In Melinda Duckett Suicide Case, Nancy Grace Wants to Silence Cameras

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel)

(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS/AP) Melinda Duckett took her own life after suffering "emotional distress," her family claims, during an appearance on the Nancy Grace Show.

Photo: Melinda Duckett, the mother of missing 2-year-old Trenton Duckett.

The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the CNN talk show host, but Grace, who appears nightly on national television, is fighting to silence the cameras when she is deposed by the family's lawyers.

Duckett, a 21-year-old Florida mother, was on Grace's show in 2006 after her son Trenton went missing.

Grace grilled the woman, accusing her of hiding something. Duckett shot and killed herself the day the taped interview was scheduled to broadcast.

Photo: Nancy Grace.

Grace's attorney wants a federal judge to prohibit the videotaping of her client Thursday or prohibit the release of the deposition if it's videotaped. The attorneys say it's necessary to protect Grace from embarrassment.

Grace is a host of the "Nancy Grace Show," a crime program on Headline News, which is owned by CNN.

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by zenchic September 11, 2011 3:52 AM EDT: I am totally shocked that Nancy Grace is going to fight to keep cameras out since she is one that always says if you don't have anything to hide then why shy away from it. Ironic indeed! Although Melinda was obviously guilty of staging her sons "abduction". They need to check the Phillipines for the boy.She wouldn't tell what she did that day because it would lead to who she handed her son off to.If the family wins this lawsuit I will be shocked.This girl had planned on killing herself the day she handed her son off to whoever has him now not the nancy grace interview.; Reply to this comment

by deaverrett September 22, 2010 11:26 PM EDT

First and foremost I think over half of the people who comment negatively on Nancey's show forget that it's television and it's made to be entertaining. Nancy is known to be very opinionated, stubborn and full of emotion. That's why she has the show to begin with. That being said she treats no other guest on the show different from another case. Her job is to interview you, ask the questions people want answers too, and give you a hard time. If you don't want that done, don't go on Nancy Grace. That is how her show is run, and it's not going to change anytime soon. Her rants and shouting matches obviously are informative and down right hilarious, otherwise she wouldn't be on the air still.

To sit there and blame someone over 1 interview that they were the reason that person committed suicide, is disgusting. If you want to kill yourself, you have your own demons to take care of. I don't even think half of you saw this episode in particular because if you did, you would of noticed that Melissa Duckett willingly went on the show for QUESTIONING. Nancy Grace asked her simple questions and she straight out REFUSED to answer ANYTHING. Even the most useless questions she gave attitude about. If someone wasted my time like that after they agreed to be interview on the air for clearance in the case, I'm sure I would of said some pretty harsh things, too.

That woman obviously had something going on that isn't made to the public that she was running away from. She knows where Trenton is/was. Guilt will eat you alive. To say that Nancy was the sole reason she committed suicide again, is outrageous.

Don't like Nancy, don't watch her. Keep your irrelevant comments to yourself. Nancy was prying at her because of her attitude and total lack of emotion she's shared since Trenton went missing, and lack of answers she had for any questions asked about Trenton whereabouts.

TV is for entertainment. Step off the Nancy Grace hate wagon.

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by justis00 July 8, 2011 9:09 PM EDT: The devil is dancing around Nancy now!! He is sleething from her mouth and if she doesnt pick up her bible soon he will destroy her family as well. Nancy is not God though she sure acts like it. The devil loves her arrogance and anger. Becareful you dont follow her path.


by thedragonborn July 11, 2010 2:02 PM EDT: Some things in this case strike me as odd:
- she was recently divorced (only a few months before)
- she needed a restraining order against her ex-husband
- her child goes missing and a month later she is dead

Also it came out that she was doing pornography and selling it to a website. Who says that she only did movies? Shame would be a completely plausible reason for her to be vague about where she was at certain times. And to be honest, it is important for the police to know, but what business is it of the media? The most important thing is the missing son. That is what should have been the focus, instead of trying to drag a possible juicy little story out into the open. And what happened to "innocent until proven guilty?" Grace was treating her like a child killing mother in the interview. How low to elevate your own show on someone else's despair instead of trying to help.; Reply to this comment


by lmhart April 14, 2010 11:12 AM EDT: Wouldn't it be something if in 15 years a young man appears that heard about this story and claims to be Trenton, or maybe... more guilt riden people come forward with the rest of the truth. The truth is out there waiting to be found. Hang in there Nancy, a law suit not going to solve this. It was just a matter of time of when she would take her life, you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am sure other people said the same things but coming from you that put it in motion.; Reply to this comment


by katie2014 March 22, 2010 12:47 AM EDT: haha seriously?? She doesn't want cameras? She makes her living out of disparaging people who are only suspects.; Reply to this comment

by mpastol January 27, 2010 1:47 AM EST

Really linfinster? You know for a fact that she was guilty? She had been given a trial and was found guilty? Or is it that you and Nancy know everything and always know who is guilty? How does that work? Grace is a disgrace to the American judicial system. She is rude to any guest who does not agree with her and treats them like they are idiots not worthy of breathing the same air as she. She is nothing more than a busy body and anyone with a brain could see this type of thing coming years ago. If she is not stopped, it will happen again. The woman belongs in prison.

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by justis00 July 8, 2011 9:15 PM EDT: Your absolutely right! The devil is seething from her mouth and is dancing around Nancy. I cant stand to look at her anymore. I pray she picks up her bible and changes her ways because the devil lives in hatred and anger. I pray for her family she sees the wrong in her ways. Its evil.


by writer10 January 26, 2010 6:48 PM EST: seriously Nancy??? You would NEVER allow that for the people you tear to bits and pieces...not saying you're not an outstanding attorney and do a great job on your show at all, just saying you should hold the same standard for yourself as you do others; Reply to this comment


by linfinster January 26, 2010 6:25 PM EST: I remember this a bit ... I think the mother killed her son and couldn't bear the public scrutiny and guilt she would face after the show ...; Reply to this comment

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