Quote From: frogsnaggaI makes me furious to read some of these post. A lot of you are striking out at Daniel's mom for being angry. You say she is out for revenge, well the only thing I saw was a mother grieving for her son and the true loss of something dear. I'm sure you that have no children are quick to judge just by her angry actions, but as mother's, we know the anguish and intense hurt when a child you bore is ripped from your arms. And just to know Nothing on God's green earth will ever bring him/her back to you. I understand the pain of Brandi's mom also as my son was incarcerated at one time, you feel helpless and crave to be able to reassure them mom is here for them and make sure they are not afraid or crying their self to sleep, it hurts desperately, but unlike Brandi's mom, Daniel's mom doesn't have the option to reassure her son he will be okay, because he is no longer within her reach. She will never be able to tell him "goodnight son, I will talk to you tomorrow", as Brandi's mom gets to do at her leisure. Shame on all of you who judge Daniel's mom for her grief which is obviously turned into anger. All she was doing today was venting her anger for Brandi's parent's being the limelight up there on stage with Dr. Phil and everyone saying poor pitiful Brandi, rotting away in jail, for Brandi it's just a silly phrase, but for Daniel its reality, its not a silly phrase. Daniel's mom is desperate to tell her side and let people know Daniel, I would be angry too, because I was just the one watching it, but it seemed to be about how unjust Brandi's mere 12 years is unfair, for murder, I don't think so. I think she deserves life because it was planned and I don't have to be an expert to see through her drama. You don't drive 60 mph through a trailer park if your not angry about something. How naive is her parents to think she was the victim. Being a victim means you have to have proof, show the proof Dr. Phil. Give Daniel's mom the chance to be up there on stage in the spotlight and tell about her son and how he didn't deserve to die. I can't wait to see all the idiots who respond to this post with excuses why the rich kid needs to be set free. Tell that to the judge, oh yeah we had no judge, we had a plea bargain, and in my book that screams "GUILTY".
I am a mother of two, and I have lost many friends and family members in my lifetime. Many of whom went before there time, being so filled with rage dissrepects the memory of your loved one.
I know this from experience. Unless you are going to commit suicide or live in a mental institution for the rest of your life, you have to grieve and move on. I have hundreds of funny stories and wonderful memories of my loved ones that I cherise deeply.
I think that Daniel was abusing Brandy and I also think Brandy probably did run him down deliberately, but as an abuse survivor myself I'm not so sure he didn't get what he had coming to him.
Again I am a mother myself and I know it is easy to be blind to your children's faults. Maybe Daniel's Mom feels more guilt than anger because she didn't help Daniel get the professional help he needed to deal with his own rage.
(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.
