Topic : 03/16 Cheerleader Scandal

My heart goes out to both families involved, but, as always, I agree with Dr. Phil.  There will never be healing in either of these families until they are able to move past this awful situation.  Of course this doesn't mean that you forget, it just means that you continue to live as a productive member of society.   

I was most concerned about the mother of the boy that died.  I don't know whether Brandi is guilty or not, but I do feel strongly that the boy's mother is hurt so badly that she wants revenge.  I feel that because she had her son "taken" from her, she wants to take Brandi away from her family too.  It seems like a severe case of "an eye for an eye".  In other words, if her son has been taken, she's going to see to it that the other family is also going to lose a child. Because her son's life is gone, she's going to make sure that Brandi's life is gone.  I hope that she can heal and look past trying to get revenge. 

Ok I feel for both of the families, but there were somethings that did not add up in Brandi and her parent's story. First, Brandi's dad said that when she got home after the accident she got out of the car and fell to the ground crying and told them that she had hit Daniel. Brandi said that she did not remember hitting him until the police came to the house and 2am. Second, Brandi's dad claimed that as soon as she was taken into custody they started looking for a lawyer, but then her mom said that right after Brandi was taken into custody they retraced both Brandi & Daniel's stories. So which one did they do right after Brandi was taken into custody? 

Just wanted to introduce the possibility that the boy actually may have jumped in front of her car.  Dr. Phil said on the show that the "sane, not on drugs" kid jumped in front of the car as if that's something that no normal person would do. . . I think teenage boys do some pretty crazy things, and I say this because I once actually had a boyfriend LIE DOWN behind my car as it was parked in a space in order to prevent me from leaving.  I'm a sane and rational person, and I actually got into my car, started it, and sat there for about 5 minutes until he got up and yelled at me some more- thankfully I was in my locked car by this time!  Then I put the car in reverse and backed out slowly as he banged on my car- I thought for sure I might run over his foot or something- but thankfully I didn't.  If this was all going at 30 mph, though, the story might have been different.  This was on a weekday, in broad daylight, without drinking or drugs- occuring between two freshman college students who are "good kids."  I'm not trying to say that this proves somehow that she didn't know she hit him, or that she isn't liable for the accident. . . I'm just saying that sometimes young, sane boys can do things that will put their life in danger without thinking of the consequences.  I feel terrible for all the parties involved. 

I can't imagine how Daniel's family feels.  However I do know that neither family is on trial.  They will solve nothing blaming each other, Brandi chose to take the car, Brandi chose to go back when she could have just gone home.  I understand that everyone makes mistakes but I also know that life isn't a bowl full of cherries, Brandi will be out by the time she is 29.  She will have lost a great deal of her young life but she will have a life, I am not saying that I think she deserves to spend all that time in prison but you have to play the cards you are dealt.  Daniel will never get to be 29 and whether accident or not she played a part in his death.   

I know that the families blaming each other will not help any of them.  I was married for only 2 months when my 34 year old sister in law killed a young girl (19) because she was drinking and driving.  It was horrible for both families.  My husbands parents (not just his sister) were persecuted in the papers, in court, and on the news.  They were blamed for not getting her help; when they did try, serveral times before the accident, and were told she could only receive help if 1-she were causing pain to someone and 2-if she would agree to the help.  The families argued and fought my, sister in law has a twin sister, the other family thought that she (my sister in law) was released early and were trying to attack her.  The children of both families were paying the price 1-because their parents were so preoccupied they weren't receiving any parenting and 2-the children were attacking each other.  I know that I'm rambling on but when I watched this show today it took me right back. 

Nothing is going to bring Daniel back, Nothing.  The parents need to try to heel the wounds that are ruining the life's they have.  Both families need to stop blaming each other.  There is one person who is paying the price and it may not be exactly what either family wants but it is what will have to do.  Start remembering Daniel with love instead of remembering Daniel with hate.  As for Brandi's family repair yourselves and your son you will have your daughter home with you soon. 

I understand to an extent how Daniels family feels. I mean I am 20 years old and I have never lost a child, but I have lost a best friend. Two years ago my friend was murdered, the guys who murdered him did it intentionally, they only got 7 years. His family and all his friends KNOW justice wasn't served and its rough. Its hard to know that these guys only have 5 more years and they can run free. But I truely believe that Brandi didn't do this intentionally. I believe this was an accident. From what I saw on the show to me it seems like there was still some feelings there. 

I just hope that they can put this at peace. I know there is no forgive and forget. Trust me we will never forgive the guys who took my friend from us. But there is always the chance to move on and keep his spirit alive.   

You know..... at first I was unsure about this whole story. I do think daniels family is looking for revenge though and i feel its not the answer. I do think brandys sentance was unfare... I saw someone say rapist get off with littler time than this..... that is very true.... people who commit far worse crimes get less trouble.. do i think she should have gotten off free and clear NO i don't and even she said she deserved to pay for what she did. I don't know whats in her heart, I don't personally know her but I do think daniels family needs to somehow forgive otherwise they will live forever in pain.. who knows if she really did it or not ... none of us.. shes the only one who TRULY knows and she will live with it for the rest of her life... I just pray for both families and that they will learn to deal with this the best way they can 

i can't believe this man, sitting there complaing about how he's lost his daughter to daniel's mother! oh my gosh, brandi is still ALIVE!  he hasn't lost her!  they can still see her and they can still talk to her and she will get out of jail sometime, daniel is NEVER coming back! 

if he was soooo abusive to her then why didn't she report him? where are the pictures of her injuries? why would she go to his house that late?  i don't believe that. he just isn't here to defend himself so she is making that up. 

  if it really was an accident and she could prove it, they why sign a plea bargin?  she should have gone to trial then and shown her proof. cause it makes no sense that's why.  if it was an accident why did she leave?  shock??? bull. she was scared that's why she tried to cover it up with a tree. 

no matter what, at the end of the day, she took a life.  she needs to pay for that. and she did get a slap on the wrist.  she needs to sit there and think about what she did for the rest of her small sentence.  and her parents can rest easy cause she is alive. they need to quit yelling at daniel's family and just feel sorry and appoligize to them.  leave them alone and let them grieve.  you are just making this worse for them. 

i'm sorry for daniel's family, i wish you well and hope you are able to recover from this.  God Bless you~ 

Today, my mother and I sat down to watch the show promptly at 3:00.  Once we realized what we were watching we became more and more emotional.  I would really just like to say thank you for airing this topic on your show because Daniel's situation is almost exactly like my older brothers.  As my mom and i were watching, we started crying and wondered if the other family was watching Dr.Phil also.  There are so many similarities between Daniel's case and my older brother's from the lack of evidence, problems with the other family, and the legal issues concerning the judge and our lawyer.  Hopefully, because of your show, more people will realize that not everybody behind bars is a criminal and i really appreciated the time you took to touch on this subject. 

Thank you 

Desirae