they did end up poisoning Melani's mind and heart. JMO.
One other thing. Melani says that Lori has "always been somebody that has so much unconditional love and no judgment, no drama." I don't know how Melani managed to say that with a straight face. No drama? No judgement? Unconditional love? Seriously?!? Then how in the world have we come to where we are now? Why is she on her fifth marriage? Why is Charles dead at the hands of Lori's brother? Why was she shopping for a wedding dress and ring, obviously planning for a marriage, at a time when her future husband was still married to his wife? Why did she allow a playful slap on the backside from said future husband, again while he was still married to his wife Tammy? Why did she take Tylee away to Hawaii, away from her father without his knowledge or permission, when there was an ongoing custody dispute? In most places that would be considered kidnapping and/or custodial interference. Why did she abandon her husband Charles and her adopted son JJ for nearly two months, with no sign or word from her on where she went? Why did she cancel Charles' flight home forcing him to buy a $600 ticket instead, take his truck from the airport, drain his business account of $35,000 dollars, change the house locks and take his property, attempt to lock him out of his own life insurance policy, make threats against him to the point he feared for his own life, etc., etc., etc.,? Why are the children missing and have been now for 8 months with no sign or word from them? And I could go on and on and on. No drama? No judgement? Unconditional love? Seriously?!? Are you even listening to the words coming out of your mouth? Melani truly must have been brainwashed if she really believes that.
Does Melani really want the truth to be known? Or is she painting a narrative to try and protect herself and her own?
I could go on about this interview, about how she continually paints good people as the bad guys, and those who are (or are suspected of) engaging in patterns of criminal activities as the good guys, but already this post is getting to be too long. Instead I'll just share a scripture for Melani to ponder over, in the off chance she comes across this post.
Isaiah 5:18-23
18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
20 ¶ Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
