Like most here, I know nothing more than what was seen on television. I am sure that there are more dynamics to this story than a 1 hour show can provide.
Here is what I do know, yet many seem to ignore, including Daniels family. Being an impartial thrid party - I am not emotionally involved. I am looking from the outside in and am able to base things on facts and logic as opposed to emotion - which can so easily cloud an issue.
That night BOTH parties contributed to the death of Daniel. That night was a chain of events that lead to a tragic ending. Had even one circumstance been changed, the night could have had a different outcome.
Daniel is dead but that does not absolve him of his responsility in the role that his chosen actions played in causing his death. Daniel himself could have changed the outcome. He could have gone inside. He could have refused to go outside to meet with her. So many things he could have done that could have prevented his death.
These were immature kids, rash, hotheaded and in a relationship that was emotionally overpowering for them. They both made mistakes that night. They both played a part in the outcome. Daniel is dead. Brandi is in prison. It is sad for both of them, but this is the end result of bad choices.
Sometimes when people die they suddenly obtain "sainthood" "no fault" status. That is unfortunate, as that is not reality. The reality is that Daniel is dead because of his bad choices. Brandi is in prison due to her bad choices. That is a fact. That is reality. That must be accepted and dealt with and until such a time that both families can accept this, there will be no healing, no moving forward. They will remain trapped in their anger and anguish. How tragic. How unnecessary.
