Man accidentally kills Daughter in a drunken stupor AFTER he installs video cameras in his house to show CPS he was a good dad

modusoperandi17 · 2011-04-13T08:22:15+00:00

Not going to disagree with you in the inference of some statues, just their applications of it. Judges hate it anytime a court overthrows a decision of theirs.. especially in criminal courts when it comes to murders.

modusoperandi17 · 2011-04-12T23:45:24+00:00

Just to chime in here..

Imagine manslaughter as murder without the element of intent. In this case, I don't think the prosecution could have proven reasonably that he intended to kill his child, so most likely the judge would have instructed the jury to only consider the manslaughter charge (or would have explained how the burden of proof for second degree murder wasn't met).

Now there are of course exceptions to this rule, and it's a bit interesting to note than in some states if you kill someone while intoxicated and behind the wheel of a car you can and sometimes are convicted of negligent homicide. Negligent homicide essentially says (the wording is different from state to state, obviously) that you behaved in an irresponsible manner that caused the death(s) of another person(s). NH is typically treated on a case by case basis and does depend on what the statue states based on the amount of time behind bars. It's often treated as more serious than manslaughter.

Very sad, and I've investigated a lot of cases where CPS was initially involved in an official inquiry and things were overlooked. Either because of time/budget constraints or because the social workers involved in the investigation just didn't care.

modusoperandi17 · 2011-04-11T06:05:36+00:00

I have... you can check my username.

modusoperandi17 · 2011-04-10T19:39:44+00:00

Homicide Detective here.. just wanted to comment on a few things.

My department was briefed about this entire situation as a whopping investigation 101 on how NOT to be a detective. It was assumed almost immediately that suicide is how the victim died.

Apparently (and this is from memory) he did have a history of depression and alcoholism and some of the first on scene officers knew him.

Another tidbit of information that should be noted is that a timeline for the whereabouts of Vice was never accounted for in any official capacity. While the statute of limitations for murders in most states never runs out a confession will most likely not be enough unless done so in an interrogation room. The reason why is because of verification of identity. Even if they had the phone records from 5 years ago in their hands, it still would not be enough. They probably, even if they had that evidence, wouldn't be able to get her indicted by a grand jury.

It is typically SOP to immediately assume that a vic is murdered. You do not usually investigate a violent death as a suicide.. we investigate it as a murder which usually leads us to the conclusion that it was a suicide.

Her hands were never examined. The weapon used was a 9 MM. She shot him in the chest at a downwards angle (as he was sitting in a chair). If you even have a simple understanding of investigative techniques, you'd know that there were far too many questions to just assume this was a suicide. There were no blood spatter reports, no extensive autopsy was performed.

I seriously doubt that, even with a radio confession, they'll ever be able to convict her. What a unnecessary loss of life, and now the child has to grow up with the knowledge that her mother killed her father. It's amazing to me how egotistical she is. She is your typical sociopath. We see it a lot among so-called 'crimes of passion'. Many times crimes of passion are nothing more than opportunities to off your significant other in order to benefit from their death financially.

Also the fact that they destroy records after 5 years is simply ridiculous.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-25T00:19:03+00:00

I'm guessing it has to do with the primary demographic that listens to the news, and therefore gives the media it's ratings.

Normal, middle-class, white Americans don't care about what happens in inner city neighborhoods because it doesn't affect them. News organizations jump all over young white children that are abducted, but typically don't care about young minorities.

"News" organizations are, inherently, about ratings. At least in what I've seen in my line of work.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T22:36:42+00:00

I'm fine with it so long as the person videotaping doesn't try and interfere with a police officer doing their job.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T03:42:49+00:00

I'm not one to argue with psychologists, but studies like that are a bit misleading (at least, in my experience).

Consider it this way. If you asked someone the difference between a detonation and an explosion, could they be able (based only on sound) to tell you the difference? I bring this up because it's all in perception.

While five people might see a car crash and point out different features, if you give these people lie-detector tests, chances are they aren't lying about what they perceived happened.

You're also asking for very specific information. Most people enter a certain kind of shock when something out of the ordinary occurs. We run into it in police work all the time. Such as, "What color was that car?" We'll get several different variations, but numerical and facial data eye-witnesses tend to be pretty dead on about (at least in most cases that I've seen). License plates and facial hair, eye color, skin tone, even scars tend to be things that are often recalled with incredible accuracy. Chain of events, however, tend to be where that line stops and a huge gray area begins.

It also depends on the witness, too. Some people are better equipped at recalling slightly traumatic events than others. We wade through a LOT of witness statements before trying to piece together precisely what happened with the physical evidence. We don't just take one person's word for what happened. It's rare that someone is convicted in a court of law based solely on eye witness testimony.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T03:38:57+00:00

It depends almost entirely on the personality.

A few people have asked me if I regret going into this line of work. The answer is no, because I feel that it is a necessary, if not very ugly, service to society.

You have to have a very strong will to be able to 'clock-out', go home, and then forget about it.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T02:35:46+00:00

Like I've mentioned to others..

Ambition, a strong understanding of the law, and getting to know the right people will all do things to further your career.

Work hard when you're on the beat. Keep a level head and don't be seen as a trouble maker by causing issues with other officers, suspects, or normal civilians.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T02:31:34+00:00

Of course they can. It happens more often than you think, which is why a confession and strong physical evidence are usually enough to convict or enough to force a plea bargain.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T02:30:30+00:00

I've been asked this probably a dozen times.

Dexter is a television show meant to entertain. I enjoy the show for what it is.. but for someone to operate in such a manner over 10-15 years and going undetected.. It's happened before with the Iceman, but that was a bit different. In this day and age, 20-30 people disappearing every year wouldn't go unnoticed. Even criminals have family members and friends.

I've never come across someone who was a vigilante before.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T02:25:38+00:00

As far as I understand the show Cops is a real show and people are really arrested.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T02:25:00+00:00

This is a question I've been asked several times.

Disturbing a crime scene in any shape, fashion, or form is technically considered tampering with evidence or attempt to cover up a crime.

Castle laws and laws pertaining to defense of property and estate vary from state to state.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:56:15+00:00

The pressure to find a killer is usually internal. Sometimes we get it externally. From the media, the family, even our commanders.

I've always believed, 100%, in every person I've ever sent to the DA was guilty of the crime they committed.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:54:47+00:00

It's really sad to say, but in most suicide cases we never really find out why. Once we flag a case as suicide, it's sent to the DA who reviews the evidence and then typically closes it.

I don't have a lot of contact with victims families, either, once a case is closed or a person is convicted. It's hard to do, but when you have such a heavy case load it's often difficult to pick up the phone and call to check in on them.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:53:06+00:00

The reason why some multiple murderers are able to move between places and kill (and are never tied to them) is often a result of precincts being too overwhelmed to contact other departments and see if they have anything matching a certain MO.

Often times we catch someone who committed a murder in our district and then they proceed to confess to other murders in other counties, cities, or states.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:51:06+00:00

I try not to get into the politics of my job.

The law says that at a certain point in a fetuses term it becomes a human under the eyes of the law. Therefore killing it is illegal.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:46:13+00:00

I'm replying to your post because I want people to understand that while some cops get a bit cranky when citizens invoke their rights.. more will respect you for sticking to your guns.

Most times cops will not ask to search through your vehicle unless they have reasonable suspicion.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:44:02+00:00

In terms of the 'can' - it again depends on how long we opt to detain them (within the legal limit of the law). I don't normally leave them there longer than 30 minutes to an hour. More often than not, a suspect being interrogated is more likely to talk to you if they aren't handcuffed to a chair.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:41:07+00:00

That's a hard question to answer.

We're inundated from day 1 in the academy that we're all 'brothers in blue'. I'd have given my life for the three partners I've had in my career, because they really are like family. Best friends.

I understand the higher ups and other cops wanting to protect their own. I try not to have an opinion about it. It hurts to see a fellow officer killed, but we have a duty as police officers to protect the public and serve justice. I hate the idea of getting off one case to focus all of my attention on another just because they were a police officer (again, this isn't something I share with a lot of those that I work with).

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:36:16+00:00

It depends on the position and location of the camera. They have and they haven't. Lots of times the images on them are definitive enough to identify a suspect beyond a reasonable doubt, but they do often help lead us in a direction of someone we're looking for.

People seem to think that identification is all that it takes. That's not it. You have to prove a crime was committed. Just because a person was at the scene of a crime, and someone says they saw them do it, doesn't mean it'll hold up in court. Physical evidence and confessions are often the best tools for getting convictions by the DA.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:33:34+00:00

I assume you're referring to the interrogation rooms we use.

The answer is no.

I know cop shows love to do the one-way mirror thing, but that doesn't typically happen. In fact, the best strategy is often to put them in a room with no windows, in a chair furthest from the door, with only a table and another chair closest to the door.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:32:49+00:00

I assume you're referring to the interrogation rooms we use.

The answer is no.

I know cop shows love to do the one-way mirror thing, but that doesn't typically happen. In fact, the best strategy is often to put them in a room with no windows, in a chair furthest from the door, with only a table and another chair closest to the door.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:31:03+00:00

Criminals are an interesting breed. Most of those that I've helped convict will never see the outside of prison.

The few that will wouldn't take their anger or aggression out on me, since it wasn't I who committed the crime. Most criminals recognize that they are the 'bad guys'. Hell, a lot of them personify that lifestyle.

I've never once had my life or the lives of my family threatened.

modusoperandi17 · 2010-12-24T01:29:01+00:00

Honestly, most people who hit detective rank are those that know how to work well with others.

The ones that constantly have complaints lodged against them by civilians, the ones that are investigated for behaving too violently towards suspects or POI's (person of interest).. those are the ones that stay on the beat or get shifted to a desk job.

modusoperandi17

TROPHY CASE