Caught In The Crossfire

A Wife And Judge Get Caught In The Crossfire Of An Explosive Divorce

(CBS)  But back at home the party was over. Weller had repeatedly asked Darren and Charla to try to reach some kind of financial agreement on their own so he wouldn't be forced to do it for them. They did hammer out a deal, but when that fell apart the judge stepped in and ordered Darren to pay up.

"He had to pay her a lump sum of $480,000, out of which she was supposed to buy a home and a car. And then over the next five years, she was supposed to receive $10,000 a month in spousal support," Robb says.

Small says the ruling left Darren disillusioned and frightened. "Could not believe this was happening. He was about to lose a lot of his money."

Darren was ordered to make that payment of close to half a million dollars to Charla, but soon after that hearing she was dead.

Asked if he thinks Weller's rulings pushed Darren over the edge, Small says, "I can't say Darren did this. Do I think Judge Weller's rulings added to all that is enough to push someone over the edge? One hundred percent. Yes sir."

Four days after Charla's murder, there was still no sign of Darren.

Reno investigators, working with the FBI, were tracking possible sightings in Mexico; a couple of unverified reports came in at a resort in San Jose del Cabo, which would have been familiar territory for Darren, since he'd been there the year before for a swinger’s convention.

Newspaper reporter Martha Bellisle went to Mexico trying to retrace Darren's steps and met hotel employee Virginia Delgadillo, who claimed she met a man fitting Darren's description.

An airline pilot staying at the same resort also reported he thought he had seen the fugitive; FBI agents soon descended on the hotel.

But Det. Chalmers says they were unable to determine whether Darren had been at the resort. Then, exactly one week after he disappeared, came the shocking announcement that Darren-hiding somewhere in Mexico-wanted to surrender.

While he was still in hiding, Darren's family retained defense attorneys David Chesnoff and Scott Freeman, who took over the surrender negotiations.

"Let's be clear on what we’re dealing with here - your client Darren Mack did kill his ex-wife Charla?" Roberts asks.

"You won't get me to tell you that," Chesnoff says.

Asked if that's not in dispute, Freeman says, "I think everything in this case is in dispute."

But what's not in dispute is that they see Darren as a man pushed to the limit.

A series of e-mails Darren sent while on the run reveal a disturbing picture. For example in one message he holds himself up as a martyr for the father's rights movement writing, "Remember they want me as a sacrificial lamb. They want the pleasure of executing me."

After days of negotiations, Darren finally agreed to surrender, quietly turning himself in at a luxury hotel in Puerto Vallarta.

Darren was carrying $36,000 in cash, 20 credit cards, and a suitcase full of evidence. "A pair of shoes with some blood spatter, some other clothing with what appeared to be blood stains were in the suitcase," Chalmers explains.

Chalmers says the DNA profile of the blood stains matched Charla.

Darren, charged with the murder of his wife and the attempted murder of Judge Weller, pled not guilty to both crimes.

From the sound of it, Darren's attorneys may be making a case for self defense: "If our investigation shows that this woman was violent and could get angry and do things that were inappropriate, that may actually raise the question of self defense," Chesnoff explains.

Darren hinted at this in an e-mail he sent to Reno D.A. Dick Gammick while negotiating his surrender, claiming it was Charla who was the aggressor in that garage.

Darren's attorneys may also raise questions about his state of mind. "In conversations we've had with our client we have some concerns that he isn’t grasping all the various legal issues that are required to be grasped to fully assist us in what we need to do in this case," Freeman says.

But co-prosecutor Robert Daskas thinks insanity will be a hard sell. "When you look at the object of his hostility, he went after the two people he had motive to kill. He went after Charla Mack with whom he was having a bitter divorce and custody battle and he went after Judge Weller, someone at least in Darren Mack’s mind, who treated him unfairly," he says.

And the defense will need to work around that so-called "to do list," which could show premeditation.

As they gear up for trial, Darren's attorneys say they'll spare no expense to defend their client, but apparently it won't be easy: Chesnoff says Darren has no money and is in bankruptcy.

Released from jail and back home with his new wife and family, Small learned more about the case and eventually withdrew his support from Darren.

As Darren awaits trial for the murder of his wife, Charla, their daughter, Erika, is now the center of a new custody dispute between her grandmothers.

[BiCoastal]

I'm an attorney. First saw this on Oct. 17 or 18. Unaware of it before that. One thing which blew me away was the huge state of denial displayed by Mack's girlfriend, who kept saying Mack killed his wife in "self - defense". Also, Mack's mention of a phantom gun and a phantom dumpster---mentioned not in in his first conversations with his lawyers, but later. I've represented numerous injured persons in civil litigation arising from battery (committed by security guards, body guards, bouncers, etc.) Never has the affirmative defense of self-defense (almost always pleaded routinely) been proven in my own professional experiences. The tell-tale signs of a doomed self-defense argument are that only one of the parties (the victim) has any injuries. Add to this a size disparity in favor of the alleged and uninjured self-defender (the de facto aggressor)AND a weapon (knife, in Mack's case), and you have all the earmarks known to experienced attorneys of an out and out attack/battery (here, murder)--no self defense. By the way, I don't practice family law or criminal defense. (Oh yeah, the fact that he pleaded guilty is a good indication that it wasn't self-defense, too.)

[Vic-H]

After watching the program, a question immediately came to my mind. If Darren Mack pre-planned the murder as it was claimed by the prosecutors, why on earth would he kill his wife in his own garage and leave the body there totally incriminating himself? It is not that I like the guy, nor what he did. But wouldn't anyone who plans something as serious as murder ahead of time, whould also think about getting rid of the body as part of the plan? I do believe he committed the crimes he is accused of, but that he acted in a state of rage and passion.

[csi-lover]

This Mack guy should have been fried in the electric chair. This type of mentality is so evil that he will meet his fate in jail or hell, which in my mind, are both the same. He kills his wife and almost kills Judge Weller, and then blames them for his actions? Wow! Psychopath or what? The person I feel sorry for the most, besides the family and Judge Weller, is the criminal judge who had to hear Mack rant after his sentencing. But this judge did the right thing by sentencing him to life in prison, noting that Mack showed no remorse, nor did he apologize for what he did to his wife and Judge Weller.

This Mack guy is something else.

[soupperG]

summarux,

You are exactly right. The media holds a lot on their shoulders for the direction of this country.

There is a most definate slanted media view perputrated by the government to make it seem as though the court's follow the laws and the Constitution and nothing is further from the truth.

The ones sworn to uphold them are the biggest violaters, and yes, they will censer me, I am sure.

Thanks
Greg

www.dadsaredisplaced.ws

[get_down]

After watching the TV and reading this article, it appeared that Mr. Darren Mack is a controller and manipulator - he likes to have control of the world around him and he also likes to manipulate
events and folks around him. I'm glad finally the legal system finds what's wrong with him - if he couldn't get his way - he's going to do something - including premeditated murder of both his
ex-wife Charla and attempted murder of family court judge Chuck Weller. Justice finally is served by putting him behind bars where he belongs!

[soupperG]

While I certainally don't condone what Mact did to his wife, I wish the shot at the judge would have been better. The judiciary is extremely corrupt and they pretty much do whatever it is they want without recourse. They do this because they have given themselves total immunity from the law.

I have delt with many judges and attorneys in family court matters and I must say, they should all be shot. They are very corrupt.

[summarex]

Your are right of course. Judicial criminality and the police-welfare complex we have created are choking this country. Delivering tough justice to them will be the great fight of our time.

But be careful with what you write.

CBS is banning posters for making remarks that fall outside the CBS ideological umbrella.

Naturally the goal is to present a skewed consensus.

IT WON'T WORK.

END POLICE WELFARE NOW

[nickatnoon]

soupper, you hit the nail on the head! The bar, which originates in the "City of London" has occult/satanic roots, and it's agenda is to keep the masses under their thumb, by protecting the CONtrollers. Then we have the media which portrays the court system as "fair" by airing schlock TV "programs" like Law and Order, etc. Anyone who hasn't been screwed by the court system has been living in a cave all their lives!

[hercule1122]

The people surrounding Mack in this horrible tale were all like flotsam and jetsam. He is a complete idiot, spoiled, and I hope he will rot in jail. Crying about losing his wife when he murdered her...bizarre! And the new girl friend reminds me of the tin man- she needs a brain. I have great sympathy for Judge Weller and Charla's family, and wish them peace and a good life. Evil always exists in our world, but we can make a difference. Shalom.

[celestialsmo]

I was very disturbed while watching this show. I dont understand why in the world someone would go to such lengths to kill someone just because they have to have there own way! I see that Daryn was a VERY manipulative man that plotted this musrder because he wasnt getting what he wanted! In my opinion Daryn got wind of his wife wanting to leave him so he fabricated stories of her abuse towards him to make himself look better and to play the victim. To me Daryn is a spoiled little brat that acts like a 2 year old when he doesnt get what he wants in life! If he was the victim and killing her was self defense then why would he throw away the gun if it at all had her finger prints on it again all set up by Daryn himself to look like a victim that hes not, and to manipulate his son into thinking his story was true WAKE up and face reality!What is really scary is the new girlfriend standing by his side. why would you be that dumb and not protect yourself and your own children, bot she must have some issues with herself to believe that man! and of course his creepy best friend hes just as crazy and maybe we should start making sure he doesnt do the same to his ex-wife as Daryn did to his wife because he surely believes that Daryns crazy actions were justifid. At least we can say that justice has been served and hopefully he will never get out of his cell!!!

[Ty2011]

If he'd played if off as his patriotic duty to free us from tyranny instead of trying to save his own skin he'd probably have been called insane and at the same time held up as a hero to anarchists!

[djwelsh2]

All Darren had to do was pay alimony and split the marital assets which is what you are supposed to do in a divorce. He would rather ruin his daughter''s life than give Charla was was rightfully hers. That was a selfish act from a sociopath and narcicist, obsessed with *** and money who only loves himself.
So now he will rot in jail for cold blooded murder.
Nobody wins here including tax payers.

[franchize44]

I agree that family courts are wrong- but the fact of the matter is that Darren Mack murdered his wife, and then tried to murder the judge. The self defense things doesn''t add up because of the attempted killing of the judge. It''s WRONG and there''s something evil about a man who can do that. He''s right where he should be.

[aldicicco]

All Family Courts must be abolished and replaced by mediation centers that will uphold our rights of equal protection under the law and assist in reducing animosity between parets divorcing. I spent over a decade in Nevada trying to help reform the system and failed. Several Nevada Family Court judges lobbied against a bill that would have given all parents equal rights to their children. The governement wants control over all of us. Listen to Alex Jones www.infowars.com

[nickatnoon]

Thanx aldiicco, you stole my thunder! Family court(and ALL courts) are one BIG fraudulent SCAM that lines the pockets of the lawyers and judges while they help destroy more families! Anyone who has studied Admiralty Law, which is the law that is carried out in our courts, knows the citizens have NO RIGHTS, and are treated accordingly. The gold fringe around the U.S. flag in the courtroom bears that out.

[Ty2011]

LoLCatz r in ur usc makin nu akronyms

[roma52]

How can anyone have a happy relationship when you are swinging with others?

After the baby was born, Charla was then Mrs. Mom, and Darren wasn''t getting all the attention.

It would have been interesting to know if the first Mrs. Mack went through the same thing with Darren.

Mrs. Mack #1 was obviously the wiser of the two, she is still here.

Money was the factor here.

Darren Mack typifies the modern culture, of the shallow, vain, rich, Hollywood lifestyle even now, he still doesn''t get it?

Once again, you can''t judge a book by its cover.

[cacomistle]

sheril911,
I''m not sure of the name of the song, but the singer was Charla Mack. Her mother had the song played at Mack''s sentencing hearing, saying that it was a song Charla wanted Darren to hear - it was literally her voice from the grave. ::goosebumps::

[grosventres]

Darren''''s other friends/hangers-on seemed very sketchy, as well. I wondered what they thought they were going to "get" from standing up for him.

You got that right. I''ve known Michael Small for years and he is a con man extraordinaire. He took several of my friends and relatives to the cleaners in an "acting school" scam in Binghamton, NY back in 1996. At that time he was married to an acquaintence of mine, Darlanne Fleugle, an up and coming acress who co-starred in several major movies with Sly Stallone and William Peterson, among others. He ruined her career and took her for all she was worth. The custody battle referred to in this story was apparently with her.

I''m sure the reason that Mack was Michael''s "best friend" was because Mack had millions and Michael wanted some of it. It wasn''t surprising to see him turn up in the midle of this sordid tale.

[winnywinny1]

I''m just amazed that the "replacement" trophy girlfriend (Alicia) can be so dumb. She seems to be attracted to trouble. Hope for the sake of her own child she gets wise and makes the child her only priority.

Darren''s other friends/hangers-on seemed very sketchy, as well. I wondered what they thought they were going to "get" from standing up for him.

[winnywinny1]

I''m just amazed that the "replacement" trophy girlfriend (Alicia) can be so dumb. She seems to be attracted to trouble. Hope for the sake of her own child she gets wise and makes the child her only priority.

Darren''s other friends/hangers-on seemed very sketchy, as well. I wondered what they thought they were going to "get" from standing up for him.

[drdavedmd]

Although there is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt that Darren deliberately killed Charla, and that afterwards he went out to take out the judge, Darren should have nevertheless been granted a new trial because his rights as an American citizen was violated. He testified that he was coerced into pleading guilty. No matter what, even if it is going to be a waste of taxpayers'' money, every individual has a right to a fair trial. He did NOT. The judge was so biased it was not funny.

In the event of a new trial, Darren will be convicted and sent to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The argument against his belief that he acted in self-defense is the fact that he went out to go after the judge.... how in the worl and for what reason would a person who acted in self-defense all of a sudden go after the judge? There is NONE. Case dissmissed. Darren Mack is a brutal killer. He needs to pay for his heinous crime for the rest of his life. However, I believe that the justice system needs to give him a new trial.

[kar791]

I totally agree with roscoezzz. Darren Mack is a disgusting human being who should never have the possibility of parole. His girlfriend is a total idiot to stand beside this lying murderer. The story about Charla threatening him with a gun is so rediculous. He obviously thought of that twist when he was on the run in Mexico. The thought of a petite woman overpowering this muscular man in a "fight for their lives" on the floor of the garage is obsurd. No matter how unfair a family court judge is, it does not give Darren a free pass to go around killing people and attempting to kill the judge. That''s life. Sometimes it isn''t fair. His acts were not justified. He is an evil person who should rot in jail. He took away so much from so many people. This is a very sad and disturbing story.

[crazywoman]

Landmark Education was mentioned but I did not get the connection. Would you please let me know?

[namesnames]

He knew what he was doing when he killed her and attempted to kill the judge. He should not get parole no matter how old he is. I do believe, from personal experience, that there are judges in the family court system that automatically side with the mother unless the mother has been deemed unfit. That''s gender discrimination.