GUILTY TX - Alanna Gallagher, 6, Saginaw, 1 July 2013 - #6

[elmomom]

So, Elmomom, do you think it's voyeuristic to watch grieving parents ont the news for the purpose of critiquing their body language, mannerisms, and speech?

Um, kind of, yes. I mean, I am not the one to be throwing stones as I certainly have viewed every video of every case I follow to do exactly that - but a big part of me feels awful for it too. I am not LE, nor do I have a role that would have any effect on a case, so watching, and especially, judging, feels wrong to me on an emotional level. Also, I am a very private person, and I don't like people i am not familiar with to see my personal feelings, so I tend to feel like watching public grief is intruding on a person's private space.
I am not trying to make anyone feel bad, just pointing out that if I were in a grieving parents role, I wouldn't be going public, and it has nothing to do with my guilt or innocence. (I would be more likely to grieve publicly if I were guilty I tend to think!)

 

[fred&edna]

To critique is one thing, to judge is another. (imo)

 

[wfgodot]

I'll give "body language" a stern thumb's down. It one day will go the way of phrenology and graphology.

 

[CatFancier]

Does anyone think that the reason there is no news, that maybe they are doing it on purpose?

Think about how he/she disposed of Alanna. How outrageous is that? That person wanted this poor child found quickly. Maybe they are using it to flush out the perpetrator. I don't think that where she was left was an accident. IMO

I think there is no news because LE is keeping everything close to their vests. It's hard to report the same stuff everyday without a new spin. The fact that it's summer also works against MSM, can't easily go to school to interview the teacher, counselor, school nurse, etc.

 

[human]

For me, any privacy I may feel goes out the window.

My child would come first. I no longer matter.

 

[elmomom]

Well that's true. But that's not what I was talking about. From your link:

The vast majority of abductions are parental, and do not end up as murdered.

But, of the children who are abducted, and then murdered, the vast majority are not parental.

What you are highlighting says that the number of children abducted and killed is much smaller than the number of children who go missing, and the number of children who are killed in other ways.

 

[human]

I think there is no news because LE is keeping everything close to their vests. It's hard to report the same stuff everyday without a new spin. The fact that it's summer also works against MSM, can't easily go to school to interview the teacher, counselor, school nurse, etc.

As a retired teacher, I know that we would not be allowed to talk without an OK from the school board.

But they could interview the minister, neighbors, relatives.

Human interest on little Alanna. Keep her face out there. Keep her story out there.

Otherwise, she is forgotten

 

[trigger]

Email sent. I'll do one/day to each local station. Who else is "in"?

:seeya: I am. Right after dinner.

 

[human]

Interesting article.

Says a lot of kids killed by their mother. Father. Then relatives and friends.

Few by strangers. Those under age 5, so not sure where Alanna fits in to this

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2002/03/when_parents_kill.html

The Numbers
Children under the age of 5 in the United States are more likely to be killed by their parents than anyone else. Contrary to popular mythology, they are rarely killed by a sex-crazed stranger. FBI crime statistics show that in 1999 parents were responsible for 57 percent of these murders, with family friends and acquaintances accounting for another 30 percent and other family members accounting for 8 percent. Crime statistics further reveal that of the children under 5 killed from 1976 to 1999, 30 percent were murdered by their mothers while 31 percent were killed by their fathers. And while the strangers, acquaintances, and other family members who kill children skew heavily toward males (as does the entire class of murderers), children are as likely to be murdered by their fathers as by their mothers.

 

[Linda7NJ]

I would walk through fire, chop off my own arm AND speak on camera with Satan himself, if I thought it would get my child home safe.

Me too.

I don't think I would be talking to the media or demanding anyone find who did it. I'd be in a overly medicated heap, in some corner balled, up in the fetal position.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

I think since Alanna was found murdered, if her parents were doing the media rounds, there would would be a lot of criticism of them. People would wonder why they are on TV so soon after hearing that their child was found dead, if LE says it an isolated case, why are they talking to the public/media, etc. I think people don't expect the parents of a murdered child to constantly be giving interviews and there would be some eyebrow-raising if they were.

 

[elmomom]

Interesting article.

Says a lot of kids killed by their mother. Father. Then relatives and friends.

Few by strangers. Those under age 5, so not sure where Alanna fits in to this

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2002/03/when_parents_kill.html

The Numbers
Children under the age of 5 in the United States are more likely to be killed by their parents than anyone else. Contrary to popular mythology, they are rarely killed by a sex-crazed stranger. FBI crime statistics show that in 1999 parents were responsible for 57 percent of these murders, with family friends and acquaintances accounting for another 30 percent and other family members accounting for 8 percent. Crime statistics further reveal that of the children under 5 killed from 1976 to 1999, 30 percent were murdered by their mothers while 31 percent were killed by their fathers. And while the strangers, acquaintances, and other family members who kill children skew heavily toward males (as does the entire class of murderers), children are as likely to be murdered by their fathers as by their mothers.

Taking all of what has been quoted so far, it seems to me:

Vast majority of children murdered, are murdered by a parent. (Majority by far are not abducted first)
Vast majority of children abducted, are abducted by a parent. (Majority by far are not killed)

But, the majority of children who are abducted, and then murdered, are not abducted and murdered by a parent.

 

[human]

Taking all of what has been quoted so far, it seems to me:

Vast majority of children murdered, are murdered by a parent. (Majority by far are not abducted first)
Vast majority of children abducted, are abducted by a parent. (Majority by far are not killed)

But, the majority of children who are abducted, and then murdered, are not abducted and murdered by a parent.

What is the definition of abducted?

A parental abduction is by a non custodial parent who probably wants the child, not to kill the child.

This is talking about killing the child

 

[human]

I think since Alanna was found murdered, if her parents were doing the media rounds, there would would be a lot of criticism of them. People would wonder why they are on TV so soon after hearing that their child was found dead, if LE says it an isolated case, why are they talking to the public/media, etc. I think people don't expect the parents of a murdered child to constantly be giving interviews and there would be some eyebrow-raising if they were.

Who cares what others think when your child is dead?

Who cares what others think, period.

 

[gitana1]

I'll give "body language" a stern thumb's down. It one day will go the way of phrenology and graphology.

Oh I have to strongly disagree with that. What does it mean when a dog puts his belly on the ground, legs stretched in front, hind quarters in the air? (Play). What about a cat who is on all fours, scrunching backwards ears flat back? (scared).

Body language tells us when another person is angry (what's wrong?), turned on (guy knows he can now kiss girl), friendly, scared, impatient or threatening.

Every single one of us reads body language every single day, to navigate all sorts of situations. Combined with tone of voice and facial expressions, body language is how we read people and navigate situations around us. The inability to read it is a key problem with people with autism and why they have serious issues socializing.

I know a lot about it though. I used to read palms for fun. I'm very, very good at it. I can tell a person whether their dad died or left them, at what age, sometimes I can tell them names of family members, health issues they have, dates of past trauma, etc. Reading body language is a HUGE part of that.

 

[gitana1]

The vast majority of abductions are parental, and do not end up as murdered.

But, of the children who are abducted, and then murdered, the vast majority are not parental.

What you are highlighting says that the number of children abducted and killed is much smaller than the number of children who go missing, and the number of children who are killed in other ways.

Right. Exactly.

 

[wfgodot]

Oh I have to strongly disagree with that. What does it mean when a dog puts his belly on the ground, legs stretched in front, hind quarters in the air? (Play). What about a cat who is on all fours, scrunching backwards ears flat back? (scared).

Body language tells us when another person is angry (what's wrong?), turned on (guy knows he can now kiss girl), friendly, scared, impatient or threatening.

Every single one of us reads body language every single day, to navigate all sorts of situations. Combined with tone of voice and facial expressions, body language is how we read people and navigate situations around us. The inability to read it is a key problem with people with autism and why they have serious issues socializing.

I know a lot about it though. I used to read palms for fun. I'm very, very good at it. I can tell a person whether their dad died or left them, at what age, sometimes I can tell them names of family members, health issues they have, dates of past trauma, etc. Reading body language is a HUGE part of that.

I was speaking of it in context, that is, as a "science" by which one can ascertain innocence or guilt.

 

[elmomom]

What is the definition of abducted?

A parental abduction is by a non custodial parent who probably wants the child, not to kill the child.

This is talking about killing the child

Abducted means snatched and taken away, for lack of more preside terms that come to mind. I agree, the majority of kids killed are killed by their parents. But they aren't abducted - kidnapped, etc.

If Alanna was out playing, and someone took her somewhere other than home, and then killed her, then she falls into the abducted and killed category.
If Alanna was home, or was outside playing and then taken home, then she would not fall into the same category, and the likelihood would be that a parent killed her.

Another statistic I have read, though I don't have it handy to quote, is that the majority of cases of kids who are killed after being sexually molested is not committed by a parent or family member. (Although the majority of sexual abuse without murder is by parent or family member).

So, two important things to know in Alanna's case are whether she was abducted, and whether she was sexually assaulted. I am sure that LE pretty much knows the answer to those two things. And they ain't saying.

 

[fred&edna]

I comprehend the words "isolated case" but I'm not quite sure I fully understand them. Are they supposed to be translated to "there is no cause for alarm"??? A dead barely-six-year old child found in the middle of a neighborhood and no perp in custody? This is alarming.

 

[GingerzMomma]

I was speaking of it in context, that is, as a "science" by which one can ascertain innocence or guilt.

I'd agree that in and of itself you cannot, but when considered within the context of voice tone, choice of words, facial expressions, etc.....you can probably get a pretty good idea of whether someone is being honest with you or not.

I saw this a few months back (TED Talks) and thought it was pretty good. About 20 min long, but worth it (and has a couple laughs):

Pamela Meyer: How to spot a liar - YouTube

Well, my link doesn't seem to be working, but you can google it: TED Talks Pamela Meyer How to spot a liar