Can we discuss Ryan Widmer one more time, please?

taylormillgirl · September 2009

Apparently I was living under a rock when his trial took place, because until last night's Dateline, I had no clue about his case. Embarrassed

Unless Dateline left out a lot of information, I don't understand how Widmer was convicted. There was no hard evidence against him. I mean, we never know what goes on behind closed doors, but I don't think he's guilty.

Sorry to bring this up again if it was posted ad-nauseum back during the trial, but like I said...living under a rock.

daves_sweetpea · September 2009

I didn't really follow the trial either but even then I really didn't feel like he was guilty. Then again, I used to work for the county and I'm jaded about the way things work there so I was not surprised when the arrested & tried him. We watched Dateline and I was wondering why they only interviewed that one couple and his mom. Well, and Willie Cunningham but I was eye-rolling b/c of how opinionated he is (on anything, not just the trail) w/o knowing either family. DH thinks he's guilty and just snapped that night, lost his temper and reacted, etc. I know our first few months of marriage were a difficult adjustment and we argued a lot so I could understand loosing your temper but not to the extend of murder!

rachel06 · September 2009

I am bascially copying and pasting what I wrote over on the babies board but here is what I think. lol My two cents for what they're worth. I don't think he did it at all. First off I think that Dateline last night could have done a better job of presenting more of the facts IMO, they didn't do horrible but could have done better. I followed the trial from start to finish & went in with an open mind. First off, the thing that bothers me the most is that no one, I don't care who they are, knows how they would react in a situation like this until they are actually in it. I have seen very smart people do very stupid things when they are in these types of situations. I myself am guilty of this. I know someone who had narcolepsy with the cataplexy who was just a few years younger than Sarah when she almost drowned in the tub. The water didn't wake her up and she almost died if her father hadn't found her in time. They ran several tests an couldn't find any signs of what might have led to her not waking up, ie: a seizure, so now they are very careful and she hasn't taken a bath since that day. The whole experiments thing is what got the jurors into trouble & what got Ryan his new trial. There are far too many factors to replicate how fast she would have dried and etc. I am a scientist by nature and it just doesn't add up to murder for me. Either way it's a terrible tragedy and the only person who truly has those answers is no longer with us.

Moesten · September 2009

I certainly wasn't there so I really don't have an opinion on guilt or innocence. However, I do have an opinion on the behavior of the jury and that of the DA. I think the jury behavior was a travesty and I am thrilled our justice system works in such a way that he is able to have another trial. Guilty or not, his trial should be fair and the jury has a responsibility to follow the judge's instructions. The DA seems like a dog with a bone and refused to acknowledge that there was juror misconduct. I found it very disappointing that she would treat someone's right to a fair trial so cavalierly.