If innocent, would a press conference help Terri?

[PDXMom]

Would a press conference help generate tips about the stranger chaperone (if LE doesn't already know his identity)? She must be desperate for information about him if she thinks he is the one who took Kyron.

Very good point. She could use the press to her (and Kyron's) advantage to "find the real killer". </sarcasm>

 

[mmmagique]

IMO, innocent people are certain that their innocence will come to light IF ONLY they had the chance to explain and try to prove it. If Terri is truly innocent and also has proof that she was in various places at various key times that day, and knows there cannot be a shred of evidence against her, and knows that a guilty criminal kidnapper is 'out there' and at some point LE will probably find evidence of that, and knows that some "strange chaperone man" was seen walking with Kyron and he'll most likely be sketched by the eye witness who saw him in Skyline school in the presence of Kyron after Terri was long gone --- then she is probably imagining right now that she can't be prosecuted because Houze will present the evidence that proves Terri's alibi and the truth will all come to light and everyone will see she's innocent.

Respectfully snipped by me.

But...if she believes all that...WHY isn't she screaming that there is some crazy lunatic child abductor out there, and where the he** is her stepson, and what is happening to him, and WHY oh WHY aren't they looking for him?!! (the perp)

Even if she hates Kaine, she seemed to love the child...how could she let this continue without insisting that she is innocent, and begging LE to find out what really happened?

 

[mmmagique]

Very good point. She could use the press to her (and Kyron's) advantage to "find the real killer". </sarcasm>

How's OJ coming along with his search btw?

And Casey?

*lol*

(I forgot to turn my sarcasm font on...)

 

[Jo in Calif]

Would a press conference help generate tips about the stranger chaperone (if LE doesn't already know his identity)? She must be desperate for information about him if she thinks he is the one who took Kyron.

IMO that would really make her look like a kook. I'm sure with the FBI being called in the next day, if there was a male chaperon, it would not have been hard to verify, they would have been on that like fly's on dog poop. IMO Terry pulled that scenario out of her hat. I think i know what you meant by that Donjeta.

 

[PDXMom]

How's OJ coming along with his search btw?

Ah that. Well, he had to put it on hold temporarily due to his most recent incarceration. But when he gets out, I'm sure 100% of his energy will, once again, be directed to find out who did that dastardly deed.

 

[SacreBleu]

IMO that would really make her look like a kook. I'm sure with the FBI being called in the next day, if there was a male chaperon, it would not have been hard to verify, they would have been on that like fly's on dog poop. IMO Terry pulled that scenario out of her hat. I think i know what you meant by that Donjeta.

Methinks that was sarcasm?

I have to add that the male chaperon with 2 girls had such a "Jaycee Dugard" ring to me. Wasn't he on a school (well university - UCB) campus with a couple of girls when the campus policewoman got her hinky hit? Come on, Terri, let's be a bit more original!

 

[SmoothOperator]

At this point? No.

I respectfully yet WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE.

I know for myself along with many others in my community that we have discussed this case in depth, that we are NOT "close minded" and do not want, nor would ever allow ourselves to be involved in an INNOCENT person being railroaded and condemned for something that they are in no way, shape, or form involved in what they are being wrongly accused of...

None of us are "out to get" Terri and are more than capable of looking at ANY AND ALL NEW EVIDENCE, INFO, STATEMENTS, EXPLANATIONS, ETC COMPLETELY UNBIAS. I know that any of us are more than willing to listen with an open mind to all that Terri has to say most importantly being HER SIDE OF THE STORY(as at this point there are a whole multitude of stories and/or allegations involving Terri) And would love to hear, understand, and believe that there are perfectly good explanations that fully explain how/why Terri is NOT INVOLVED.

No matter what many say that "at this point it does NOT matter what Terri said that those that believe that Terri's guilty[and I am one of those] that we would still find 'fault'[for lack of a better word]in Terri and only use what she chose to speak out and say in claiming her innocence, that we would just use it against her and only further persecute her".. This could not be further from what the reality of this matter truly is.

Again, we do not want someone who is NOT INVOLVED and indeed IS INNOCENT in having absolutely nothing to do with this precious child's "disappearance" to be wrongfully accused and certainly not prosecuted and convicted. Rather we want the person and/or persons that ARE INVOLVED and ARE GUILTY for what has happened to Kyron to face the full wrath of our justice system[including the death penalty if found to appropriate for the crime]..

So, with that said and known then there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT LEGITIMATELY WOULD KEEP TERRI FROM PROTESTING THE ALLEGATIONS AND FROM TELLING ANYONE/EVERYONE THAT WILL LISTEN THAT SHE IN NO WAY IN HELL IS INVOLVED IN HER PRECIOUS STEPSON'S DISAPPEARANCE. NONE. imo

stmarysmead said it PERFECTLY AND GAVE THE BEST EXAMPLE POSSIBLE OF HOW SOMETHING SO VERY SIMILAR[as in a horrendous and brutal crime]in nature that the "players" who would represent "Terri"'s exact position and they vehemently denied to any and everyone who would listen that they were 100% innocent, as IMO would anyone who found themselves in anything similar of situations.

I am sorry but Terri's silence speaks volumes when combined with her other inappropriate&borderline illegal{MFH} actions and behaviours.

Her silence alone is not what is alarming and telling
but combined with the action/behaviours it is EXTREMELY TELLING AND ALARMING!

 

[Aedrys]

IMO that would really make her look like a kook. I'm sure with the FBI being called in the next day, if there was a male chaperon, it would not have been hard to verify, they would have been on that like fly's on dog poop. IMO Terry pulled that scenario out of her hat. I think i know what you meant by that Donjeta.

You are right. Terri is the ONLY one who brought up a creepy male chaperone at the school WITH Kyron AND two other girls. I know some other kids said that there was a creepy guy hanging around, but they didn't see this guy with Kyron as far as I know. And she brought this up in an email to a friend, at least that's where we learned of it. I have no idea if she told LE this, but it seems she dropped it and it was never brought up again. So that was TOTALLY Terri making up some creepy chaperone and no one else. How can a creepy chaperone be there and Terri is the only one who sees him? What about those two girls? None of that makes any sense. I'm sure LE disproved that really fast if she brought it up.

 

[Curious Me]

Remember KC was able to stall and just make up stories while Caylee was in the woods decomposing? Have these past months been a wait it out, bind your time, you still can get away with this tactic on TMH's part? It has seemed so.

No, she shouldn't try to smooth things over now with the Public. This will be going to trial someday.

 

[SmoothOperator]

Originally Posted by ami View Post
IMO, innocent people are certain that their innocence will come to light IF ONLY they had the chance to explain and try to prove it. If Terri is truly innocent and also has proof that she was in various places at various key times that day, and knows there cannot be a shred of evidence against her, and knows that a guilty criminal kidnapper is 'out there' and at some point LE will probably find evidence of that, and knows that some "strange chaperone man" was seen walking with Kyron and he'll most likely be sketched by the eye witness who saw him in Skyline school in the presence of Kyron after Terri was long gone --- then she is probably imagining right now that she can't be prosecuted because Houze will present the evidence that proves Terri's alibi and the truth will all come to light and everyone will see she's innocent.[/QUOTE

If Terri believes for one minute that this is the truth of the matter and that she believes he was kidnapped from inside that elementary school then she has a duty to get out and announce publicly, loudly, and repeatedly that there is a man in the area[he was on June 4th] and has already taken one innocent little boy and snatched him from the safety of their children's elementary school. That this maniac has not been caught and therefor still on the loose and what in God's name would keep him FROM NOT RETURNING TO HIS LAST PLACE THAT HE SUCCESSFULLY KIDNAPPED A STUDENT?
She as a parent would be making damn sure that this was known by ALL PARENTS , STUDENTS, AND STAFF and would be ensuring that this not happen to another innocent child.

She would not be sexting herself in graphic sexual activities to a hi school classmate of her husband. Ugly coping and all. If Terri were innocent and knew that Kyron had been kidnapped from his school she would be doing EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO FIND HER STEPSON AND WOULD DEFINITELY BE ACTIVELY MAKING SURE THAT IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO ANOTHER SKYLINE STUDENT....

 

[cypress]

If Terri believes for one minute that this is the truth of the matter and that she believes he was kidnapped from inside that elementary school then she has a duty to get out and announce publicly, loudly, and repeatedly that there is a man in the area[he was on June 4th] and has already taken one innocent little boy and snatched him from the safety of their children's elementary school. That this maniac has not been caught and therefor still on the loose and what in God's name would keep him FROM NOT RETURNING TO HIS LAST PLACE THAT HE SUCCESSFULLY KIDNAPPED A STUDENT?
She as a parent would be making damn sure that this was known by ALL PARENTS , STUDENTS, AND STAFF and would be ensuring that this not happen to another innocent child.

She would not be sexting herself in graphic sexual activities to a hi school classmate of her husband. Ugly coping and all. If Terri were innocent and knew that Kyron had been kidnapped from his school she would be doing EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO FIND HER STEPSON AND WOULD DEFINITELY BE ACTIVELY MAKING SURE THAT IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO ANOTHER SKYLINE STUDENT....

BBM

If Desiree and Kaine believe a third party has Kyron, why are they not repeatedly pleading for this person to release Kyron? I've never understood the biological parents' assertion that Kyron is being hidden by someone (obviously not with Terri or Dede) and yet their lack of pleading with this person for his release.

Terri did say something to a friend about Kyron being seen with a man inside the school, a male chaperone, even though there were no male chaperones on the list and, later, when the e-mail containing the aforementioned information was released, the majority of the public asserted she was lying. She provided an account of her whereabouts. Most either believe or have asserted she is lying. Why should she say anything publicly? No one will believe her anyway. If she has suspicions or knowledge about what happened in terms of a stranger abduction, hopefully she has shared that information with police. It's up to LE to follow up on information she gives them that doesn't incriminate her or support their theory.

In early June, none of the parents were speaking out. It was later revealed that Kaine had opted for the silent approach. Terri's friend hoped Terri would speak to the press, as she believed the public would benefit from what Terri had to say. When it was revealed that Terri was attempting to clear her name via online comments, providing clarification and other ultimately benign information, she was vilified for being online at a time when her stepson was missing. Her clarification and defense of her actions was somehow skeevy or invalid because she was doing so online, despite the fact that the people who criticized her were able to do so through and as a result of the very medium she used to defend herself.

All that to say, Terri has had limited contact with the public, and the majority of the public has decided she is guilty. Terri speaking or proclaiming this or that or begging this or that may provide fodder for the masses but it's not going to be helpful to the investigation. Perhaps Terri is or was working behind the scenes with LE, telling her side of it, sharing suspicions or observations of who was at the school that day. We don't know if she has or hasn't. Her making a public spectacle of herself proves nothing -- plenty of killers have made a show in front of the cameras.

 

[Cajun Girl]

Cypress, please help me out here. It was Kaine who decided to take the silent approach?
Terri herself wrote on June 5th they were interviewing her for the 5th time. With LE and the FBI spearheading the investigation, you truly believe it was Kaine's idea to remain silent until the first presser? Somehow I believe that foursome did as they were advised. Just my opinion.

In my completely untrained, non-profesional opinion during that time, Tony looked reserved but collected, Desiree looked devastated, Kaine looked dazed and Terri looked scared to death.

Is there no way perhaps the 'foursome' was unraveling early on but united for the sake of Kyron?

I am not here to vilify Terri. If it was her, a pedophile or someone off our radar, I want them to return Kyron. The other parents have opened their lives up and are receiving a lot of flack, don't believe me, look at some blogs off Google.

I always think back to Mr. Klass who endured listening to that 'thing' speaking in the courtroom. Mr. Klass went to hell and back to find his daughter's murderer. In my heart I believe this is what loving parents do.

Why does TMH give a rat's tail what me or anyone in the world thinks of her? Her son is missing.

Where are you angel?

 

[cypress]

Cypress, please help me out here. It was Kaine who decided to take the silent approach?

Early on Kaine sent an e-mail to staff at Intel and asked that they refrain from making statements to the press. I think this was within a day or two of when Kyron went missing. I've never really understood this immediate reluctance to engage with the media. Next to LE, the media is a missing child's best friend.

Also, Terri's friend, I think it was Jaymie Finster, asserted that Kaine had kept the family silent but that Terri wanted to speak out and that the public would benefit from what she had to say. It was clear from JF's statement that the media blackout by the family was Kaine's doing. I tend to believe her based on the Intel e-mail and based on Terri and Kaine's trip to the gym -- neither spoke to the press.

Terri herself wrote on June 5th they were interviewing her for the 5th time. With LE and the FBI spearheading the investigation, you truly believe it was Kaine's idea to remain silent until the first presser? Somehow I believe that foursome did as they were advised. Just my opinion.

IMHO, the family has employed a strategy outside the norm. I've read a few mostly unbiased articles about the handling of the media by the family in this case. The articles are enlightening to say the least. I've also read several articles in prominent psychology publications, and those observations are also interesting. Also, there has been friction between the family and LE with regard to the pressers and whatnot. Early on LE gently and subtly let the public know that Kaine and Desiree's statements were not based on information provided by LE, and at one of the latest pressers, Desiree provided a disclaimer to that effect.

In my completely untrained, non-profesional opinion during that time, Tony looked reserved but collected, Desiree looked devastated, Kaine looked dazed and Terri looked scared to death.

Is there no way perhaps the 'foursome' was unraveling early on but united for the sake of Kyron?

I am not here to vilify Terri. If it was her, a pedophile or someone off our radar, I want them to return Kyron. The other parents have opened their lives up and are receiving a lot of flack, don't believe me, look at some blogs off Google.

I always think back to Mr. Klass who endured listening to that 'thing' speaking in the courtroom. Mr. Klass went to hell and back to find his daughter's murderer. In my heart I believe this is what loving parents do.

Why does TMH give a rat's tail what me or anyone in the world thinks of her? Her son is missing.

Where are you angel?

I don't think it's fair or even very useful to judge this situation by another. There are aspects of this case that remind me of the Danielle van Dam case, but I would never attempt to solve this case by the specifics of the van Dam case. Grief does strange things to people. Grief does stranger things to people who don't cope well or who have emotional problems. IMHO, it's impossible to accurately judge a person for whom there is no frame of reference before the moment she was under suspicion. There is no baseline. And, FWIW, I believe she was under suspicion from the first press conference. I get all my news online, it's the way I prefer to intake news, and I sometimes read comments. I remember the day this case broke, and I remember the overwhelming sentiment was "the stepmom probably did it."

I will say this as gently as possible, but IMHO, Kaine and Desiree are not so much being criticized as their statements and actions are being critically analyzed. Some people are hateful. Some people on the 'net are kooks. The vast majority of people not convinced of Terri's guilt are analyzing Kaine and Desiree's statements because the statements are bold and because the statements are accusatory.

Yes, Kaine and Desiree's son is missing, but they must still be held accountable for what they say and do. If they have evidence to back up their statements, then there is no harm in analyzing them, but if the statements are contradictory, then that becomes problematic because the critical analysis should continue but it's perceived as insensitive because these are the bereft parents of a missing child.

IMHO, when Kaine and Desiree decided to publicly accuse multiple people of being uncooperative, guilty of abducting Kyron, guilty of helping Terri, etc., their statements became fair game in terms of being critically analyzed.

 

[Cajun Girl]

Cypress, thank you so much for your excellent and eloquent response.

Honest to God, I know you want Kyron home as do we all. Am very grateful to see people express their beliefs in such a compasionate way. It opens my mind and keeps me exploring all avenues. Thanks for keeping me honest.

Where are you angel?

 

[STEADFAST]

If neither Kaine nor Desiree is suspected of participating in the disappearance of Kyron, then I, personally, don't see the point of "constructively criticizing" their public appearances. It makes it difficult to actively advocate to find your child and bring the perp to justice when you are also opening yourself up to be scrutinized and "Monday-morning quarterbacked" and worse. I applaud their courage and their candor, something we have not seen from Terri.

Since Kaine got away from Terri, he has been very open with the media, and I think that indicates who it was in the family whose idea it was to avoid the media.

 

[Calliope]

I think it was Kaine and Tony who wanted to hold off appearing before the media.

 

[Donjeta]

Early on Kaine sent an e-mail to staff at Intel and asked that they refrain from making statements to the press. I think this was within a day or two of when Kyron went missing. I've never really understood this immediate reluctance to engage with the media. Next to LE, the media is a missing child's best friend.

Also, Terri's friend, I think it was Jaymie Finster, asserted that Kaine had kept the family silent but that Terri wanted to speak out and that the public would benefit from what she had to say. It was clear from JF's statement that the media blackout by the family was Kaine's doing. I tend to believe her based on the Intel e-mail and based on Terri and Kaine's trip to the gym -- neither spoke to the press.



IMHO, the family has employed a strategy outside the norm. I've read a few mostly unbiased articles about the handling of the media by the family in this case. The articles are enlightening to say the least. I've also read several articles in prominent psychology publications, and those observations are also interesting. Also, there has been friction between the family and LE with regard to the pressers and whatnot. Early on LE gently and subtly let the public know that Kaine and Desiree's statements were not based on information provided by LE, and at one of the latest pressers, Desiree provided a disclaimer to that effect.

Their media-avoidant strategy in the beginning made me wonder if the perp might be found inside the family and it turns out that that's what they suspected all right. IMO knowing there were the suspicions of Terri it is easier to understand why they didn't embrace the press fully at first. She was still inside the family fold at the time and they weren't ready to jump and accuse her publicly yet. It would be a lot harder to find right words and not look unnatural when talking with the media if there is a family white elephant that you have to avoid touching. (Just watch the first family presser again, in which Kaine and Tony made statements if you want an example...)

Wonder what Terri would have said if she'd talked and how the public would have benefited. Is there some reason why we can't still benefit from hearing what she has to say?

 

[stmarysmead]

Their media-avoidant strategy in the beginning made me wonder if the perp might be found inside the family and it turns out that that's what they suspected all right. IMO knowing there were the suspicions of Terri it is easier to understand why they didn't embrace the press fully at first. She was still inside the family fold at the time and they weren't ready to jump and accuse her publicly yet. It would be a lot harder to find right words and not look unnatural when talking with the media if there is a family white elephant that you have to avoid touching. (Just watch the first family presser again, in which Kaine and Tony made statements if you want an example...)

Wonder what Terri would have said if she'd talked and how the public would have benefited. Is there some reason why we can't still benefit from hearing what she has to say?

Yes, this is a very interesting theory about why they may have avoided the media at first. Makes sense.

I think it's a one-size fits all to say that Terri should not have done a statement to the media or to generalize that it could only hurt her. The Duke case shows it CAN work. But the caveat is...for the INNOCENT.

One thing is certain...a few weeks into this case...all participants knew that they were involved in a very high profile media case. This is not just a Oregon story. Every type of media...from blogs to national media...to television "crime" shows are covering every detail. Like it or not, all the main "characters" are being defined by that coverage. The question becomes...is it really a good legal strategy to allow that "definition" to harden in the public's mind? Is it really a good legal strategy to let a potential jury pool be "educated" for months by vicious media stories? Is it really a good legal strategy if you have things you can say that cannot be disputed...even later.

Apologies to those who do not wish to see the Duke case referenced in a thread about countering media assassination...but someday, that case could be used to teach a class on the subject. Terri supporters should be clamoring to see how young kids who were already indicted, smeared and convicted in the public opinion...turned it around.

Say what you will, it can be done.

Of course, you do not need to be as bold as Reade Seligmann whose lawyer put his entire alibi out there...but Terri 's history does not make her appear to be a shy. retiring woman afraid of the spotlight.

Suppose after the MFH accusation and after Kaine had left, suppose Terri held a "no questions" media event. She might have faced the camera...and just said that she wanted to take the opportunity to say that she was innocent of the accusations in the RO...that she loved her husband, loved her child...and loved and missed Kyron desperately. She might have said that she would not get into specifics because she wanted the focus to be on finding her beloved Kyron, not on her....reminding the media that she had been with him almost from birth. She might have said...that she had read and heard many misrepresentations and even lies about herself...but nothing could devastate her more than another day without Kyron. She would then ask the public to do two things: keep an open mind till all the facts of the investigation came out...and pray for Kyron.

No more questions...exit stage right. Now that would be a media image to play over and over again...as even a hostile media did with Dave's "Fantastic Lies" speech. There is no information that could corner her. Can any of our attorneys say that could hurt her IF INNOCENT?

No..IMO...the only risk IMO would be if she knows there is evidence the police have...that would make this reverberate against her. The Duke Case proves that the Innocent do not have to collapse and let a hostile media define them before they even get to a courtroom. In fact, that case proves that proclaiming your innocence...talking back DOES WORK. And they were INDICTED.

And yes, I do agree, once people "buy into" an opinion of you...IMO in a circumstantial evidence case...that is very dangerous. People get hardened into their opinion. It takes really great counter evidence to swing around.

Terri has just allowed herself to be defined by blogs, pundits, media, and Kaine and Desiree. Her silence seems to shout that she has something to hide. Does she realize that even if she is never indicted...that "definition" of "evil stepmother" will stick. For her whole life, she will carry it. And, in a way...Baby K and her son will carry it...children of "that murderer." Everywhere they go, there will be whispers.

If innocent, THAT ALONE, would propel me in front of the cameras.

If she is innocent, this "legacy" is a tragedy.

To me, her silence says that she knows what LE has...and maybe she has told her attorney what LE has...or what they yet might find. Just because LE doesn't have to inform her lawyer, doesn't mean SHE hasn't.

All bets are off the table if she is guilty...of anything. And maybe that's the real problem here. Maybe the media "definition" is pretty much accurate.

 

[GrainneDhu]

I never said I wouldn't get any lawyer or at least look for legal advice. I'm saying the first thing on my mind would not be getting the best dang lawyer in Oregon on retainer when I haven't even been charged with anything, especially if I can't pay for that lawyer. I am a poor person. I can't afford the likes of Houze nor would be I able to retain him. I'm not saying I wouldn't look for a good lawyer, but I certainly don't have the money for the best lawyer in the whole state where I live either.

That just goes to show how people differ.

When my first husband left me, I was newly disabled. He cleaned out our bank accounts before telling me he wanted a divorce. I had four dogs, all of whom had absolute faith that I would continue providing regular meals for them. I was so stunned, hurt and (weirdly) felt so guilty that if it had just been me, I wouldn't have done anything for myself but for my dogs, I got my fanny out of bed and got moving.

My first move was to get the best family law attorney in the state. She had argued (and won) in front of the Supreme Court, many of her cases had set precedent in our state and she was just plain the best.

I've always believed that a really good attorney saves you more than you spend in legal fees. She sure proved me spectacularly correct!

Because I had four dogs who depended on me, I swallowed my pride and begged family and friends for the money for her retainer (which was twice as much as that of the other lawyers in my area that I considered).

I was so poor that I lived on ramen for months (my dogs received their usual top quality food, of course). With my disabilities, I was unable to find a regular job but I free lanced as a dog trainer and made enough to maintain my dogs in the style to which they were accustomed.

If I knew I were factually innocent but suspected of MFH and the disappearance of a small child, I'd do exactly what TMH did: hire the best criminal defence attorney in the state, swallow my pride and beg everyone I knew to raise the money for his fee.

So yeah, she got her high priced, hot shot lawyer when she's not even charged with anything, when it's just suspicion? When, like some keep asserting, there's no evidence that she's done anything wrong to anybody? That doesn't look like an innocent person to me.

I don't know about you, but I can't afford to get a lawyer everytime I feel like I need one. I would only get a lawyer if it's absolutely necessary to do so. What if this goes on for years? Is Houze really going to stay on retainer for her if this doesn't end for five, ten, fifteen or more years? I know I could never ever afford that.

In my state, civil law attorneys and criminal defence attorneys are paid differently. Civil law attorneys are paid a retainer, against while they subtract their fees (billable minutes) as they go along. When the retainer drops to a certain level, the client then makes another lump payment. It's like a pay-as-you-go cell phone.

Criminal defence attorneys in my state get their money up front. This is because about 90% of their clients end up found guilty and their earning power is then highly impaired. The client pays once, in advance, for the defence attorney's services. The amount of the fee is estimated by the lawyer based on his estimate of what the case will cost.

Now, if the case never goes to court, or is resolved much faster (cheaper) than estimated? There are no refunds. A generous criminal defence attorney who had a retainer of, say, $100K who only does $2K work to resolve the case might offer a partial refund but they are under no obligation to do so.

If the case turns out to be much more expensive than the lawyer estimated? The lawyer is pretty much stuck; usually the client has no more money and the case is far enough along in the process that the judge is not going to be particularly sympathetic to a request to be excused.

Considering the circumstances, my guess would be that Mr Houze follows a similar scheme for payment. So if there are no charges for 15 years (and he survives so long), yes, he will still be TMH's lawyer in this matter unless TMH decides a different lawyer would serve her needs better. It probably won't cost a penny more for TMH to retain him as her lawyer for 15 years than it would for a year.

My guess is that Houze's fee is not $350K; I think that could be the total amount, which would include various filing fees, expert witness fees, etc.

My other guess is that TMH's parents have provided the money, probably along the lines of "this is your inheritance anyway." I know that if I needed that kind of money, my parents would do anything they could to raise it for me. If one of my nephews needed such money, I know I would do anything in my power to raise it for them.

To me, that's what families do for each other.

 

[Aedrys]

That just goes to show how people differ.

When my first husband left me, I was newly disabled. He cleaned out our bank accounts before telling me he wanted a divorce. I had four dogs, all of whom had absolute faith that I would continue providing regular meals for them. I was so stunned, hurt and (weirdly) felt so guilty that if it had just been me, I wouldn't have done anything for myself but for my dogs, I got my fanny out of bed and got moving.

My first move was to get the best family law attorney in the state. She had argued (and won) in front of the Supreme Court, many of her cases had set precedent in our state and she was just plain the best.

I've always believed that a really good attorney saves you more than you spend in legal fees. She sure proved me spectacularly correct!

Because I had four dogs who depended on me, I swallowed my pride and begged family and friends for the money for her retainer (which was twice as much as that of the other lawyers in my area that I considered).

I was so poor that I lived on ramen for months (my dogs received their usual top quality food, of course). With my disabilities, I was unable to find a regular job but I free lanced as a dog trainer and made enough to maintain my dogs in the style to which they were accustomed.

If I knew I were factually innocent but suspected of MFH and the disappearance of a small child, I'd do exactly what TMH did: hire the best criminal defence attorney in the state, swallow my pride and beg everyone I knew to raise the money for his fee.



In my state, civil law attorneys and criminal defence attorneys are paid differently. Civil law attorneys are paid a retainer, against while they subtract their fees (billable minutes) as they go along. When the retainer drops to a certain level, the client then makes another lump payment. It's like a pay-as-you-go cell phone.

Criminal defence attorneys in my state get their money up front. This is because about 90% of their clients end up found guilty and their earning power is then highly impaired. The client pays once, in advance, for the defence attorney's services. The amount of the fee is estimated by the lawyer based on his estimate of what the case will cost.

Now, if the case never goes to court, or is resolved much faster (cheaper) than estimated? There are no refunds. A generous criminal defence attorney who had a retainer of, say, $100K who only does $2K work to resolve the case might offer a partial refund but they are under no obligation to do so.

If the case turns out to be much more expensive than the lawyer estimated? The lawyer is pretty much stuck; usually the client has no more money and the case is far enough along in the process that the judge is not going to be particularly sympathetic to a request to be excused.

Considering the circumstances, my guess would be that Mr Houze follows a similar scheme for payment. So if there are no charges for 15 years (and he survives so long), yes, he will still be TMH's lawyer in this matter unless TMH decides a different lawyer would serve her needs better. It probably won't cost a penny more for TMH to retain him as her lawyer for 15 years than it would for a year.

My guess is that Houze's fee is not $350K; I think that could be the total amount, which would include various filing fees, expert witness fees, etc.

My other guess is that TMH's parents have provided the money, probably along the lines of "this is your inheritance anyway." I know that if I needed that kind of money, my parents would do anything they could to raise it for me. If one of my nephews needed such money, I know I would do anything in my power to raise it for them.

To me, that's what families do for each other.

Thank you for your eloquent response. I never have been in a position where I needed a lawyer, so I guess that's why it's hard for me to understand it. And thanks for explaining how retainers work and defense lawyers get paid. I really didn't have a clue about that.

Whether or not we agree, she does have a very good defense lawyer, and I'm hoping this means that there are quiet negotiations whether she's guilty or innocent. I can't stand the thought of another Baez selling out his client for the almighty dollar, but Houze seems far from that, thank goodness. Whatever happens, she's getting what she paid for and hopefully once she's charged, this case won't drag on forever and there will be a quick and quiet resolution. Like I said before, I don't need to hear her talk. I just want Kyron found and this whole mess over with.