MI - Updates On Stanley Case-2008

[the bumblebug]

I saw it is the Internet version of the Paladium Item that April 11th is suppose to be the date of the next session of the bond hearing. I think they said it will start at 1:30. I wonder if they will let me in after my postings in this forum. If they let me in I will try to post everything I can that is missed by the local media. After the hearing, I might also need to take a quick vacation.

 

[the bumblebug]

I have a question for any detective or court person out there that is familiar with what is considered common practice today regarding the taking statements. Is it common practice to tape a discussion with the witness or is it preferred to sit down and type up a statement and ask the witness to sign the statement. I know I was always asked to prepare a statement with the witnesses help and have them sign the statement or affidavit. How does a court look at unsigned statements? Regarding this particular case the Lead Investigator said he did not have any statement regarding his request to Kelly Stanley to give him her "My Space" password so he could gain entry into Erin's "My Space" page. I would have thought that it have been advisable to protect Kelly from any later challenge to her entry into Erin's "My Space" after Erin's death. I just find it strange that there appears to be no record of a conversation with Kelly after Erin's death. I would have thought the police would have had lots of questions for her under the circumstances. Lastly, does anyone know where the early rumors regarding this case came from. They were all over the place. If anyone knows I would appreciate a posted reply.

 

[miss_vegemite]

I have followed this case from the very very beginning. I do think LE bungled a lot. Especially by not treating Erins' death as a crime scene from the beginning. That sure went in James' favor IMO.

And I don't believe in co-incidences as such.. Erin murdered then kelly dying...Hmm I dont think So!!

 

[the bumblebug]

I agree with your comments. If LE had said that Kelly's death was not of natural causes it wouldn't have squared with their theory that James strangled Erin. Also, it would have virtually assured the linkage of both deaths and James could not have been considered a prime suspect. It is my understanding that James had an air tight alibi fort Kelly's death. The bottom line is that it appear that a lot of assumptions were made in this case that likely are untrue. I find it absolutely impossible for three so called professionals (Lead Investigator, Coroner, and pathologist) to be standing over the body of a 19 year old female and not deciding it necessary to take finger nail scrapings, run a sexual assault kit, nor combing the body for hairs, fibers, or anything else that might contain DNA. I know some of the players in this case and believe me it is very strange for the family not to say anything at all about this case. It's like somebody is afraid to let them say anything. On the witness stand they admitted to a lot and did not try to point a finger to the defendant. They said there were no arguments, fights or violence the night before Erin's death. The only thing that was said was that they talked to James about the need to find a job and keep it. They also stated that James had found a job in Ohio (just across the state line) and that they were working on the details to let him use one of their cars to get there. Additionally, he was to report to work the next evening. This case is strange and gets more so each day. It's like everything that could go wrong with this case has gone wrong with respect to the collection and processing of forensic evidence. I would certainly like for someone who controls such things to take another pole as to whether they think the defendant murdered Erin. Do I hear a second on that motion.

 

[MCDRAW]

I second that motion. I have never been sure about James being guilty. I do find it very suspicious that her sister died a few days later. If one had a seizure and died. Isn't it possible that the other one did too? Do you know if there were any toxicology reports done on both sisters? This case just baffles me.

 

[HAWG]

Im pretty sure they did toxicology test on both and they came back no drugs or alcohol in their system. I third the motion because the evidence or should I say the lack of evidence in this case is a complete mess and I think people feel alot different.

 

[the bumblebug]

I believe the way the coroner worded it when he was referring to Kelly's death was there was something in the family's medical background history that helped him reach the conclusion that she died from a seizure. I do know that some neurological illnesses tend to run in families and some like chatorei tumors can cause seizures with little or no warning. These tumors wrap themselves around the spine at the top of the spine. They generally start forming very early in a child"s life. I understand they are sometimes hard to find. All updates on the trial or rumors about the case would be appreciated.

 

[MCDRAW]

Do you think it's possible that instead of looking for signs of a seizure, they charged James because he was in the room with her? My brother has seizures in his sleep and it took the Doctors over a year before they diagnoised him. They kept telling us it was a sleep disorder. My Dad insisted that they put him on seizure medication. He said if it was a sleep disorder the medicine wouldn't help. He's been on the medication for about 12 years now. The only time he has had an episode, they tried to take him off his medication. So I know that some seizures can be hard to detect.

 

[the bumblebug]

mcdraw: the lead investigator said almost exactly what you said on the stand. He said he arrested James because it was just common sense that he did it because he had admitted that he was in the room with her. If that is not word for word ...it's close. Personally I'm unimpressed since everyone knew he was in the room with her because it was he that called Erin's parents and asked that they call 9-1-1. The Lead Investigator also admitted that he had never considered the possibility that Erin had died outside the room and returned injured or had been brought back into the room and placed on the bed. I am a very strong sleeper and when I am asleep after a long day it take a lot to wake me up. The bottom line,.. with so little forensic evidence collected and processed, why was anyone charged with murder in this case. I believe the term "rush to judgment" certainly applies in this case. Comments welcome. I know there must be more info out there.

 

[pooky169]

I have been following this case closely and with everything said I am not sure that James had anything to do with Erin's death. I mean all of Bumblebugs theorys make sense. I mean if James and Dale had a disagreement earlier that evening that doesn't give him an excuse to hurt Erin he could have told Erin it wasn't gonna work him living there and as soon as he found a job he or they would be moving.
I just hope since LE has bungled this case badly that a man who may be completely innocent isn't sent to prison to serve for a murder he didn't commit.
And on a side note I dont remember did James ever submit to a lie detector test? If not i would order one to prove my innocence if I was him because they are supposed to be pretty much foolproof.

 

[MCDRAW]

I have been following this case closely and with everything said I am not sure that James had anything to do with Erin's death. I mean all of Bumblebugs theorys make sense. I mean if James and Dale had a disagreement earlier that evening that doesn't give him an excuse to hurt Erin he could have told Erin it wasn't gonna work him living there and as soon as he found a job he or they would be moving.
I just hope since LE has bungled this case badly that a man who may be completely innocent isn't sent to prison to serve for a murder he didn't commit.
And on a side note I dont remember did James ever submit to a lie detector test? If not i would order one to prove my innocence if I was him because they are supposed to be pretty much foolproof.

I'm not sure that lie detectors are fool proof. They say that O.J. could pass a lie detector because over the years he has convinced himself he didn't do it. And lie detectors are not admissable in court. Maybe they should have given him one in the beginning to rule him out. I, too, hope an innocen man doesn't get sent to prison just so they can "solve a case".

 

[MCDRAW]

Bumblebug: Do you think the police department is corrupt or just inept. Don't answer if it will cause you trouble.

 

[Blink34]

I'm not sure that lie detectors are fool proof. They say that O.J. could pass a lie detector because over the years he has convinced himself he didn't do it. And lie detectors are not admissable in court. Maybe they should have given him one in the beginning to rule him out. I, too, hope an innocen man doesn't get sent to prison just so they can "solve a case".

I am not familiar with this case except superficially, but OJ did not pass a lie detector test, his result was "deceptive", and as you pointed out it was not admissable because certain psychological conditions whether organic or medication induced can alter a result. Conversely, because in theory they can exclude a suspect who is not decptive, you probably won't see anyone lobbying for a change- Typically the result is only ever mentioned if they pass

 

[the bumblebug]

This case seems to have taken on a life of its own. I would really like to think that the Centerville police department is not really corrupt. I would more likely think they got in over their heads and tried to make sure the evidence collected supported their hypothesis as to how the events unfolded. In other words, it appears they didn't examine all the potential scenarios that were out there as to how this death occurred. In some ways, I think not collecting finger nail scrapings nor running a rape kit at the autopsy is even a more serious issue. In essence, the defense has been denied information that is almost always collected in strangulation cases like this one. A rape kit would have almost assuredly revealed if Erin had had sex that night which would certainly be important in assessing James's supposed motive. Finger nail scrapings might provide insight into the persons identity that might have assaulted her. Collection of fibers and similar items which contain DNA might also have provided insight into the culprit's identity. Having said all this it might just be that she died of an injury that occurred when she had a seizure. Anyone seeing a person experiencing a seizure knows the event can appear to be both intense and violent. Falls and secondary injuries are not uncommon. We could all go on but in all honestly I am just looking forward to the next session of the bond hearing. I wonder if the judge will issue a summary judgment and dismiss the case for lack of evidence. With all the scenarios that are out there how can this case be tried and a conclusion reached without reasonable doubt. Anybody out there agree?

 

[MCDRAW]

a honest mistake is better than corruption in my opinion. I

 

[Taximom]

I don't think this is a case of corruption, at least from the little I've heard. Inept? Incapable of handling a case like this? Yeah. I'm sorry for the Stanley Sisters if they are not getting justice.

 

[HAWG]

I just wish they would have been more thero. Because they wasnt we are always going to wonder about the truth. I have said from the begining that we will never know the truth and that really bugs me for my daughters sack and my grandaughters. Hopefully this will all be over and the right person will be in jail for this terrible crime!!!

 

[Taximom]

You certainly have said that from the beginning, as have a few others. ((Hawg))

 

[the bumblebug]

Taximom & HAWG

I agree that Erin and Kelly deserve justice and I feel sorry for them. If the defendant is innocent, I feel sorry for him as well. He has already spent 6 months in jail and has been beaten up with more waiting to come before his trial. I must admit that small towns scare me when it comes to justice. You never know who went to school with whom, who is related to whom, or whose child played little league with whom etc. I would have less doubts if the case had been handled by another agency like the State Police. I think we will know a lot more after the next hearing session. I think it will be interesting to see how much Mrs. Stanley has been prepped for her testimony. Regarding the comments about lie detectors, they do have flaws and can be beaten by a good sociopath. Please note that my postings are either my opinions or come from information obtained from testimony in open court. I'm not trying to point fingers at anybody or accusing anyone.

 

[Chicogirl36]

Taximom & HAWG

I agree that Erin and Kelly deserve justice and I feel sorry for them. If the defendant is innocent, I feel sorry for him as well. He has already spent 6 months in jail and has been beaten up with more waiting to come before his trial. I must admit that small towns scare me when it comes to justice. You never know who went to school with whom, who is related to whom, or whose child played little league with whom etc. I would have less doubts if the case had been handled by another agency like the State Police. I think we will know a lot more after the next hearing session. I think it will be interesting to see how much Mrs. Stanley has been prepped for her testimony. Regarding the comments about lie detectors, they do have flaws and can be beaten by a good sociopath. Please note that my postings are either my opinions or come from information obtained from testimony in open court. I'm not trying to point fingers at anybody or accusing anyone.

Keep up the good work Bumblebug- You are and have done a great job reporting the facts. I too, feel that LE has goofed up all the facts on both of these cases- IF ONLY they would have done standard, everyday forensics on Erin, they could have some evidence to stand up in court. I am afraid that either:
A. James did it and there was not enough evidence preserved at the crime scene/morgue to prove his guilt in a court of law and he will walk OR
B. James didnt do it and like you said, some small-town, good-ole boys will get their "rough" justice on him and lock him up without enough evidence proving his guilt or innocence.

My wish, as Im sure most WS'ers is, for Erin and Kelly to get justice in their deaths. They were both so young, so pretty, and had too much life to live still. It is a shame that there probably will never be any 100% proven facts during Jame's trial regarding their deaths either. Speaking of that, there is "no one" being held responsible for Kelly's death (which I dont buy the seizure theory). I think taxi or vegemite said it earlier- there are no coincidences. Two healthy sisters don't just die a week apart from each other and chalk it up to a coincidence.- Sorry- just doesnt happen!

God Bless Mr and Mrs Stanley both- They have that beautiful baby girl to take care of and need to stay healthy both physically and mentally in order to be a positive influence in her life-