GUILTY NM - Paul, 34, & Tryone Posey, 44, Marilea Schmid, 13, slain, Hondo, 5 July 2004

[Bobbisangel]

When the murdered girl's father basically can't grudge the killer for his actions and basically states about his dead ex-wife: "I wouldn't put anything past her" (i.e. the attempted rape of the boy), what the hell can be the results except jury nullification?

After he left the courtroom he talked to CTV and said that Cody was welcome to come live with him and Sandy when he is able to. He also said that when his ex-wife met and took up with Paul Posey she told him that "she had met someone who was just like her." I think she was right as her and Paul were both so cruel to Cody.

 

[Bobbisangel]

I agree. Today they had computer experts that testified that 5000 internet searches were found on Paul's computer. Most were .....mother/son incest and father/daughter incest. It was also testified that Cody was at school when most of these searches took place also there were no internet connections in Cody's room or Mariela's.

I would never be interesting in looking at any kind of but I know that there many adults who do enjoy looking at it for some reason BUT when it comes to incest....that is another story altogether. I can't imagine why anyone would want to look at incest . Why would they want to watch a father and daughter or mother and son have sex. That is so sickening.

I believe that Cody's dad and stepmother decided that it was time to try out what they had been reading up on....incest stories....and what they had been looking at. Evidentally Paul thought he would get turned on by watching his wife and son have sex. If, out of fear, Cody had gone along with that I would imagine that they would have brought the daughter into it in time.

Cody leaving that bedroom and going into a corner in his room and hiding there in the fetal position tells me that it really threw him for a loop. I think it was just the last straw. The years of abuse had been hard enough but now they wanted him to do something that he knew was wrong and something that he did not want to do. Like he said "I felt dirty." I think everything just rushed in on him all at once and he had to get out of the horror because it was getting worse and worse. I can understand his state of mind. This boy had lived behind a mask/facade all of his life with the exception of the 3 months he was with his bio mother. I can understand him just snapping and grabbing a gun and killing all of them.

I hope he doesn't have to serve anymore time then up to his 21 birthday. This kid has lived in prison his whole life. I think with therapy Cody will be alright. Up until that day he had never gotten into trouble, laid a hand on anyone, or showed any signs of a violent side. The cycle can be broken with Cody. I believe he can live a normal, happy, healthy life. He deserves that chance.

 

[mysteriew]

I would never be interesting in looking at any kind of but I know that there many adults who do enjoy looking at it for some reason BUT when it comes to incest....that is another story altogether. I can't imagine why anyone would want to look at incest . Why would they want to watch a father and daughter or mother and son have sex. That is so sickening.

I believe that Cody's dad and stepmother decided that it was time to try out what they had been reading up on....incest stories....and what they had been looking at. Evidentally Paul thought he would get turned on by watching his wife and son have sex. If, out of fear, Cody had gone along with that I would imagine that they would have brought the daughter into it in time.

Cody leaving that bedroom and going into a corner in his room and hiding there in the fetal position tells me that it really threw him for a loop. I think it was just the last straw. The years of abuse had been hard enough but now they wanted him to do something that he knew was wrong and something that he did not want to do. Like he said "I felt dirty." I think everything just rushed in on him all at once and he had to get out of the horror because it was getting worse and worse. I can understand his state of mind. This boy had lived behind a mask/facade all of his life with the exception of the 3 months he was with his bio mother. I can understand him just snapping and grabbing a gun and killing all of them.

I hope he doesn't have to serve anymore time then up to his 21 birthday. This kid has lived in prison his whole life. I think with therapy Cody will be alright. Up until that day he had never gotten into trouble, laid a hand on anyone, or showed any signs of a violent side. The cycle can be broken with Cody. I believe he can live a normal, happy, healthy life. He deserves that chance.

:clap: :clap: :clap: Well said! I agree.

 

[bugs]

I pray this child walks free and gets help from excellent specialist. This case is heartbreaking. You see pictures of the "family" and never is Cody being hugged yet his father, step-mom and step-sister are all joined together.

My daughter is writting her Senior Honor English Essay paper on this case.

Nancy Grace (I beleive) was saying over 30 people knew of this child's abuse and not one stepped up to it.

 

[Lili]

I pray this child walks free and gets help from excellent specialist. This case is heartbreaking. You see pictures of the "family" and never is Cody being hugged yet his father, step-mom and step-sister are all joined together.

My daughter is writting her Senior Honor English Essay paper on this case.

Nancy Grace (I beleive) was saying over 30 people knew of this child's abuse and not one stepped up to it.

One picture I notices of the parents and Marilea, Paul had his arm around Marilea, all were smiling, but Marilea had her arms crossed in front of her like she was distancing herself. It seemed stranger after hearing the testimony about the incest sites accessed by the adult(s). I heard today that a juror sent a note to the judge asking if Marilea's body was examined for possible sexual abuse and if there would be any testimony to that end. I understood the judge to say that he didn't think so (basically). But I am wondering about her spying on Cody, if her one of her rewards for tattling on Cody was being left alone by Paul....if you get my drift.

Also, confusing to me...Marilea Schmid was Cody's stepsister...lived with Posey family... Cody's former stepmother is married to father of Marilea. So was this current stepmother (that he shot) formerly married to Sandy's current husband????????????? Anyone know?

As far as so many people knowing about the abuse, some did report it but it was covered up by Posey...and then Cody probably got it worse. The poor kid probably was scared to death to tell anyone for that very reason! After all, he did testify that his father reminded him that someday he would get out of jail and get him.

 

[bugs]

One picture I notices of the parents and Marilea, Paul had his arm around Marilea, all were smiling, but Marilea had her arms crossed in front of her like she was distancing herself. It seemed stranger after hearing the testimony about the incest sites accessed by the adult(s). I heard today that a juror sent a note to the judge asking if Marilea's body was examined for possible sexual abuse and if there would be any testimony to that end. I understood the judge to say that he didn't think so (basically). But I am wondering about her spying on Cody, if her one of her rewards for tattling on Cody was being left alone by Paul....if you get my drift.

Also, confusing to me...Marilea Schmid was Cody's stepsister...lived with Posey family... Cody's former stepmother is married to father of Marilea. So was this current stepmother (that he shot) formerly married to Sandy's current husband????????????? Anyone know?

As far as so many people knowing about the abuse, some did report it but it was covered up by Posey...and then Cody probably got it worse. The poor kid probably was scared to death to tell anyone for that very reason! After all, he did testify that his father reminded him that someday he would get out of jail and get him.

You've got it right! Wow how confusing this gets.

 

[concernedperson]

Cody was hated by his tormentors. His niceness was excused by the people who loved and have spent a lot of time exploring their love of it.Cody was nothing but an abused child who looked for any kind of love. He should be in our thoughts and in our threshhold of children who have had an abused past.

 

[tybee204]

This case really disturbs me on a multitude of levels. On the one hand my heart breaks for the abuse this boy suffered. But I just cant give anyone a pass on committing 3 murders, 1 victim being a child. The fact that he is capable of shooting 2 adults and a child and burying them im manure tells me that he is a danger to society.

Many people sitting in prison grew up in abusive homes with crackhead abusive parents. Should we consider giving them all a pass on their crimes as well?

 

[concernedperson]

I don't know. This case has disturbed me so much that I can't even say. All the things that would be in my package is ruffled. I am almost always with getting the perp off the streets. But I look at Cody and I know his horror. I know the abject pain of being nobody and being subjected over and over to abuses. I could never kill anyone but maybe the right buttons weren't pushed. I just don't know. Damn it, I just don't know.

 

[Nore]

This case really disturbs me on a multitude of levels. On the one hand my heart breaks for the abuse this boy suffered. But I just cant give anyone a pass on committing 3 murders, 1 victim being a child. The fact that he is capable of shooting 2 adults and a child and burying them im manure tells me that he is a danger to society.

Many people sitting in prison grew up in abusive homes with crackhead abusive parents. Should we consider giving them all a pass on their crimes as well?

________________
I have been trying to watch this trial.Between working and my husband in the hospital I have missed much.I do believe I find myself agreeing with tybee.I grew up in an abusive home.I know how belittling people (parents) can be.I do not feel he should be set free. I would like to see him placed where he would get all the mental help he no doubt needs.One day he may prove to be a responsible citzen,as tybee said he killed three people,thats nothing to sneeze at.I hope he gets help.

 

[Patty]

I feel that people in life are pushed into making decision
from what they are enduring and feeling at that time.
Have we all not made a decision in our life that we regret
after having made that decision? Maybe our decision wasn't
killing our father, stepmother, and step sister, still it was a
wrong choice.
The problem I have with whole case is that Cody was a child
that asked for help. Cody told people he was being abused
and no one would help him. Can you imagine being tortured
with the abuse this child suffered and telling someone that is
happening and they turn their back to you?
I'm not saying what Cody did was right, and I'm not saying that
Cody deserves to walk away un-punished. I'm saying that I
understand the reason and why Cody did what he did. The
decision he made was forced upon him. You have the right to
defend yourself.
This would have been an even sadder case had Paul Posey eventually
killed Cody......would it not???

If Cody is incarsarated until the age of 21 well it's probably better
for him then to have had to remain under the abuse of Paul Posey.

 

[tybee204]

The shooting of 2 adults and 1 child to me is far beyond "making a bad decision". The issue I am the most hung up on is the cold blooded killing of his sister who was a child as well. He killed her for purley selfish reasons (so as not to get caught) and that in my mind makes it 1st degree murder. The parents shooting I can understand as manslaughter but not the sister. The shooting of the child was a deliberate act of murder for self benefit.

 

[jilly]

The shooting of 2 adults and 1 child to me is far beyond "making a bad decision". The issue I am the most hung up on is the cold blooded killing of his sister who was a child as well. He killed her for purley selfish reasons (so as not to get caught) and that in my mind makes it 1st degree murder. The parents shooting I can understand as manslaughter but not the sister. The shooting of the child was a deliberate act of murder for self benefit.

I respectfully disagree. While I agree that he killed the sister because she would tell, it was not imo for fear of getting caught. The sister had been 'telling' for years and because of it he suffered even more abuse. I agree with one of the psychologists on a show yesterday saying, in his mind she was an "agent" of the parents and she was just as responsible for his pain.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

The shooting of 2 adults and 1 child to me is far beyond "making a bad decision". The issue I am the most hung up on is the cold blooded killing of his sister who was a child as well. He killed her for purley selfish reasons (so as not to get caught) and that in my mind makes it 1st degree murder. The parents shooting I can understand as manslaughter but not the sister. The shooting of the child was a deliberate act of murder for self benefit.

The boy will probably be found guilty of manslaughter for the sister and do time until 21 in a juvenile facility, hopefully with mandated counciling. In many ways the state is as responsible for the boy's actions as his father's cruelty, as it failed miserably to step in and defuse what was clearly a lethal situation despite numerous occasions to do so. To be honest, this story was going to end only one of five ways once Cody was reclaimed by his ogre of a father. (Remember, running away was not an option for this boy, given his isolation and the fact his father could pull strings he normally would not have been able to due to his connection with Sam Donaldson.)
1. Cody was going to eventually be killed by his father, whether intentionally or simply as an upshot from a beating (ruptured spleen, brain injury, etc.).
2. The inner demons driving the elder Posey (and they were considerable) were going to lead to his slaughtering his entire family, then possibly taking his own life. His behavior was that of a man with serious emotional problems(possibly even major depression), no doubt dating back from his own abusive family background, much of which I feel he was reliving with Cody, but in the role of the abuser not the victim.
3. Cody would eventually snap under the constant abuse, which was being amped up because his father realized the boy was becoming physically his equal, and he was determiend to break his soul as well as his body in order to remain "in charge", and commit suicide as a means of escape.
4. Ditto the above, except that instead of choosing suicide, the boy opts to kill the three-headed monster that is threatening to destroy not only his flesh but his self as well.
5. Cody could have surrendered his soul to these beasts and become as they were, perpetuating their evil onto yet another hapless generation of farm boys and girls.
Of the 5 outcomes, the fourth is the best possible, to be honest.

 

[tybee204]

I think all of this explains why Cody killed his family but IMO it doesnt excuse it. I am not believeing he should face his charges as an adult but I do believe he should be held responsible and accountable for his actions.
He alone held his father, stepmother and sister accountable for their actions against him and they payed with their lives at his hands.
IMO the fact that he is capable of taking this action shows that he could be a danger to society.
His immediate actions after the shooting of loading the bodies on a back hoe and burying them in manure rather then simply walking or running away from the scene is really disturbing to me. That act IMO borders on sadistic and I find it frightening.

 

[Lili]

Ok, I found my answer to this... "Also, confusing to me...Marilea Schmid was Cody's stepsister...lived with Posey family... Cody's former stepmother is married to father of Marilea. So was this current stepmother (that he shot) formerly married to Sandy's current husband????????????? Anyone know?"

Just in case anyone else was confused...it seems their former spouses married each other...
http://www.courttv.com/trials/posey/photogallery/family_tree.html

 

[tybee204]

Yes Marilea's mother divorced her father to marry Mr Posey (who she worked with at the time). Cody's father divorced Sandy and she then married Marilea's father, Mr Schmid.

 

[BillyGoatGruff]

I think all of this explains why Cody killed his family but IMO it doesnt excuse it. I am not believeing he should face his charges as an adult but I do believe he should be held responsible and accountable for his actions.
He alone held his father, stepmother and sister accountable for their actions against him and they payed with their lives at his hands.
IMO the fact that he is capable of taking this action shows that he could be a danger to society.
His immediate actions after the shooting of loading the bodies on a back hoe and burying them in manure rather then simply walking or running away from the scene is really disturbing to me. That act IMO borders on sadistic and I find it frightening.

Frankly, I don't know why he should have shown the bodies of his tormentors any more respect in death than they showed him in life. Biology aside, they behaved more like concentrastion camp guards than family. And his attempt to "hide" the evidence of his crimes was extremely unsophisicated. It was more like he was hiding their bodies from his having the view them than from being found by anyone else. I think the true breaking point for his was the hard and cold realization that NOTHING he could do would make his father love him and that his family would not be happy until he was either dead or his soul turned into a cold hard lump of burnt charcoal like his father's. I've had to come to that type of realization with a husband, and the hopless and despair that comes with that realization makes you either want to kill yourself or kill them.

 

[Bobbisangel]

I think all of this explains why Cody killed his family but IMO it doesnt excuse it. I am not believeing he should face his charges as an adult but I do believe he should be held responsible and accountable for his actions.
He alone held his father, stepmother and sister accountable for their actions against him and they payed with their lives at his hands.
IMO the fact that he is capable of taking this action shows that he could be a danger to society.
His immediate actions after the shooting of loading the bodies on a back hoe and burying them in manure rather then simply walking or running away from the scene is really disturbing to me. That act IMO borders on sadistic and I find it frightening.

To me that is just proof that his head was not altogether when he grabbed that gun and shot all three of them. He tried to bury them in the ground but he couldn't get the back hoe to work so he buried them in the manure because it was softer. I don't think that there is a hidden message because he buried them in a pile of chit. It was soft and it was available.

If he had been trying to hide the murders he would have cleaned up the blood. It was not only in the house but all over the porch. Someone's glasses where smashed and laying on the porch. When Sam D. got there he followed the trail of blood from inside the house and across the porch. Sam found the glasses lying there...broken. Cody didn't try to clean up the inside of the house or the outside. I don't know why he tried to bury the bodies. I doubt that he could even explain why he buried the bodies but left all of the other evidence.

I think that Marilee's father was right when he said "Cody might have shot the weapon but they loaded it."

I never take the side of a killer but to me this case is totally different then the usual cases. Marilee's own biological father has forgiven Cody and he understands how this horrible thing came down because he was aware of all of the abuse this kid endured for most of his life. He doesn't want Cody in prison for the rest of his life. If that young girl's father who has lost so much can stand behind Cody then I believe this boy is worth saving.

 

[Txmom]

Please dont "attack" me for what I am about to post...

I was in an abusive marriage where "our" son and I were the targets. Our younger daughter did escape the physical, verbal and mental abuse while we were married.

UNLESS you are in the position as the target of an abuser, you have no idea how you would act. Many times I thought about suicide, and several times I thought about killing him. I didnt succeed with the suicide, and I didnt kill him....I was able to finally divorce him. But this took about 15 years. Now 6 years after the divorce I am still afraid of him, our son wants nothing to do with him, and our daughter is now pushing him away. In our county in the state of Texas, I have to let our daughter have a relationship with her father. If I say anything negative about her father--I can be arrested. I try to walk a very straight line when it comes to him.

I can honestly say that if I had killed him, it would have been an unconscience act. I would have done it believing that it was the only way for us--the kids and I to survive. And to be honest with you-- I might not have even remembered it. (I found myself to be basically "numb" while I was in the abusive marriage) And then after a lengthy trial, I would have been found guilty of murder and sentenced to life or death in the prison system...I love my children too much to abandon them.

Remember I was an adult making these decisions---Cody is not, he is a child. An abused 14 year old, who NO ONE helped. Where was CPS, where were the Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles??? Why wasnt the teachers, the church, the cowboys calling CPS over and over again until someone came and checked on him. He was living in a very small cocoon where he could not escape. He was basically isolated from the community.

He should have been participating in various school events, church events and community events. Instead step-sister is telling abusive dad every breath that Cody took, step-mother is just as bad as the father. And no one is protecting Cody. Every child deserves to be protected from this abuse, but no one is there for Cody.

While we are in the abusive situation, we dont believe that there is any way out. I know that you see the commericals on TV about abuse and phone #'s are given, but if you have no way to write down the number in private, and you dont have access to a phone, you cant make the call.

When I was finally able to go to counseling, I was told that for every year that I was abused, I would need two years of counseling. If that is the case with children and Cody had been abused for 14 years, he will need about 28 years of counseling. Lets hope that Marilees father and his wife are able to stand by Cody, adopt him if needed, love him to the core, and give him the life and future that Cody deserves. Cody has lived for 14 years in hell, take my word for it. Right now he needs to be held and hugged and believed that he is loved.