Murder trials are NEVER as cut and dry as they appear on TV however the trial of Darrell Gene Devier was anything but cut and dry. He was allowed appeals which are common, and even expected in today's criminal justice society, however he was also given an overturned verdict due to a previous non-conviction allegation being admitted as evidence during the trial. Devier was accused, but never charged, with raping another young girl prior to killing Mary Frances. His original death sentence was overturned to life with the possibility of parole. This means that he could have been released after a LIFE sentence which in most states is only 7 (yes SEVEN) years behind bars. He would have been eligible for parole when I was around my sister's age when she was murdered by this monster. Thankfully another trial was set the death sentence was reinstated. He served until his execution on May 18, 1995. My family was in attendance at the original execution date however due to heavy storms in the area it was cancelled. He had no last words for us, the grieving victim's family, and he enjoyed his last meal which Mary Frances never had the privilege of enjoying.
There are many that say that an eye for an eye is antiquated and inhumane however my reply is this: how humane was he when he raped a 12? How humane was he when he took boulders, some weighing almost half as much as she did, and bashed in her head? How humane was he when he sat in prison threatening to repeat his offense again, if allowed? How humane was he when callously left her alone, cold, and beaten in the woods that day? You may say that we are to be better than him however to that I say, no. We are to follow the law of the land and the laws sentenced him to death. He received his just desserts and could not have cared less that we suffered for almost 16 years while he sat in his cell reading, writing, calling, etc. He paid a small penance for his actions.
Even those that are anti-death penalty cannot argue that taking a young innocent child in such a manner deserves nothing less than death. I have argued over the years with those that believe he should have been sentenced to life and most of the time they walk away thinking more clearly that he should not be allowed to live however they still do not agree with the death penalty. It appears that when a young, innocent child is taken so brutally people's minds change some.
What are your thoughts? Should he have been allowed to live out his years "thinking about what he did"? Should he have been allowed to be given a lethal injection? Please share your thoughts. I will NOT bash anyone for a differing opinion as long as I am respected in the same manner. Thank you!
Sallie
Friday, January 1, 2016
Mary Frances Stoner
November 30, 1979
The day began as so many before. Mary Frances awoke walked down the hall of the small trailer we lived in to the kitchen and ate breakfast with myself and our mother, Mary. Our mom insisted she wear a heavier coat that day because the chill of the impending winter cold had begun outside however she reassured our mother she was fine with her light weight coat. Soon she was prepped and ready to head out the door to the end of our long gravel driveway to await her school bus. Today she insisted that she would be fine going to the school bus stop in the morning and getting off in the afternoon without our mom waiting on her. She kissed our mother and me as always before she left and she was gone.
To my knowledge her school day was a typical school day with her attending multiple classes including her gifted program class. In this class she wrote a paper that discussed what she wanted to do in the future and what she believed the future held. She foresaw the New York ballet for herself , the Atlanta Falcons going to and winning the Super Bowl, and she pondered what if this were the last days of her life.
After school she got on her usual school bus and headed to our home. Once near our driveway the bus driver noticed a dark colored Ford Pinto with mag wheels sitting alongside our driveway. The next thing anyone knew she was being forced into the Pinto by a man no one recognized. To the bus driver and students dismay Mary Frances was gone before anyone knew what had just occurred before their eyes. The vivacious 12 year old with long, flowing brown hair, high cheek bones, and a penchant for putting others at ease upon first meeting was gone. Kidnapped.
My mother began calling any and everyone she could think of as soon as the clock showed Mary Frances should be home. Panic didn't set in until she spoke with a neighbor, and also Mary's best friend, and she stated that "our uncle" had forced Mary Frances into his Pinto upon exiting the school bus that day. Immediately our mother called our father then the local police. Deputies picked up Darrell Gene Devier later that same Friday afternoon for questioning since he was well known around the area for his dark colored Pinto with mag wheels. He admitted to nothing except knowing the "pretty girl" however peripherally it may have been, in his mind he knew her well. Later investigation by local police found that he did indeed "know" her because the company he worked for had been cutting down trees for the state electrical company to put up new poles and wiring for the area and Devier had mentioned to other workers before that it was almost time for the "young pretty girl" to be getting home form school. He was kept overnight for holding.
Early the next day hunters found my sister's body, off the old CCC Road going towards Rome, after she had been left out overnight to die. She had been viciously raped, strangled, and her head was bashed in with a boulder weighing over 40 lbs. According to Devier this was all just an accident that occurred after he raped her. (Yes, I have tears flowing as I write this last part as what kind of monster blames the victim. Only a socio path.) The cold, callus murderer was arrested soon after her body was discovered on eyewitness testimony that he was indeed the "uncle" that pulled her from the bus into his car.
You would think that a short trial would occur with him being sentenced to life or death however that was not to be the case……To Be Continued…...
My mother began calling any and everyone she could think of as soon as the clock showed Mary Frances should be home. Panic didn't set in until she spoke with a neighbor, and also Mary's best friend, and she stated that "our uncle" had forced Mary Frances into his Pinto upon exiting the school bus that day. Immediately our mother called our father then the local police. Deputies picked up Darrell Gene Devier later that same Friday afternoon for questioning since he was well known around the area for his dark colored Pinto with mag wheels. He admitted to nothing except knowing the "pretty girl" however peripherally it may have been, in his mind he knew her well. Later investigation by local police found that he did indeed "know" her because the company he worked for had been cutting down trees for the state electrical company to put up new poles and wiring for the area and Devier had mentioned to other workers before that it was almost time for the "young pretty girl" to be getting home form school. He was kept overnight for holding.
Early the next day hunters found my sister's body, off the old CCC Road going towards Rome, after she had been left out overnight to die. She had been viciously raped, strangled, and her head was bashed in with a boulder weighing over 40 lbs. According to Devier this was all just an accident that occurred after he raped her. (Yes, I have tears flowing as I write this last part as what kind of monster blames the victim. Only a socio path.) The cold, callus murderer was arrested soon after her body was discovered on eyewitness testimony that he was indeed the "uncle" that pulled her from the bus into his car.
You would think that a short trial would occur with him being sentenced to life or death however that was not to be the case……To Be Continued…...
Guess who's BACK!! :)
Hello! After an almost 3 year hiatus, I am back! I am hoping to write at least once a month this year, maybe more, depending on feedback, response, time, etc. How are all of you? Please feel free to message me your thoughts and ideas for blog topics. I purchased a CD compilation box set of the greatest crimes of the century and I plan on delving into a few of them in the coming weeks.
Is anyone planning on watching the OJ Simpson movie? I am hoping to watch it. I have read and listened to a lot of stories on both sides of this case. I look forward to YOUR feedback on what you think occurred.
Have a great New Year! :)
Is anyone planning on watching the OJ Simpson movie? I am hoping to watch it. I have read and listened to a lot of stories on both sides of this case. I look forward to YOUR feedback on what you think occurred.
Have a great New Year! :)
Monday, February 3, 2014
Missing young women
Missing young women throughout the US
I have noticed recently that there have been many missing young women throughout the country which makes me wonder if this is an epidemic or just brought to light more so due to social media. In the past few people knew of a missing person unless it made national media broadcasts which seldom occurred unless the family pushed for media coverage or the person was well known. I believe our national conscious became awakened with the heinous murder of Laci Peterson in December 2002. Although Mrs. Peterson was murdered by her husband while pregnant, I believe there are some similarities with Mrs. Peterson's death and many women that go missing seemingly every day in the United States. Most of the women that go missing are small in stature and are white. Think about this aspect: how easy is it to pick up a woman that weighs less than 140-150 lbs if you are male or a strong woman? Pretty easy. These women are typically 90 to 120 or so pounds and less than 66" in height. Why are these factors so important? In order to kidnap and subdue someone the offender has to be able to move quickly to avoid detection. Another important factor is the young ladies are beautiful and are seen only as objects of opportunity by offenders. I would post in regards to a few missing cases that are currently in the media however I do not want to upset the families or cause undue speculations. I will however delve briefly into the Laci Peterson case.
Laci Peterson was a beautiful young mother-to-be that was anxiously awaiting the birth of her son, Conner, when she was murdered by her husband, Scott. She was first considered missing and possibly abducted because of her husband's fabricated story of her walking their dog to the local park then suspicion began to fall even more so on Scott because he was acting very strangely at the candle light service and then investigators, and the world found out that he had a mistress on the side the entire time his wife was missing as well as before. Even 8 months pregnant Laci was no match for Scott because he was of much larger stature than her and as believed by the court she was subdued when he carried her and her unborn child out to his boat to dispose of the bodies. If she had been much larger then this may have changed the course of the murder, investigation, etc. Today Scott is serving his sentence in "comfort" in prison while Laci and Conner are buried together in a single casket in California.
(Please note I am NOT bashing on people of smaller stature. I am just posting observations.)
This post is dedicated to the memory of Laci and Conner Peterson and all that are missing.
God bless!
I have noticed recently that there have been many missing young women throughout the country which makes me wonder if this is an epidemic or just brought to light more so due to social media. In the past few people knew of a missing person unless it made national media broadcasts which seldom occurred unless the family pushed for media coverage or the person was well known. I believe our national conscious became awakened with the heinous murder of Laci Peterson in December 2002. Although Mrs. Peterson was murdered by her husband while pregnant, I believe there are some similarities with Mrs. Peterson's death and many women that go missing seemingly every day in the United States. Most of the women that go missing are small in stature and are white. Think about this aspect: how easy is it to pick up a woman that weighs less than 140-150 lbs if you are male or a strong woman? Pretty easy. These women are typically 90 to 120 or so pounds and less than 66" in height. Why are these factors so important? In order to kidnap and subdue someone the offender has to be able to move quickly to avoid detection. Another important factor is the young ladies are beautiful and are seen only as objects of opportunity by offenders. I would post in regards to a few missing cases that are currently in the media however I do not want to upset the families or cause undue speculations. I will however delve briefly into the Laci Peterson case.
Laci Peterson was a beautiful young mother-to-be that was anxiously awaiting the birth of her son, Conner, when she was murdered by her husband, Scott. She was first considered missing and possibly abducted because of her husband's fabricated story of her walking their dog to the local park then suspicion began to fall even more so on Scott because he was acting very strangely at the candle light service and then investigators, and the world found out that he had a mistress on the side the entire time his wife was missing as well as before. Even 8 months pregnant Laci was no match for Scott because he was of much larger stature than her and as believed by the court she was subdued when he carried her and her unborn child out to his boat to dispose of the bodies. If she had been much larger then this may have changed the course of the murder, investigation, etc. Today Scott is serving his sentence in "comfort" in prison while Laci and Conner are buried together in a single casket in California.
(Please note I am NOT bashing on people of smaller stature. I am just posting observations.)
This post is dedicated to the memory of Laci and Conner Peterson and all that are missing.
God bless!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Recent Crimes
I thought I would try to post something while both boys are busy for a few minutes. :) I feel as if I am slacking on my blog (and truthfully I am) however it is EXTREMELY hard to write with two kids and my current MS issues but I digress. :)
Below I am going to post links to current crimes and my opinions on them. I would love feedback from you all! :)
GA mother says teen killed her toddler
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/23/georgia-mom-says-teen-told-her-do-want-me-to-kill-your-baby-before-son-fatally/?test=latestnews
From what has been released from the police it appears that something very important is missing and that is eye witness accounts. I understand the mother has identified the young man as the shooter however his family is stating that he was at home eating breakfast with witnesses to confirm his whereabouts. Another aspect that I find intriguing is that typically children are NOT subjects of violence of this magnitude (they are usually shot accidentally but not directly). The mother states the young man repeatedly asked the mother if she wanted her toddler dead or shot. Again, I am NOT saying the mother is lying however it is something to consider that the youth was looking for money however he found she had none which she repeatedly told him since she had a kid (key to the investigation? why would a young mother have a substantial amount of money on her?) yet he proceeded to move from an armed robbery to murder? I believe there is something more to this story such as maybe the parties involved knew each other prior to this occurrence. In past situations where children have been harmed or killed the subject killed them because of money owed by the parents due to drugs or other criminal activity. This is just my opinion on this story.
Prayers for the child's family and the young man.
Quantico Marine deaths
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/24/marines-release-names-gunman-2-victims-in-quantico-shooting/?test=latestnews
This was a very sad week for the Marine Corps (IMO) because of the accidental deaths in NV and this shooting in VA. From the information released (minimal) I believe that the deaths were a result of a love triangle. This is a very sad story and I pray all involved will find peace.
Possible Sex Trafficking case--CO teen
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/23/authorities-consider-possible-sex-trafficking-in-case-missing-colorado-teen/
I wrote about this a few weeks ago in regards to the lure of modeling jobs for young women and now it appears it is FINALLY being taken seriously in the unsolved cases of a few missing young women. This is a very serious and real crime that is occurring all over our country. Young women in today's society believe that whatever they put on the Internet will be safe (pictures, videos, etc) as well as trusting what others put on the Internet in regards to their information. It is a very scary and real aspect that parents everywhere should take note of and watch their children no matter their age because these modeling agencies (there are legitimate ones however the fake ones are making more headlines recently) are taking advantage of our youth. There are ways to precent this from happening such as monitoring your child's Internet and phone activity, speaking with your kids about the dangers of meeting someone in person they do not know or even they do know with out you being with them, accepting offers from people they meet online, etc. My best advice for parents of young women and men is to be open, honest, and listen to your kids just like you should when discussing drugs, alcohol, and sex. A good website for reference is The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. This site has a bevy of information that will help you to have conversations with your kids and what to do if something were to occur.
http://www.missingkids.com/home
Below I am going to post links to current crimes and my opinions on them. I would love feedback from you all! :)
GA mother says teen killed her toddler
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/23/georgia-mom-says-teen-told-her-do-want-me-to-kill-your-baby-before-son-fatally/?test=latestnews
From what has been released from the police it appears that something very important is missing and that is eye witness accounts. I understand the mother has identified the young man as the shooter however his family is stating that he was at home eating breakfast with witnesses to confirm his whereabouts. Another aspect that I find intriguing is that typically children are NOT subjects of violence of this magnitude (they are usually shot accidentally but not directly). The mother states the young man repeatedly asked the mother if she wanted her toddler dead or shot. Again, I am NOT saying the mother is lying however it is something to consider that the youth was looking for money however he found she had none which she repeatedly told him since she had a kid (key to the investigation? why would a young mother have a substantial amount of money on her?) yet he proceeded to move from an armed robbery to murder? I believe there is something more to this story such as maybe the parties involved knew each other prior to this occurrence. In past situations where children have been harmed or killed the subject killed them because of money owed by the parents due to drugs or other criminal activity. This is just my opinion on this story.
Prayers for the child's family and the young man.
Quantico Marine deaths
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/24/marines-release-names-gunman-2-victims-in-quantico-shooting/?test=latestnews
This was a very sad week for the Marine Corps (IMO) because of the accidental deaths in NV and this shooting in VA. From the information released (minimal) I believe that the deaths were a result of a love triangle. This is a very sad story and I pray all involved will find peace.
Possible Sex Trafficking case--CO teen
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/23/authorities-consider-possible-sex-trafficking-in-case-missing-colorado-teen/
I wrote about this a few weeks ago in regards to the lure of modeling jobs for young women and now it appears it is FINALLY being taken seriously in the unsolved cases of a few missing young women. This is a very serious and real crime that is occurring all over our country. Young women in today's society believe that whatever they put on the Internet will be safe (pictures, videos, etc) as well as trusting what others put on the Internet in regards to their information. It is a very scary and real aspect that parents everywhere should take note of and watch their children no matter their age because these modeling agencies (there are legitimate ones however the fake ones are making more headlines recently) are taking advantage of our youth. There are ways to precent this from happening such as monitoring your child's Internet and phone activity, speaking with your kids about the dangers of meeting someone in person they do not know or even they do know with out you being with them, accepting offers from people they meet online, etc. My best advice for parents of young women and men is to be open, honest, and listen to your kids just like you should when discussing drugs, alcohol, and sex. A good website for reference is The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. This site has a bevy of information that will help you to have conversations with your kids and what to do if something were to occur.
http://www.missingkids.com/home
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Missing Young Women-Models
The below referenced article is another reason why you must always practice good, sound judgement and PLEASE be wary of people contacting you via any social media. A good rule of thumb to go by is not to accept, talk, share, etc with anyone you do not know. PERIOD! There are monsters among us yet it appears people feel that due to the seemingly secure feeling of the Internet they can post, tag, talk, etc to anyone without harm.
Unfortunately past knowledge and experience tells me that these women are probably either in the sex trade industry now or deceased. We have all seen far to many instances of young women being lured with the promise of a modeling career only to find themselves hooked on drugs, raped, and/or forced into the sex trade industry by pimps. If you know any young women trying to find their way into modeling please research with them reputable modeling companies, go with them to modeling shoots, check out the modeling company through the Better Business Bureau, Google search the photographer, etc. There are ways to protect yourself and others.
I pray these young women are found safe.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Crime in Bartow County
Okay I know I am supposed to post about my sister's murder first however this has been weighing on my mind recently and after glancing at the local news paper (online) I have to post a musing that I stated a few years ago on Facebook (FB).
The crime that is occurring in Bartow county is not unlike the crime wave that is sweeping this great nation. The reason this is occurring is in large part due to the broken windows theory. This theory states that if "broken windows" appear and are not repaired crime will flourish. This theory can be metaphorical or actual. Due to the current state of the economy buildings and areas are being vacated with no one moving into the area or a failure of those left behind to taking the necessary steps at a modicum of upkeep such as cutting grass, weeding sidewalks, replacing broken fixtures, removing trash, etc. This is commonly seen in large cities such as Atlanta when housing projects fall into disrepair and are soon after condemned due to a lack of care. Think about it do you want to venture to Tech wood apartments (if it is still called that) in downtown Atlanta? The reason areas such as this are feared is because they are dilapidated, run down, and crime ridden. The hub of Bartow county is Cartersville. Cartersville is quickly becoming more dangerous to live in than Atlanta so evidenced by a few of my friends that live in Atlanta yet are more scared to visit Cartersville than where they live in Atlanta even in broad day light. Being scared of an area can come from many factors however the largest one is typically due to the appearance that the area is dangerous due to higher crime rates. Police may patrol these areas more however this is not always the most effective way to solve this issue. In order for the crime rates to decrease law enforcement in the area must do a few things to fix the problem.
There are many factors that must be considered when working on plans to fix the problem especially in Bartow. Drugs are a huge problem in Bartow. Another crime that is rising quickly is property crimes. My parents were robbed in February of 2012 and I am certain those that robbed them stole to use the money for drugs. There is a large number of immigrants in the area (I am NOT saying they are the cause for the uptick in crime!) which has swollen the already growing population of the county which results in the increase in the need for law enforcement from car accidents to thefts to drug use. Drugs are also a huge problem in this area due to rapidly available resources and the economic down turn of the area due to the closing of manufacturing plants, more people vying for jobs, and less jobs available.
First all agencies in the local area from local city police to the state run agencies need to recognize and acknowledge the theories that are causing the crime increase. Second they need to agree to work together as much as possible which includes sharing resources and information. Third a working plan that can be changed and modified as needed should be put in place. Fourth implementation should occur. The local agencies may be working together however after a similar posting to the one above that I made on FB there was a series of news paper postings by a local reporter that stated in essence what I had said was occurring and needed to occur to fix the problem.
The end of the crime wave will not happen over night however the flow of crime in the area can be stagnated and reversed with proper measures taken.
I would love your thoughts, comments, and suggestions! :)
(Please forgive my disjointedness of this post however I have a teething 9 month old and almost 6 yo that demand my attention every 5 seconds. LOL)
The crime that is occurring in Bartow county is not unlike the crime wave that is sweeping this great nation. The reason this is occurring is in large part due to the broken windows theory. This theory states that if "broken windows" appear and are not repaired crime will flourish. This theory can be metaphorical or actual. Due to the current state of the economy buildings and areas are being vacated with no one moving into the area or a failure of those left behind to taking the necessary steps at a modicum of upkeep such as cutting grass, weeding sidewalks, replacing broken fixtures, removing trash, etc. This is commonly seen in large cities such as Atlanta when housing projects fall into disrepair and are soon after condemned due to a lack of care. Think about it do you want to venture to Tech wood apartments (if it is still called that) in downtown Atlanta? The reason areas such as this are feared is because they are dilapidated, run down, and crime ridden. The hub of Bartow county is Cartersville. Cartersville is quickly becoming more dangerous to live in than Atlanta so evidenced by a few of my friends that live in Atlanta yet are more scared to visit Cartersville than where they live in Atlanta even in broad day light. Being scared of an area can come from many factors however the largest one is typically due to the appearance that the area is dangerous due to higher crime rates. Police may patrol these areas more however this is not always the most effective way to solve this issue. In order for the crime rates to decrease law enforcement in the area must do a few things to fix the problem.
There are many factors that must be considered when working on plans to fix the problem especially in Bartow. Drugs are a huge problem in Bartow. Another crime that is rising quickly is property crimes. My parents were robbed in February of 2012 and I am certain those that robbed them stole to use the money for drugs. There is a large number of immigrants in the area (I am NOT saying they are the cause for the uptick in crime!) which has swollen the already growing population of the county which results in the increase in the need for law enforcement from car accidents to thefts to drug use. Drugs are also a huge problem in this area due to rapidly available resources and the economic down turn of the area due to the closing of manufacturing plants, more people vying for jobs, and less jobs available.
First all agencies in the local area from local city police to the state run agencies need to recognize and acknowledge the theories that are causing the crime increase. Second they need to agree to work together as much as possible which includes sharing resources and information. Third a working plan that can be changed and modified as needed should be put in place. Fourth implementation should occur. The local agencies may be working together however after a similar posting to the one above that I made on FB there was a series of news paper postings by a local reporter that stated in essence what I had said was occurring and needed to occur to fix the problem.
The end of the crime wave will not happen over night however the flow of crime in the area can be stagnated and reversed with proper measures taken.
I would love your thoughts, comments, and suggestions! :)
(Please forgive my disjointedness of this post however I have a teething 9 month old and almost 6 yo that demand my attention every 5 seconds. LOL)
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