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"48 Hours": Ambushed

March 16, 2013 8:15 PM

A son helps a new detective find his father's killer. Troy Roberts reports.

Ambushed: The murder of David Jackson
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by babbeemay May 24, 2013 2:54 PM EDT
Cor Blimey, she got away with murder
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by FINDBALANCE April 11, 2013 9:16 PM EDT
This woman is a nasty piece of work. TRUE EVIL! Frightening that she walks the streets. Having said that...
Unlike other comments, I understand the decisions that were made in attempting/then not, to prosecute. This was a crime 22 yrs. past, no eye-witness, forensics, concrete motive(s), other than "hearsay" of an ex-husband, double-hearsay of ex-wives and a dead father that no evidence can be gleamed from.
Even with a case filled with a plethora of evidence (i.e. O.J. Simpson) murderers walk.....unfortunately. Doesn't make Prosecutors lazy, stupid or un-caring.
Hope David is at rest, the Jackson family find peace and his son gets the help he needs to understand the truth behind his mother's lies.
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by maureenl12 April 7, 2013 11:02 PM EDT
These prosecutors should surrender their law licenses. I would rather have seen her walk on a not guilty than walk on a reduced charge plea by getting ZERO jail time for that offense. It's disgusting. If you don't have the guts and talent to successfully prosecute that woman with that much evidence against her, go become a banker or real estate agent or something, but you have no place in a criminal courtroom as a litigator. Can't believe our tax dollars go to paying the salaries of these lazy and weak prosecutors.
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by cherylswift April 7, 2013 7:58 AM EDT
I feel sorry for the son. He got what he asked for and now is having a hard time to deal with it. Sorry you cannot become a policeman unless you can read the evidence. I can understand why you don't have contact with your father side of the family. Probably did not have a lot of contact before all this. But I don't wish ill on you are your mother. I do believe he has know of her personalty for a long time. So this is right in his face and he will have to deal with this internally. She raised him with her social ills and he has had to survive. He sound like he was trying to be a responsible person and that just may come through in the long run. But being at a crossroad he will have to make a choice few of us has to. his father side of the family seem like loving people and they will accept him with open arms whenever he is ready. I send my prayers for him. I think everyone will be okay one day. And everything does come to light. Sometimes it is easier when you are on the outside to spill out hate, she will get hers or she is evil. But I believe it will hurt her badly when her son stop saying he believes her story and he turns out more like his father.
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by cherylswift April 7, 2013 7:40 AM EDT
I feel sorry for the son. He got what he wanted and was shocked of his mothers involvement. But he is the one that has to deal with all of it. He will not be able to become a police officer if he can not look at the evidence clearly. He will have to stay away from his fathers family and miss out on some of his heritage. If he is to support his mother. I like to believe he is saving them from his mom. I can't image some of his childhood. If like he says he knew his mother was hiding something, there are a lot of things he had to notice and they just don't turn off. I feel for him because he is at a crossroad and boy I woud not like to be in his shoes. Sounds like he is a responsible man or at the very least trying to be. So the inner turmoi must be great. It is alright that he has know relationship with his dad side of the family they probably never had one if she wanted sole custody. But they sound like good people so when he is ready they wil greet him with open arms. This is so sad mainly for Mr. Jackson's side of the family and his son. It can all work out, it will take a little time and lots of forgiveness. The son got what he asked for he will be able to embrace it. You are in my prayers young-blood.
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by hunny89 April 4, 2013 4:19 AM EDT
There is no way the husband of a woman, and her father, would conspire to kill her ex-husband without her involvement. She is the one with all of the motive for the murder. Not only that, but her actions following the murder of having her 2nd husband adopt the boy, and then immediately divorcing the man and receiving child support, make her wishes obvious. She wanted sole custody of her child, but wanted to have someone pay her to raise her child. Killing the 1st husband got her sole custody, and having the 2nd adopt got her child support at the end of the day. Very cold and calculating.
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by justice4all66 March 26, 2013 3:16 PM EDT
I want to know if the detectives followed up on who was taking care of 4 year old John Jackson Wolfe! Did they call relatives, neighbors, or friends back in Arizona to check? Barbara's defense attorney said Barbara and Michael didn't have an answering machine. Really?! How do you know? Did you live with them in 1988? Puhleeze! (Mr. Defense Attorney you will say anything to get your client acquitted; it's your job.) Michael Wolfe's ex-wife, Nancy, told the detectives everything. There is no benefit to her whatsoever to lie about anything! She's the only person who told the truth! I do think the detectives did all they could within their means because of a limited budget; however, I think the prosecutors dropped the ball on this case and should've never offered a plea to Barbara. She should be in prison. She knows it and so does John.

For John Jackson Wolfe. You're an adult now. Yes, you got the raw end of the deal. You were cheated out of a father, whom if pictures could tell a story, I'd say he loved you very much. He paid child support and there's no evidence you were ever abused. Your maternal grandfather, your mother, and Michael Wolfe conspired and accomplished the murder of your father. Yea, it sucks.(Yes, I can say that because I'm a victim's daughter.) Time to grow up. Your mom has manipulated and lied to you your entire life. Go get to know your father's mother -- your grandmother -- and your uncle Mark! I'm sure your life would've turned out very different had your father had the chance to be your dad. Stop listening to your mom; she obviously has some issues, probably because of how her father raised her. Move forward. I'd start by using your birth-given last name, then calling your grandma.
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by frenchbread93 March 25, 2013 3:28 PM EDT
who else could coax a straight man to a hotel but a woman? She is guilty of murder.
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by setrepeoh March 25, 2013 2:25 PM EDT
How could Michael Wolfe allow himself to be coaxed ito killing David ? Wolfe was a former police offcier. He should have known that committing murder is a permanent solution to a temperary problem, just like suicide. What he should hvae done was set them up in a sting wih the police. That way David would still have been alive, his son would have spent his life with him while Barbara and her father would have been in prison where they belonged.
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by setrepeoh March 25, 2013 2:10 PM EDT
Barbara, and her father plot to kill David using Michael Wolfe as the hit man. Now, Michael comes forward and says it was Barbaras father that instigated the whole crime? Convenient that he's not alive to ask. Barbara no doubt planted the idea in Michaels mind to kill David. Barbaras father may have played a key role in the crime. But, Michael Wolfe was a former police officer, and knew what would be in store after Davids disappearance. Didn't it ever occur to Michael that the case would not be closed until it was solved? Conspiring to kill someone has too many flaws: the perps have to rely on each others good graces for the rest of their lives. After David was killed and buried, Michael adopts Davids child. Then, Barbara leaves him and files for support. Now, how is he going to fight that?
Barbara and her father, and Michael Wolfe are all guilty of murder.
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