Quote From: jameslewis I am surprised to see both sets of parents so upset for such a long period after the fact. I have lived through both of my two adopted sons many trips to jail, the suicide of one of them, and now the chronic disability of Schizophrenia of the other. These parents are totally self-absorbed in their grief, giving them a life long reason to feel sorry for themselves and focus their blame outwards. Not only have they managed to not deal with their grief, but are using it to explain their inactivity, lack of action, and the failure to act as adults and responsible parents. Frankly, I think they are thankful they have an excuse to act as lousy parents to their remaining children, filling them with hate, self-loathing, and useless anger, so that these children can carry on the legacy of their parents. I have little more than disdain for the parents. Not only will the lives of Brandi and Daniel be destroyed, but the action, or I should say inaction, of the parents will seal the fate of their remaining children.
Both sets of parents need serious counselling for an extended period of time.
I don't have firsthand knowledge, but it seems that Daniel's family was moving on and, if not happy, were at least coping until Brandi's family brought this back to the front burner of their life by going on national TV to tell the world about their little girl who was being unfairly incarcerated. As victims of crime, at least in Ohio, they'll be notified every time Brandi has a parole hearing and it's their right to attend and, if they so choose, to voice their opinion that she not be paroled. They don't get the final say in the matter. Brandi would have probably undergone a psychiatric evaluation when she entered the DOC, the outcome of which along with the inmate's ability to acknowledge what they've done wrong, usually plays a large part in the parole board's decision. Brandi said her attorney told her to take the plea bargain because it was the only thing to do if she didn't want to spend the rest of her life in jail. HE apparently didn't think Brandi would win at trial.
There seems to actually be more dysfunction in Brandi's family - it's just hidden under a cloak of respectability. Brandi says her mom is the stongest woman she knows, yet she's experiencing all kinds of physical disabiilty that she ascribes to her mental stress over Brandi. Dad blames himself for not waking up. The brother could only ever talk to Brandi and is now lost without her...even though he says he talks to her nearly every day which I find odd given that she's incarcerated. A teenager who was an A student now pulling F's and is sleeping with toy weapons under his pillow to feel "safe"?? I REALLY hope that family is in ongoing counseling.
(Original Air Date: 10/13/05) In a heartbeat, your entire life can change. No one knows this better than the families of Brandi and Daniel. Seventeen-year-old Brandi was a cheerleader, an excellent student and an all-American girl. She was in love with athletic 18-year old Daniel. Now he’s dead and she finds herself behind bars serving a 12-year sentence, all because of what happened in just a split second. Was it murder or simply a horrific accident? Hear members of both families describe how the tragedy unfolded, and the struggle to put together the pieces of their shattered lives. Plus, Dr. Phil visits Brandi in prison to ask some very hard questions. She has an emotional message for Daniel's mother -- and for Daniel. Talk about the show here.
