Cold Blooded Facts in The Randy Bratschi Murder Trial

 

Randy Bratschi was last seen by friends and family, alive, according to police reports leaving his job at Smurfit-Stone Container in Florence the morning of Nov. 26, 2004  On July 16, 2009 his skeletal remains were recovered in Coward, South Carolina.. 

.
  

  

When Randy Bratschi’ disappeared, his wife Brenda Bratschi was out of jail on bond following an arrest for assault and battery with intent to kill in connection with serious assault against  her husband, Randy. For five years law enforcement searched for him.  Thousands of man power later including the CUE Center for Missing Persons, he was found.

In 2004, Brenda was accused of beating Randy Bratschi with a wooden club commonly used by truck drivers to strike the tires on 18-wheelers to check air pressure. 

Brenda Bratschi is currently on trial for his murder.  Yesterday, her defense attorney filed a motion asking the court to consider a directed verdict to acquit Brenda of the murder of her husband.  When the court reconvenes this morning the judge will decide the motion. 

The pattern of conduct in cases of men who stand trial and murder their wives; mirror’s those of women who kill.  Brenda Bratschi is no different, except she is a female. ;

Consider how and where Randy’s body was discovered.  Movers were transporting a trailer on property owned by Randy when he was alive.  Common sense says the body didn’t magically get buried by itself,  It was hidden in that  location by the killer.  The person who’d not banked on the fact the property would be sold and the trailer moved, Brenda Bratschi.  

The area where he dies was isolated, and on private property.  No one would able to see Brenda Bratschi burying Randy.  In addition, remember the judge’s order prohibiting her anywhere near him?  So when Brenda is questioned by detectives she gives the tired old response of “I don’t know where he could be,” followed by the shrug of both shoulders and of course, hiring a criminal defense attorney. 

Brenda Bratschi had already violated the order of protection secured by Randy twice.  There were 911 calls placed and in ever so clever killer form, the pattern of conduct was attempted by Brenda as she places one of the 911 calls claiming to be a victim of abuse.  But it doesn’t fly. Detectives don’t believe her, nor does the judge who’d issued the original court order of protection.

Randy Bratschi was ending his relationship with his violent, dangerous and abusive wife.  She’d become more violent as the couple ended their marriage.  Important to note: remember she was charged with assault and battery and an attempt to kill. These charges were open and pending when randy vanished of the face of the earth without a trace. Another common theme of intimate partner homicides; hide the body where you know and right under everyone's noses. This woman proves she’s no girl scout and in cases of intimate partner violence, there is never a next time for any victim.

This case isn’t about a judge and a courtroom sending a message.  This case is about justice for Randy Bratschi, age 54 who lost his life as a result of intimate partner homicide.  The jury can render justice in this case if they carefully review the facts and the pattern of conduct leading up to the murder. The defense attorney is doing his job for his client by creating doubt while trying to disarm a court and dilute the facts of premeditated cold blooded murder. 

Let’s pray the presiding judge denies the defense's motion and agrees to proceed with the trial. 

Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education as a educator and specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.

 A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals, victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. 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 onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes : Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up! a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime Susan is also the daughter of a Chicago Violent Crimes detective who murdered her mother before committing suicide.  

Lisa Nettie Annette Peterson's Murder Trial Resume's Today

In Muncie Indiana, the murder trial continues today for Benjamin Hankins, a former Gaston, IN reserve police officer and correctional officer who is standing trial for the murder of his estranged wife Lisa Nettie Annette Peterson who’d left and filed for divorce the previous year..

Hankins has tried to say since the shooting on June 3, 2011 of Lisa was in self-defense?   She was shot 3 times.  During the trial last week Pathologist Paul Mullen took the stand (coverage by the Star Press) • “said the 32-year-old victim was likely hit by three bullets -- one in the leg; one that passed through her arm, creating an apparent defensive wound, and then entered her chest and lung, and a third bullet that passed through her lower torso. The victim essentially bled to death, Mellen said, and likely could have survived her wounds only with a quick emergency medical response. Authorities allege Benjamin Hankins waited 17 minutes after firing the gunshots before he called 911.

The Pathologist also testified the victim's leg wounds, caused by a single bullet, could have been inflicted after she had fallen to the floor, and then held her legs up in an desperate bid to shield herself from more gunfire.

What is also troubling is the youngest child heard their mother scream and plead for her life, just before she was murdered. There are also threatening text messages sent by Hankins to Lisa’s cell phone being entered into the court record.  Hankins was no boy scout, an angry violent man solving what he couldn’t control with violence that resulted in the cold blooded murder of Lisa.  The mother of three was not match for the trained killer. 

The defense would have been better served to plea bargain the case prior to trial. When you represent a cowardly killer and the evidence is overwhelming, you pick up your big boy briefs and do the best you can for your client instead of trying to ask the court to rule a mistrial when damaging testimony cooks the client like a pan on a hot stove.  

This former officer demanded she return with the children and be a family, or else.  A common thread in many cases of intimate partner violence that leads to homicide. The offender almost always gives an ultimatum to their victims before they kill them. Hankin's behavior, actions and pattern of conduct were like following the sheet music to the hit song " If You Leave Me, I Will Kill You," with the final notes ending in gunfire. 

If we hold officer's to a higher standard when they go through the academy and are sworn to serve and protect, than the same standards should be applied when anyone in law enforcement murders their own wife. 

Whatever you do, if you or someone you know is ending a relationship, leave and go someplace safe.  Do not stay once you have filed for a divorce or announced the relationship is over.  And for heaven's sake have a plan of action BEFORE, you say or do anything!

The dangers should be carefully considered when ending a dating relationship or marriage. The reaction to rejection is costing lives. In cases where the victim has died, her fears during the relationship or marriage remain silent, telling family or friends is considered "hearsay" and it's not enough when the person responsible is finally brought to trial. As a precaution, victims are encouraged to prepare the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit and video, also known as the "EAA." This removes hearsay and in a victim's own words provides historical abuse documentation, gives law enforecment and prosecutors a profile of the offender and shows his pattern of conduct prior to the crime should the victim vanish or be killed.

Document the Abuse.Com contains vital information on how the EAA can support each case of abuse from the perspective of the first responders and advocates, to an appearance in court. It explains the legal benefits to the abuse victim, whether they are able to testify or not, how their words are forever documented and hold up in court, much like a Living Will.

www.documenttheabuse.com

Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education as a educator and specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.

 A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals, victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. 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 onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes : Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up! a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime

The Roth Show and Susan Murphy Milano: Special Guest Diane Fanning Wednesday 7:00 PM Est

The Roth Show!
Listen LIVE: www.therothshow.com
7-8pm ET

Wednesday, May 25

Diane Fanning

As the largest media event since the OJ Simpson trial begins in

Orlando, FL, we must remember that justice for little two year old, Caylee Anthony is at stake. Diane Fanning is the author of “Mommy’s Little Girl” the #1 Best Seller about the short life of Caylee and the information surrounding the search for her.

Fanning is one of the elite true crime authors and takes time to do painstaking research on all the cases she writes about. One of those cases made it's way into "Through the Window" about serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells who confessed to the murder of a little boy whose mother was wrongfully convicted and sentence for 65 years. Diane Fanning's testimony in the appeal of Julie Rea Harper led to her being exonerated.

Diane is a recent recipient of the "Defenders of the Innocents" Award from the Innocence Project of Illinois, presented by Julie Rea Harper.

Diane Fanning is not only one of the queens of True Crime, she also pens a series of novels incorporating the character of Lt. Lucinda Pierce, a tough as nails detective who was once a disfigured victim of domestic violence, and now on a mission to solve crimes and put away criminals.

www.dianefanning.com

The Roth Show is a nationally syndicated talk show hosted by Dr. Laurie Roth, Ph.D., and stands on principles and leading the charge for the legions of Americans who are saying “Enough Already!”

---

This Week From:

Part Two of Series: "Is This Where They Wanna Be?

The children of Peggy Dianovsky were outside playing as their parents fought inside the house. Bobby, age 7 heard his mother sreaming for help, he ran in from outside up the stairs his mother was on the landing Robert held Peggy down as he beat her. Immediately, Bobby ran down the basement stairs with his hands covering his face trying to forget the images he had just seen.

A short time later, Bobby's father called all the children over to him, while according to the sons, their father was washing off his bloody hands. Robert announced "we are going for a bike ride." The father and the kids left. When they walked back into the house Robert said "your mother is sleeping, don't disturb her." It was September of 1982, the last time the boys would ever see their mother, alive.

The response to Peggy Dianovsky's disappearance was not as publicized as it would be for Stacy Peterson, 25 years later in 2007. And had Kathleen Savio's death been correctly investigated and ruled a homicide, there would likely be no need to keep this young woman's case in the public eye in hopes she can be brought home to her loved ones.

The Sunday morning Stacy was still in her home, so were the kids. Stacy Peterson's two biological children were too young to comprehend anything that happened. But, Kathleen Savio's boys, one or both of them likely heard something. Stacy was alive on October 27th when she tucked her children in bed the night before and Drew was still working his shift. And he returned home the morning of the 28th.

According to a Time line on the site a Candyrose.com:

Timeline of Sunday according to Bruce (Stacy's sister's boyfriend). - "Sunday morning [10/28/2007] around 10 AM, he [Bruce Zidarich] shared back and forth text messages with Stacy.

She then called him at 10:15 a.m.

She said that she had been just lounging in bed for a couple of hours, and that she AND HER KIDS were going to go to the house to paint today.

Bruce was supposed to wait to hear from Stacy's sister Cassandra, and then call Stacey after Cassandra got in touch with them.

Then they were all to meet over there to paint. However, Cassandra had decided to go to her mother's house that day, and didn't call Bruce.

At 4PM Bruce sent Stacy a text message saying "Lets paint tomorrow". He received no reply. Greta asked him when he began to worry about Stacy. Bruce said that Cassandra called him around 7 PM and said she had not been able to reach Stacy all day. He relayed that he had not heard from her since 10 or so that morning, and that he didn't get a reply to the 4 PM text message he had sent her."

2007-10-28 findstacypeterson.com 10:09 AM ILL [findstacypeterson.com Timeline]: "Stacy calls Bruce [Zidarich], says she is laying in bed. (call lasts until 10:28)."

2007-10-28 chicagosuburbannews 10:00 AM ILL "Stacy’s sister, Cassandra Cales, said the last telephone contact she had with her sister was at about 10 a.m. Sunday. After that, all attempts to reach Stacy by cell phone were unsuccessful."

Was the morning routine of this family shaken by an argument? The kids were definately up that morning. Did anyone hear screams or loud sounding thumps as if someone was thrown down on a carpeted bedroom floor? When Drew came out of the bedroom what did he say to his two children Kristopher and Thomas? Did Peterson tell them Stacy was sleeping and to be quiet? Did he say Stacy has gone out for the day and he was calling Sharon the next door neighbor and they were going over there for a while because he had stuff to do? The boys would likely never question their father. Did the boys think it strange that they were not going to leave with Stacy to paint her brothers house as planned? Regardless, Drew Peterson a heavy handed and likely feared ruler of his domain would be able to have his own children second guess what they might have seen or heard because Drew Peterson in my opinion is a master manipulator. And all children from these types of environment instinctively understand "little children are to be see and not heard," or else they will pay the price.

Twenty-five years between each set of children each torn by fear, truth and loyalty , father's whom likely silenced both women for ending the relationship. The Dianovsky boys now adults, have already paid a high price well into their adult years. They literally are the keeper of destructive secrets, similar to a permanent tatoo that remains within them each day they are alive. The same could hold true for the Peterson boys. Could one the Kathleen's children suddenly remember, perhaps with the guidence of a therapist, what happened on October 28, 2007, 10, 20 or 30 years later? It is a strong possibility.

Drew Peterson's trial date has been postponed while the State is awaiting answers on appeal's for certain testimony to be allowed at trial. Can the State's Attorney place Drew Peterson at the crime scene of Kathleen Savio? Is the case based on circumstantial evidence? Is what the State has enough for a conviction?

Part 3: This is Where They Wanna Be?" continues with Robert Dianovsky's 2004, trial and Drew Peterson's impending trial.

Be sure to return for the next installment of this Special Series Saturday, August 28, 2010"Is it Where They Wanna Be?

Remember to tune in every Monday evening at 9:00 PM EST with Former Atlanta Prosecutor turned defense attorney, Holly Hughes, Cold Case Institute Director, Sheryl McCull0m and Violence expert and author Susan Murphy Milano to "Intimate Partner Homicide Investigation", on Blogtalk radio.

Drew Peterson Trial and the Sidebar on Google?

Last week Drew Peterson's ever expanding circus act filed 9 motions before the upcoming trial scheduled for the 14th of June. Nice move by the defense team, I will give them that much, but, I am reminded of another trial in California 6 years ago, also in June headed by famed defense attorney, Mark Geragos. Maybe the Drew Peterson defense team is quietly holding weekly phone conferences with Geragos on the motions filed by my favorite legal "Marshmallow Roaster"as they appear eerily similar.

You remember Mark Geragos, he represented Scott Peterson. This Peterson (no relation to Drew except for their ability, in my opinion, to make women vanish) went to trial for the murder of Laci Peterson  in 2002, after she went missing while seven and a half months pregnant with her first child. Laci was reportedly last seen alive on December 24, 2002. Peterson's defense was based around the lack of direct evidence, and defusing the circumstantial evidence, and a hell of a lot of useless motions and paper legal shuffling. The evidence against Peterson was largely circumstantial. On November 12 , 2004, a jury convicted Scott Peterson of first-degree murder with special circumstances for killing Laci and second-degree murder for killing his unborn son.

The prosecutor prevailed and Scott Peterson is now sitting his pathetic behind on death row.  

The motions filed under "seal" by the Drew Peterson team is nothing more than a way to buy time. Reminds me of too many cooks in a kitchen spoiling the soup.

There is an upside to this defense circus, each one of the team members will have their name in "Internet lights" so to speak, searched by Google with rapid speed. My favorite legal roaster will likely have his own page, hopefully minus the advertisement for the not so famous take out chicken wings, with his client's name at the top :"Drew Peterson Trial." Along the sidebar of the page will be a listing of trial documents, evidence, case summary, and each defense attorney on the team will have their name displayed in bright colorful fonts.

Looking at the Scott Peterson trial should give us a bit of hope that Will County Prosecutor James Glascow will also prevail and get a conviction. After all, he is not representing one victim, but many.

[To follow the latest on the case go to http://www.petersonstory.wordpress.com/ and Websleuths forum where you are able to post your thoughts and weigh in on the case]

Been there, done that…” Susan Murphy-Milano has turned a tired phrase into demonstrable realism through the gift of her newly published book, "TIME'S UP: A GUIDE ON HOW TO LEAVE AND SURVIVE ABUSIVE AND STALKING RELATIONSHIPS

Drew Peterson Defense Adds New Members To The Already Crowded Circus Ring?

According to reporter Joe Hosey and author of the book Fatal Vows who has been covering the Drew Peterson case since 2004, the total number on the defense team is now up to six.

In my opinion, of note joining the team, or should I say "train wreck," is defense attorney and legal commentator Steven A. Greenberg. I am surprised because of Greenberg’s criticisms in the past to my favorite legal marshmallow roaster (notorious for passing out monogrammed pens and handing out chicken wings with sauce to reporters) because he couldn’t control the client

I happen to know Greenberg from other cases through the years. He is one of Illinois more skilled defense lawyers. So why is he wasting his talent and representing the former Bolingbrook police Sergeant?

In an interview over a year ago ,and as a legal commentator, defense attorney Steve Greenberg, who has analyzed the Peterson saga for national news shows--
"The second Savio autopsy is just a different interpretation of the injuries," he said. "The same injuries were documented in the first one, but what apparently happened is it was treated differently because Drew Peterson was a police officer. It's just a fact that authorities at the time took his story and didn't really look into it."
Greenberg said he doesn't expect Glasgow will undercut his own case by running from the first autopsy, however.
"He'll say, 'That was just that pathologist's opinion at the time, but it's really up to you to decide,'" he said. Glasgow will then point to the injuries noted in both autopsies and ask the jury to use common sense.
"He'll ask, 'Do you think that someone who falls in a bathtub would have 17 bruises on their body?"

In my opinion this one is all about the media gravy train. I’ll bet a dozen pair of pantyhose Steven Greenberg has taken this case pro-bono.

Regardless, Greenberg wins either way and has nothing to lose by being part of the already crowded circus act. Wish there was a way to put an attorney on the stand when they make "expert in their opinion" remarks

and hold them accountable. Reminds me of another attorney Mark Geragos.

[For the very latest on the Peterson case visit http://www.petersonstory.wordpress.com/ the trial starts June, 14, 2010]

Been there, done that…” Susan Murphy- Milano has turned a tired phrase into demonstrable realism through the gift of her newly published book, "TIME'S UP: A GUIDE ON HOW TO LEAVE AND SURVIVE ABUSIVE AND STALKING RELATIONSHIPS