Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Wes Vinyard — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:23:36 GMT

prosecutors are like bull dogs. Once they set their minds on a case, they will go all out to prove the person as guilty, and if they are proven not guilty later, and released from prison, the prosecutor will stick by his conviction. I believe there actually are some people in prison that are not guilty of a crime. A lot have been convicted from just circumstantial evidence where later on they are found not guilty.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

daniel t. deering exeter nh — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:17:56 GMT

i feel both dummias and gunn should be proscuted to the full extent of the law for false imprisment and false proscution for withholding evidence and they should both seve hard prison time this would send the shock wave the justice system needs because this stuff has been going onfor yrs it takes money to a lawyery with the fight and expertise allen bloom has cindy was luky to have him in her coner i ve folled this story from the trial until the present

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Adam Lane, Planet Earth — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:37:18 GMT

What's particularly frightening is that the reality is even more disturbing than what you've described here.

In truth, even the FIRST test results were incompatible with a finding of arsenic poisoning.

And the prosecutors knew this because the expert they consulted at the time to interpret the test results told them so.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Marc S, Oakland, CA — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:03:59 GMT

It is so hard to believe that in today's world, we're still not confirming with a follow up test the evidence that could have potentially put this woman to death. What if the prosecutor had gone after a death sentence because her husband had been a US Marine? Simply because he was a Marine may have swayed jury members to 'find justice' for him.

I certainly hope that Cindy is able to regain her life, and with our society being so litigious, possibly a suit by, and compensation to, Cindy might make it easier for San Diego or any other jurisdiction to realize the need for safeguards to their procedures to confirm evidential findings.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Richard Bayer, Alburgh, VT — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:49:08 GMT

Ok, so how do the jurors who convicted her of a non-crime feel, and what about the prosecutor who went after so hard? You spent too much time with the old footage of her being guilty, and haven't given equal time to her being totally framed by bad science.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Cindy Orange County Calif. — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:12:02 GMT

Justice was finally served... for Cindy Sommers and her family. I watched the trial of Cindy Sommer and was absolutley stunned when the juoreres found her guilty. It was so obviouse she was inocent and I'm so happy for her to have been given her well deserved freedom back and to have her reunited with her four kids.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Danielle Carter, Columbus, Ohio — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:25:23 GMT

I think it is an absolute shame that prosecutors are exempt after making such horrible mistakes. My son was wrongfully convicted two years ago at the young age of twenty for conspricacy to distribute drugs. Not only has he lost what little he had the trouble is rebuilding and trying to go on with life. However just like this young lady said the people involved in the wrongful conviction does not lose anything and continue to draw paychecks. My sons case was unprecedented 23 inmates released from Federal Prison when the snitch said he lied and he and the agent sold drugs amongst themeselves and officers, prosecutors nad the Judge was all aware and today they are still collecting a Federal Paycheck while the lives of 23 men remain ruined. I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THIS YOUNG WOMAN ON THE QUEST TO STOP THIS AND START HOLDING LAW OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

NANCY, GILBERT AZ — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:07:48 GMT

YOU GO GIRL! IT'S HIGH TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AGAIN IN THIS COUNTRY!
GOD BLESS YOU & YOUR FAMILY CINDY.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Chenita Stewart 302 Somerdale Rd. Voorhees, NJ 08043 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:26:40 GMT

My dear Cindy, I know what you were going through. My brother was accused of murder many years ago. The young lady he was accused of killing was stabbed 17 times and died from affrication of her own blood. My brother went through a criminal trail and was found not guilty. But it cost our family over 150,000.00 for his deffense. That was a lot of money at that time and money we didn't have.He continued to pay a lawyer for many years. He was never the same. It was like his spirit had been broken. He was 47 years old when he died. The murder was never solved. This all happened when he was 22 years old. The only evidence they had on him was that he was kind enough to tell the police that he had just seen Carol before he went to sleep the night before. He was just explaining his shock over her death to the police by saying "I just saw her last night when our television went on the blink while I was watching the basketball playoffs" That was all he said. From that he was arrested and accused of taking a life. It was truely a mess. He was just starting school to become a minister and had only been married for less than a year when all of this occured. He was very much in love with his wife. The only evidence they found was a thumb print on her bathroom toilet seat. I know what you must have gone through to have to sit in jail for a lab mistake that was made by the state. Something has got to change within the system to keep innocent people from having their lives destroyed for crimes they did not commit. I think many times they are just anxious to solve a case and get it off their desk to prove what a good district attorney they are. Not taking into consideration that they are about to destroy a persons life. I think that they should have more than reasonable doubt before they arrest someone for murder. In your case they should have checked their evidence many times over before snatching your life from under you. Not only that, the judge who reviewed your husbands lab reports should have seen that this did not look like a person who had been piosioned. He's use to reading this sort of information and there should be no allowance for his behavior either. It's not rocket science that the piosion should have been seen throughout your husbands entire body not just in parts of his body. I hope you can take legal action against the state for this serious set of blunders they made. My brother was forced to sign a legal document which said that he could not sue the state for any such mistakes that they made. My question is this, "Why should they be allowed to get away with ruining a persons life. Like you said they went home to their families. They got to kiss their loved ones good-nite. The system hurt my brother emotionally and ruined his marriage. It took year for hime to be able tho hold down a job. He eventually remarried and had a daugther. But his life was never the same. He suffered from depression and eventually he lost his life to a medical illness. My mother lost her home and ended up in debt trying to keep him from going to jail. I hope and pray you will take a stand against this type of behavior. I only wish I had been able to or strong enough to do so years ago before my brother died. The old saying that you are innocent until proven guilty is really a load of garbage. Right or wrong your personal life should never have enter the picture. Everyone deals with death in their own way and no one should be judged for doing so. Stay strong Cindy. Your children need you. I know this will be hard to recover from but you can do it. I'm sorry for the pain you have suffered. Good luck and God Bless you and your children. You'll get them back and be a family again soon.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Patty Nejdl — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:24:38 GMT

I am so happy Justice came for Cindy, the District Attorneys can seem to make things look they way they want it to look, My son who is a single dad of two young sons, ages 4 and 5, was working and thought he had the meet the woman of his dreams, that had 4 daughters, ages appx 14, 10 8 and 4 was accused by the oldest of sexaul assult, he has been in jail for a year come May 3rd, (we don't have the funds to go his bail) is not allowed to see his sons even thur the glass as is the way I and his brothers and friends see and talk to him on a phone, he has missed a whole year of his sons lifes, he has had 5 or 6 State Appointed Attorneys, they did DNA, it came back not his a few months ago but still he sets in jail because the D.A. says she has an expert that will testify that all woman had fluid in their bodies that is no ones DNA. He goes to trial May 27th. We are all praying he finds justice in this system.
I am sorry I know this is not about us or our lives, I am so glad for you Cindy, hang in there, all will be well with your life, things will become normal for you and your 4 children, you won't have the same life but you will have a good life. You and your little ones will be in my prayers. God Bless you

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Wendi, San Diego, CA — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 06:02:27 GMT

Shouldn't she be owed the money value for the property she lost from the Navy and/or from San Diego County? That is negligent prosecution. Not to mention her lawyer had a right to have an expert test the tissue, not just analyze the State's results ... so he was ineffective indeed if he didn't. Furthermore, shouldn't she be returned the life insurance money that was most likely seized? She has a lawsuit here, and that should buy a pretty cool new blender. However, it does bother me that she kept saying "where will I go" and "what will I do" in your interview segment -- not once did she say "we" or mention her kids. It also bothered me that she couldn't give you a straight answer to the question about what she loved about Todd, just the "we looked into each other's eyes" bit ...

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Teresa Weydert, Tacoma, Washington — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:53:56 GMT

Cindy's comment that her case is not isolated, that there are other innocent people like her, rings true for Mitchell Cozad, the UNC punter who was tried and convicted of stabbing a fellow punter. Like Cindy, there was no physical evidence that Mitch attacked Rafael Mendoza, it was all vaguely circumstantial. But the media blitz comparing the attack with the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding situation made it look like Mitch was guilty. With national attention on Greeley Colorado and District Attorney Ken Buck, there was no way that Buck was going to back off despite Mitchell having taken and passed a polygraph which the DA knew. The original charge against Mitch was initially dropped due to lack of evidence until Mendoza spent several weeks talking with the DA and lo and behold Mitch is being charged for 1st degree attempted murder! That's because Mendoza's description of the attack "blossomed" from what he told the two police officers at the scene and at the hospital. Then his injury (a small poke in the right gluteus maximus) became a 3"-6" deep stab in his kicking leg. That's what the people of Greeley read all year long and that's why the jury went into the trial believing with their minds brainwashed about Mitch's guilt. They didn't listen to the prosections witnesses contradicting each other! I should know, I sat through the entire trial in August 2007 taking more notes then the jurors did. I was there because my daughter was Mitch's fiancee' at the time. She became is wife in Dec. 2007 while he serves 7 years for a crime he did not do. Now every Friday my daughter drives 6 hours from the University of Wyoming in Laramie south to the prison in Las Animas, Colorado and then makes the return trip back to school Sunday evening. Like Cindy, lives ruined due to a DA's political aspirations, lies, and media sensationalism.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Marian Sinkewiz, Paw Paw MI — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:50:44 GMT

What can we do with so many persons in jails for crimes they did not do, because prosecutors do not use all of the truthful facts? When will the prosecutors throughout our courtry be held accountable?

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

sara — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:45:50 GMT

she was lucky in that an attorney took her appeal, pro se, I assume, to prove her innocence - that rarely ever happens. The police & the jury were very judgmental - not everyone grieves in what is perceived to be an acceptable manner.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Jennifer Horn, La Pine Oregon — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:45:23 GMT

What happened to cindy is terribly sad, but I think what everyone really misses is what happened to these 4 kids. Their world was turned upside down not once but twice. How are they, How do they cope, Have the courts appologized to them. Cindy is an adult she will come out ok in the end, I can only hope that the kids will too.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

jean,hillsboro,or — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:12:27 GMT

good luck to you cindy, I can't even imagine what hell you have been through over these last few years. It was bad enough to lose your husband the way you did but then to be accused of his murder and jailed. I read that part of the reason you were supsect was your behavior after his death, I am a widow so I can speak from experience until you face the death of a spouse you do not know what you will do or how you will react, questionable behavior, yes I agree but this does not make you a murderer just a lapse of good judgement in hine site you may have done things different, I don't know in any case I wish the best for you and your family. This case and so many others we read about today really puts in question our justice system. I for one believe we need a national DNA date base, all convicted people should be the first to be compelled to give DNA, how many men have been released 25 years after the crime because DNA proved they could not have been the one who comitted a particular crime. Is this an infrigement of your constitutional right, maybe...all I know is I would not want to be accused of a crime, falsely inprisoned branded a murderer and forgotten by society.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

LTC Baetes , DC — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:44:18 GMT

hi ,

nice to hear there is some justice left afterall , ...

i spend 70 dyas in prison last year being wrongfully accused of murder , i still am waiting for an apology from the DA , or my money that is impounded , in my case there was evidence after the second day of my arrest i was innocent and yet it was ignored , simply because i am special forces , i was called a baby killer ....

Cindy Sommer , keep your head up and good luck with your new live ! never ever let your sleep over such stupid people and get a good lawsuit out of it !

and write a book maybe , it can help to deal with the experience so you cn close it and move on .

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

victoria thousand rochester newyork — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:53:18 GMT

First i'd like to say,you did great cindy,you've been through alot.I've been watching these type of shows for years this may soud trivial but if you watch body language and listen close enogh somehow you can tell who's lyeing (truely dishonest to the core)and who's not. when you said after your husband died and you were looking for comfort and you woke up and acted as if he had not dyed that it( was as if you could fool yourself into believeing it never happend )i completely understand that and only someone who has gone through that knows that. when my mom took her life 11 years ago all of my friends seemed to sound like herand that rush of happiness for one second, and then to my grief that i had just did it again.(fooling myself again) stay strong and (let the baby see his grand parents)without you or them being angerd just set guid lines to never trash talk about you to your son but enlight your grandson in what daddy is not her to do help be his voice he needs them too. with love and understanding victoria

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Vito J Russo — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:17:31 GMT

I am writing this for Vito Russo who is in prison for a crime he didn't commit! He's been there for 5 years and thought it was overturned they now want more charges.
How can we contact Cindy Sommer's for possible help?
The website mentioned below will soon be updated with lates news.

Thank you

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Heidi — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:31:48 GMT

Woah, this article was very sobering. Thanks for bringing to our attention.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Joseph H. Endinger — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:52:46 GMT

As long as we have prosecutors and judges, but mainly prosecutors, we will continue to have these miscarriages of justice and innocent people put behind bars.

Our justice system is, if not broken, badly bent.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Henry M. — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:04:49 GMT

WoW!!!! A very thought provoking story that everyone should take the time to read. It amazes me the lengths to which the Prosecution will go to obtain a conviction. I really think we need to hold these Prosecutors and Defense lawyers feet to the fire in upholding their ethical creed to the public. Maybe we should impose a penalty, such as jail time for carelessly defending or maliciously trying a case for a conviction rate. I would like to reiterate the sentiments of the author and question how many people stand behind bars "INNOCENTLY" because of unfavorable actions, poor defense, money for "good" representation, zeal for a conviction etc.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Don Bradley, Seattle, WA — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:39:09 GMT

Heart attacks often are caused by a bacterial infection of the pericardium. Testing for TWAR would have been clearly indicated in this situation. When the heavy metal test results were so extreme, re-testing was indicated since the test results were so physiologically improbable, though not necessarily impossible.
None of the sexual activity of the widow in relevant to the husband's death. A young couple living beyond their means? Hardly uncommon.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

gloria dotson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:20:45 GMT

I watched Keith Morrison tonight and although I have always been a fan I was so unhappy with his coverage on the polymist. He asked one question which the gentleman refused to answer he even called Keith's question stupid. It is a fact that these men have many wifes and their has been woman who have been brave enough to leave and give their side of the story of great abuse to them and their children. I felt the story was very sympathetic and one sided.The lack of openness from Mr Jessiops says tons. I wished he had asked how many children he had.or even with all these children and this very large temple why there is no play ground. They will let you see where they live but don't ask questions about their life style. Please do another piece that digs deeper heip these children. I will continue to be a fan of dateline,I hope that you will consider my email and that many others have emailed the same

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Richard boone Norfolk,v — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:11:27 GMT

Just another case of the prosecutors, using whatever means necessary to get a convitcion. Overlooking facts, seeing what they want to see. It's so sad that innocent people have to go through these situations.
Then when it's all said and done. The prosecutors do nothing for the innocent people they wronged.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Linda Brayman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:44:53 GMT

Is Cindy planning on suing the State?
And is she in a relationship now?

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Michael Bilson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:02:22 GMT

This is a SURPRISE? Doesn't anyone else notice that virtually EVERYDAY we read about yet "another" innocent that is now finally being released after serving decades in prison for something they did not do? I am from Chicago and CLEARLY remember Anthony Porter being 48 Hours away from Execution when a couple of Students from NW University came upon some evidence that exonerated him. Keep in mind that he had EXHAUSTED all of his appeals and that many checks and balances that are susposed to be in place simply are not.
We have the worlds #1 Prison population and still remain as the only Western Industrialized Nation that still employs the Death Penalty.

There are people like Cindy Everywhere! What evidence did they have against her? Remember this....NONE.....yet she was convicted anyway. When is the last time ANYONE other than OJ got a "not guilty" verdict by a Jury?
Until we stop criminalizing drug use and treat it like the addiction that it is and get rid of the illegal guns that kill thousands of innocent children each year, this will continue to happen. You don't hear about this in Canada, do ya!

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Alison, Oregon — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:59:12 GMT

I wonder if I am the only one offended by Mr. Mankiewicz' interview of Ms. Sommers. What with the digging in about her "thing" with Marines. She looked horribly uncomfortable. I think you came off as an insensitive oaf. You write as if you are targeting an audience that has subscriptions to Star and National Enquirer. There are four children in this world without their father, whether biological or not, and the potential disaster of them reading your words. "Dropped dead." This article was heavily biased- not toward the husband or wife, but toward Mr. Mankiewicz.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Angela Estrada, Los Angeles, California — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:28:37 GMT

I just read about this, and she did sound innocent. But what doesn't ring a bell to this, is that as soon as he died, she got breast implants. Anyways, glad to hear she is a free woman, and those 4 children will be happy to see their mom.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Ann Blake-Tracy, PhD — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:47:28 GMT

It is about time they let her go! What a ridiculous case! There was no evidence at all, as you point out.

What there was though was clear evidence that the behavior she was being judged for after her husband's death could be directly linked to a medication any widow would be offered - an antidepressant. Yet, no one even brought up the fact that she could have been having an antidepressant-induced manic or hypomanic reaction to the medication she most likely was given to cope with Todd's death.

In these reactions I regularly see patients getting breast implants or plastic surgery or cutting themselves, coupled with a party life style, drinking, increased sexual activity, etc. - all indications of a toxic manic reaction produced by an antidepressant.

This is something antidepressant medications are absoutlely notorious for causing! They are in fact so notorious for causing mania or bipolar reactions that since these drugs have become popular Bipolar Disorder has skyrocketed! Just from 1994 - 2003 there was a 4000% increase.

This possible side effect should have been anyone's FIRST thought in this case. But after testifying as an expert in these cases for 16 years now I can tell you that many innocent people are behind bars for similar antidepressant reactions.

Ann Blake-Tracy, PhD, Executive Director,
International Coalition For Drug Awareness
www.drugawareness.org & www.ssristories.org

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Jeanette Szczech — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:57:20 GMT

We had a similiar case in Raleigh, N. C. Google "arsenic murder, Raleigh, N.C." The wife almost got away with murdering her husband but her boyfriend talked to a lawyer and then killed himself. After a few years the law made the lawyer talk and she was charged with murder. Her late husband had similiar symptoms. She did not get him the first time. She lived very nicely after his death and hoped she would get away with murder. Arsenic was an excellent choice.

Cindy Sommer's long vindication

Eartha Thomas P.O. Box 3683 Evansville IN 47736 — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:01:30 GMT

My question is why are we letting these people "judges and prosecutors" continue to be above the law, also not admitting their mistakes and taking responsibility for these circumstances. I guess it's true in america " It's not what you know but who"
I live in one of the most racist places in america and see this same thing almost every day. I would like to be the first person to take on the system and really work toward getting it changed. What can they do to me that have not already been done?