The Justice System Silences Intimate Partner Homicide Victim Angel Downs

Today in Baldwin County, Alabama, newly elected prosecutor whom could benefit from attending a few of my continuing education training's on intimate partner violence, pattern of conduct and victimology, silenced any hope of justice for Angel Downs.

On May 9, 2010, 45 yr. old realtor, Angel Downs, was found shot in the head in her front yard in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Neighbors heard shots fired and saw former (very married at that time) boyfriend and elected Mobile County Commissioner, Steve Nodine, leaving the scene in his county provided red pickup truck.

In December of 2010, Nodine stood trial for her murder, but the jury returned in a deadlock. The former prosecutor remained on board trying this case after the election. It would have been a smart move given her expertise and knowledge of the case to remain involved.

The grand jury returned indictments earlier today: Count One says "did with criminal negligence cause the death of another person, Angel Downs" - This only carries a maximum sentence of not more than 1 year in the county jail and a maximum fine of up to $6,000.

Count Two: and did falsely swear and provide false financial information. This carries a term of 1-10 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine.

I am confused. If a grand jury returned indictments last year where Nodine was indicted on murder and stalking charges and ethics violation, what changed? A jury was deadlocked in their decision so why not retry or perhaps present the same evidence? There is a concept. But that did not happen. The new prosecutor decided to convene a "special grand jury."

Bottom line is that the original murder indictment, a felony, is now a misdemeanor. This is Alabama politics from the rear of truck on a dirt road. That is preciously how, from day one, this entire murder case of Angel Downs has been handled.

The family of Angel Downs released a statement today:

Our family is absolutely devastated by the new charges, which we learned about via the news media, not through the DA’s office. Unless the DA’s office has evidence that they shared with the Grand Jury, but have failed to share with our family, we cannot fathom how the Grand Jury arrived at their conclusion. Unfortunately, we will never know what was presented to the Grand Jury, as it is secret. Hallie stated in our last meeting that she could sway the grand jury any way she wanted, but wouldn’t. As you can imagine, that statement in itself raised major red flags to our family. We notified our attorney that we wanted to go to the Attorney General, unfortunately, a Grand Jury was convened within 3 days of our meeting with the DA’s office and we did not have the opportunity. Additionally, we informed Hallie that we had many concerns regarding discrepancies with her experts reports, and her response was, “Nothing can be gained by disputing expert opinions with you at this time.” Well when is the time to dispute their opinions, after the reports have been presented to a grand jury and an indictment has been handed down? There are so many unanswered questions that we will never know.

What we do know is that it is a very sad day for our family, but more importantly, it is a very sad day for Justice for Angel.

Based on the evidence we have seen, our family stands firm in our belief that Stephen Nodine is 100% responsible for Angel’s death. We put our faith in the justice system, and that system has failed us. All involved will ultimately have to answer to a much higher power in the end – only then will Justice Be Served!

Good luck to the citizens of Baldwin County and any family who seeks Justice for their loved ones. Angel we love you and miss you, but have comfort knowing you are in a much better place where you can no longer be tormented.

Sincerely,

Angel Downs Family

Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is a specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies and high risk cases and available for personal consultations through the Institute. She is also part of the team at Management Resources Limited of New York.

Susan is the author of "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships,"Moving out, Moving on, and Defending Out Lives. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host on Crime Wire.

If you would like to schedule Susan Murphy Milano for interviews, please contact: ImaginePublicity PO BOX 14946 Surfside Beach, SC 29587 Phone: 843.808.0859 email- contact@imaginepublicity.com

Angel Downs: Justice an Unlikely Outcome

In Gulf Shores, Alabama, as the year anniversary passes in the death of Angel Downs, 45, found with a single gunshot wound in the driveway of her home on May 10, 2010, friends and family wonder if the case will be tried again after the person accused, former County Commissioner Steve Nodine stood trial in December and the outcome was a hung jury.

I have to give the defense team kudos for really working this case on behalf of their client. Regardless of what I know, they placed doubt during the trial and the jury was unable to convict him of her murder. Due to unrelated charges Nodine is behind bars in federal prison for 15 months.

A profile of an intimate partner offender and their ultimate actions is important to understand as it pertains to the mindset and pattern of conduct in these cases that end in murder. And in the majority of these cases, as in this one, the victim, Angel Downs, like so many others murdered in cold blood, has taken a back seat to justice.

The accused was a well liked and known public figure. He was supposedly "happily" married at the time the relationship began. And as we all know just because a person has an affair outside a marriage does not mean they kill a person. But a person who is jealous, controlling and manipulative with a teeter totter mentality if pushed and they are rejected tend to go into reaction mode. Either by working at gaining the affections back of the individual or when that does not work, the rage builds and they go into full destruction mode. Rarely do intimate partner offenders ever just walk away and move on with their lives.

Nodine Criminal History:

1979- Arrested for larceny from yard.
1985- Arrested for exposure of sexual organs.
1987- Breaks into a former girlfriend’s home and attacks her when she returns.
1988-Judgement for eviction.
1992- Strikes and kills a woman with a vehicle.
1997- Arrested for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
2010- Charged with possession of illegal drugs. Charged with shooting murder of Angel Downs. Grand Jury impeachment. Pleads guilty to federal gun charge.

You can place Nodine in his county owned pickup truck in her neighborhood as witnesses say they saw his truck, but that is it. No one saw him pull the trigger. And when he officially learns he is wanted for questioning in her murder he displays a common pattern of conduct by not calling to check and see what happened to Angel Downs, likely because he in my opinion, already had first hand knowledge. So it was easy for the defense to cast doubt with jurors.

In these cases psychopaths(a.k.a. the offenders) present themselves initially as intensely interested in a woman. And according to Sandra Brown, M.A., author of "Women Who Love Psychopaths," they have connected the dots to design the best approach to get her. Within intimate partner violence and homicide we only see the aftermath of the offender's behavior or action; the outcome results in a crime or death, but no one ever really explains and identifies a violent offender within a relationship. Until now. In my opinion the work of Sandra Brown, M.A. and the Institute is the piece of the missing puzzle as it directly relates to psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists.

"Psychopaths are highly pleasure motivated and excesssively seek out what they enjoy. This includes lots of high-status posessions, the need to be constantly entertained and distracted, hyper-sexual, wanting to be dominant with their social circles, and by all means requiring lots of power."

Since the trial there has been a changing of the elected guard. The former District Attorney Judy Newcomb whom tried the case is no longer in office. The newly elected official Hallie Dixon has likely weighed the County's options and the all mighty dollar cold be a factor in her decision to re-try the case. Even with a hearing next week regarding forensic evidence it does not mean there will be a trial.

I had said back in January on my show "Time's Up" that the likely hood of the elected official re-trying this case is slim to none. The office would hang the victory on the fact that on unrelated charges Nodine received 15 months in prison.

Where as in all of these case is the justice for the victims of intimate partner violence? Sadly, Angel Downs is receiving the same treatment by the system as when she was alive. The silence is indeed deafening!

Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visit http://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/ She is also in partnership with Pamela Chapman and iAscend Programs. http://pamelachapmanl.biz

Susan 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 Here Women Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth. Susan is a survivor- the daughter of a police officer family intimate partner homicide by her father who murdered her mother before committing suicide.

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The Angel Downs Murder Case

Angel Downs was found in her driveway with a gunshot to her head. Speeding away from the residence, witnessed by neighbors, was Mobile County Commissioner, Stephen Nodine. Nodine was charged with her murder and in December 2010 his case was declared a mistrial. Just a few days before Christmas, the jury was hung.

Guests:

Cherry Simpson, contributor to the blog “Time’s Up!” wrote about the case from the point of view of a citizen of Mobile, AL as well as the mother of a victim of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.

Kevin Lee is a correspondent for a local Mobile, AL publication, Lagniappe, and has extensively covered the Angel Downs case.

Each week join Susan, her guests and families impacted by crime of a missing person or loved one's case unsolved.

Time's Up profile's real-life unsolved and missing person’s cases featuring family

members of unsolved crimes, missing persons and partner intimate homicides.

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at timesupforjustice@gmail.com

Known as the “Jane Wayne of Justice,” Susan Murphy Milano always stands up as a voice for those who are silenced in a world of intimidation and violence within their homes and in courtrooms across the country.

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