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My Mother's Murder

July 28, 2012 7:45 PM

A teenager's mother is murdered more than a year after her father met the same fate. Were the deaths connected? Richard Schlesinger reports.

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by andrea2885 April 5, 2013 3:00 AM EDT
Hello! Please visit http://justingranier.com and read about his case. If you agree please sign his petition. Thank you! Andrea
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by Hetaira3 February 9, 2013 7:58 PM EST
I don't think that girl murdered her mother at all!!!!!!!!!! The jury only convicted her for a normal teenager behaviour.......... What kind of justice is that???? People cannot be convicted only because we think or we believe one thing or another, it must be proved. And all evidences in this case show that other person did it. The world is crazy. Police catch criminals just to fill the files, it's horrible!!!!!!!! And another question: Which does mother fight with their daughter? I've fought with my mother a lot of times and I haven't killed her. I think family and relatives of this girl are blind. They need somebody is being guilty and they blamed to this poor girl. What kind of people have allowed this????
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by hoopgrl1 January 28, 2013 12:03 PM EST
she didn't do this, I don't believe she did at all! how on earth can they convict her when there are so many unanswered questions? they should be prdered to either test the hairs found in the mothers hand, and try to find who's dna was on the sheets, i cannot believe how badly the justice system fails so many people! its rediculous how many people have been wrongly convicted, and spend years upon years in prison before someone decides to dig for the real truth, if the person wrongfully convicted is so lucky to find someone who believes in them enough to do so.
someone needs to help this girl get a new trial where she's treated fairly!!!! she needs a fair trial. this investigation was so botched, as are soooo many others. its sad!!
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by sarahblack1111 January 18, 2013 5:48 PM EST
What I don't understand at all is how did the Mom die HOLDING HAIR in her hands it wasn't tested???? I can't wrap my head around that one at all, it goes against any sense of logic. Did I hear that wrong during the episode?
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by ShhDear November 19, 2012 12:04 AM EST
The fact that they could put her away on such a fluff defense is scary and should be scary to us all. If we have ever told someone we hate them or get angry and call someone a derogatory name and end up being the last person they saw, you might get put away regardless of physical evidence simply because a group of idiots sit on the jury. So frightening. Also, to be nit picky, it annoyed me that the prosecutor and lead detective on the case kept referring to the crime as a "fit of rage" or she "lost it" yet they are also calling the murder premeditated. It was almost a laughable trial. The only moderately sane person on the show at all was the defense attorney.
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by ShhDear November 19, 2012 12:03 AM EST
Something did not sit right with me about the preacher the moment the accounts were given by Jennifer's friends about his character; and my feelings only got stronger when I saw him on the stands and the way he carried himself so arrogantly. I do believe that Noura was involved in this crime; however, I do not think she acted this out alone for one second. Her mother had been dating a man who by countless reports from family, friends, and even officers had been noted for being controlling, frightening, or off in some way. I believe the pastor is a twisted individual and was having a sexual relationship with Noura behind Jennifer's back. Boy, what a better person for this manipulative man to take advantage of? Noura was a rebellious teen, a party girl, and involved in some unsavory behavior and she was often at odds with her mother. He would easily be able to exploit this situation, even develop trust and closeness to Noura due to the fact that him and Jennifer were also at odds for most of their relationship.

What I truly believe happened was this man had entered their lives and ultimately destroyed it. Noura being young and not too bright, sleeps with him. Her mother and her have an argument that night when she gets home from the party. Noura is drunk or on some other substance mostly likely due to her history of abuse and reveals the affair in an attempt to lash out. She may have told her mother earlier before the fight as well and did not act on it until later that night. Either way, I believe Jennifer was made aware at some point and was going to come forward with what she knew. This would not necessarily incriminate him since Noura was of age at the time but it could certainly tarnish his reputation and his job as a preacher. (The moment in the episode when Noura tells the interviewer that her and her mother had no secrets and they shared everything was the one moment when I thought she did not look like she was hiding something. I believe she did tell her mother this and that is when things got out of control). The preacher finds out about the affair being exposed and comes over to the house where Noura and her mother are and he murders her mom. Noura is there and is possibly in support with the plan or manipulated and scared and so she complies thus making herself an accessory to the crime. She witnesses the entire murder even though she did not do the deed with her own hands. That would explain the lack of weapon, bloody clothing, or any of her DNA found at the crime scene - he took it with him and I guarantee with such crap police work, they did not even try to search his home after his lousy alibi. If she had been in a furious raging frenzy as implied by the prosecutor there would no doubt be some trace evidence, if only a loose hair at the scene. The hair that was found in Jennifer's hand was never tested...and I highly doubt the DNA that was found on the sheets was tested against the preacher's DNA. I believe it would be a dead ringer match for his. Unfortunately, this could probably be ruled out due to their previous sexual relationship, which is why the hair evidence being so poorly neglected is a travesty.

I believe this also explains the random and unusual phone call that the preacher made to the residence late that night. Him and Jennifer were no longer in a relationship, so why would be be calling her that late anyway? I think he knew that Noura would be arriving home from the party around that time but then thought better of it or he knew the cat was out of the bag and made a panic call over there. I also think the preacher continuously calling the police was a red flag. The look on Noura's face when she talked about him at the end about how she had never known a more manipulative and controlling person and that he scared her was just spine tingling, she is basically calling the man out as a sociopath. I think she knew what he was capable of and had seen it first hand. Her own guilt of being involved and even maybe complying with him to commit the crime kept her from coming forward. She doesn't seems all that capable of making good decisions and perhaps in a way she does feel like she killed her mother after the whole ordeal because what she did was such a betrayal and in some ways her actions were ultimately responsible for the death. In some warped way she feels that it's almost better to be able to say that she is being punished for a crime she did not commit (and tell herself and the world that) than admit that she slept with her mom's boyfriend and was in the room when she watched him kill her.
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by billiejolear1 October 12, 2012 3:17 AM EDT
I do not believe that the daughter did this. I do believe however that the police offer up a sorry excuse for not testing the hair and the dna of a stranger on the bed was also never fully investigated. I think these things mixed with the fact that after a brutal stabbing the only mark on this girl was a cut on her hand? Further, she had pristine nails... if you have seen anyone stab someone before...its not easy... I am sure this woman fought... she had hair in her hands... this is a botched murder investigation and there is a very good chance an innocent child is in jail!
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by cheryllhorn September 28, 2012 10:59 PM EDT
I have a few questions. From what I can tell, the mother was the one who benefited from the father's death. Was she ever investigated? because a case could be made that he was murdered just in time for her to maintain control of the money. If the daughter wanted his money, she could have waited until she was 18. Also, I have a real problem with the mother wanting to keep the money for back child support. It wasn't the daughter's place to pay her, so I don't get the logic at all. Anyway, as far as the mother is concerned, I see a lot of greed. Was there any evidence of her own, personal earnings? As far as her family is concerned, they shouldn't get a dime. They admit to not liking the man, so why should they get his hard earned money? If the daughter isn't entitled to the money, it should go to his next of kin. These people suing for his money is ridiculous. Because of the way the mother handled the money, I do see motive for murder, and I do believe the daughter killed her. Too bad she didn't just give her the money, and send her on her way. Anyway, I think both the mother and daughter should be investigated for the father's death. But, considering how different the murders were, it seems that they were committed by 2 separate people. His murder was businesslike and to the point, while hers was personal and a bloody mess. All my opinions based on a few lingering questions.
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by TomOK19993 September 17, 2012 6:32 AM EDT
I've watched this episode at least 5 times, not more than 10 times. I was never convinced that the daughter did it. Now, I don't know. It appears that a lot of people loved Jennifer. Maybe, she was a church member? So many people gathered and cried right after her death, which tells me that she didn't have risky life style. On the other hand, the daughter lost a home to go back to. They wanted the 1st degree conviction? They think she premeditated on the murder? That's hard to swallow. In Noura's point of view, she doesn't have a place to go back to. If you have problems, parents are always on your side unconditionally. Noura can't pick up the phone and talk to a family member any more. I lived in a foreign country for a total of ten years or so while I was a foreign student. I had a lonely heart during holidays though there were kind people enough to invite me during Christmas and Thanksgiving. I don't know that really she chose her independence (and inheritance?) over security. I definitely wouldn't.
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by AB00123 September 17, 2012 12:01 AM EDT
Dear Noura,

I am very sorry nobody in your family stood by you. Personally, I do not believe you hurt your mom. However, whether you did it or not does not matter: you should not have been abandoned by those that were supposed to love you unconditionally. I can only imagine this is NOT what your mom would have wanted or wished for, under any circumstance. I sincerely hope they can work through their own anger and grief and can one day reconsider their role in your life. In the meantime, I hope you can find strength within yourself. Know that there are people out there that pray for you and wish you the very best, no matter what.
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