Brian's Rant - Kudos to father trying to protect daughter from Drew Peterson

Brian's Rant

The last two times Drew Peterson married, his wives turned up missing or murdered. Someone’s grown daughter, sister, and friend was murdered, and all the hopes, dreams, and shared experiences they has with Stacy and Kathy came to a deadly end.

This father’s concern for his daughter is a pleasant break from situations where women have been isolated and targeted by adult sexual predators and abusive manipulative “partners.”

Parents have no legal authority after ages 18 or 21, but that does not mean the threat to safety ends. A parent’s role as protector lasts through life. Their sense of duty to their children does not diminish if they haven’t abdicated their moral authority or parental role.

Accountability needs to be reestablished in relationships before a restraining order or criminal charges are filed. Parental or other family involvement at the first sign of trouble would be a way to establish accountability before the situation escalates into criminal activity.

Abusive “partners” can be seen as someone who grooms a same (or similar age) partner into physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Murder would be the extreme expression of this. It is a fact that parental involvement in a minor’s life protects against sexual (and other abuse). When parents step into dangerous situations involving their grown kids, they are simply continuing the concern for their kids they had for the 1st 18 (or 21) years of their life.

Assuming the allegations involving Drew’s last two wives are founded, Peterson is a danger to younger twentysomething women in the same manner as a pedophile is a danger to 10 year olds. The danger isn’t expressed the same way with the wife killer and the molester, but they have a specific grooming method, specific power and control motives for their crimes, and destroy lives equally as effectively. A parent can choose to monitor the situation more closely, and this is what Mr. Raines appears to be doing.

Parents who stand back and sit idly by when sociopaths, sexual predators, or other abusers target their grown kids aren’t just abdicating their parental responsibility, but also an abdicating their common sense. Why in the hell would you do nothing when you see your grown child being brainwashed into believing that her abuser has her interest at heart?

This is what an abuser or other predator wants - lack of family support. Your protective role does not end at age 18. It is a big mistake to assume that children over 18 have the knowledge to protect against all threats at all times. They need someone on their side to protect against subtle tactics of abusive “partners” who have insinuated them into their lives.

If parental involvement in minor children’s lives protect against sexual predators, why can’t parental involvement in their grown child’s lives protect against abusive “partners?” It’s about the tension between the parents’ desire to protect their grown child and the desire to be on an adult footing by the grown offspring. The live and let live attitude is appropriate when there is no abuse of any type. If there is any risk of abuse, parents need to be parents again.

Some things don’t change. Abuse is abuse, and the difference between a rapist of women and a molester of 12 year old girls is the victims’ age ranges. Parents can intervene in DV situations, but too many times, they choose not to until it’s too late, because they focus on autonomy, but forget the safety, if not life, of their grown kids are at stake.

The difference in these perp’s mentalities are only the method of abuse, the way they pick targets, and the age range of a victim.

If there is a consequence of interfering in a grown child’s life, the consequence of a dead woman is much, much more serious that interfering in a grown child’s abusive relationship. Parents will live with the knowledge and shame that they could not have done more for their daughter before her abusive boyfriend/husband took her life.

If you see your daughter (or son with bruises) or a personality changed for the worse, it’s time to say “Get away from my child! (or sister, or friend)”. People with personality disorders and a lack of morals are everywhere, and as I’ve been saying, and not all of them target minors.

Woman's father - Stay away from my daughter, Drew Peterson!

A father has told Drew Peterson to get the heck away from his 23 year old child after an article appeared Thursday about his impending marriage to the young woman. Christina Raines, 23, is Peterson's 6th fiancee and will be his fifth wife if and when his last wife is officially declared dead.
The proposal happened sometime on the week of December 7 - 13, because Chris was spotted wearing a engagement ring Friday the 12th. Drew Peterson is the suburban Chicago (Bolingbrook, IL) policeman whose 4th wife, Stacy Peterson, has been missing since October 2007.

Until the body of Stacy is found or she is legally declared dead, Drew is still officially married to Stacy. After Stacy’s disappearance, Drew Peterson’s 3rd wife Kathleen’s body was exhumed. The cause of Kathleen’s death in March of 2004, originally thought to be suicide by drowning, was found to be murder after bruises were found on Kathy’s body.

The father, 53 year old Ernie Raines, isn't too happy.

"I said, 'You need to take that back. If you don't want to, I will,' " said Ernie Raines, 53. "I said, why would you want to marry someone like that anyway? He's my age for Christ's sake."

Ernie Raines said he and his daughter met Peterson at a Bolingbrook laundromat years ago, and that she has been friendly with him for months. Peterson has brought her roses, taken her to "Blue Man Group," promised to buy her a car and even autographed a book for him, Ernie Raines said.

Concerned about Peterson -- "I don't want a third one to come up missing" -- Ernie Raines said he drove to Peterson's house last month to "let him know that I'm here, that I'm around, that I know where he lives."

He said Peterson asked him, "Did you get my book?""We talked, I said, 'You know me, I'd kill for my kids, you know that,' " Ernie Raines said. "He told me: 'I will never do nothing to hurt your daughter, that's why I didn't put her name out.' "

Besides the suspicions about foul play and the last two wives Drew Peterson had, he also had a assault weapons charge filed against him. The unlawful use of a weapon charge stemmed from Peterson's ownership of a Colt AR-15 assault rifle taken from Peterson's job as a swat team member. The possession of the rifle would have been legal if the gun barrel was 16 inches or longer.

Judge Richard Schoenstedt threw out the weapons charge in November after prosecutors including Assistant State's Attorney John Connor failed to turn over evidence to help the Peterson defense try to prove that their client was a victim of a malicious prosecution.

On December 12, the Will County State Attorney's Office said through their spokesman Charles Pelkie that they appealed the decision to dismiss the case.

"We indicated right from the start that we planned to appeal this decision...We fully expect to win on appeal."

A timeline of the Peterson case can be found here.

Grand Rapids, MI lawyer's killer gets 30 to 75 years

Kent County Circuit Judge James Robert Redford sentenced Kevin Elder, 46, to 30 to 75 years today for the stabbing death of his estranged wife Tina Partee-Elder, 41, a prominent Grand Rapids attorney, while her kids, 9 and 11, were home on August 21, 2007. Those kids were forced into the basement while Elder stabbed his victim in the throat, causing deep puncture wounds, according to the Kent County Medical Examiner.

Elder pled guilty to 2nd degree murder to avoid the mandatory life without parole sentence under Michigan law for 1st degree murder, and also to spare his stepkids from taking the witness stand.

Partee's former husband and the father of her children, Fabian Newland, her brother, Terry Partee, and Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Bramble told the judge the maximum 30-year sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder with the possibility of parole did not factor in the brutality of the knife attack.

Bramble said that the fatal stabbing "was not an isolated act of domestic violence," and Judge Redford stated that Partee-Elder, who worked as a public defender, then as a attorney in private practice, was a very accomplished lawyer and truly fine person."

Redford expressed chagrin that for the second week in a row, "it is my duty to sentence a man for murdering his wife. I cannot begin to comprehend how a man can do this."

Elder's statement describing his "sorrow" at the victim's death came across as self-serving and false to her mother and other relatives in court for the sentencing.

"I'm deeply ashamed, sorrowful and embarrassed by the whole situation. I understand your pain and hatred of me and all I can say is, I'm sorry ... . I was in such an incapacitated state, I murdered my wife. I didn't know who I was or where I was."

Elder had a good life before he lost his job two years ago and turned to drugs and alcohol, according to defense attorney Robert Mirque. The night of the murder, he was high on cocaine, according to his lawyer. Partee-Elder filed for divorce in June 2007 and by July had filed a restraining order.

After the sentencing, Bette Partee, the victim's mother, stated his statment was self-serving. "You see what a manipulator he is, even to the end? He doesn't care."

In the end, Judge Redford said that due to the murder, "you extinguished a bright light...Tina is a very accomplished lawyer and truly fine person."

Joffe loses license for sexual abuse of patients after weight loss surgery

Dr. Jacobo Joffe, a 59 year old general surgeon, had his medical licence revoked by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons after he was found guilty of the sexual abuse of four female patients he pursued "romantic" relationships with.


Joffe initially hugged and kissed the two women – identified only as Patient A and Patient B – and told them they were attractive, the panel was told. That summer he engaged in "sexual touching and kissing" with Patient A in his office. He told both women at a Christmas party they were "hot," kissed them on the lips and hugged them.

In January 2004 Joffe met both at a hotel, where he engaged them in sexual touching and kissing. He also later "engaged Patient A in oral sex as well as intercourse at her residence," according to disciplinary hearing documents.

Between January 2004 and 2006, according to the documents, Joffe continued to meet the two women, who were still his patients, at least every two weeks, engaging in sexual acts with them separately and together, in their home and his office.

He also used "illicit drugs" with them which he asked Patient A to buy, according to the documents.

129 paramedics accused of preying on patients

FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS — They answer the call 24-7, often risking their own safety to rescue the sick and injured and rush them to the hospital. But some paramedics have been more predator than hero.
Over the past 18 months, at least 129 ambulance attendants across the U.S. have been accused of sex-related crimes on duty or off, an investigation by The Associated Press found. Some of them molested patients in the back of an ambulance.

“It’s a dream job for a sexual predator,” said Greg Kafoury, a Portland, Ore., lawyer who represents three women who were groped by a paramedic. “Everything is there: Women who are incapacitated, so they’re hugely distracted. Medical cover to put your hands in places where, in any other context, a predator would be immediately recognized as such.”

Across the U.S., emergency medical technicians have been accused in recent months of such crimes as rape, soliciting minors over the Internet and possession of child porn, according to an AP survey of the state agencies that oversee those professions.

Exactly how many of these EMTs were alleged to have committed their crimes on the job is unclear. But some of more shocking cases include:

— A Standish, Mich., paramedic sent to prison in March for molesting a girl who was on her way to the hospital after she was injured at her 15th birthday party.

— A Pinellas County, Fla., paramedic arrested in July after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in an ambulance en route to a hospital.

— A Chester County, Pa., paramedic sentenced in July to up to 20 years in prison for engaging in sex and providing alcohol to teenagers he befriended through their interest in emergency medical service.

— A Copperas Cove, Texas, paramedic awaiting trial in January on charges he exposed and touched an 18-year-old accident victim’s breasts while pretending to tend to her injuries.

— A Chattanooga, Tenn., EMT accused in a lawsuit of giving a 30-year-old woman an extra dose of morphine and then completely undressing her in the back of an ambulance even though her injuries were minor.

State health officials in 23 states reported receiving sex-related complaints involving EMS workers. New York reported the most complaints — 17. Thirteen of the complaints were substantiated and resulted in workers losing their certification.

Texas reported 13 complaints, Massachusetts 11 and Virginia 10. No breakdown was immediately available showing how many of those allegations involved sexual misconduct on the job.

Several EMS officials said the number of complaints is troubling but does not necessarily point to an industrywide problem. They noted that the profession employs nearly 900,000 people in the U.S.

“That number in and of itself doesn’t shock me, knowing the number of providers we have in the country,” said Steve Blessing, state EMS director in Delaware and president of the National Association of State EMS Officials. “Is even one case tolerable? I think most state directors would say no. But we’re bound by reality here.”

Sparta, MI man sentenced to life without parole for strangling wife

In the conclusion of a trial extensively covered in the Grand Rapids, MI area, Kent County Circuit Judge James Robert Redford sentenced a 32 year old man to life without parole December 8 for bludgeoning, then strangling his wife, then dumping her nude body on the side of a road in 2004. The body was discovered by a passer by in southern Montcalm County January 3, 2005.

Julia Dawson, nee Keenan, was murdered December 11, 2004 by her husband of three years in their Sparta, MI home, and the killing was made worse by the two kids she left behind, one from a previous relationship, and the fact that the slaying took place on her parents' wedding anniversary. She was finally vindicated by both the sentence and by the presence of her family members in the courtroom.

A jolt went through the packed courtroom when a child psychologist read statements written by the Dawson children.

"Why did you kill my mom?" wrote Kevin Terrell, Julia Dawson's 9-year-old son from a relationship prior to her 2001 marriage to Timothy Dawson. "I feel sad that I did not protect my mom from you," he wrote. "I want to take the name Dawson off my mom's headstone."

Brittany Dawson, Tim Dawson's 12-year-old daughter from his first marriage, also asked why. Why did Dawson try to take Julia and Timothy's son, Alex, away to Texas? Why did he kill the stepmother who had been kind to her?

Meanwhile, Dawson stated, to the chagrin of his victim's family members, that he was innocent. His attorney, Charles Rominger, plans to appeal the conviction.

"I'm innocent -- I did not commit this crime.I know one day that will be proven, and I hope that one day the pain is taken out of their hearts and God blesses them all. Thank you."

Kevin and Tamara Keenan, Julia's parents, felt in their speech before Judge Redford that the guilty verdict handed down last month and the mandatory life without parole sentence finally will give them a chance to celebrate their wedding anniversary, which will always fall on the same day their daughter died.

"I plan to celebrate my anniversary on Dec. 11. We haven't been able to celebrate our anniversary for four years, and this will be the first time I feel like I'll be able to smile on that day."

The Keenans are caring for their grandson Alex and plan to seek full custody of him. Tammy Keenan also had harsh words for the killer who took her daughter's life.

"Murder is not an accident; it is a choice -- a selfish, vicious, arrogant choice."

British university revewing professor student sex policies after nervous breakdown of 30-something student

A university is reviewing its policy on relationships between staff and students after an undergraduate had an abortion and a nervous breakdown following an affair with a lecturer.

By Alastair Jamieson Last Updated: 5:07PM GMT 07 Dec 2008

Warwick University is considering its stance in the wake of the romance between law professor Istvan Pogany, 57, and a mature student in her 30s.

The human rights expert began a relationship with the woman following the death of his wife.
The affair started in 2007 and the pair travelled abroad on holiday together. When the couple informed the university about their relationship, it advised the professor not to flaunt the affair or mark her papers.

The student fell pregnant in earlier this year and agonised over whether to have an abortion.
She is said to have cancelled a series of appointments before finally going through with a surgical termination and taking the remains home in a conical flask for a proper burial.

The burial is said to have taken place in the professor's back garden at his home in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The affair led to an internet gossip campaign among students and staff and two website petitions, one praising Professor Pogany as a brilliant academic and another that accused him of abusing his position of power. Both online petitions have been removed.

The Hungarian-born lecturer, who teaches Human Rights and international law, is currently abroad on arranged study leave and is not due back to Warwick University until the beginning of January. When contacted for comment, he answered in Hungarian.
The student said: "I just want to put this behind me."

In a statement, Warwick University said: "The university is aware of a relationship between Professor Pogany and a student. We are aware that some institutions within the UK are moving towards the establishment of a code of conduct in respect of such matters and this is also presently under review at Warwick.

"We are mindful that the people involved are both adults and the university has to take this into account in the way it responds both to the situation itself, and also to enquiries about that situation.

"We take our responsibilities to both our students and staff very seriously.
"We are seeking to support and advise both the student and the member of staff. It is not possible to for us comment further without breaching the privacy of those individuals concerned."

San Antonio teacher caught with his pants down

Paul D. Roberts, 42, was arrested and charged with an improper relationship between teacher and student. Roberts, who taught in San Antonio. TX at Jefferson High School, was caught after a male student saw him and a 18 year old female student engaged in sexual activity. The teacher told the male student to leave, but he came back with a custodian. The relationship, which started with flirting, escalated to touching, then sexual activity which occured around 3 PM in Roberts' classroom. The charge is a 2nd degree Texas felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.

Santa Cruz rapist who tried to get out of plea sentenced to life with parole eligibility

Michael Barnes, 41, was found guilty of raping a woman earlier this year, and after the 1st guilty verdict, Barnes pled guilty to raping the other two women he was charged with attacking. The District Attorney's Office let Barnes plead to a 24 year sentence versus the life sentence he would have faced if he had went to trail on the other cases. Judge Samuel Stevens sentenced him Friday morning in a Santa Cruz, CA, courtroom. The sentencing was scheduled for July, but Barnes filed a motion to withdraw previous guilty pleas, which was denied.

Nevertheless, according to Anthony Robinson, Barnes’ attorney, Barnes refused to admit guilt to some of the charges, but admitted to other things he pled guilty to.
"He said it's a sad situation and he feels really bad for everyone involved,” according to Robinson.

Prosecutor Andrew Isaac described the sentencing hearing as "dignified" and said there were no displays of vindictiveness or anger on the part of Barnes or the single victim who chose to attend.

The two other victims submitted "very moving statements about how they felt about the process," Isaac said, adding that they praised the support Santa Cruz police's victim/witness advocate, Julie Schneider provided to the three women.

"All three victims indicated how important the process and this resolution had been to their piece of mind," Isaac said.

In June, Barnes and convicted child molester Seth O'Connell allegedly were caught plotting to break out of County Jail. The pair apparently shredded jail-issue blankets and braided the strips into a rope. They had amassed about 40 feet of rope before correctional officers unraveled their plan. However, no charges were ever filed in connection with the alleged plot. Had they been convicted, the crime could have added four years to their prison sentence.

Barnes will be eligible for parole in 2029.

Nurse sentenced to life for murder for hire of husband

GATESVILLE, Texas — A prison nurse convicted in a plot to kill her ex-husband with the help of her boyfriend and teenage son has been sentenced to life in prison.

Leslie Megan Lewis-Grant was given the maximum punishment Saturday in the September 2007 death of James Michael Grant Sr., who was stabbed in his sleep before his son stomped on his chest.

John Tarrell Hopkins, the boyfriend who pleaded guilty to killing Grant, testified that Lewis-Grant thanked him repeatedly and said it was the nicest thing anyone ever did for her.
Jamie Grant, her 16-year-old son, pleaded guilty earlier this year to murder and is serving a 45-year sentence.

Lewis-Grant had told jurors she was abused repeatedly during her 13-year marriage. But the 44-year-old, who was convicted of murder, said she wasn't involved in the killing.

Hudson, WI caregiver accused of sexually assaulting patient

A 30 year old woman has been charged Monday, December 1 with 2nd degree sexual assault for having sex with a 56 year old mentally ill and chemically dependant man under her care in Hudson, WI, which is in St. Croix county, WI, not far from the Twin Cities. The sexual contact occured from May to September, according to the complaint. The suspect is the owner of the Heartview Inc. facility, and denies the more serious sex charges, but admits going into the victim's room and kissing him.

Carolyn Ann Lopez of Hudson had sexual intercourse on "numerous occasions" with the patient, now 56, the charges allege. He was being treated for mental illness and chemical dependency. Lopez indicated her duties included "one-to-one contact with residents, going to appointments, groups and shopping, and in getting to know the residents so that they could be appropriately matched with staff," the complaint said.

Lopez' next hearing in St. Croix County Circuit Court will be on December 12.

19th anniversary of Montreal Massacre rememberances today

19 years ago today, a misogynist gunman shot 14 women engineering students to death in a hate fueled attack on women at the University of Montreal before killing himself. Today, vigils and rallies are being held across Canada, some of which are subsumed in the current political turmoil in that country.

Marc Lepine, then 25, killed 14 women engineering students and faculty at the L'ecole Polytechnique in Montreal after claiming that women took his place at the school. Since then, December 6 is Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The White Ribbon Campaign is also active in the fight against male violence against women.

Sciencewomen remembers the victims of the Montreal Massacre.

Genevieve Bergeron, 21, was a 2nd year scholarship student in civil engineering. Helene Colgan, 23, was in her final year of mechanical engineering and planned to take her master's degree.

Nathalie Croteau, 23, was in her final year of mechanical engineering.

Barbara Daigneault, 22, was in her final year of mechanical engineering and held a teaching assistantship.

Anne-Marie Edward, 21, was a first year student in chemical engineering. Maud Haviernick, 29, was a 2nd year student in engineering materials, and a graduate in environmental design.

Barbara Maria Klucznik, 31, was a 2nd year engineering student specializing in engineering materials.

Maryse Laganiere, 25, worked in the budget department of the Polytechnique.

Maryse Leclair, 23, was a 4th year student in engineering materials.

Anne-Marie Lemay, 27, was a 4th year student in mechanical engineering. Sonia Pelletier, 28, was to graduate the next day in mechanical engineering. She was awarded a degree posthumously.

Michele Richard, 21, was a 2nd year student in engineering materials.

Annie St-Arneault, 23, was a mechanical engineering student.

Annie Turcotte, 21, was a first year student in engineering materials.

The years after the Montreal Massacre featured a push for tougher Canadian gun control, culminating in a gun registry and improved police measures which minimized casulties at the Dawson College shootings in 2006 at Montreal. Greater representation of women engineers in Canada also was pushed as a goal for Canadians to achieve.

However, in Canada (and in all parts of the world), women are still under attack, especially by those who profess to "love" them. Renee, a womanist Canadian blogger, gives these stats:

In a report for Statistics Canada, completed by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statics that compiled a statistical profile in the year 2004, girls and women by far constitute the number of those who have been exposed to violent physical and sexual acts.

• In 2002 females accounted for 8-in-10 (85%) of all victims of spousal violence reported to the subset of police departments. Young females aged 25-to-34 experienced the highest rates of spousal violence.

• In 2002, girls represented 79% of victims of family-related sexual assaults reported to a subset of police departments

• In 2002, older females were more likely than their male counterparts to be victims of family-related violence. Of the approximate 1,100 older adult victims of violence by family members, about 700 (or 65%) were females. This is largely attributed to the fact that females make up the majority of victims of spousal violence.

• Males made up a large proportion of those accused in family violence against older adults, accounting for nearly 8-in-10 perpetrators. Approximately 22% of accused were males aged 65 or older, most often spouses and over one-third were between 35 and 54 years of age, typically adult children.

• Data from the Homicide Survey indicate that between 1993 and 2002, women were more at risk than men of being killed by their spouse (8 homicides per million couples compared to 2 homicides per million couples). The risk was also higher among younger and common-law spouses.

But the main thing is for men to remember that when you are dealing with a woman, you are dealing with someone's daughter, sister, and friend. Acts of abuse, even if not violent, are acts of power over women, not partnership with them.