A Mind For Murder

Does A Beloved Professor Have A Mind For Murder?

(CBS)  Three generations of the Ross family, from five different states, have moved to Lawrence, Kan., for the duration of the trial. But the routine is becoming a grind. "Is he going to get the justice he really deserves?" Danny Ross wonders.

The prosecution started strongly - playing Murray's revealing police interview. But now, the trial has settled into a grueling, sometimes plodding marathon. But things started to look up for the prosecution and the Ross family, when the jury was about to hear the most powerful forensic evidence yet, and it's got nothing to do with blood or DNA.

Investigators could not have imagined what they'd discover when they confiscated Murray's computers. It turns out, the professor wasn't just researching linguistics.

Forensic computer expert Dean Brown dug around in the recesses of Murray's computers and found a Yahoo! search for "murder for hire," "how to hire an assassin," "how to make a bomb," and "how to murder someone and not get caught."

Investigators were thrilled with the secrets Murray's computers revealed, especially when they learned the searches were conducted just as the custody battle the Murrays were having was getting nasty.

But the defense has an explanation. They say that Murray was interested in possibly writing an episode for a CSI-type program. The computers, however, offer up more bad news for Murray, including e-mails that show his anger with Carmin was growing: "I'm increasingly coming to feel like an animal that's been backed into a corner."

The prosecution rested.

Now, Murray's defense would make three main points. First, a custody attorney told Murray that he had no reason to fear that Carmin would take Ciara away. Next, the defense says that, according to mediator Nancy Hughes, Murray was still committed to working with Carmin, even though he expressed his anger in emails.

And finally, the defense argues, there is a mystery bloodstain on Carmin's sink that suggests someone else was at Carmin's house. But the prosecution attacks the defense's expert, saying the expert did not have any certification in the area of bloodstain analysis.

Murray never took the stand. Instead, the defense pinned its hopes on reasonable doubt - and argued that there is plenty of it.

[mntocogirl]

I am completely appalled by the first poster''s (jabailo) comments! First & foremost there is never any justification for taking another persons life! PERIOD! Second comparing a man''s violent actions to a bull or a tiger is about as ludicrous a comparison as you could find. We are not animals sir - we are humans & thus are expected to act in a far superior manner than we expect of a bull. Additionally this man was not being held captive in this marriage - if he felt it was so terrible & he was being treated so badly then stop being such a wimp - stand up for yourself - show some pride and walk away!

[nellybean3]

I honestly cannot believe the 2 post that I just read. Clearly you are blaming this woman for her own death. Everyone are responsible for their own actions. Just like you read that she met someone and started an affair, I am sure you read that AFTER she became pregnant, her husband started treating her like ***. She met someone else, fell in love and decided to divorce her husband. SHE MOVED ON! He needed to get over it. He was upset by the fact that he no longer had control over their relationship and her life. Since he did not want to have a baby and "THEY" got pregnant, he decided he lost control - so he gained control by treating her poorly. Once she gained power over that and decided to divorce him, he decided he now wanted something to do with their daughter - just to dig at her. When she decided not to move away to California but instead move 90 miles away, he was pissed by that. You guys don''t know what he did or why she felt that she needed to move away from him. As you know, she was no longer his spouse when she decided to move Lima in with her - which is her right and her choice. And I hardly feel the ex husband was so called "pushed over the edge" and killed her because he was investigating it on the computer. You guys don''t know how her behavior was to him nor his to her - you were not there. You simply read a typed summary which spanned in real life 18 years of marriage.

[graceesmom]

This is a sad case. I feel for the family and the child of the victim. I also feel for Murray in a way. People handle emotional distress differently. I mean it must be quite a blow for someone to tell their spouse that they will be moving out to live with another person and will be taking their child with them. But Carmins father says she would have never left Murray. Well she did. She didn''t go all the way to California but she did leave and with their daughter. You know the people suffering is the families. I guess some people get ruthless when the feel that they dont really know what to do. Murray could have probably gotten custody because there was another man she was involved with. I know that some states see it that way. I hope Ciara has a wonderful life even if it is without both of her parents. A shame that her father took her mothers life. Bless her heart.

[jabailo]

So, what we have here is another O.J.

A man driven to an insane rage...but why?

If a person goes in front of a bull and waves a red cape is it any wonder they get gored? If you taunt a tiger in its cage, and it comes after you -- who is to blame.

The family and the wife in this story were completely disingenuous. Clearly, the wife was selfish. Although he was the primary bread winner as she flitted through various "careers" he seemed to stick by her. She seemed to do what she wanted, when she wanted...and when she was done with him, she cast him aside, walked all over him and shoved a new lover in his face.

It doesn''t justify murder, by really, people have to take account of what drives other people. Her behavior was that of a person who was just as cold-blooded to him as he ended up being to her.