Topic : 03/16 Cheerleader Scandal

It is my understanding that putting a person away in prison is to either a) rehabilitate them, or b) put them away because they cannot be rehabilitated and of course for punishment.  I am amazed at this situation.  It is abundantly clear this young woman is extremely remorseful for her actions.  Would she truly be a danger to the public if let out after serving 3 1/2 years?  While my heart goes out to the young man's family, I believe they are only wanting revenge.  They are harboring so very much hate, it is truly destroying them.  Hate is like acid, it destroys the vessel in which it lives.  I have worked in the penal system in Dallas, Texas and I believe if we put young people in prison for life just because we hate them for what they did, the jails would spill over.  I watched that young lady as she spoke to Dr. Phil.  I believe what she is saying.  It is sad the revenge is killing the boy's family just as surely as the young man is dead.  What a sad, sad show. 

I just watched the evening show of the Cheerleader Scandal.  Many thought are running through my mind, however I feel very sorry for both families.  It is sad. 

What really needs to be known here is we all need to sit back and think back to our lives as teenagers.  We thought we were non-destructible.  Nothing was ever going to happen to us and this thought process continued throughout until we "grew up".  I do not think she did it intentionally, and I do not think that he jumped  out without a thought process in the back of his mind: "she'll stop", "No way will she hit me..."  and then his last thought was OMG how can I get out of the way she isn't stopping"  She probably didn't realize that she hit him due to her own thinking process of "he'll move"...."  I can swerve"  and then afterwords she was in denial.  There is NO telling what they were thinking, but  when we are so engorged with anger, rationality isn't priority.  I think this was a two part accident and both are paying. 

I feel sorry for his family because they want her to pay for their pain, they want SOMEBODY to pay.  Unless they forgive they will never heal, NEVER.  There are other family members ALIVE that don't need to die also.   

It is apparent that his family didn't have that great of alife style, and I guess they are thinking that IF he were alive they could have that "one more chance".  True they will miss out on his would have been future, but there are other children here that can provide was he isn't' able to.  Who's to say Brandi's life will be fruitful?  she may never be able to just  go on about her life like they think, she too will be etternally affected. 

First of all, I do understand loosing a child, I lost my first born son when he was three years old by a longtime friend well, at least suppose to be a friend.  I understand what it is like but you can't just hold on to that anger and burden yourself with what you lost for the rest of your life because it can harm you.  I thank God for helping me with the loss of my son because without me forgiving and God's help and my father i would probably be like the victim's parents.  On the accuser side now, she was just a child and we have all made mistakes at our younger age and nobody can say whether she did that on purpose or not and i understand the parents of the deceased needing someone to blame as far as murder but i don't believe it was murder, I believe it was an accident and she didn't mean to do that and yeah, she made a pretty bad mistake of leaving the scene but that doesn't make her murderer, she just made a mistake and she is paying for that mistake right now.  She was 17 and she wasn't even thinking, the only thing on her mind was getting that car home because she had snuck out with her parents car without permission and she was more afraid of what her parents were going to do about that than worrying about the bigger problem of hittling her boyfriend with the car and who is to say that if we were in that situation we would have done the logical thing either.  Everybody in this world is so quick to judge and not give people chances in this life.  Everybody has to answer to God when this life is over and nobody has the right to judge anybody and I think that the victims parents are judging and hurt and going for revenge and that is not going to bring their son back.  I could have done the same thing about my son and believe me I wanted to kill for a longtime but I had to realize that God was going to do more damage than I ever would and I had to rely on God to take that pain away for me.  I understand both sides and I pray for both families but especially for the victims family because it seems like they have a long way to go especially the mother and daughter, they seem very angry with somebody and seems to me that they really don't know the facts yet and haven't even tried to consider that it might have been an accident.  That's not Good. 

Hi Dr.Phil, 

Thank you for allowing public comments on this most disturbing show.  I watch them all, have successfully done your weight loss program, and admire your ability to get at the root of some very hard life issues.  I am compelled to write in as I feel strongly about this girl's innocence.  I don't understand why this boy's abusive behavior in the relationship was not brought to light more and investigated in light of the accident. There must have been people that witnessed his abusive behavior.  As well that behavior could very well have brought on the erratic compulsion to jump in front of her car. As you well know abusers are control freaks and there are many stories of what men or women will do to keep that control over their mate. I sincerely hope this is not the end of this story.  I have a son in Law school at the University of Houston 3rd year top 10% of his class.  He starts with Wile Gotchel in 09/2006.  I little too pre-mature to ask for his help.  You on the other hand also have a lawyer for a son & I am sure you must be reviewing this with him.  I sincerely hope there is something more can be done about this case as it really does not appear that justice has been served. Please let me know if there is anything more that can be done. 

Thank You, 

Leslie

I saw the show and I see & feel the pain from both sides of the family. I can only pray that they have God in their lives. GOD is the only one who can heal their pain and fill the void in their hearts.  

I know it is difficult to lose a child, I myself have not lost a child to death but have lost a nephew in a car accident at the age of 18. I have also experienced and lost 2 long years of my sons life to prison. I do know the pain Brandi and Daniel's mother's are going through.  

I believe Brandi is paying the pently for the ACCIDENT. I believe that things and accident's happen for a reason. We need to look beyond and learn from them.  

From what I saw on the show it seems to me that Daniel's mother is a very angry and unforgiving person. It looks like she is passing that on to her daughter as well.  I pray that she can give her heart the the Lord and lean to forgive before it kills her & causes more pain to her family.  

Daniel's sister stated on TV that there will never be forgiviness. I pray for her. She needs God in her life to help her through this most difficult time.  

Don't everybody know that once we leave this life here on earth that we go on to live a greater life in Heaven with Our Lord Jesus Christ as long as we believe in him?? 

Come on People. Love one another and FORGIVE just as we have been forgiven.     

I am terribly sorry to both families. My heart goes out to both sides. Now I am not going to be one of those people on here who says Brandi did it on purpose or not. None of us were there and stories always get miscontrued by both parties. Both sides have some truth and both have some parts that they "think" to be true because neither side can believe their son and daughter could be put in this type of circumstance. What is most important here either way is a. that daniel was killed and whenever any person dies whether their fault or not its always a horrible tragedy for those that loved the person. b. that both families start taking care of each other. The problems that have occured to each member of both sides of the family are so sad. The members of Brandi's family are seperating themselves from each and isolating themselves.. when they should be holding on to each other and being there for one another. This would result in less health problems for each of them. As well as and probably more so for Daniels family. They need to stick by each other. Yes its sad that they lost their son, but they cannot loose each other. Daniel's family has now unfortuantly experienced the lost of a close loved one. If they start drifting apart... what will happen if (heaven forbid) but something was to happen to another member of their family and they arent as close any more. Families need to keep together through times of tragidy. It keeps from letting someone slip through the cracks and having something very horrible possibly happen. Also, I understand as much as someone who isnt involved could possibly understand, that right now the wounds are still deep and each side can still feel the pain as if it were to just have happened yesterday. But someday, it would be nice if both sides could let go of the anger and let go of the harsh comments. We are all people, we all make mistakes. Life is too short , as both families have seen, to be filled with so much anger our whole lives. I know I dont know Daniel, but I am assuming he wants nothing for his family just to be happy. I know I would. If I was in his position I would want my family to fight for my creditblity, but at the same time try to be able to move on and not cry and be mad anymore, but remember the life when I was there and be happy for the time that they had gotten to spend with me.I wouldn't want my family getting so upset that they were making themsevles sick. A quote that is good here would be " When we loose someone we love, we gain a permant angle" Daniel is there and looking over his family and friends. I'm sure he wants nothing best for everyone. As for Brandi's family, it isnt going to bring her home any sooner by having her family split apart, having her mom on meds, and her brother disrepecting authority. She is somewhere that she can't help any of her family and that probably is eating her up. I know it would to me. So just like I suggested to Daniel's family, Brandi's family should come toghether and be there for each other. Brandi's family needs to also realise that they have two chilidren and that there son needs them just as much if not more then Brandi right now.  

Both sides have experienced the loss of a young person and that is never easy. It's never easy loosing anyone you love regardless of the age. Therefor both sides should make each day worth while and love each person in their life as much as they can. Live their lives as their son and daughter would want them to. And as much as each side doesn't like the other, they should be a little kinder with their words. Stop attacking one another. I know there is anger but we only get one life to live. Live it with love and happiness as tough as that is...  

I don't deny for a second that it isn't always easy to be a kid and yes it is hard when a lie starts to snowball.  

One of the most disturbing things is the way she went about it. Ok, I won't go into debate whether she did murder him on purpose or not, because yes it can take only a split second for an event to change your whole life, but I  cannot  comprehend that someone can even come up with such a cover up lie (branch), I aknowledge the fact that in desperation people can do anything, but this is not a petty crime, and if 'saving face' is the case why come on national tv after a long period. Wouldn't it have been better to stay clear and let time fade the crime?