Tiffany Hartley: Murder & Mexican Borders in Real Time

Everyone from CNN to NBC's Todays Show has interviewed Tiffany Hartley, 29, the young woman  now widowed after she and her husband jet skied on the waters of Mexico along the border just 6 weeks ago. She has been tagged "courageous" and a "hero" by the media for her actions in saving her life and being able to talk about it afterwards.  Killer's are always the masters at painting the canvas. 

David Hartley's body, jet ski, life vest and camera vanished the day this woman returned to tell the world her story.  For me, this tragedy is no different than others who are involved, or ultimately arrested in intimate partner homicide, or who are suspects and persons of interest.  In my opinion, working for over 20 years on these cases, the real tragedy is the truth and how the media is presenting this story all because the person responsible is a woman.

I know what you are thinking; this beautiful girl nextdoor  is not capable of killing anyone.   Afterall, she and David were high school sweethearts who married and traveled the world together as if they were joined at the hip.  That is the perception, but, it is not reality. It is what Tiffany Hartley wants the world to believe.

First, Tiffany Hartley returned unscathed.  Under the circumstances, as she told her story (they are 2 or 3 versions ) she would have never escaped alive.  Tiffany herself would have been taken by the so called pirates or drug cartel, then held hostage, and when they were finished sharing her among the other men she would have been sold to the sex slave trade in another country.  That is a fact.

Another fact is the "pirate" or drug boats can out run a jet ski.  Tiffany looked fairly calm, no blood anywhere on her own vest, hair or face.  As a matter of fact, she was in pretty good condition as she gave her live on air interviews.  She said she jumped in the water to save her husband; that is not possible.  Tiffany had nothing under her feet on the water for balance to even do this and she weighs 100 lbs against a man that is double that weight, now dead weight, not possible to be turned over. David was outfitted with a life vest and he wouldn't dare get in the water with bad equipment so how could he have been face down in the water?  Maybe he was never in the water in the first place?  No one saw the couple together, it is possible, all we have is her account.

Then we have the person who called the 911 operater after Tiffany ran up to him. The person called into CNN to give their account again.  Wow, amazing it does not add up.  If the caller is in so much fear why does he bother calling to give an interview?  Does the caller even have television service or reception?  Is the caller a faithful follower of CNN to know to even call into the show?

CNN CALLER:
It was my second weekly round. I usually make one. And I was just checking out the property, making sure my plants get enough water and what have you, when I noticed there was this boat behind a jet ski. I was, like I said, watering the plants when I see this jet ski start coming towards me. I noticed the boat behind it turned around and left the area. And as that boat gets closer, I can see the lady in distress looking back over her shoulders, and she looked frantic, sobbing. And she asked me -- the first words out of her mouth were like, "Can you speak English?"


And I nodded while I said, "Yes." And she right away asked me to call 911.

BALDWIN: Did she explain what had happened to her husband?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's when she said, "My husband's been shot," been shot in the head. And it sent chills down my spine. It changed my mood. I was scared. I went ahead right away and started dialing 911 as she got off the jet ski. She kept explaining to me that all they were doing was taking pictures. They weren't doing anything wrong out there, just taking pictures when. 

Here all the caller is doing is recounting what Tiffany Hartley has told him so he repeated it to the 911 operater.  This is a staged killers dream to have a performance believed by others.  Abusers are masters at manipulating the truth. 


BALDWIN: These three boats come upon them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they went ahead and surrounded them, started waving guns, from what she was telling me. As they started to take off, because they got scared themselves, the bullets start coming in.


Again, a statement from what Tiffany was telling him.  So this is no different than Drew Peterson saying "my wife Stacy ran off with another man," or Josh Powell saying "Susan Powell  just took off and you will have to believe me until you can prove otherwise."  Tiffany Hartley is in my opinion far more elborate and creative then the men we see who committ these crimes.

Stay with me and return for Part 2- Saturday, November 20, 2010

(Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction & Public Pathology  Education.  For more information visit http://www.saferelationships.com/  She is the author of  "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.  Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on http://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr. Laurie Roth on http://www.therothshow.com/)

Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit by Susan Murphy Milano from the Book "Time's Up" from Courage Network on Vimeo.

Seeing The Signs: Texas Mayor Jayne Peters

The news story of Texas Mayor Jayne Peters written by David Lohr tells of a newly widowed mother who murdered her 19year old daughter, Corinne, before committing suicide. Last week the Mayor failed to show up at a city council meeting, there was concern, and a police unit dispatched to her home.

Once inside the home police discovered mother and daughter, each dead from a single gunshot wound.

Now everyone is asking how they could have “missed the signs.” That is the million dollar question in the majority of these cases. Remove the idea that this educated woman of means and position could have remotely been thinking such thoughts of taking her life or someone else, especially her own child, is beyond human understanding. But this, in my opinion, is a tragedy that should be carefully reviewed, along with the financial issues this woman faced making poor excuses for her ultimate actions, and somehow, at the same time, asking us all to forgive her.

It can begin with one life altering moment. In this particular case the death of a life partner, husband and father. The thought of having no desire to live because our loved one has departed is for many far too earth shattering to continue living. But, it is rare when a mother, especially this mother, also an elected official, murders her own daughter.

According to Fox News out of Texas police found a total of 4 notes at various locations in the home. In one of the notes Jayne Peters says “we were lost,” likely translates to when their husband and father died, they wanted to die, or was it just Mayor Peters? She was now without her life compass.

After the funeral the signs were there, but in the death of a family member or friend one can easily forget to maintain contact. Oh sure, there are well intentioned promises of having coffee or dinner maybe taking in a movie, it just doesn’t happen. We all get busy and go back to our lives.

The grieving person is expected to do the same. In this case, it never happened.  Matyor Peters was never able to fuse or connect her life. Pieces of her were not in reach. She no longer felt whole or complete, even with her daughter at her side, and likely something was amiss prior to the death of her husband.

No one that knew her should carry any burden or ownership of what I term “woulda, shoulda or coulda” or, “If only I did or had done this or that I could have saved her and Corinne,” not possible.

Jayne Peters' successful life included a deep depression and when her daughter would not own or share in her mothers grief, the relationship between them became rocky. It's not impossible for a person like Mayor Peters to hide their emotions to those on the outside of the doors of their home. It is easy to split yourself off when someone so very close to you has died; you do not want anyone to see your pain. You believe no one wants to hear about how much you are hurting because the person is no longer around. Someone in this state of mind has to work just as hard to face each new day and do what you and I might take for granted. It can be as simple as taking a breath. For you and I it is normal; for someone grieving and in deep depression it can be exhausting. But it is still a "pity party excuse."

Am I dismissing what Jayne Peters did? Absolutely not! She planned out the murder of her own child.

Corinne Peters had just graduated high school and was planning to attend the University of Texas in the fall. Corinne was robbed of her life by a woman who decided for her that the pain she was experiencing in her own life would be too much for her baby girl to endure. This teenager, by all accounts, was happy and looking forward to her future.

Corinne Peters would have never taken her own life, and tragically that decision was never hers to make in the first place. Her mother will not be remembered for anything other than the Texas Mayor who murdered her daughter.

I would like Corinne Peters to be remembered as a shining bright light while on earth standing up to a darkness few have ever survived.

Rest in peace young warrior! You earned it!

It's Okay To Ask Your Kids Questions

It is likely over the next few days you will be with family and friends during the Thanksgiving holiday. If you have a teenager take the opportunity to have some quality discussions about school, whom they are hanging around with and if they are sort of dating someone find out what is going on in their lives. And if you have a moment please head on over and read the the post titled "Thanksgiving Tradition" by Anglican Priest Charles Moncrief over on the Time's Up Blog.

We never really pay attention or think much about our kids being in an abusive relationship. We tell them to stay away from strangers or never to put their drink down at a party, but, as parents do we ever ask and check in with our kids and their relationships? As a parent, why not consider printing a copy of this off and either sitting down with your teenager and discussing the questions listed below or lightly mention that you saw this on the Internet and thought it might be of interest and leave it at that. Maybe ask about their friends, if they suspect they are in an unhealthy situation at the moment. It's a way to open the door to discussing the topic.

Questions to really look and go over with your teenager:
Print this sheet off and write your ideas in the spaces. You can print this sheet from your browser (by pressing the 'print' button on the toolbar or selecting 'print' in the File menu.)
Write a list of the ways in which you think your boyfriend/girlfriend has been or is being abusive towards you.
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Did you ever stop and think about your boyfriend/girlfriend and what they gain through their behavior? Does it make them a better person for controlling or hurting you? Maybe this is being done in their home and they think this is normal behavior? ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
How has the way you are treated made you feel? Helpless, stupid, afraid to tell someone? ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
How does or has the abuse affected you - how has it affected your confidence, your relationships, and your school studies or just your life right now.
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
How have the negative messages that your boyfriend/girlfriend has given you made you feel about yourself?
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Do you think the abuse has consumed you completely?
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
If you break up:
Good points / what could I gain
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Bad points / what could I lose?
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
If you stay in the relationship:
Good points / what could I gain
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Bad points / what could I lose?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
What's your worst fear if you end the relationship right now?
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
What's your worst fear if you continue seeing this person?
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Who can you talk to who could help, a parent, family memeber, school mate, teacher?
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
What personal strengths do you have to help you keep going?
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Have you thought about steps you could take to try to change this situation?
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
What can you do to feel better and in a safe place (either in the relationship or after breaking up) ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
What things can you do for yourself, to feel stronger? (spend more time with my friends, find a job, keep a journal,pay attention to your school work, etc.
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

"Battlefield"

Wednesday around 4:00 pm, Teresann Moore was kidnapped and taken to by her estranged husband to his apartment. Neighbors heard screams and called 911. Within minutes the streets were lined with responding officers. Upon arrival officers heard shots fired from the apartment complex.

Then her estranged husband opened fire from his balcony while screaming he would kill any officer who came closer. An officer was shot in the hand by the 38 year-old Randall Moore.

Luckily, the couple's 8 month-old baby boy was at day-care. Police stormed the apartment and found Teresann dead and took Moore into custody.

Theresann was an Air Guard veteran and she had completed three missions in Iraq. She was a member of the 132nd Fighter Wind based out of Des Moines. All her training sadly could not and did not prevent her death.

Often people married to violent offenders are not prepared to deal with continued random acts of violence once the relationship ends. In this case, and I am only guessing, this woman obviously felt that once she was divorced he would leave her alone.

Similar to a ticking bomb, a person leaving, from the moment they say the words "the relationship or marriage is over" to the time they walk out the door, a victim must be on their guard around the clock. Because as I have said before, ending a relationship is the most dangerous time and a plan for all around safety must be implemented immediately, otherwise as we see in this tragedy, it will cost your life!

Prayers to the family and friends and for the wounded police officer.

Bloody Begining For 2009

We begin the New Year with many casualities in the silent epidemic of domestic violence. We can't ignore the facts. These tragedies are not isolated incidents. There are others I did not list because police have not officially determined the cause of death. If you believe this is not your problem, you are incorrect. When the police respond to a call for help or a crime scene who do you think pays for those visits? You Do as a taxpayer. When fire, rescue squards and swat teams respond to a sitation, We Pay For That, Too! Until we begin as a nation to see this a real crime, expect the death toll to rise. If you are a church member consider asking your church to start an awareness program. Go to a city council meeting and ask if information can be sent to households in the community on how to be safe in an abusive environment. Check with the local school board in your area and ask if there are programs for teen domestic violence and perhaps a parent outreach. We all have a voice when it involves prevention, lets use it!

A tragic discovery over the weekend began with 3 children ages 2,4 & 8 knocking on a neighbors doors asking for something to eat. The oldest informed the neighboor his "Mom's legs were covered in blood." Another child, just 9 months old, screeming from behind a locked bedroom door. The children had been in the apartment for approximately 3 days. Upon entering the apartment, the neighbor was hit with the foul stench of death. The baby continued to scream. The door was locked. he kicked it in to find the baby covered in blood and badly soiled.

The bodies of Hannah Crowe 26 and Julian Wallulatum 21were discovered Saturday after the older children asked a neighbor to help.

In North Carolina on New Years day-- Officials say a standoff with a man believed to have killed his ex-wife and two other women in western North Carolina ended when the man killed himself early Friday morning.

Buncombe County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Ross Dillingham said that Richard Heatwole killed his ex-wife, Angela Heatwole. The other victims were Divina Gracia Agulto, 44, who is believed to have rented a room from Richard Heatwole; and Lesley Curtis Moore Keogh, 43, who was found dead on the porch of her home . Then the serial killer abducted his two children ages 6 and 10. When the Swat team arrived Richard Heatwole was holding his two children hostage. Thank God he did not harm them. During the standoff, he took his own life. The children were found safe.

In California on New Years day, Investigators found the bodies of Gabriela Galvan, 33, and her 50-year-old live-in boyfriend, Lino Farias, in El Cajon.

Neighbors say the couple appeared to have a good relationship and can't believe this happened. James Christman says the couple only moved in a few months ago.

In Monteal Canada a Father and Mother of 3 small children ,who had lost their jobs decide to kill their children and then themselves in a suicide pack. The mother survives. Her three children and husband are dead. Police charge her in their murders.

In Arizona, a man murdered a woman and then committed suicide.

In Indiana an angry husband guns down his estranged wife in an apparent murder-suicide that happened in broad daylight with children present. The man drove his vehicle into his estranged wife's vehicle on a street before shooting her about 11:30 a.m. Monday. Police responding to the scene found 37-year-old Ella Minix dead in her vehicle and her husband, 40-year-old Jonathan Minix, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in his vehicle a short distance away. Police say the Winamac couple were recently separated. Hines says two children, ages 10 and 13, also were in the woman's car but neither one was injured.

A Memo to Boston Governor Deval Patrick

The Governor of Boston Deval Patrick has proclaimed domestic violence an epidemic. I mean no disrespect to his honor. I applaud his attempts at heightening awareness. He is designating $1.3 million dollars for a study .

The problem is, solutions will not be revealed in a study. Likely administered by individuals who have no idea what is domestic violence or the deadly , yet silent dangers victims and their children face three hundred and sixty five days a year seven days a week. Or the law enforcement families who are unable to seek basic legal remedies because their boyfriend or husband is issued a badge and a gun within the State of Boston.

Governor Patrick, a study will not produce results. It will only add more flames to a fire already out of control in the lives of family violence victims.

You would not hire someone to run your campaign for re-election who did not have experience and a track record would you? Then sir, why commission and ineffective tool likely to sit on someone's desk for a few years.

There is a group of individuals who are in the trenches and on top of the issues of family violence in the home across the country. These experts, given the opportunity would implement more than a study with the $1.3 million dollars. Sir, they would create tools that are effective and save lives.

I for one would like nothing more then to not attend another funeral. Or explain to a child why Mommy or Daddy are not, ever, coming home.

I would welcome an opportunity to discuss real options and potential solutions. It will not cost you $1.3 million dollars. A plane ticket and lunch seems like a real bargin.

Afterall, Governor, one cannot put a price on human lives.

My direct email address is : contact@movingoutmovingon.com

Link to the Governors Home Page:
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3homepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Agov3

http://www.bostonglobe.com/

FYI- Please Take a moment to visit new site link: http://www.womenincrimeink.blogspot.com/