Found Deceased TX - Crystal Seratte McDowell, 38, Baytown, 25 Aug 2017 #3 *Arrest*

[cluciano63]

Do you think they will seek the death penalty or is life without parole more likely?

Depends if he confesses and pleads guilty, I think.

 

[jillycat]

I wish the children could be with family, but If they're witness to anything, and it seems they are, even if it's just the timeline and when they saw her and what was going on then, that explains why they're in protective custody. How frightening for them.

 

[audge86]

Do you think they will seek the death penalty or is life without parole more likely?

Perhaps no death penalty as long as he pleads guilty.

But I don't know. That makes sense to me. Try to avoid putting the children through a trial.

 

[Gardener1850]

Here it is, in context of saying ex had been very cooperative with interviews and they had to fly him in because of the flooding:



http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1709/05/ptab.01.html


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Thank you, this is what I remember seeing. Experts trained to interview the children.

 

[Eileen730]

I wish the children could be with family, but If they're witness to anything, and it seems they are, even if it's just the timeline and when they saw her and what was going on then, that explains why they're in protective custody. How frightening for them.

Thing is they have grandparents that might want the children....
cant just hand over the kids. jmo

 

[EmmieA]

I wish the children could be with family, but If they're witness to anything, and it seems they are, even if it's just the timeline and when they saw her and what was going on then, that explains why they're in protective custody. How frightening for them.

Just a note on DCFS. I haven't rewatched the PC so I don't know how it was worded, but in some cases the children can be under the umbrella of DCFS but they aren't physically in their custody - they are with a family member but they still fall under jurisdiction of DCFS until a judge decides on custody. I don't know about this case but it is a possibility.

 

[jillycat]

Just a note on DCFS. I haven't rewatched the PC so I don't know how it was worded, but in some cases the children can be under the umbrella of DCFS but they aren't physically in their custody - they are with a family member but they still fall under jurisdiction of DCFS until a judge decides on custody. I don't know about this case but it is a possibility.

That's true. I guess I presumed the references were to physical custody.

 

[EmmieA]

Do you think they will seek the death penalty or is life without parole more likely?

I immediately thought death penalty but I think (???) that would be horrible for the kids so I guess life in prison.

 

[Seajay]

I wonder how LE was so quick to positively identify her body.

Maybe because the body had on a pink/purple/black dress?

 

[monkeypants]

My guess is DP will be off the table if PI website is correct and he led them to the body.


J.M.O.

 

[DexterMorgan]

He does! I thought at first it was my imagination, but it's quite a contrast from the smiling photos on her missing posts.

His arms look like he can strangle a female fairly easy in his mugshot.

 

[Seajay]

So Hawthorne said she saw the kids that morning. I wonder where. I suppose SM could have brought the briefcase back with him. I hope he didn't have the kids with him when he did the deed.

 

[EmmieA]

That's true. I guess I presumed the references were to physical custody.

you could be correct -- LE could have been talking about physical custody - I can't get the press conference to replay. And I agree w/your post. They need their family. Not too sure I want them around the EX's family right now but wherever they feel comfortable is best.

 

[Gardener1850]

I wonder if they found her purse and phone and the missing surface laptop.

 

[jillycat]

This reminds me of the Whitney Heichel case. Everyone was looking for her, including her entire church, and in areas pertaining to the crime, but LE found her because her killer told them where she was.

 

[EmmieA]

My guess is DP will be off the table if PI website is correct and he led them to the body.


J.M.O.

PI website said that? Wow! So he confessed.

 

[cluciano63]

It is possible that all the flooding and water may have made it easier to identify her (not officially, I know) as opposed to normal Houston summer conditions. I hate to think of searchers out there all week, risking snakes, alligators, etc...while he knew all along where she was.

 

[cluciano63]

PI website said that? Wow! So he confessed.

Considered to be rumor, at this point, jmo.

 

[Seajay]

If he confessed, it was probably because LE had him nailed to the wall with all their evidence pointing directly to him. Witnesses, cell phone pings, CCTVs around town, possibly her briefcase being at the house and if the kids were questioned and said they say Mommy that morning.....well then he might as well tell the, where he left her. They probably knew it was her because he told them where she was and that's where they found her. In some woods. IMO

 

[jillycat]

you could be correct -- LE could have been talking about physical custody - I can't get the press conference to replay. And I agree w/your post. They need their family. Not too sure I want them around the EX's family right now but wherever they feel comfortable is best.

I worked in the non-profit sector in family services and case management years ago and your point is well taken. There are times when children will be placed with family due to best interests, but the county has oversight or custody pending court actions, etc. I'm sure that can vary county to county/state to state, and depends on circumstances. But in this case, I wonder if it's strictly related to witness status. Hopefully, we'll get some clarity on that. I sincerely hope the state is not letting these kids get sucked up by protocols and the machinery of the system. These situations are so fluid that things happen that just shouldn't when it comes to children.