Grace: No Regrets Over Tough Interview

CNN Host Says Guilt Probably Drove Missing Boy's Mom To Suicide

(CBS/AP)  The family of a missing Florida boy says CNN's Nancy Grace and others in the media helped push the child's mother over the edge.

Investigators say Melinda Duckett shot herself to death Friday, the day after she was grilled by Grace in a telephone interview, and hours before the interview aired.

Grace told ABC News on Friday that it was more likely guilt than the media that drove Duckett to kill herself. "To suggest that a 15- or 20-minute interview can cause someone to commit suicide is focusing on the wrong thing," she said.

Duckett's 2-year-old son, Trenton, disappeared late last month. Duckett had said she found his crib empty one night, along with a 10-inch cut in the window screen above it. Investigators have been looking into Duckett's movements just before the boy vanished.

In the CNN Headline News interview, Grace grilled Duckett, at one point demanding to know, "why aren't you telling us where you were that day?"

Duckett's grandfather accuses Grace of "bashing" her. He says the strain of her son's disappearance and the media attention "sent her over the edge."

A spokeswoman for Grace called the suicide a "sad development," but said the program would continue to cover the case.

Police using cadaver dogs failed to find the 2-year-old during a search Thursday in the Ocala National Forest.

They found a stuffed animal, but don't know whether it belonged to the boy who disappeared from his bed almost three weeks ago.

Police say they have no physical evidence linking her to the area of the forest searched by investigators Thursday.

[santina4]

This mother would have commited suicide soon or later, she felt guilty for what she has done and now her family feels guilty for not helping her more or for not stopping her suicide and they try to pass the blame on Nancy Grace.

[peaceforusa]

To Santina4

How do you know she would have committed suicide sooner or later. Desperate people take desperate measures. She was pushed over the edge by Nancy Grace. You don't know how fragile this woman's state of mind was before the interview, let alone after that fiasco. I don't know her or her family but people in America are innocent until proven guilty. She may have done nothing to her child and he is out there at the hands of someone else, or maybe she did give him to someone to protect him. Either way you look at it Nancy Grace is a horrible person for treating Mrs. Duckett in the manner she did. Everybody is so ready to judge another because they just don't act the way we think they should. Shock affects people in many different ways. And did you take the time to find out why she didn't answer the questions? That was on the advice from her attorney. I hope that you are never judged, or your family is never accused of not being there for you someday when you may need it most.

[nmast2383]

This lady is ruthless. She doesn't know if the mother had any involvement in this, she just knows a few facts. She obivously doesn't know the family personally or any problems they may have been having. All she knows is that she made her mind up about it and that grilling that mother the way she did was an attempt to get a confession. Instead she drove her to commit suicide.

[karroncombs]

No matter what she calls herself, Nancy Grace is first and foremost a member of the media. Grasping, greedy, careless, and cruel, they don't give a flip about truth, or what the results of their hate filled rhetoric does to the people they attack. They only care about getting the drop on the other media monsters,and *** the consequences.

[kycindylou]

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
News media has not only become a "shock and awe" forum, but judge and jury also!
It is not exactly Nancy's fault in one way, I am sure she was told by superior's how to do this job. On the other hand it shows absolutely no ETHICS. What a shame that the American public has tuned in and let Neilson rate the view time for such immoral behavior across the newsworlds boards. We get a far fairer and more honest perspective online on any news site that is not in the USA and that my friends is a sad sad reflection on our society and government as a whole.

[one_american]

<b>The media always gets blamed for everything they do.</b>

And rightfully so.

[idkwyd]

Maybe Melinda suffered from guilt from not being there to protect Trenton or maybe guilt due to involvement. Who knows. No one can say at this time.

Melinda did express her observations to Nancy that media gets things wrong, misinterprets, misquotes and adds in things that were never said. Nancy Grace perpetuates Melinda's observations by embellishing, misquoting, getting dates wrong, pretending she knows certain facts for certain when she doesn't and deliberately leaving out pertinant information.

I used to watch Nancy for the comic relief of Pat Brown and her inaccuracies, but now I watch and listen to the magician's spin Nancy casts upon her less scrutinizing audience members.

[dry_rain-2009]

I think Nancy Grace was overly aggressive in the interview and should have been more understanding of Melinda's situation. However, it appears as though the mother had something to hide. If she was innocent she would have disclosed any information necessary to clear herself.

[michmadmm]

Ms Grace, who may fancy herself as an attorney, does not deserve to be an officer of the court. She knows she could not have used her technique in a real court of law without the threat of a judge's sanction. She should be disbarred for putting the pursuit of ratings above considerations of fairness. If there are good tort lawyers out there, here is your chance to get a judgement against a person who is purely motivated by ratings and personal aggrandizement.

[katsam1-2009]

Having watched her show on occasion it is clear that Nancy Grace is interested in the ratings that Nancy Grace is capable of generating and very little else. Shame on her and shame on any television station willing to provide her with air time...

[kerry_zaputz]

I think Nancy Grace is obnoxious, self-serving and histrionic. However, in this instance, I think she is blameless. I remember a few years ago, a US Army General who claimed to be a 5-star general was about to be "outed" as holding a rank less than 5-star. He shot himself prior to the outing. At that time, the collective media opinion was that the media could not be held responsible for the acts of a mentally ill person. I think that standard still applies. And, frankly, the pseudo-5-star general was a far more sympathetic "victim" than this negligent mother.

[bamananafan]

How can anyone blame Nancy for just trying to find out the truth. It is very evident that the child's mother was hiding something! Also you can't forget the fact that she had attempted sucide before. This mother(?) had already been questioned by the authorities, which was certainly more aggressive than Nancy. I think the mother knew that her lies were catching up with her and she killed herself because of things she had done. I watch Nancy Grace every night. I really admire her and her attempt to find justice! If just half of the authorities would be as determined as she is to get to the truth, more crimes would be solved. I hope I am never faced with any of the situations she discusses but you can be sure if I ever was Nancy Grace would be the first person I would want to help solve the crime. People need to get over blaming Nancy and blame the real criminal here!!!!!!!!!!

[missbiatch67]

IMHO--For one, nobody forced Melinda Duckett to give a phone interview with any media source or Nancy Grace for that matter. If she was forced, I stand corrected. Next, what was so diffucult in answering a question about her whereabouts, whether it be at a store or just driving around. If my child was "abducted" (I use the term loosely) I would want everyone to know where we were so that maybe someone would have information that might help find my child. In closing-- IMHO -- I believe Melinda was so stressed out from being found out that she did what she thought she needed to do as to not get into any trouble. In case you are reading this Nancy Grace, I seen absolutely nothing wrong with the way the interview was handled. She had something to hide, you made her nervous, she took drastic measures. People hate to hear the truth let alone be asked about the truth. You tell things like they are, which is how it should be, and people get scared. I love your show and will continue to watch.

[putt16]

I believe we need more people like Nancy Grace,
trying to find out the truth..Why is that so wrong? We need people in the news or what ever field, to stand up for VICTIMS RIGHTS..It seems
to me, you hear more about court proceedings
that the law protects the suspects more than the victims. This needs to stop!!!This world is evil.
We all should be ashamed of ourselves. Freedom of
speech is the one thing we can hold onto.
I think Nancy Grace is doing a GREAT JOB!!!

[sherriesharp]

Nancy Grace should NOT be held accountable for this terrible tragedy. It is apparent this is a very strange and twisted case. Nancy is known for her forthright interviewing methods and she asked questions anyone in a similar situation would have been asked. I have a hunch this woman knew where her son is and it is grim. My only hope is they find this beautiful little boy somewhere alive. Was the mom involved in drugs and what type of "friends/acquaintences" did she have? I understand Nancy's methods as she is truly a "victims advocate" and anyone who has been in her shoes would understand why she takes such a strong stance in the judicial prosesses. I feel very much like she does and if it were not for people like Nancy Grace, we would live in a world with a lot of cases going by the wayside. I believe the truth will always prevail and she has hit the nail on the head that there is a lot more to this case than the public knows.

[flolake]

If CNN lets Nancy Grace get away with the singular interrogation technique(s) employed, one can only start their timer as to how much longer this "drama queen" will last on the air. If left unchecked I fear a darker episode is yet to unfold. In the absence of a censure, I am convinced this will embolden Grace to further test the ratings game. I stopped watching CNN because of her but MSNBC and many others are continually pointing out Grace's oddities therefore I fear, promoting her in the minds of folks that can't see through the theatrics.

[dhough1976]

After the tragic suicide of Melinda Duckett, whom Nancy Grace attacked with no solid foundation, evidence or proof, it is worth reminding everyone what is wrong with the %u201Cso called %u201C television journalist in the age of cable. Nancy Grace is more concerned with celebrity than with reasoned, intelligent discourse.

Ms Grace should be aware of what the rest of the world realizes; she is not a journalist but a celebrity hack with little pedigree or credential to justify the media platform she abuses; she is no more qualified than I am to question the motives of people or to judge them; she lacks intelligence or ethics; she and her ilk are becoming more irrelevant by the day. Unfortunately, that irrelevance is what makes her dangerous. To garner the attention craves, she ends up contributing to the death of a person who never had a chance to prove her innocence.
If only we could legally sanction her. It is clear she hasn%u2019t the conscious to feel remorse or to hold herself accountable in any way. Ms Grace calls her show "Seeking Justice" but only when the justice suits her need for ratings, celebrity, fame and fortune. Outside of that, she has no concern for justice, honesty or fairness. Please, in the name of all that is decent, GO AWAY! It is too late for Melinda Duckett, but for the rest of us it truly would be a way to %u201CSeek Justice.%u201D

[jimbo554]

Please somebody find another job for Nancy Grace, preferably one having nothing to do with television.

[alove1971]

I love Nancy Grace. She is straight and to the point and that is why she is on the air. The mother obviously had issues way before Nancy Grace got a hold of her. Why blame Nancy for Duckett's dysfunctional life? It sure sounds like the family is just looking for someone to blame. Someone should of gotten this lady(Duckett) to a psychologist long before she ruined her poor baby's life.

[volakos1]

What in the world is wrong with thinking today? This woman probably murdered her child, or worse, and we are concerned with her answering a few questions! What kind of a mother would kill herself in the early stages of her child being missing unless she had something much greater to worry about. I am glad Nancy Grace has the guts to be tough. If only everyone could be held accountable for their actions. Bottom line, I am sure appearing on her show is optional, as is watching if it is too much to handle.

[srghani]

Stringent and guilt revising or imposing interviews for public viewing can be enough to spark severe suicidal ideation. Nancy should have shown some empathy and expressed sympathy as opposed to an insulting interview.

[j_flood]

As an American living abroad, this case once again puts the American culture under the spotlight. This seems like a continuation of lowering the bar for American media. Why do we allow this type of broadcasting? Who gains by this form of 'entertainment'? Where is the public served by this? There used to be codes that broadcasters were to meet and adhere to. Once again, sadness is heaped upon sadness - will something change? I doubt it.

[dargay]

"Vicious" is the best word to describe modern media. The only good news is that to keep behaving this way will end their credibility. These media folks go way over the top in their coverage.

[rattlecan-2009]

There clearly was something wrong with Melinda Duckett, and the proof is that she ever agreed to an interview with Nancy DisGrace.

[gdriver--2008]

For Nancy Grace to not be GRACEFUL about a mother's suicide shows a heart that is a cold as a killer. Nancy needs to change last name.

[exceller78]

Please pull the show from the air. As soon as she comes on, I stop watching CNN. This show does not add any value!

[charlestdog]

Nancy Grace has abolutely NO IDEA of what happened the night that Trenton Duckett went missing. She is the poster-woman for irresponsible action--not only by a member of an otherwise good organization, but by an attorney who whould have known better. And, finally, it was simply in BAD TASTE for her to turn on her interview subject like that. Nancy belongs with other notable media junkyard dogs and pot-stirrers such as Jerry Springer. She is NOT a journalist.

[peaceforusa]

Quote

"To suggest that a 15- or 20-minute interview can cause someone to commit suicide is focusing on the wrong thing."
Nancy Grace, interviewed by ABC News

She made this statement so that she can reflect the responsibility of Melinda's suicide off of her irresponsible and arrogant treatment of Melinda. The focus is, Nancy, YOUR interview treatment of this young lady. Nancy Grace is a disgrace to humanity in itself. For her to even make a statement of this nature goes to show she has utter disregard for human value. Nancy needs to join the Al-quaida(?) or the Taliban because that is where she will do her best work. She seems to enjoy the idea of terrorizing already fragile minds.

[hyusen]

Nancy is a shrill "bull ***" who would love to grow gonads. I look at her and laugh.

[antibully]

Nancy Grace is a bully.Whether right or wrong, she badgered that mother in a way that would be considered abusive if it were done as part of an official investigation. Whether the mother was involved or not, bullies pushed her over the edge.Rumors were gong around that the child was dead. The mother was badgered and bullied, told that her child was probably dead. A despondent young woman took her life. If she was guilty, there is no way to know what her role was, or perhaps even where the child is now. If she was not guilty, she was a despondent mother who suddenly had any hope of finding her child alive shattered by the arrogant and manipulative bullies from the media. Grace, and all the bullies like her, appear to be guilty of manslaughter, and they show no remorse. Firing Grace from her show would not be enough. End this "reality TV " pseudojournalism disguised as investigative reporting. It isn't good journalism, or appropriate legal practice. Shameful, shameful.

[webdepot]

Nancy is in the same bannana boat as Rush Limberger... both are idiots without half brain between them.. Innocent until proven guilty is "supposed" to be the American way...but obviously not with some self indulgent idiots..

[dekish]

Ms Grace is a typical "know-it-all - I'm perfect -
you're wrong - you're guilty - you'd better tell me or else" and a dozen more I could mention here.I stopped tuning in to her sometime ago because of her method of lashing out at everyone, colleagues included. If anyone needed counseling more than this poor woman who is trying to get even with everyone, I don't know who it would be. She keeps mentioning that "she is the victim of a crime" - well, too bad for her. but that's no excuse for pounding other people into the concrete, too. If CNN had any balls at all, they would fire the broad and send her back to the courtroom - preferably close to the Siberian border. dekish ps. maybe it's all that extra weight she has put on that's making her even more cranky.

[comfortmd]

she doesn't seem to realize that, not only is she NOT a prosecutor anymore, she is not judge jury and executioner, and i hope that she is found civilly liable for that woman's death.

[mallemee]

Nancy Grace is one of the shrillest and most patronizing egomaniacs on any program be it CNN or Court TV. The minute she comes on we turn off. It would be nice if she at least let her colleagues, who many times have something intelligent to offer, speak without interruption.She should re-join the prosecutorial base somewhere in the hinterland since she has now demonstrated her inability as a journalist. News will invariably suffer with "crossovers" like her and people's dislike for the true professionals will increase. The line has to be drawn somewhere......beginning now.(!!???)

[vjasmam]

Of course she has no regrets, she's still alive.

[shrobbie]

I listened to the interview. Nancy Grace was spot on and did a good job. After listening to the mother and her mother-in-law, the mom had something to hide. She didnt even do as good an acting job as the Smith woman in SC when she offed her kids. NG did great.

[agnim]

I must admit that I didn't listen to the interview, and wouldn't have anyway.

However, when a female can't empathize with another who has lost an offspring (regardless of the circumstances) I brand her as heartless and beastly.

Mother Nature designs mothers to want care for offspring.
So when the mother does a 180 degree, we have to know that something radically wrong with that mother.

It is obvious then that even if the woman killed her own offspring, that she has a huge problem, huge enough to make her want out!

This is not the time for this witch to be clinging to how right she is without at least demonstrating some humanity, some understanding now that we have two fellow citizens gone; unless of course we are dealing with a dumb ignoramus.
Women being porsecutors and judges is such a joke anyway that we shouldn't expect any better.

[annec60ss]

No mother on the planet would commit suicide if she held onto even the smallest shred of hope that her child was still alive. It is clear that this mother was certain her son was no longer living and had some direct knowledge of her son's fate. I am certain that every mother out there would agree. Nancy Grace holds no responsibility for the death of this woman. Quite the opposite - hats off to Nancy for attempting to uncover the true facts regarding the disappearance of this little boy.

[kerry_zaputz]

Oh, no!! I can see it now: Jeffrey Fieger, or some other bottom feeder will sue Nancy Grace for 100 Billion $ for the wrongful death of this (in my opinion) killer white trash mother. I rarely defend Nancy Grace, but she can not be held responsible for this obviously guilty mother killing herself. The above is my opinion only.

[joanna_owens]

Hands up to Nancy Grace!! She is going on facts only and that is how the courts work. Nancy is in no way shape or form responsible for that pathetic womans suicide. That mother obviously had problems. If you want to blame any body it should be the system for giving the little boy back to the mother. The little had been taken away in the past and the courts stupidly gave the child back to the unstabe mother again. We need to focus on finding the little boy and stop pointing fingers on someone who was trying to help find the little boy.

[joanna_owens]

Nancy Grace have you considered maybe the boy has been trafficed, and also Natalee H. nobody has found a body. Isn't there a huge chance that she was also traffics especaily because she wazs in a forien country. I never knew about trafficing until I saw a program on Lifetime. Maybe that help find these inocent children. May God be with the children.