Three Year Blog Anniversary

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This week represents my three year blog anniversary (and my thirteenth wedding anniversary). Woohoo! I did it!

I have blogged about hot topics in the news for three years now sharing what I saw as the truth before the truth was known, and I have hit bulls-eye every time during the past three years (from what we know to date).

Oiy, that’s a bit daunting to write!

Read more Okay, I’ll admit it, I feel a natural instinctual desire to get up and run from from my desk after writing that. That’s a hard milestone to beat (gulp)! Writing that makes my heart pound. Yes, it is emotional for me. It freaks me out just a bit yet I am very proud.

I knew I could read people really well, but I never imagined I could be this accurate. I try not to think about it as it is overwhelming at times, and that overwhelming feeling starts to shut me down. I don’t want to go there! I shall forge ahead bravely…

I do expect to be wrong once and a while — please know that. If anything, it will show I am human and not machine. Right?

In the Wizard’s Project (scientific research project), in which I participated, no wizard (me included) was 100% accurate. In my personal life (off line), I do miss the mark — I want you to know that –though it is uncommon. I don’t want there to be any secrets!

Wizards are at least 80% accurate,
but no wizard is 100%.


I have never promised anyone I am flawless. Good, yes! Flawless, no!

Will you remember that when I miss the mark online one day? Will people be forgiving, or judge me harshly on one error? Scary thoughts!

During the last three years, I have had the honor to meet some exceptional people through my blog — people who have been inspirational to me. Thank you to all of you who have reached out to get to know me and share a part of yourselves.

When you write about people on the web today, you have a broad reaching audience. It is very likely the people you write about will read what you have to say. While I haven’t heard from any of the people suspected or convicted of a crime, I have heard from several homicide investigators, victims, family members and friends of victims. Plus, I’ve been introduced to some exceptional people who practice medicine, law and teach at universities — around the globe.

It has been the victims, family members and friends that have really inspired me through their feedback to keep going. They encourage me during difficult times in their lives to keep fighting for justice for all those who are unable.

Many thanks to my faithful readers!!

Kate McCann’s Emotional Interview

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I have been asked by one of my readers to review the latest interview of Kate and Gerry McCann given to a Portuguese reporter in the past week and shown here on Sky News in the UK.

When I watch the interview, I do not see anything that alerts me to the fact the McCanns are being deceptive. Do know I watch each and every video with an open mind, and I am willing to change my stance should I see any indications of deception. However, I just don’t see any evidence let alone suspicious red flags in the McCann’s behavior to support otherwise nor have I from day one.

To the contrary, I see many indications that Kate and Gerry are authentic and genuine. Their emotions, facial expressions and reactions are normal and consistent with what they have been through. If I get some free time, perhaps I will write up the expressions I see that support honesty.

Read moreI also don’t see Kate’s expressions much differently than in her other interviews. Yes, she shows slightly more emotion, but I wouldn’t personally say it was notable.

What surprises me the absolute MOST in this case is how people have not gotten mad at the Portuguese authorities for mucking up this investigation so bad. Why don’t we have critical articles and posts written all over the internet about them?

Nor have people gotten mad at the media for reporting every ridiculous, crazy rumor that has come forth. Since when is it the media’s job to report every rumor that circulates? That is where I believe the questions and the outrage need to be, but for some strange reason that has never properly developed.

If anything, the behavior the Portuguese police and media should give people pause, and perhaps a renewed interest to reconsider the McCanns as innocent people.

Instead, I see people holding on fast and furious to their emotional belief the McCanns are guilty without looking at anything that has developed around them. That flat amazes me, but I understand why. Emotions are powerful blinders to the truth.

Psychogenic (si-ko-JEN-ik) Seizure

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As many of you know, the situation that is brewing in Indiana has kept my attention because there are a lot of strange events going on.

I was looking to see if any news came out this morning and I found this article which I think is interesting. The odds are getting more and more unusual day-by-day. In the article, it says:

…Dr. Kelley Parnell, a Richmond neurologist who published a detailed study on psychogenic or pseudo seizures in the Journal of Neurology in 1999 while completing an internal medicine internship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said Wednesday she’s never heard of the ailment causing death.

There is a very slight chance of death in an epileptic seizure, but ‘it is so rare,’ she said.

‘There may be some data on (death caused by psychogenic seizure) but I’ve never heard of it,’ she said.

Hmmmm… Anyone else find things to be strange?

A Baffling Mystery

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If there was every to be a strange and baffling mystery going on in the here and now, it would have to be the case of the two young Indiana sisters who ended up dead less than a week apart earlier this year. I’ve written about it before here.

The two sisters, Erin (19) and Kelly (18) Stanley, were young, vibrant and healthy. Yet sadly, on September 1, 2007, Erin’s body was found lifeless at her family home by her boyfriend in the middle of the night. Erin and her boyfriend, James McFarland, had just recently moved home to her family’s house with their young daughter.

At first, police didn’t release any details. Then, rumor abounded that Erin died of strangulation — which the police later confirmed.

When Erin’s sister, Kelly, ended up dead six days later, it was widely reported that she, too, died from homicide, and again, indications were that it was from strangulation as well. Obviously, there was a murderer among them.

Read more
As reported by the Palladium-Item, “The affidavit for the search warrant said that both deaths appeared to be caused by “similar action on the part of another party.“

During all of this, I looked to see if I could find any red flags. The only thing I could find to review was the 911 call made by the girls’ mother, Lonny Stanley.

Lonny Stanley’s behavior was strange during the 911 call. It was odd, and the first thing I questioned was if the mother was on drugs, because her behavior was not normal. She acted weird and strangely disconnected.

I wrote this story on Crimeblog.US., which has now moved and been renamed to TrueCrimeWeblog.com. With that, while the post is up, the comments have not been transferred by the site editor over to the new site. However, I do have a copy of what I wrote on September 23:

I heard a segment of the 911 tape here:
http://www.wishtv.com/global/story.asp?s=7086963

I found the mom’s behavior exceptionally STRANGE!! Something isn’t right here.

Why isn’t this mother concerned?!!!! Is she high as a kite on drugs? You sure do wonder, because her reactions aren’t normal.

911 SNIPPET:

“Is she breathing,” the operator asked.

“I don’t know. Is she breathing, dad? …She’s trying,” Mrs. Stanley said.

This is just WEIRD! It was like she was asking if there was tea or coffee being served — not if her daughter was facing life or death!!

I’d like to hear more of this, and the other 911 call.

On September 25th, here is an excerpt of another comment I wrote:

But when I listen to the entire 911 call, there are inconsistencies that cannot be ignored. Emerson, you are right on the money, and I completely concur!

When a child is near death, either the mother is right there doing all she can, or she is in hysterics because she can’t cope—in another room, unable to deal with it. I’ll accept either, but I can’t accept this middle ground of running to and from, yet offering no help. It does not fit.

I also find it extremely odd how she conveniently finds time to pick up the cell phone when the EMT arrives, but didn’t find it important enough to grab it when her daughter was in the throes of death. There (sic) This is a huge red flag. The only thing that makes sense here is when the EMT got there, she wanted to see if they were going to revive her daughter. She didn’t seem to care to help her when her daughter needed it most, but she sure was curious if someone else was going to help her. This gives me the creeps!!!

And it still does give me the creeps. If we knew that Lonny Stanley was on drugs or medication, it could explain her strange behavior. I could at least live with the fact she was subdued and not thinking clearly, but we do not know this for sure. So, for me, it will remain a big red flag.

Then on October 2, 2007, I wrote the following in the comments section (which is not online at this time):

Apparently, James McFarland is making statements (to the media?) stating his innocence.

http://tinyurl.com/2r5uzf

I looked around hoping to find video of him, but I haven’t been able to.

From what the media has quoted, nothing raises my suspicion, but without reading an entire transcript, it’s not conclusive in any way.

Next, on October 10, news came out that Erin’s boyfriend, James McFarland, who openly admitted to finding her unresponsive, was arrested and charged with her murder. While I found that odd, it could be plausible, but how would that explain the fact that Kelly ended up dead six days later?? After Erin’s death, James McFarland moved out of the house. Did he break back in, do they have the wrong suspect, or did something else happen?

I was waiting and wondering what would develop when I saw more news come out about Lonny Stanley again that raised the hairs on my neck. On October 11, police release a few more details of the case, and a comment made by Lonny stopped me dead in my tracks again (in bold below). I wrote about it here:

“Lonny Stanley…called for an ambulance for Erin about 5:15 a.m. Sept. 1. Although she suggested during the 911 call that her daughter was still trying to breathe, court documents filed Wednesday indicate Stanley likely was dead before a police officer arrived.

Lonny Stanley later told investigators that “was more of a hope than an observation,” according to a probable cause affidavit.” Indy Star

This statement is flat out STRANGE again. It’s odd, and it is not normal whatsoever. Either Lonny couldn’t cope or she could, but she keeps playing this middle ground and waffling, which people don’t do in situations like this. In high-stress environments, people tend to be very black and white. Her behaviors are not–they are gray and inconsistent–that is all I can say. I am not comfortable with them.

With all of the news that has broken, I have not seen anywhere where the Stanleys have come forward and spoken about their daughters’ deaths. I would find it valuable to see them speak, as they leave me with lots of questions.

And now, yesterday, more news has developed. According to the coroner, the second sister’s death is being ruled death by natural causes. Apparently, they are saying she died of a stress-induced seizure, or a psychogenic seizure (what are the odds?). Just a few weeks ago, reports were suggesting that she died of homicide (see above).

This is one mystery to say the least. The odds are very unusual here — one-in-a-million — or higher, and while freaky things happen, until I see James McFarland and Lonny Stanley speak, I won’t be at peace.

Update February 2009:
http://eyesforlies.blogspot.com/2009/02/stanley-sisters-mystery-update.html

Are you truly living?

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Randy Pausch is one incredible human being and every person should hear Randy’s “Last Lecture”. Yes, that includes you!

His messages are fabulous. I think he is a wake up call to so many of us. So many people live life checked-out and he, who is dying, gives us an incredible message on how to live. I love every one of his life messages.

Are YOU truly living?

“We can’t change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” — Randy Pausch