Topic Idea or Suggestion?

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I am trying to find a good place and method for you guys to share story ideas with me. I’d like to have a page setup where you all can go, suggest stories, post links and then rate which topics suggested by others are the most interesting to you.

Last week, I had a volunteer, Shina Hart, offer to help me with this, and she discovered UserVoice. It looks like the perfect tool, though I am not sure it will work at the level we need it to work in the “free version”. To upgrade, it is quite pricey at $19/month, so if this doesn’t work, we may have to investigate other avenues.

But let’s give it a try! See what you think, share your topic suggestions, and vote now. I added the first topic suggestion as a test. I suggested Nayda Suleman. I think each topic can only get 10 votes, which might be too limiting, but let’s experiment with it because it is free.

I will post a link to UserVoice on my contact page, so in the future, if you want to find it, you will know where to go.

Let me know your thoughts! Many thanks to Shina, who continues to look for and explore other options for us!

48 Hours Mystery: Point Blank

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Tonight 48 Hours Mystery is airing “Point Blank”. It’s the story of what happened to Scott Rhode. Was Traci, his wife, home when he committed suicide, or was there something more sinister going on?

You be the judge.

Here are my thoughts.

My Thoughts: Ronald Cummings on Nancy Grace

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What is so fascinating about this video is that Ronald Cummings isn’t on the defensive like he usually is (see video here). He is fine with everyone tightening the reins on Misty, and ironically, that doesn’t seem to bother him at all. His posture is relaxed, and his hands are splayed in front of him in a calm manner.

Read moreBut what is even more interesting is that you would expect Cummings of all people, here to be the most perplexed, mad and concerned about Misty’s inconsistencies, if he is innocent and uninvolved, but he isn’t! Cummings, like everyone else, should want to know why there are inconsistencies. He should be all over them like a wet blanket, so he can get to the truth, but he isn’t. Instead, he marries Misty and acts like it isn’t his concern or worry that she is inconsistent. This behavior does not support honesty. Is that because he already knows the answers?

Throughout the interview, Cummings is feeling positive emotions. He almost has a “glow” about him. I can’t quite put my fingers on it, but it is palpable. He is on the edge, at times, of breaking into a smile. He clearly tries several times to hold it back. I captured this image below when he said “no” at one point.

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Try saying “no” when you are serious. Your lips don’t curl up like this (see above). He is saying no and smiling very faintly at the same time. To move your lips upward like this when you feel serious and say no is very awkward to do, unless you are feeling a positive emotion.

Nancy Grace starts out by asking Cummings what Misty originally told him regarding their sleeping arrangements that night with respect to Haleigh. Notice how Ronald does what is considered a “false start”? Cummings starts talking, then stops and changes his direction.

Cummings says, “She told me that she was sleeping in the beh…, um, her and junior were sleeping in my queen size bed and that she was sleeping in the tot bed beside her…”This is quite telling. I suspect he was going to said “bed” above, but stopped mid-sentence.

Was he going to say that she was sleeping in the bed with Junior and Haleigh? When Cummings says the words”beside her,” he makes an expression of doubt with his lips and squints his eyes. He pulls his lips up on one side, like when some people say, “I don’t know.” He continues with more expressions of doubt when he says, “…three or four feet beside her, or whatever.” He squints his eyes like he is trying to recollect this, and his lips move to the opposite side this time, which is unusual for this type of memory, which should be concrete because he has talked about it so many times, if he is telling the truth.

Grace asked how everything got so mis-communicated about where Haleigh slept, and when Cummings replies, the very first few words he says, he has the slightest smirk on his face, “Ms. Nancy, I have no, no answer for you. I don’t know how it was mis-communicated.”

Grace goes on to ask if Misty told the police that Haleigh was in a separate bed, to which Cummings replies, “I wasn’t there when she was questioned by police, Ms. Nancy.” At the end of that comment, you can clearly see a grin on his face. It’s subtle but definitely there.

Grace than asks why Misty didn’t call the police immediately when she realized Haleigh was missing. Notice Cummings doesn’t answer the question, and Grace never calls him on it! Instead, he just goes into what I could call a rote speech about the events of that night. He repeats what he has repeated a thousand times. Also, notice how Cummings’ voice inflection changes? All the inflection in his voice disappears, and he talks as if he is drone, just recollecting data. He has no emotions whatsoever.

Why doesn’t Cummings feel any emotions about that devastating night? He should feel tremendous pain and anguish when thinking about the realization that his daughter is missing, or at least feeling fear, or worry he experienced that night, but he doesn’t. It’s a huge red flag. He also gets nervous, and starts wiggling in his leg again. Why is he nervous when he talks about this? Notice he feels nervousness, but he does not feel any emotions when it comes to his daughter? That’s a huge red flag.

Do you also notice how Cummings said he turned the house upside down, and then told Misty to call 911? Why didn’t he ever look outside? Isn’t that odd? Misty said the front door was propped wide open. Why wouldn’t he start canvassing the neighborhood while Misty called police? It’s just another inconsistency in his story.

Clearly, what we should be seeing in Cummings, such as serious questions for Misty, if he is truly uninvolved in Haleigh’s disappearance, are not present, and worse, he is showing signs of positive emotions, which absolutely make no sense whatsoever.

To read more of my opinions of this case, click on the labels below. To read my original opinion, you’ll need to scroll to the bottom of the page.

Ronald Cummings on Nancy Grace

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Many of you have asked me to review Ronald Cummings on the Nancy Grace show last night. Please bear with me. My mind is distracted today because my cousin is going through a very challenging time. I hope you’ll be patient with me.

See my thoughts here.

My Thoughts: Ronald & Misty on The Today Show

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Meredith Vieira interviewed Ronald Cummings and Misty (nee Croslin) Cummings on The Today Show Friday. The video continues to support my original belief that both Ronald and Misty know more than they are telling us.

Read moreInterestingly enough, NBC reporter, Michelle Kosinski, now reports that the police are calling Misty “the key to solving this case.” Police are finally publicly acknowledging that there are inconsistencies in Misty’s statements. However, Kosinski also reported that the police “…are satisfied that Ronald doesn’t really know what happened to his little girl.” I suspect this is a very strategic move by police. It does not discourage my original opinion, as I still think Ronald knows more than he is letting on.

I was shocked to see that Ronald didn’t dress up for his wedding. I think that his responses in this interview and the way he behaved through the whole wedding event are supportive that he had other motives for this marriage than “love”.

When I first saw Ronald and Misty in the interview, they did not appear happy or encouraged about being there (i.e., grateful for such an opportunity). I almost felt like they wanted a free trip to New York, and so they decided to do the interview as a means to that end. Both looked very nervous, and not at all anxious or eager to be there to get the message out. Ronald says he went to New York to renew the focus back on Haleigh, but he had that same opportunity, at home, as we all know, so that is ridiculous.

Here are my thoughts on the interview with Ronald and Misty:

Vieira: …so why did you want to come here today? What are you hoping to accomplish, Ronald, today?

Ronald: Uh… to get the focus back on my daughter’s missing (smirk). My five-year-old girl is gone, and I want to find her.

What is fascinating about this is it’s the first time I am seeing what appears to be delight in Ronald. In this statement, his face shows a very positive emotion. I am wondering if this is the first time he has heard that he is not being looked at by police, and that is giving him joy, but if that was the case, I would also expect to see a sense of “relief”, which I do not. I just see a sense of joy. Why is Ronald feeling joy?

Vieira: Have they said anything to you about any possible leads at all?

Ronald: (curls his lower lip down and very slightly out, shakes his head no, and looks down, which is a sign of withdrawal–that he doesn’t want to talk about it.)

Vieira: Nothing.

I don’t believe Ronald here for an instant. He knows more than he is letting on. I suspect the police have told him some things that Ronald doesn’t want to share with us. Perhaps it is that they are looking at Misty closer? Notice that the “smirks” disappeared here? That question didn’t make Ronald very happy. Why?

Vieira then goes on to discuss how Ronald, Jr. talked about a man dressed in black taking Haleigh, and she asks Misty if Ronald, Jr. told either one of them about this. Misty says “umm-um, nope”, and Ronald responds:

Ronald: Me, neither (slight smirk). I think this is some of the garbage that Geraldo and Crystal, the mother, has made up, but I’m just going to leave that at that.

Notice how Ronald lights up when he talks about this? He is working overtime to conceal his delight here. He almost is gritting his teeth to hold it back! I suspect he has really bad feelings towards Crystal right now and just gets joy out of hitting back at her, too. Clearly, he is becoming more smug–almost arrogant.

Vieira: Oh, so you don’t even believe that Ronald Jr. even said this at all?

Ronald: (Classic shoulder shrug, lip curl) I don’t know. (Notice he is smirking!). I wasn’t at home. I was at work (he’s gloating!), (shoulder shrug) I can’t tell you, honestly.

I don’t believe Ronald here for a second! Ronald is exceptionally smug in this video. He has an arrogance about him that is palpable. One indication of Ronald’s arrogance here is how he cocks his head backward and looks down his nose at Vieira. Does he think he is fooling the world right now, or what?

Throughout much of the interview, Ronald has a very nervous energy about him. Notice how he wiggles his leg? I get the sense he really wants to say so much more. Ronald, I suspect, if he could tell us his true thoughts, would tell you he feels like he is in a vice.

Do you notice Misty is biting her lip? It’s an indication she is very nervous. She’s tense and scared. I suspect her heart is really pounding in her chest.

Ronald looks very intently at Vieira at times in this interview. If I were Vieira, I would find his looks threatening. They actually get my heart pounding. He then licks his lips, and I just get this feeling he is very volatile or could explode at any second. Misty licks her lips as well, but I don’t feel threatened by her. I feel she is very nervous and uncomfortable. Two different emotions from these two people who both lick their lips.

Vieira then asks Misty why she stopped talking to investigators earlier this week, and Misty tells us the investigator was being very rude to her, and she wasn’t comfortable talking to him. I believe she is being dead honest here. She gets quite confident when she says this, which we have rarely seen Misty do. Misty is usually very timid, because she is feeling insecure about the things she has been telling us. Notice how her words flow here, how she doesn’t have to think about what she is talking about here? This is Misty when she is honest and sincere with us.

Do you see Ronald do his infamous “under-eye” watch of Misty when she talks? This shows exceptionally controlling behavior on behalf of Ronald. He is dying to look at Misty and give her a look or a message that he doesn’t approve of what she is saying, but he doesn’t dare do it. He continues to restrain himself.

Vieira to Misty: So he was accusing you of lying to him?

Misty: Yeah.

Ronald: After passing the polygraph (smiling).

Vieira: I think part of the problem is there have been a certain number of inconsistencies, or what’s perceived to be inconsistencies, because you first said that Haleigh was in bed with you, then you said she was on the mattress next to you. This is an opportunity to clarify. You’ve had time to think through what happened that night. Can you walk us through it, one more time, your best recollection of what happened the night Haleigh disappeared?

When Misty gives her response, you can clearly see her thinking as she talks about it. Notice how different her behavior is here, compared to when she was telling us the truth above? Her words do not flow naturally here, whereas above, they did.

Vieira: Help me out, Misty. Why were there inconsistencies? Why did you say one thing, one time, and one time, the other?

Misty: (Notice how she purses her lips?) Ummm….. (Notice how she shakes her head to suggest she is thinking “I don’t know”? Notice how she looks to Ron for an answer, and then she looks down?) I don’t know (she shrugs her shoulders simultaneously).

When Misty looks to Ron during the interview segment above for help, it is fascinating, because it is strongly suggestive for us that Ronald is the one who is the decision-maker of the two of them–the one who is in charge in their relationship. Misty looks to Ronald for answers.

During this segment, Ronald also looks down and is very intense. His behavior is indicative of withdrawal. When two people are in cahoots, and one says something the other doesn’t agree with, one will often withdraw by looking down and ceasing all communication. It’s a powerful message of disapproval, which further supports that he is the controlling one of the two of them; however, Misty totally misses it.

Why is Ronald so controlling over this situation if, (a) they are telling the truth, and (b) he is innocent? It is flat out inconsistent! If they were honest and truthful, he would have no reason to worry about Misty, but he clearly does!

Vieira: Then yesterday you guys got married, Ronald. Why was that an important thing for you to do?

Ronald: I don’t know. I think my little girl would have wanted it. I would have rather her to have been there, so obviously when we get her back (smirk), we will….do…a much larger, better wedding (super slight smirk), but we’re just…that’s just still (smirking) taking the focus off of (smiling) Haleigh (smile continues). We need to be focused on Haleigh (smile ceases abruptly) and not what I am focused on in my personal life.

Notice Misty keeps licking her lips? I wonder if because she is nervous, she is breathing more, and it is drying out her lips.

This segment is very telling about why Ronald married. If Misty was the reason, I would think he would talk about her first, but he doesn’t. It’s a strong indication there were other motives that Ronald doesn’t want to talk about.

I think we are seeing classic duper’s delight at this point when Cummings is talking about having a much better wedding when Haleigh returns. As soon as he thinks about himself again, his emotions change because he is frustrated that his privacy is invaded.

Vieira: Is there anything else you would like to say in case somebody is out there who might know something?

Ronald: Ummm…. if you (smirking) know something (looking up thinking), please call the crime stoppers….or….the….any local sheriff’s office…and….if my little girl is watching, baby, I love you.

Do you notice how Ron has to think to do what is important for his daughter? It’s mind-blowing! Notice how he doesn’t talk to the camera, that he only glances at it? This is indicative that he doesn’t believe she is out there listening. He also has no genuine inflection in his voice. He is monotone every time he talks to Haleigh. Why does he smirk again?

Vieira: And Misty as you sit here, do you believe in your heart that they see you as a suspect?

Misty: (very smug, perhaps a form of denial) No, I don’t. (notice the brief head swagger?)

Ronald: I don’t either (smirking). I talked to the lead detective. His name is John Merchant.

Vieira: And he said?

Ronald: (smirking) Nope, he doesn’t think that she is a suspect.

Ronald is arrogant in this interview, and feels a sense of joy, which I suspect is duper’s delight. Is that because he doesn’t believe the police are on to him now, and that he is getting away with it?

I do think Misty is the “key” to solving this case, because she depends heavily on Ronald, and Ronald is very volatile, if you want my opinion. If Ronald were to be put under more pressure, he could very likely become unpredictable and even dangerous, and police may know that, so hence Misty is their best shot at getting to the truth, if they can’t find Haleigh on their own.