How to "get away" with murder (almost).

[AlecWest]

Back in 2002, the wife of one of my coworkers was reported as missing. Early on, the cops became suspicious of him. But after taking him in for questioning, they finally released him. No admission on his part and no body found. However, last year, the cops felt they had enough circumstantial evidence to arrest him and they did. Since he was a coworker, I was understandably curious ... and entered his name as a "news reminder" so my local newspaper would email me if a story came out.

No email came so I went to the newspaper's site and did a search for a recent story ... and it came up empty. But after some poking around on my own, I discovered that his case was quietly "settled" ... and the news never made it to the newspapers. In May, still with no body found, the prosecutor agreed to let him plead "no contest." His sentence? Six years in prison, less one year for time served (less additional time if he gets out on parole or "early release" for good behavior).

In 2010 at the very latest, he'll be a free man again. And because he didn't plead guilty to the charge, he'll be allowed to take charge of his wife's assets as well as his own. And before his arrest last year, he'd reached "early retirement age" ... meaning his retirement benefits will be unaffected by the plea. All he has to do now is spend five quiet years in stir and then he's a free man ... financially secure for the rest of his life.

He said he pleaded "no contest" to (ahem) save his children from the ordeal of a trial. Uh-huh. Before being a coworker, he was previously a Forest Service employee with extensive knowledge of the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest. My guess is that he pleaded no contest because, now, he could round up every TV news crew in town, take them into the forest where he most likely buried her, and let them shoot video footage as he gleefully danced on her grave ... knowing that he can't be tried twice for the same crime.

Anyhoo, here's a short video news snippet on this (5 meg WMV) if anyone's curious.

[Abbadon]

Interesting story.

However, being in jail is not always a quiet experience, have you ever heard of gang rape ?, and sometimes more than once.

Another point to consider is that maybe he can get away with it while he is alive, but what about the after life ?, mostly all religions teach about punishment for the things you do while you are alive such as Hell, Purgatory and in a lifetime: Karma.

I am not into religion myself, no offense intended to anyone.

[AlecWest]

However, being in jail is not always a quiet experience, have you ever heard of gang rape ?, and sometimes more than once.

The video doesn't really reveal too much about his physique. But, I've seen this guy. If anything, HE'D be the one doing the raping. He's a tall muscular man with a very menacing presence. He might just "fit right in" with the crowd and would not sissy out quickly (or without a fight). Besides, murderers (from what I hear) tend to be prison "celebs" ... especially the ones savvy enough to get a light sentence like he did. I suspect if he's approached for any reason, it would be for "legal advice" ... and queries like, "Jeez, could you ask your lawyer if he'd represent ME?"

Afterlife? He probably doesn't believe in one. One of the reasons he and his wife had marital problems is because she joined the Bahai faith and wanted to give away a lot of their savings to the church ... something he didn't want to do. Looks like he got his wish (and her money, after he gets out).

[zzyzzx]

[hudsonf]

Couldn't her family sue for wrongfull death?

[AlecWest]

Couldn't her family sue for wrongfull death?

Good question. I don't think she has any living relatives other than her children ... and I've not heard that they'll be doing anything legally. But, it's still early. Sadly, the kids were divided during the brouhaha. Their son refused to believe he was guilty ... their daughter thinking he was. But, when the "plea deal" came down, it must have been obvious to the son that his father had murdered his mom. Oddly, both children came out afterward and "supported" the plea agreement. It could be that they're both in "damage control" mode ... and just want to get on with their lives and put this whole nightmare behind them. And, I think they'll do that. I doubt if David Waldron, in prison or when he gets out, will ever see either of his children again. And who can blame them.

[lordsmurf]

Yeah, he could be sued in civil court.
Two letters: OJ

[AlecWest]

Not guilty of murder ... just guilty of covering up evidence to protect the REAL murderer:

From the Dallas Observer:
http://www.dallasobserver.com/issues/2001-04-12/news/feature_print.html (long, but interesting)

From the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/954700.stm

[BJ_M]

Yeah, he could be sued in civil court.
Two letters: OJ

yea - but he has never paid any of the civil suit fine he got slapped with .... he is still refusing to pay it ....

[BJ_M]

AlecWest - they can actually try him for the same crime twice in some cases -- or charge him with a different offense (such as kidnapping or abuse).

but there are times you can be charged again for the same crime - though i dont remember the specifics ...

Pinchot - wasnt he the first guy in charge of the NFS ?

[lordsmurf]

From the Dallas Observer

Tabloid rag. Not very trustworthy.

[AlecWest]

AlecWest - they can actually try him for the same crime twice in some cases -- or charge him with a different offense (such as kidnapping or abuse).

Or violation of her "civil rights" (ala the Mississippi Burning case). But, I suspect that without a body, proving kidnapping or proving abuse would be a tough nut to crack. And this guy is as cool as a cucumber. He kept his mouth shut and I'm certain he'll continue to do so.

Pinchot - wasnt he the first guy in charge of the NFS ?

Actually, I didn't know where they got the forest's name from, hehe. But, here's what I found on Google:

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/PA_Env-Her/pinchot_bio.htm

[BJ_M]

I was right - he was ... as well as your Governor (twice)

[zzyzzx]

Not guilty of murder ... just guilty of covering up evidence to protect the REAL murderer:

Yeah:

[JohnnyCNote]

They're showing Jack Lemmon's "How to Murder your Wife" right now. It was teh first movie where I became aware of him when I was a kid (I'm dating myself with that one).....

[AlecWest]

I was right - he was ... as well as your Governor (twice)

Pennsylvania governor. I'm an Oregonian. Most Oregon governors have been rather bland and colorless (grin). The only governor we had with any notariety was our territorial governor prior to statehood. His name was Joseph Lane ... and Oregon named a county after him. His dubious notariety came after his term, though. In 1860, he was the unsuccessful Democratic Party Vice Presidential candidate. Later, he returned to his home in North Carolina to become a General in the Confederacy (and a good buddy of General Nathan Bedford Forrest) ... and after the war, returned to Oregon to assume a different title ... becoming, before his death, Oregon's first Grand Dragon in the "original" KKK.