Topic : 03/16 Cheerleader Scandal

I watched the show today on Daniel and Brandi and I was immediately struck by how defensive Brandi's family is about her involvement in Daniel's death.  Whether she meant to or not, she did kill him.  There's no getting around that fact.  They almost act like she did nothing wrong.  To expect her to serve four months in jail for the death of another human being to me is unreasonable.  I would only expect a light sentence like that if it were self defense or something close to that.  But that is an entirely different show.   She did not have to go over to his house to return his things.  She could have had her father take them to him or ask his father, mother , sister  or brother to come and pick them up from her.  I'm not saying that she killed him on purpose, I am saying that they (Brandi and her family) need to acknowledge the fact that a young man is dead and she is responsible.   

I quote from a book called "Bully" by Jim Schutze about a group of young people that killed one of their supposed friends.  While not quite the same thing as this case, the final page of the book says a lot.  "At each if their sentencings, the same scene was repeated:  In the dark hurly burly of the corridor outside Judge Greene's courtroom, in the middle of a crowd of people rushing to and from other trials in other courtrooms, the adult relatives of the defendants gathered and spoke to the small cluster of media representatives covering the Kent case.  In almost every case, they shrieked that the sentences were unfair.  "He wasn't the only one," Marty Puccio's grandmother cried.  "She's innocent," one of Lisa Connelly's relatives said.  "She made a mistake, that's all."  Ali Willis's stepfather said, "She was a dumb kid who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. 

They did not say this:  My child is a murderer.  I am sick with shame.  When I think of what my child did to another human being, I want to die myself. 

No one said that.  Not one person." 

As I said before, I don't know that Brandi is a murderer.  I don't know that she killed him on purpose.  But she did kill him.  And while she and her family are bemoaning the fact of her imprisonment, and they should because I am sure that being in prison is hard, Daniel is dead.   

His family has a greater burden to accept.  Brandi will get to live past her mistake and her life will go on, not as if nothing has happened, of course, but it will go on.  Daniel is dead. 

The Cheerleader scandal isn't even a complete show until you answer the questions raised by the double shuffle involving Brandi's attorneys. Did the JUDGE really have anything to do with the withdrwal of the first lawyer? Was the second attorney totally inept and incompetent? Didn't he explain all aspects of the plea bargain as it was offered and/or later altered? Did he actually change the key word "recklessly" to "intentionally" shortly before the plea hearing? Did he explain the vast difference between these two words? Did your producers try to interview the judge and the attorneys involved? The audience needs some clarification!!!! 

ok did anybody think for a inute that he did not want her to leave him...  he threatened to kill her, her brother even hurt himself each time she wanted to leave him...   i don't think he wanted to die but he wanted her to be stuck with him forever...  it looks likes he got what he wanted...  now she'll be haunted by him for the rest of her life...  good plan man! 

ok for the boys mother...  she wouldn't know the truth if it it her in her face...  i can't even imagine her pain, but i don't believe in revange and hate...  and dissing the young girls mother...  SO UNCOOL!!!  IMATURE!!   

For starters, I feel that Brandi's parents were accurate in saying Sheila is out for revenge. And, to go a step further, she's rationalizing this revenge with the loss of her son. I don't think her son would want this for his family or for Brandi and her family. Sheila, if your reading this, stop letting your pain and sence of loss cloud your judgement of the issue. What would you do if your surviving daughter were to hit someone in the street tomarrow. Would you lock her behind bars. Jail is meant to be a place to put criminals, that are a danger to the general public, where they can't hurt anyone else... I am a scary judge of character. And just from the little bit I saw of Brandi on the show, I can tell you that regardless of her intent at the time, she was a kid who made a mistake. A mistake that even without jail time, will follow her for the rest of her life. You are a person who is filled with hate and revenge, and it is not your place in this world to cast judgement on this girl. In my oppinion, you have done a far worse injustice by condemning Brandi AND her family for an addolesent mistake. No matter how great a mistake it may have been. 

The right thing to do in this situation. The moral and just thing to do. Would be for you to let go of your hatered (that I honestly think spawned long before the loss of your son) and forgive Brandi for what happened. You know damn well that your son would agree. I think you should be the one to file the appeal to get Brandi released. She's payed for her mistake. And will continue to pay for it for decades to come. 

Sheila, if you would like to contact me via E-Mail, my address is in my profile. I want you to know that I am not judgeing you for your actions, and also understand your position on this. I'm just saying that there comes a time when you have to face the facts. It's done. It can't be changed. And, keeping Brandi in jail isn't going to bring you son back or take away your pain. The sooner you realize that the pain you feel is only going to lessen (not disappear)  is when you come to terms with his death. You'll probly be suprized to find that forgiveing Brandi, and talking to her about what happened will help tremendously in your recovery from this. You need to get a grip on your emmotions and see that it's not Brandi that's making you hurt. It's your loss. And, it's your own regrets of what could have been. 

Sincerely, 

Joshua

I agree that the statements made by Daniel's mother and sister  were not appropriate.  They sound defensive statements rather than explanations.  It was shocking to see the rage the two women displayed towards Brandi and her family.  Knowing that anger and guilt are VERY close emotions it makes one rather vote in favor of Brandi and her side of the story.  Presentation is everything!  

I think that the out and out dismissal of abuse charges due to lack of visible evidence is absurd.  It is a reaction of defense that one takes when abuse is certain but not evident.  How can Daniel's mother state with assurance, her son's actions and behaviors when he did not live with her.  When she did not interact with him on a daily basis.  When she was not being a mother to him.  This is where her guilt lies and why she is so defensive.  

I feel for the loss of both families and believe in Brandi and her family.  It is a shame that the facts cannot be fully disclosed due to time.  We were only shown the 'highlights'.  Items to peak and keep our interest.  Of those, I decide accident.  

watching the dr phil program about the car accident that killed Daniel just bout angered me.  I have to say the demeanor of Daniel's family is projecting pure "revenge." The horror of losing a child by death, no doubt will hurt for the rest of their life. In the past three and a half years since this happened, they (Daniel's family) has done absolutely nothing to "honestly" look at the facts and stop the finger pointing. When u point at someone else, look at your hand, there are 3 more fingers pointing right back at "who", yes "yourself." I believe Daniel abused Brandi. Adults have hard time making intelligent decisions to leave an abuser and never go back. At 17 years old, Brandi tried to handle the situation on her own, and protect her family (brother). That is where Brandi's parents should have stepped in, long before this accident, along with competent counselor. Charges should have been filed against Daniel for abuse. Daniel saw Brandi drive off. Whether or not he knew it was her coming back, "he" Daniel made the decision to step in front of a moving car. He had to have known he would be seriously injured if not killed. Brandi is paying for Daniel's decision to step in front of a moving car. Regardless how fast it was going. I believe Daniel suffered some sort of mental condition to threaten suicide and homicide. As for Brandi's lawyer, he should be dis-bared! I hope Brandi gets another trial w/competent counselor. One who is qualified and prepared to "show" the facts. It's hard to see this happen to such young people on both sides and to the family's left behind to carry on. I hope Brandi's brother gets his life back and stop rebelling. That will prove nothing!  Honor your sister by taking care of yourself. Take a stand, and become an advocate for young teens who are in abusive relationships and feel trapped. There are many wonderful "free" programs offered in all communities, on local and state level for people trying to break free these kinds of relationships.  

As for Daniel's sister,and mother,  who is determined to remain bitter and  cash in on sympathy, use your energy to do something constructive in the memory of your brother and your son!  .....Katy in Louisiana...