On the Melinda Duckett Suicide
and the Nancy Grace Headline News CNN TV Interview
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Slate writer Dahlia Lithwick asks:
Did Nancy Grace kill Melinda Duckett?
Her answer: "Well, of course she didn't."
She continues: "Nancy Grace no more killed the mother of a missing toddler last week than you or I did. CNN's pushy prosecutor is being excoriated and berated in the media for driving a guest on her show to suicide. Even her screaming-show colleagues feel smugly certain that she's brought upon herself—to quote Joe Scarborough—'her Jenny Jones moment.'"
A blogger at the LA Times is among those who are emotionally charged, puffed up and holier-than-all about this issue, too. However a couple of brave readers have responded with intelligence and reason:
Unlike most of the previous commentators, I ACTUALLY WATCHED THE SEGMENT that included Nancy Grace's questions to Melinda Duckett. I myself would have asked the same questions, and I am not a lawyer.
Not only did Ms. Duckett NOT answer the REASONABLE QUESTIONS put to her, she spoke over Nancy Grace as though she was reading from a script. As was necessary and expected, Ms. Grace took back control of her show. She continued to put questions to Ms. Duckett in an attempt to HELP the mother AND father with locating their son, hopefully alive. Ms. Duckett was resistent, contrary, unhelpful, and defensive - she painted herself into the corner labeled "person of interest".
It is a falsehood that Nancy Grace "pounded on her desk" and demanded answers from Ms. Duckett. As a viewer, I understood Nancy Grace's dismay that Ms. Duckett was uncooperative and was more interested in defending herself rather than providing information that could result in receiving valuable tips from the public.
After the taping of the show, Ms. Duckett obviously realized that she had pointed the finger of suspicion at herself. Citing emotional and physical exhaustion, Ms. Duckett could have had her attorney or her grandparents appear on the Nancy Grace show on her behalf. However, Ms. Ducket CHOSE of her own accord to appear on the show herself, though by telephone and not in person.
Ms. Duckett had been with her grandparents, who themselves failed to notice any suicidal ideation from Ms. Duckett. So, how is it that Nancy Grace was supposed to perceive this mother's thoughts of suicide with one interview by telephone? Where were Ms. Duckett's family and friends? For that matter, where were law enforcement officials that usually assign someone to stay close to a victim, should an abductor call? My point is this: See how easy it is to place the blame for a suicide on anyone but the person who committed suicide?!
Ms. Duckett killed herself - for whatever reason - innocent or guilty - by her own decision. As sad as it is, Ms. Duckett's suicide is NOT the fault of Nancy Grace. I have no doubt that Ms. Duckett's attorney is now wondering how he is going to be paid and who is going to pay him. It is just like an attorney to begin setting the groundwork for a wrongful death lawsuit in hopes of a windfall. I know, I used to work for one. There are usually strict rules when suing law enforcement who, no doubt, probably questioned Ms. Duckett even more intensely and over a longer time period. However, the grandparents make no mention of blame toward law enforcement. No......the grandparents and Ms. Duckett's attorney have discovered "deep pockets" by the names of Nancy Grace and CNN.
What a tragedy for Tenton Duckett's father if his son is never found. What a tragedy for Trenton Duckett if he is found alive and his mother is dead. What a tragedy for Melinda Duckett that, instead of grieving, her grandparents first began looking for someone to blame. What a tragedy that the people closest to her did not notice even the slightest clue that Ms. Duckett needed professional help. But if someone is truly intent upon suicide, they will find a way to succeed. Melinda Duckett did just that. WHAT A TRAGEDY.......PERIOD.
Posted by: Linda | September 16, 2006 at 05:13 PM
the angry mob blames the media for their violence :-/Let us now all about-face act as Judge, Jury and Executioner of Ms. Nancy Grace ~ the Trial By Fury entertainer; after all, should any damge befall her, it would not be OUR fault (rather, we can blame the self-righteous blogger demagogue Mr. Scott Collins, and The Los Angeles Times :)
Posted by: MonsieurGonzo | September 16, 2006 at 05:28 PM
We agree that the smugness, finger-pointing and backstabbing of other commentators -- such as the crass knuckledraggers known as the Don Imus show and the above referenced LATimes blog -- who welcome and embrace Nancy to her face -- is hypocrisy and bitter envy at best.
While Lithwick doesn't approve of Nancy Grace or her show -- "Melinda Duckett was treated like crap by Nancy" -- she fairly concludes: "But Duckett, after all, freely chose to go on the show."
The suicide of Melinda Duckett is tragic, shocking and very sad. We send deepest sympathies to her family and deeply wish she had received the social, medical and psychological support she obviously desperately needed. We sincerely and fervently hope and pray it is not too late for her precious little boy.
Original source: Slate online
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
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