Lady In The Harbor

A Woman With Dreams Of Becoming A Star Finds A Gruesome Hollywood Ending

(CBS)  With no physical evidence tying Rachael to the actual murder of her mom, she hoped the jury would never be able to convict her of first degree murder. "I was hoping they were going to the evidence and really trying to understand the case," she says. "I had hopes. I had small hopes."

So did her high school friend Kelsey Douglas. Kelsey cannot believe Rachael could help kill the mother she had always loved. She doesn't think Rachael might be involved. "Not at all. Didn't even cross my mind when he said it. In fact I stood up and I'm, 'No way.'"

If Rachael did love her mother, why would she stand by and allow someone else to kill her? And then help him clean up and run away with him?

At 48 Hours' request, Dr. Al Ravitz, a child psychiatrist, reviewed documents from Rachael's trial, including testimony of a defense expert who told the jury Rachael suffered from a borderline personality disorder.

"When she said to me she really loved her mom, she meant it at that moment?" Moriarty asks.

"Yes, absolutely. She meant it. She loves her mother. But she also hates her mother when her mother frustrates her," Dr. Ravitz explains. "People with borderline personality disorders engage in impulsive, typically self-destructive behaviors, but destructive behaviors as well."

While Ravitz has not treated Rachael, he says that typically those with a borderline personality disorder are unable to plan for the long term. "She may have been the instigator in the moment, but I don't think was the mastermind. She wasn't Lex Luthor here," the doctor explains.

And, like others with the disorder, Rachael was terrified of being abandoned. "And that terror drives the great majority of their behavior. And they're gonna do anything they can to keep you around," Ravitz says.

"Including murder. If she wanted to keep Ian. If, in fact," Moriarty remarks.

"Right. Yes," Ravitz agrees.

But Det. Mack says you don't need fancy psychological terms to describe Rachael. "She's evil. She's the most evil 17-year-old girl I've ever spoken to in my life."

What really matters is what the jurors believe, and it took them three long days to reach a decision: guilty of first degree murder in the brutal stabbing of her mother, Barbara.

"I heard him say 'guilty of first-degree murder.' And I heard my grandma scream out. That's pretty much all I heard," Rachael remembers.

Prosecutor Sonia Balleste, on this case for two years, felt relief. "What's really scary about Rachael is how young she is, and how in a way, criminally sophisticated she is."

But Rachael, who is appealing the verdict, insists the jury got it all wrong. "I'm just a young girl that dated the wrong guy," she says. "I didn't do it. I know I didn't do it. My mom knows I didn't do it."

Nearly three months after trial, Rachael was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Her first chance at parole will be in 2030, when she's at least 41 years old. Her father says nothing can change how he feels about her.

Asked if he still loves his daughter, Bruce says, "Completely. And I always will. I'm very proud that she's my daughter. Very proud."

And as Rachael's future stretches before her, it’s not her broken-hearted father she seems worried about, or even the terrible tragedy of her mother’s death. Rachael remains focused on herself. "What do I have to look forward to?" she asks. "The dreams of me wanting to have a family and getting married and going to college, they're gone.

"I’ll be an inmate now," she adds.

---

Ian Allen was also convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Both Ian Allen and Rachael Mullenix are appealing their convictions.

[Sunnyskiesinmyeyes]

Does anybody know what prison Ian Allen was sent to? I have been trying tirelessly to locate him. Any help would be appreciated. The cause of all of this is Greed Hatred and Delusion, and it's time to teach people how to deal with these defilement's in skillful ways rather than destructive ways. Ian made a poor choice and failed to recognize cause and effect with his actions, but now I can imagine he understands the concept quite well with his punishment. I want to teach Ian and give him an opportunity to learn from/let go of his past, and develop virtue wisdom and concentration from present day on. If anybody could give me any information or know of someone who can lead me to Ian please email me at [e-mail]. (www.dhammasala.org)

[LisaK13]

Too bad Rachael didn't just wait another six months to be 18 and then move out. If she hated her mom, then she could have just not spoken to her anymore after that. Ian must really love her a lot to cover up for her and try to take all the blame.

[goofydood]

Exactly! why oh why didn't she just stick it out until she turned 18 and then move out! Rachael is hott and Ian was used by her.

[cepe10-2009]

"tuesday" a code. what a joke. the prosecutor was really grasping at straws making things up with no basis and probably withheld evidence as well to get two convictions - one innocent person and one guilty. I hope the prosecutor rots in He!!

[nmast2383]

Run or Tuesday...Rachael says she mean''t to put an "n" oh come on!! There was never any mention that she ran, jogged, or leaped regulary.

Posted by renra78 at 12:48 AM : Jan 25, 2009

I don't recall her mentioning that "Run or Tuesday", intending to be on instead of or, meant she was a jogger? I completely agree that she was correctly found guilty, but you obiviously didn't pay very much attention to what she said this was supposed to mean. She says that Run on Tuesday meant run away, as in leave because she was underage.

[carolcape]

I remember this case previously. This was a terrible violent murder against Rachel's mother. She is a very evil person. Evil looking and took part in the grusome murder of her own mother. I am in agreement, if she was able to be living with her father, his life would be in danger also. I think this woman should serve every day of the 25 years. It was all about herself at the end of the show, what am I going to do, my life is ruined. Well she should have thought of that before murdering her mother along with her demented boyfriend and throwing her remains away in a cardboard box. Those two people are right where they belong. I saw her father crying at the end of the show, but what about the victim, nobody deserves to die like that and most of all, by someone they trusted and loved and looked after.

[stickdog3]

This was a horrible case. I live here in L.A. and remember when this broke. Out here you see some bizarre cases, but this one touched a nerve with everyone. To the blogger who put up a post saying he lived in that complex, and how come know one heard Barbara scream? Thats an excellent point, like you said the walls are razor thin, it was summer and a lot of people had their windows open. One thing you forgot my friend, this is Southern Cali, I hate reinforcing stereotypes, but there is a lot of jadedness out here. They even brought this up on the telecast, that Barbara didn't interact much with the neighbors. Nor did the neighbors interact much with each other. I've lived Condo complexes like that myself here in L.A. and I hated them. Everyone it seemed had that air about them. I sold that place very fast.
Anyways the pathlogist said there was more than 1 type of knife used. If thats the case, one would surmise that 2 people were stabbing her. How awful. I don't care how mean or socalled my parents could have been theres no way, I would choose that recourse to remedy the situation. NO WAY. This girl was the puppet master. Looking at her she looked like a fully develped woman. She had a quick mind and a very pronounced s*e*x*u*a*l air about her as well. So she easily flipped Ian. It all falls on the father though, he never should have let them come stay with him. That had to be a miserable living arrangement. Your roomate is your ex wife. That means you can't have a social life at all. Regardless of how Barbara was, she didn't deserve to that like that. Leaving that butter knife in her right eye socket was a statement being made. That was up close and personal. I copuldn't imagine me watching some woman kill my mother that way and I don't try and stop it, If i have to get cut so be it, I'm not letting it go down like that. And than 4 hours later you call your boyfriend and tell him "I love You" In other words you helped me rid me of this evil. Whats so sad, she'll probably get paroled way before 25 years is up.

[stickdog3]

Hey MalloryDavis - I just read your post you put up at 3:24 am yesterday. I feel for your parents, if they're still around. Based on your post they better not ever cross you.

[MalloryDavis]

STICKDOG3: Glad you read what I wrote and I thank you for your comment. No one knows what abuse is until you actually live it.

[get_down]

Both Ian Allen and Rachael Mullenix deserve the death penalty for cold-bloodedly murdered Rachael's mom - Barbara. 25 years to life in prison for both of them is not sufficient punishment! This is a law-abiding society - trashes like them need to be disposed of pronto and swiftly!

[MalloryDavis]

Personally, I believe in matricide and patricide. There are those times when abuse is so abhorrent that the abuser deserves to be eliminated.

[phone_jockey]

Based on the evidence shown I believe she was a willing participant, either in the murder or the cover up. Her childhood sounded hellish. I wonder why her father didn't try to gain custody of her if the mother was that abusive. It sounded like he also had alcohol problems, but not to the extent of the mother.

On a technical side to the show, I get tired of these crime shows twisting and moving the photos around for dramatic effect. It tends to make the viewer seasick.