State v Bradley Cooper 3-21-2011

[ncsu95]

I didn't believe the neighborhood gossip, but I do believe mom. Brad sounds like he was controlling (no money, no gas, no passports) before the divorce papers were initiated. Heather was the straw that broke the camels back ... denial, then a lie about a one night stand, then a full blown affair that lasted a couple of years. I believe that Nancy was completely trapped by Brad and, based on the discussion yesterday about green cards and custody, I think she believed she had no choice but to return to Brad to sort things out.

I thought that Brad had some parental rights and that Nancy shouldn't be taking the children out of the country, but it doesn't sound like Brad cared about the children any more than he cared about Nancy.

I fully believe that mom was telling the truth on the stand. But mom also got most of her information from Nancy.

 

[SleuthyGal]

If he went to such great length to cover up this crime, why did he not even try to appear normal by informing her parents she was missing and talking to them as soon as they arrived, meeting them at the airport even? This is pretty telling.

Sociopath/psychopath perhaps...doesn't know what 'normal' looks like and can't begin to emulate it with any accuracy?

 

[DogWood]

I went back to the beginning of this segment twice and I saw two women behind him who I think are with the defense side. I didn't see his parents at the beginning of this segment behind him but they could have moved before the end of it. I couldn't see who he handed the note to but I did see somewhat a smiley smirk.

OK. Thanks so much for taking a look at it!

 

[ncsu95]

I don't know but this I do know--if Brad is found not guilty I think the children should remain where they are--with Nancy's parents and sister. I don't think Brad has it in him to raise these children with the love and emotional support they will need for a lifetime.

If BC is found not guilty, he should get full custody of his kids.

 

[SleuthyGal]

I fully believe that mom was telling the truth on the stand. But mom also got most of her information from Nancy.

There were only two people in that marriage. How else would she get info about things she didn't personally witness? Brad wasn't talking. And when he did, he lied. But Mrs. Rentz DID observe his behavior and hear (some) of his words first-hand. So not 100% of what Mrs. Rentz understood came from Nancy.

 

[ncsu95]

If he went to such great length to cover up this crime, why did he not even try to appear normal by informing her parents she was missing and talking to them as soon as they arrived, meeting them at the airport even? This is pretty telling.

He absolutely should have called the parents. But she also testified that they didn't call him either. If that was my daughter, you darn skippy I would have called him immediately. So shouldn't that go both ways? It's their daughter, but it's his wife.

 

[ncsu95]

There were only two people in that marriage. How else would she get info about things she didn't personally witness? Brad wasn't talking. And when he did, he lied. But Mrs. Rentz DID observe his behavior and hear (some) of his words first-hand. So not 100% of what Mrs. Rentz understood came from Nancy.

I agree with that. And I fully believe her observations. And I fully believe she believed every word Nancy told her.

 

[SleuthyGal]

Imagine, if you will, looking into the eyes of your son-in-law. A man you care about, who is the father of your beloved grandchildren, husband to one of your beloved daughters. Your daughter has been murdered. Do you really WANT to believe that the man who took a vow to honor, love, cherish her did that to her? Of course not.

But Mrs. Rentz went over and looked into Brad's eyes and saw something she could not deny (to herself or anyone else). Imagine the heartbreak of that realization. SHE KNEW.

 

[ncsu95]

Imagine, if you will, looking into the eyes of your son-in-law. A man you care about, who is the father of your beloved grandchildren, husband to one of your beloved daughters. Your daughter has been murdered. Do you really WANT to believe that the man who took a vow to honor, love, cherish her did that to her? Of course not.

But Mrs. Rentz went over and looked into Brad's eyes and saw something she could not deny (to herself or anyone else). Imagine the heartbreak of that realization. SHE KNEW.

That wasn't their view of him on July 11th.

 

[SleuthyGal]

That wasn't their view of him on July 11th.

Nancy was still alive on 7/11/08. Why would their view (that he murdered Nancy) have changed before she was murdered? Did they think he was a wonderful upstanding hubby at that point? Probably not since he cheated and finally admitted it. But neither did they think of him as a murderer.

 

[otto]

I fully believe that mom was telling the truth on the stand. But mom also got most of her information from Nancy.

She saw her 30 something daughter break down in tears because she had to admit that she couldn't pay for anything, saw her sobbing because she didn't want to return to her husband. She knew that her daughter couldn't pay for gas because she and her husband paid for it. That's not anything Nancy told her, she saw that for herself. She also saw, for herself, how Brad acted when Nancy knew of the affair. Telling Brad to go ahead and sue was her way of telling him she didn't believe a word he said (I think). It was an "I dare you" remark. I think she saw plenty.

 

[otto]

He absolutely should have called the parents. But she also testified that they didn't call him either. If that was my daughter, you darn skippy I would have called him immediately. So shouldn't that go both ways? It's their daughter, but it's his wife.

Why should they call him. He knew she was missing. They were in Edmonton at a funeral when Nancy was reported missing. They probably waited all day Sat and Sun for him to call, Monday went by, and they arrived in NC on Monday. No calls from Brad. They were already worried about Nancy's safety a week earlier (concerned about Brad), she was missing, and he was silent. I don't think they needed to call Brad. The time for him to call had long since passed ... and for all he knew, they didn't know that she was missing. He was supposed to notify them, and didn't.

 

[NCEast]

That wasn't their view of him on July 11th.

But it was their view of him on the following Tuesday morning at the Lutheran church.
And as an aside, I honestly think just as soon as they received the original phone call during the funeral they were attending they had suspicions that whatever was going on he was involved.

 

[ncsu95]

Nancy was still alive on 7/11/08. Why would their view (that he murdered Nancy) have changed before she was murdered? Did they think he was a wonderful upstanding hubby at that point? Probably not since he cheated and finally admitted it. But neither did they think of him as a murderer.

You missed what I was saying. Their view of him on 7/11/08 was not a positive one.

 

[NCEast]

Why should they call him. He knew she was missing. They were in Edmonton at a funeral when Nancy was reported missing. They probably waited all day Sat and Sun for him to call, Monday went by, and they arrived in NC on Monday. No calls from Brad. They were already worried about Nancy's safety a week earlier (concerned about Brad), she was missing, and he was silent. I don't think they needed to call Brad. The time for him to call had long since passed ... and for all he knew, they didn't know that she was missing. He was supposed to notify them, and didn't.

I absolutely agree. It was his place to call them at any point and he didn't. And I will forever think they knew in their heart of hearts that he was responsible and that she was probably dead only minutes after learning via the funeral call that she was missing.

 

[otto]

You missed what I was saying. Their view of him on 7/11/08 was not a positive one.

They knew that there were problems in the marriage, but it was never stated that she didn't like Brad. She described how he flipped out and started pretending to play guitar, wanted to learn French and wanted to move to France. I think she thought he was just plane weird at that point. Knowing that her daughter could not provide for her grandchildren (because Brad cut off the finances) or that Brad lived with bugs and worms when Nancy was away must have made her think Brad had flipped worse than ever.

Knowing that someone is living with bugs and pretending to be a rock star in his mid-thirties is neither positive nor negative ... it's flipping weird.

 

[ncsu95]

She saw her 30 something daughter break down in tears because she had to admit that she couldn't pay for anything, saw her sobbing because she didn't want to return to her husband. She knew that her daughter couldn't pay for gas because she and her husband paid for it. That's not anything Nancy told her, she saw that for herself. She also saw, for herself, how Brad acted when Nancy knew of the affair. Telling Brad to go ahead and sue was her way of telling him she didn't believe a word he said (I think). It was an "I dare you" remark. I think she saw plenty.

I am absolutely not sticking up for Brad's behavior. That wasn't what I was saying. And I do believe everything happened as she saw it. But I still believe Nance exaggerated things, at least about the money. It doesn't change that she was upset about not being able to get a pedicure for her and the girls on the 12th. Someone that doesn't have a penny to their name would not be trying to get pedicures if she got a few bucks for painting.

 

[ncsu95]

Why should they call him. He knew she was missing. They were in Edmonton at a funeral when Nancy was reported missing. They probably waited all day Sat and Sun for him to call, Monday went by, and they arrived in NC on Monday. No calls from Brad. They were already worried about Nancy's safety a week earlier (concerned about Brad), she was missing, and he was silent. I don't think they needed to call Brad. The time for him to call had long since passed ... and for all he knew, they didn't know that she was missing. He was supposed to notify them, and didn't.

I thought there was testimony that he asked someone to call both them and his parents. Isn't how they found out?

 

[otto]

I absolutely agree. It was his place to call them at any point and he didn't. And I will forever think they knew in their heart of hearts that he was responsible and that she was probably dead only minutes after learning via the funeral call that she was missing.

I think so. I think she testified that as soon as they left the funeral dad said that it would not end well.

Brad had 100% responsibility to contact his parents and Nancy's parents. That is something that they needed to know. I think that if I heard via a third party that a child was missing, and I knew that police and community were searching, I too might wait to see if the husband called - particularly if I suspected him. The amount of time that passed between first missing and the phone call (which in this case never came) would speak volumes.

 

[SleuthyGal]

I am absolutely not sticking up for Brad's behavior. That wasn't what I was saying. And I do believe everything happened as she saw it. But I still believe Nance exaggerated things, at least about the money. It doesn't change that she was upset about not being able to get a pedicure for her and the girls on the 12th. Someone that doesn't have a penny to their name would not be trying to get pedicures if she got a few bucks for painting.

Seriously, what does it matter if Nancy exaggerated some things during her life? She didn't exaggerate her murder. She certainly didn't exaggerate when she described them as 'back in hate mode.' Obviously things were not right in that relationship and obviously things were very tense.