Aug. 10, 2008

Fight For The Truth

Erin Moriarty On The Latest Chapter In The Marty Tankleff Case

    • Tankleff, surrounded by family and friends, after his release from prison. Photo

      Tankleff, surrounded by family and friends, after his release from prison.  (CBS)

    • Marty Tankleff was a teenager when he was convicted of killing his parents. Photo

      Marty Tankleff was a teenager when he was convicted of killing his parents.  (CBS/48 Hours)

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  • Video Det. McCready On Tankleff Case

    James McCready, the lead detective in the Tankleff murder case, talks about the investigation and his interrogation of Marty Tankleff.

(CBS)  This segment was first broadcast on Jan. 26, 2008. It was updated on Aug. 8, 2008.

Marty Tankleff was only a teenager when he was convicted of murdering his parents. He spent more than half his life in remote New York state prisons, a far cry from his privileged childhood on New York's Long Island.

Marty initially confessed, but quickly recanted. He fought for years for his innocence, especially as new witnesses surfaced that could potentially exonerate him.

Correspondent Erin Moriarty, who has covered this case for years, reports on this rollercoaster of a legal case.



Marty had just turned 17 when he was arrested for the murder of his parents, Seymour and Arlene. He has spent his entire adult life in remote upstate New York prisons.

It's a far cry from Marty's childhood, spent in the lap of luxury in a sprawling Long Island waterfront home. Seymour and Arlene were unable to have children of their own, so they adopted Marty as a baby.

Marty says his mom was "great." "She adored me and I adored her. We were the best of friends," he remembers.

He was also close to his father. "My father had a poor childhood. When I became a teenager, he had money, so he lived vicariously through me," says Marty, who admits he was spoiled by his parents.

Seymour, a savvy and tough entrepreneur, was grooming Marty to follow in his footsteps. "I wanted to be a businessman. So I enjoyed being involved in all of that," Marty explains.

Marty says he knew everything about his father's businesses, including the trouble his dad was having with a partner in a bagel shop, Jerry Steuerman, who owed him around half a million dollars. "The friendship had dissipated. They essentially became enemy business partners," Marty says.

Despite the tension between Seymour and Jerry Steuerman, both men continued to play in a weekly poker game. And on Sept. 6, 1988, it was Marty's father’s turn be host. The game lasted into the wee hours and Steuerman was the last to leave. The next morning, Marty says, he woke to find his father near death.

Marty called 911. "I just remember the woman yelling back at me saying 'Calm down, calm down.' She gave me some instructions," he remembers.

Then, Marty says, he searched for his mother. He found her dead on her bedroom floor.

James McCready, the lead detective, now retired, arrived an hour later, and remembers the scene as "very brutal."

Seymour, bludgeoned and stabbed but still alive, had been rushed to the hospital; Arlene's body still lay in her room. "She was nearly decapitated," McCready remembers. "And it appeared to me that she had struggled with whoever had assaulted her."

McCready, a homicide cop for ten years, saw no sign of forced entry and was immediately bothered by Marty’s appearance. "He was sitting as calm as calm could be, with his hands clasped like this," McCready recalls.

Asked what he would have expected for Marty to be doing, McCready says, "Oh, I think he would have been crying, I think he would have been shaken, been very upset."

What impression did Marty get from McCready? "I felt that they were trying to help me and I was trying to help them," he says.

But McCready says he "could see" Marty was lying. "I get a feeling, it's not so much the way, what is said. It's the way in which it's said."

Marty volunteered his suspicions that Steuerman, his father's partner, was somehow involved and Marty agreed to talk more about that at police headquarters. But in fact McCready thought he already had his man.

Why would Marty kill his parents? McCready has a theory: greed.

Seventeen-year-old Marty sat alone with McCready and his partner, without a lawyer, in a small windowless room for hours, where the detectives questioned him. "It was the constant barrage that 'Marty, we know you did it, everything will be ok, just tell us you did it. We know you did it.' And the on and on and on questioning. Over and over," he remembers.

Then, McCready did something that would change everything: he left the room, pretended to talk on the phone, and came back with news about Seymour. The detective told Marty his father had come out of his coma and had implicated Marty in the murder.

But McCready admits he lied to Marty, and that Seymour's statement never happened. Asked if that's all right to do, McCready says, "the United States Supreme Court says it is."

Marty begged to take a polygraph, but the detectives refused.

"So you're better at telling whether someone is lying?" Moriarty asks McCready.

"I? I think I'm better than the polygraph machine," the detective replies.

McCready's scheme worked. Marty began to wonder if he blacked out and in fact had attacked his parents. Finally, he told the police what they wanted to hear.

McCready began to prepare a written statement. Although Marty - who didn't write it himself - never signed it, and almost immediately recanted, the detectives had enough. Marty was arrested and charged with murder.

Continued



Produced By Gail Zimmerman
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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by soonergal37 January 27, 2008 2:14 AM EST
Very interesting story and I''m glad to hear the justice system does work sometimes. I can''t imagine the life Mr. Tankleff is facing, but wish him well in his endeavors. Please send my deepest regards and would like to know how school goes for him!
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by spongebobtaz January 27, 2008 2:16 AM EST
Stories like the "Fight for the truth" about Marty, is the reason I have no faith in this system. My opinion is that Det.McCready lied repeatedly on his 48 hours mystery interview. You can easily see it if you know what to look for. Charges of some kind should be filed on McCready and any other law enforcement person/s who willingly, knowingly, and maliciously use false and/or fabricated statements or tactics for the confession to any felony. And if found guilty, don''t send them to prison which is where they need to go, but total loss of pension and never again carry a badge. VIDEOTAPE ALL INTERVIEWS IN ANY AND ALL CRIMES AND KEEP AS EVIDENCE so that innocent people never again go through something like this. It''s better to let 100 guilty go free than to imprison one innocent. Think about it, would you want to be the ^ (one).
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by lar122162 January 27, 2008 2:17 AM EST
THANKFULLY MARTY DID NOT GIVE UP HOPE,IT IS A SHAME HOW THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WORKS AT TIME, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO ADMIT THEY ARE WRONG, WHEN IT WOULD BE ALOT EASIER TO SAY ,YES I WAS WRONG, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, INSTEAD THEY REFUSE TO DO THE RITE THING,ONE DAY THEY WILL BE JUDGED. CONGRATS TO MARTY"S FAMILY FOR ALL THIER SUPPORT, BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL.
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by pfd572 January 27, 2008 2:34 AM EST
The broken system sometimes fixes its mistakes. But what if this young man had been given the death penalty? Would he be executed by now? This case, and so many others like it, just emphasize the need to end the death penalty and take a detailed, hard look at our legal system. But in the particular case, Det. McCready is a reminder and example that not all police officials are to be trusted or respected just because they wear a badge, he is human with all of man''s faults/twists: inflated ego, prejudice, hubris, laziness, power tripping and perhaps even limited intelligence. His comments tonight reveal a man who has an inflated opinion of himself and a bullying personality. When the courts and private citizens accept that police are just as apt to have the limits as everyone else and just as capable of making mistakes, the system will function in a much more just manner. EVERYONE needs to earn respect, not just have it bestowed on them by the nature of their position in life. Congratulations Marty! Good luck to you and the best wishes for your future.
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by pfd572 January 27, 2008 2:36 AM EST
One more wish. Det. McCready, even though retired, should be investigated. If he is a bad example of a police detective, how many other cases did he handle in such a callous and poor manner?
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by brendakp2 January 27, 2008 2:40 AM EST
With the advanced technology available to investigators, why hasn''t someone in the Suffolk County DA''s office re-examined the forensic evidence and possible DNA to the find the real killers of Marty''s parents?
Marty, my best to you and your future. God Bless.
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by pete4402 January 27, 2008 2:50 AM EST
Does anyone have the address to the video of this show that was on tonight?
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by pfd572 January 27, 2008 2:59 AM EST
Not all crime scenes have DNA evidence. There is no information available to the public that indicates the murderer(S) left any of their own DNA at the crime scene. And it only works if you have a sample of the suspects to compare against. Since the system never pursued anyone else, they have not collected DNA from any other possible suspects. DNA is a valuable tool, but it isn''t the holy grail. GOOD police work, conducted by honest, competent investigators is still the best option for solving cases. Det. McCready does not appear to be a fair, honest, competent officer. I don''t mean he was crooked, but he certainly wasn''t honest to the spirit of justice or in admitting fault.

Important example: the scene/evidence points to a violent struggle, at least by Marty''s mother, yet Marty did not have ANY physical marks that say he was involved in any kind of struggle or altercation. But police blinders/blunders chose to dismiss this bit of fact.
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by lifesource2 January 27, 2008 3:00 AM EST
My heart goes out to marty. i have some questions that came to mind while watching the show. first, having lost both parents, has marty ever had his time to grieve? and then, what about his belongongs that were in the house since he was 17 yrs of age? i just cant fathom not having anything from when i was a child. and another question is, has he ever tried to find his biological parents? does he have an email address we could write to him?
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by pfd572 January 27, 2008 3:18 AM EST
you can contact him at martytankleff.org. There is also a petition you can sign. I strongly urge everyone who feels this case is a miscarriage of justice to read and sign the petition.
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by pfd572 January 27, 2008 3:50 AM EST
You might want to read the bio on McCready. His alleged previous relationship with the Tankleff business partner, his business relationship with Marty''s brother-in-law, his prosecution for assault. This is the honest, fair and impartial police detective? hmmm
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by katepig January 27, 2008 5:23 AM EST
McCreedy was clearly a liar. He''s the one who should be in jail. He''s a thug with a badge. He really came across as a vindictive moron, too lazy to to a thorough investigation. He also lied in the interview...Scary to think about people like this in positions of authority. My heart goes out to Marty and his family. This just goes to show, you should never talk to police without a lawyer, because unfortunately there are plenty of McCreedy''s out there.
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by want_truth January 27, 2008 5:26 AM EST
I am outraged at this story! McCready is the one that should have the special investigator! He obviously railroaded an innocent young kid. I don''t think he should go on without scrutiny and personal accountability. What about the other 94% of his so called "confessions", how many more injustices have been made. My heart goes out to Marty and his family. Congratulations and best wishes!
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by gubey January 27, 2008 5:42 AM EST
McCreary I challenge you to drop you''re idiotic ego and laziness or corruptness and look back at every case you''ve ever prosecuted.Surely you can open your eyes and see other innocent people you have condemned.Turn your life around,apologize to this man who''s best years you stole.Shame on the rest of this dept. who had a hand in this injustice.Especially the Chief.... 20 different witnesses[heroes] stepped up to right this wrong and all Suffolk Co.could do was continue to deny truth.

This makes good cops and depts. disgusted.
Reply to this comment
by katepig January 27, 2008 6:12 AM EST
It is disgusting to see a young man, railroaded by a corrupt and incompetent police detective. McCready was clearly to lazy to do an actual investgation in this case. He made his mind up right away, and was determined not to let the facts interfere with prosecuting Marty. McCready fabricated a motive in this case. One that never had any factual basis. He coerced a confession. He is a thug with a badge, and I think he should be in jail for what he''s done. I hope when all the facts of this case come out he is stripped of his ension.

The Sulfolk County DA''s office has done nothing buy try to cover up the gross incompetence in this case. SHAME ON THEM!!!!

My thoughts and prayers go out to Marty and his family. No one should have to go through such a thing, and the heels of losing his parents. It''s simple revolting.

I hope Sulfolk County is checking up on McCready''s cases, because somehow I doubt that Marty was the first person McCready railroaded.

This is why you should NEVER TALK TO THE POLICE WITHOUT A LAWYER PRESENT. There are plenty more McCready''s out there. Remember the police can and do use deception, so you can never believe anything they tell you.

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by bethmurray1 January 27, 2008 8:53 AM EST
I haven''t been able to sleep after watching this episode. What a horrible injustice. It is so obvious that McCready was arrogant, lazy, closeminded & as one other poster mentioned - a bully. I sincerely hope they not only investigate the other suspects but look into McCready''s actions as well. The one aspect of the episode that summed his whole personality was when he was asked if he thought he could detect a lie better than a lie detector test could & he said yes. Wouldn''t you like to put that one to a test! I also liked when he said the business partner "wouldn''t hurt a fly". I have a sneaky suspicion that man not only hurt the fly but ate it too!!!!

Congratulations to Marty and his supportive family. On his website his cousin says that his time in prison has not "hardened him". I am so glad to hear that because after what he has been through he is such an inspiration to so many people!!!
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by drdavedmd January 27, 2008 12:37 PM EST
Welcome to the real world people.... there are numerous corrupt police officers and investigators... is this not obvious? And this one is especially heinous... yes.. I''m talking about you McCready. you showed no remorse in puting an innocent individual in jail for 17 years for a crime that he clearly did not commit... you should be ashamed of yourself. I''m glad your retired... otherwise, I would have you instantly fired Trump style.

Marty, I would sue the state for loss of life, wrongful imprisonment, embarassment, humiliation, malicious prosecution,careless and reckless investigation, etc. You should sue for as much money as possible. You shouldn''t have to work. You''r whole life is destroyed by the system, and it''s time that the system compensate you for all the time that you wasted in jail for nothing.

Find a good lawyer to sue those suckers. You deserve it, for all what you''ve been through... You should get a few millions of dollars..... good luck!
Reply to this comment
by rushlimpdrug January 27, 2008 1:03 PM EST

Intersting, very interesting.
Had this happened in Texas while Bush was governor this innocent kid would have been executed.
Sadly, injustice happens many, many, many, times throughout our land.
One small step toward correcting the injustice of these filthy pigs in power is to prosecute them and publicize their immoral actions.
I didn''t see the show, but reading the story is sad enough.
I have been pulled over by freaking wacked out cops for ABSOLUTELY no good reason.
Instead of giving them a piece of my mind I "cooperate" to get my azz away from their corrupt lives.

I hope McCready begins rotting from the inside as soon as possible.
Regardless of what he may say he is a heartless devil.
Reply to this comment
by lo1411 January 27, 2008 3:32 PM EST
Wow!Am I the only person who still thinks he''s guilty?Are people forgetting that when cornered by prosecutor''s, he spilled his guts,thinking his Dad would live to testify?If you were the dumbest kid on the block, you still wouldn''t admit to bludgeoning 2 people to death, & certainly not your parents,if you were truly innocent of this crime.Even when cornered, an innocent person would respond with, well, my Dad is wrong.It wasn''t me he saw. But he didn''t do that. He willingly confessed.
As far as other possibilities, he may still have been part of a hit on his parents. Don''t be so quick to acquit.Sounds like another "Menendez brothers" motive.
With the backing of a celebrity & a million dollars to free him,Marty might just be laughing at us all. You can bring in alot of other possibilities and shady characters to convince people of his alleged innocence, but the evidence still leads back to a spoiled kid who had everything, and wanted more, the will. I''m with the prosecutors on this one.
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by lo1411 January 27, 2008 4:23 PM EST
If the father of the son who says he confessed to him is eventually, possibly charged in this case on hearsay evidence, remember that he probably will name other players involved in the murders,possibly Marty Tankloff. And Marty can never be prosecuted again because they want to exonnerate him. But that will never happen because we all know that this man will not testify unless there''s sufficient evidence against him & if he could get a plea deal out of it. Even if he says Marty was involved, Marty will never be tried again for this murder.I don''t think the son''s testimony is enough for a conviction.How can they exonnerate Marty before listening to the new evidence in this case? Be careful because this man might just have the link in this case, (which could be Marty)and then because of his possible exonneration before trial, no one will prosecuted unless the father admits he was involved.
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by staylor31549 January 27, 2008 4:37 PM EST
I was interested in watching the show because of the injustice that has been done to another teenager. I wanted to share that information:

Learn about 15-year-old Latino honor student named Efren Paredes, Jr. who was wrongly convicted in 1989 for a murder and armed robbery he did not commit; a crime to which others plead guilty. Efren had no criminal record previous to his arrest for this crime.

One of the individuals who pled guilty to the case for which Efren was arrested owned the murder weapon, was found in possession of the weapon after the crime occurred, owned the car used in the commission of the crime, and was found in possession of money from the crime. His brother also admitted to being at the crime scene. All admittedly guilty parties to committing the crime have served their prison sentences for this crime and been released.

The case against Efren was entirely circumstantial. There was no physical evidence linking Efren to the crime, no eyewitnesses to the crime, and Efren was home when the crime occurred. He was arrested, tried and convicted in a three month period and was subsequently sentenced to three life sentences. Efren is now 33-years-old.

Please visit www.4Efren.com to learn more about this injustice and egregious human rights violation.
Reply to this comment
by staylor31549 January 27, 2008 4:38 PM EST
I was interested in watching the show because of the injustice that has been done to another teenager. I wanted to share that information:

Learn about 15-year-old Latino honor student named Efren Paredes, Jr. who was wrongly convicted in 1989 for a murder and armed robbery he did not commit; a crime to which others plead guilty. Efren had no criminal record previous to his arrest for this crime.

One of the individuals who pled guilty to the case for which Efren was arrested owned the murder weapon, was found in possession of the weapon after the crime occurred, owned the car used in the commission of the crime, and was found in possession of money from the crime. His brother also admitted to being at the crime scene. All admittedly guilty parties to committing the crime have served their prison sentences for this crime and been released.

The case against Efren was entirely circumstantial. There was no physical evidence linking Efren to the crime, no eyewitnesses to the crime, and Efren was home when the crime occurred. He was arrested, tried and convicted in a three month period and was subsequently sentenced to three life sentences. Efren is now 33-years-old.

Please visit www.4Efren.com to learn more about this injustice and egregious human rights violation.
Reply to this comment
by staylor31549 January 27, 2008 4:39 PM EST
I was interested in watching the show because of the injustice that has been done to another teenager. I wanted to share that information:

Learn about 15-year-old Latino honor student named Efren Paredes, Jr. who was wrongly convicted in 1989 for a murder and armed robbery he did not commit; a crime to which others plead guilty. Efren had no criminal record previous to his arrest for this crime.

One of the individuals who pled guilty to the case for which Efren was arrested owned the murder weapon, was found in possession of the weapon after the crime occurred, owned the car used in the commission of the crime, and was found in possession of money from the crime. His brother also admitted to being at the crime scene. All admittedly guilty parties to committing the crime have served their prison sentences for this crime and been released.

The case against Efren was entirely circumstantial. There was no physical evidence linking Efren to the crime, no eyewitnesses to the crime, and Efren was home when the crime occurred. He was arrested, tried and convicted in a three month period and was subsequently sentenced to three life sentences. Efren is now 33-years-old.

Please visit www.4Efren.com to learn more about this injustice and egregious human rights violation.
Reply to this comment
by staylor31549 January 27, 2008 4:39 PM EST
I was interested in watching the show because of the injustice that has been done to another teenager. I wanted to share that information:

Learn about 15-year-old Latino honor student named Efren Paredes, Jr. who was wrongly convicted in 1989 for a murder and armed robbery he did not commit; a crime to which others plead guilty. Efren had no criminal record previous to his arrest for this crime.

One of the individuals who pled guilty to the case for which Efren was arrested owned the murder weapon, was found in possession of the weapon after the crime occurred, owned the car used in the commission of the crime, and was found in possession of money from the crime. His brother also admitted to being at the crime scene. All admittedly guilty parties to committing the crime have served their prison sentences for this crime and been released.

The case against Efren was entirely circumstantial. There was no physical evidence linking Efren to the crime, no eyewitnesses to the crime, and Efren was home when the crime occurred. He was arrested, tried and convicted in a three month period and was subsequently sentenced to three life sentences. Efren is now 33-years-old.

Please visit www.4Efren.com to learn more about this injustice and egregious human rights violation.
Reply to this comment
by staylor31549 January 27, 2008 4:40 PM EST
I was interested in watching the show because of the injustice that has been done to another teenager. I wanted to share that information:

Learn about 15-year-old Latino honor student named Efren Paredes, Jr. who was wrongly convicted in 1989 for a murder and armed robbery he did not commit; a crime to which others plead guilty. Efren had no criminal record previous to his arrest for this crime.

One of the individuals who pled guilty to the case for which Efren was arrested owned the murder weapon, was found in possession of the weapon after the crime occurred, owned the car used in the commission of the crime, and was found in possession of money from the crime. His brother also admitted to being at the crime scene. All admittedly guilty parties to committing the crime have served their prison sentences for this crime and been released.

The case against Efren was entirely circumstantial. There was no physical evidence linking Efren to the crime, no eyewitnesses to the crime, and Efren was home when the crime occurred. He was arrested, tried and convicted in a three month period and was subsequently sentenced to three life sentences. Efren is now 33-years-old.

Please visit www.4Efren.com to learn more about this injustice and egregious human rights violation.
Reply to this comment
by staylor31549 January 27, 2008 4:40 PM EST
I was interested in watching the show because of the injustice that has been done to another teenager. I wanted to share that information:

Learn about 15-year-old Latino honor student named Efren Paredes, Jr. who was wrongly convicted in 1989 for a murder and armed robbery he did not commit; a crime to which others plead guilty. Efren had no criminal record previous to his arrest for this crime.

One of the individuals who pled guilty to the case for which Efren was arrested owned the murder weapon, was found in possession of the weapon after the crime occurred, owned the car used in the commission of the crime, and was found in possession of money from the crime. His brother also admitted to being at the crime scene. All admittedly guilty parties to committing the crime have served their prison sentences for this crime and been released.

The case against Efren was entirely circumstantial. There was no physical evidence linking Efren to the crime, no eyewitnesses to the crime, and Efren was home when the crime occurred. He was arrested, tried and convicted in a three month period and was subsequently sentenced to three life sentences. Efren is now 33-years-old.

Please visit www.4Efren.com to learn more about this injustice and egregious human rights violation.
Reply to this comment
by animemom-2009 January 27, 2008 8:50 PM EST
I believe this is such an injustice. These law enforcement officers and elected officials have sworn to protect and serve. Why did they not protect this 17 year old boy who had apparently just been traumatized by the loss of his two parents? Instead they bombarded him in the interrogation room without an attorney or another family member present on his behalf. Later, when other witnesses and evidence came forward, instead of keeping an open mind they turned a blind eye. Also, if detective McCready is "better than the polygraph machine" why isn''t he sought out by every law enforcement agency in the country? I think detective McCready should take a polygraph examination administered and read by Mr. Jack Trimarco. After all, detective McCready has admitted to lying to 17 year old Marty Tankleff during his interrogation to extract a confession out of him and detective McCready hides behind the United States Supreme Court to justify his lying. I wish Marty and his family all the luck in the world. With people like this protecting and serving our great nation they will need it!
Reply to this comment
by davidj121 January 27, 2008 10:18 PM EST
I am sick after watching this show. McCready is one of the dumbest , most stubborn idiots I have ever seen. I don''t understand how a jury could have convicted this kid when there was no physical evidence and he had no motive. Why on Earth would he have done that ? That police officer''s refusal to investigate Steurmann is shameful. A young man lost 18 years of his life and he can never get that back.
Reply to this comment
by jojosmom1 January 28, 2008 12:41 AM EST
lo1411 ....Apparently you have no clue what your mind can believe under stressful circumstances. If you are told something over and over, you can start to believe it. Why don''t you keep an open mind and think about how they interrogated him. He is not the first person to ''confess'' to a crime he did not commit! How anyone can watch that and believe with out a doubt that he was guilty, astounds me. Is that not a juror''s job? Without a doubt? Seems to me there was plenty to doubt here.
Reply to this comment
by jojosmom1 January 28, 2008 12:42 AM EST
lo1411 ....Apparently you have no clue what your mind can believe under stressful circumstances. If you are told something over and over, you can start to believe it. Why don''t you keep an open mind and think about how they interrogated him. He is not the first person to ''confess'' to a crime he did not commit! How anyone can watch that and believe with out a doubt that he was guilty, astounds me. Is that not a juror''s job? Without a doubt? Seems to me there was plenty to doubt here.
Reply to this comment
by lovetoread1 January 28, 2008 12:57 AM EST
Did Erin actually read the police report? Marty has received a get out of jail free card for murdering his parents.
Reply to this comment
by pfd572 January 28, 2008 6:00 PM EST
lo1401

Learn before you speak. There a numerous, documented, authorized and proven examples of people confessing to crimes they didn''t commit. Extended hours of intense, threatening questioning by police, sleep depredation, threats, mind games, lack of food, fear and intimidation by/of authority,etc. all contribute to conditions where people have confessed. Especially younger people. Marty NEVER signed a confession, he said if he did it he must have been having a blackout because he didn''t remember, etc., and IMMEDIATELY rescinded his confession. There was absolutely no evidence other than his physical presence in the house, his own home, and his demeanor. People react to horror in different ways, shock sets in and shock of this nature causes the body/mind to shut down as a way of self-preservation. You need to know of which you speak or you do more harm.
Reply to this comment
by wr_rodgers January 28, 2008 8:15 PM EST
Not only was the detective wrong in how he pursued this case, but so was the jury. The detective should be immediately suspended and then brought to trail. If found guilty he should be required to spend at least 17 years in prison. How in the world can our justice system move so slowly - 17 years ago they were investigating the detectives handling of this case and still today no ruling has come forth. This detective is most likely continuing to send innocent people to prison because he lies, hides the facts and makes every case into what he wants it to be? The jury that served on that case should feel ashamed for being so hoodwinked.
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by tboetj7 August 10, 2008 1:20 AM EDT
It is an outrage that Jerry Steuerman is a free man. He gets to retire in Florida. Shouldnt he at least be on trial?
Reply to this comment
by pfd572 August 10, 2008 3:12 AM EDT
lo1411 and lovetoread1: you might want to take the time to learn about the volumes of false and coerced confessions; the hundreds of innocent people who have been released after DNA evidence analyzed (an example of how the courts and law enforcement CAN err); the forensic evidence that was suppressed that almost entirely clears Marty; the State Commission''s investigation into probable misconduct by law enforcement, etc. Its EXTREMELY naive to think that police and the courts never make a mistake, are alway honest and never have an agenda at others expense. I am relieved that, at least in this case, the system eventually, but way too long after the fact, got it right. (the only motive the police and prosecution could come up with was money he would inherit; if they had checked they would have found out he wouldn''t have access to any inheritance, regardless of his parents alive or dead, until he was 25, eight years after their murder - this is no motive)
Reply to this comment
by godsfiddler August 11, 2008 3:51 PM EDT
Such a shame that all three guys are free men. McCready needs to be in prison for his ***.
Reply to this comment
by godsfiddler August 11, 2008 3:52 PM EDT
I wonder if McCready was part of the crime...as well as the three other guys.
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by godsfiddler August 11, 2008 4:15 PM EDT
James McCready is nothing more than an a hole con artist, and was probably the one counseling the actual killers.
Reply to this comment
by davidj121 August 14, 2008 12:38 AM EDT
McCready is one stubborn ignorant stupid idiot. Why on Earth would marty tankleff kill his parents. there is no motive whatsoever. yet, there is a shady guy that owes seymour tankleff 500 grand. a 5th grader could put this one together. shouldn''t they teach detectives about motive and how it figures into crime ? what a ******* ! that guy belongs behind bars.
Reply to this comment
by Stoney13 August 25, 2008 6:26 AM EDT
lo1411,

Let''s see what kind of detective I am! I think "lo" stands for Law Officer, and "1411" is your badge number!

This kid is SOOOOOO innocent! The fact that one of your fellow officers is getting called on to the carpet for this must REALLY get to you! Well, brother that is the wrong way to think!

Because of McCready''s sloppy, heavy-handed, and arrogant behavior, a jury might let a guilty person go! Perhaps a scared kid out there will decide he has nothing to lose and go down shooting and take a fellow officer with him!

One McCready undoes the work of a hundred decent, honest officers! And I know same damned fine men who chose to wear the badge! McCready sullys their name! Think about that before you give your loyalty to an officer who doesn''t deserve it!
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