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Love, Lies, Murder?
Dec. 9, 2005, at 10 p.m. ET/PT
It's definitely hard to say whether or not Perry March had anything to do with his wife's disappearance. One thing that I do not understand is how Perry March can show no appreciation for what the Levine family has done for him. If he did not do it, why did he leave Nashville so soon? Why keep his children away from Janet's parents? They are all they have left of their daughter! I can not imagine how the families must feel if I, someone who has absolutely nothing to do with this family, am so frustrated by this tragedy. God Bless and I pray that this gets solved.
--Starr

The evidence does not seem to me to prove Mr. March killed his wife. The evidence about a rolled-up carpet in the corner sounded lame. If someone was rolled up inside a carpet, you would probably see part of their feet sticking out or blood draining out somewhere.
--Helen

As a previously uninformed and, as a result, completely impartial viewer, I found your reporter's work on tonight's mystery excellent and painstakingly neutral. He is to be commended! At the end of the presentation, based on simple gut instincts and "reading" of the statement/feelings of the principal folks involved during the show, I'll be surprised if there's not more yet to come out involving the missing woman's parents. I can't put my finger on it, but there's just something about them that doesn't come cross the way that you would expect. They just don't ring true!
--Dan

Without a doubt, Perry March is responsible for his wife's disappearance. What woman would calmly compose a to-do list on a computer after having an argument with her spouse? Her scheduled appointment the next day to see a divorce lawyer is reason enough to have provoked him to silence her forever.
--Giselle

I have a feeling Janet March simply got fed up with her husband, the constant drag of her children, weird grandparents, and so just got up one day and fled the whole mess. She may have had a boyfriend either from school days, or someone she met in the art world in which she was directly involved. At any rate she had an accomplice at the time, changed her name, social security and other identity, which is not very difficult to do. She moved to somewhere out of sight, and unknown to anyone, not even close friends. Janet March is very much alive today.
--George

Dark Side Of The Mesa
June 14, 2005, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

I find it absurd that Michael Blagg was found guilty. ... There was no weapon, no motive, nothing to tie Michael to the crime. The fight was supposed to be the motive? I want to know what couple doesn't fight? There was no evidence that he did it or that she was going to leave him.
--Hualan

When I watched your show tonight, it compelled me to think of my father-in-law who was murdered by arsenic poisoning in 1993. This mother who lost her daughter and granddaughter said all the words that we say to ourselves every day. ... But I pray for Abby ... maybe she will be found alive and well.
--Carole

I have no doubt that he [Michael Blagg] did commit these crimes since listening to your program. On the answering machine messages Michael Blagg made to his home on the day he called 911, he refers to hoping "his girls are having a great day together," despite it being a school day. In the 911 tapes he's telling the dispatcher that his daughter's school clothes are still laid out. If he wasn't guilty, why would he phone home saying he hopes his girls are having a great day together, when the daughter should be in school and obviously planned to be in school? The messages home during the day were all a part of his cover-up. Thinking that this man could possibly score parole or a new trial scares me.
--Mynx

We watched this program and admire Mr. Klebnikov's integrity in today's world of corruption. But know in the end, everyone will have to answer for their actions. If there is no justice in this lifetime, they will have to answer to the almighty God.
--John

The doctor did not monitor his behavior or progress on the drug, but still chose to increase the dose soon before the suicide. My family truly believes that this was a case of a drug causing the suicide of this young man. ... We find it important for people to know how dangerous it can be for children to be on these types of medications. It can truly have devastating effects. Thank you, thank you for having this story to show the world what can happen.
-- Carolyn

Great show! Everyone I know watched it. ... "Chamber of Secrets" is a great way to make people aware of just how corrupt our system is. Sad but true.
--Mary

It is imperative that people understand what has been happening in courtrooms and back rooms all over the country. Unfortunately, few judges, law guardians, law secretaries and clerks get caught, and not many district attorneys are willing to act.

People run to courts for protection, not realizing that their nightmare has just begun. They lose their children, homes, and life savings for no understandable reason. The wheeling and dealing is a well-hidden secret within a silent circle of protected cronyism. They operate the same as organized crime bosses, using threats and extortion, except when court personnel do this, it somehow becomes legal. ...

When individuals attempt to speak out or expose what is happening, they circle the wagons and there is retribution. These judges are treated like omnipotent Greek Gods. I hope there will be more shows like this, exposing what is really going on in courts.
--T

Thank you for showing this story to the world, this kind of thing is going
on all over the country. ... There are more stories as amazing as this -- you guys just need to dig.
--Troy

When I saw this, I felt it was my story. It about time all this is revealed. It has been kept a secret how these so-called court officials take laws into their own hands -- with no check and balances to verify or question their actions.

Custody has turned to a big money-making systems for lawyers, judges, and experts. And depending on which county you were, the law can be twisted depending on who you know, how much you can pay, which race you are and so forth. ... The terrorism in the courtroom against women need to stop.
--COriola

"Chamber of Secrets" demonstrates what can happen to people when our justice system fails. I want to believe that this incident is isolated, and not commonplace in the United States. ... Our court system is failing a class of citizens. I would like to say it's fathers, but it is much worse than that. It is failing our children, who are deprived of having two loving parents in their lives, who are placed into a single family home where they become the victim and the weapon in a game of wreckless manipulation to ensure the father is no longer a part of the family. ...

I encourage you to dig deeper and expose the family court system for what it really is - a feeding frenzy for judges, lawyers, guardians, and more. Family court is the ruining of a country with strong values, as the money administered in these courts do not understand the value of a family with both a mother and a father.
--Todd

I feel for those families who either lost their lives, family members, friends and their children's lives. I attend school with students who are from Russia and other countries. ...

I just wanted to share how I thought "Hostage" was a very moving story, and even made me cry at the end. Keep up the good work.
--Graduate06

I watched Peter Van Zant's report on the Beslan school attack, and wonder about the state of the building today. Have the people of Beslan rebuilt, or anticipate, or wish to rebuild the school? Is there an organization helping in a rebuilding effort, or is the government providing for this?
--Steven

I am amazed that the Aisenbergs have stayed so strong, and am inspired by them. No one can understand the pain they have been through, but the fact that they hold so much hope in their hearts, and undying love for their daughter will bring them to a place where they can hold her again one day. They should know that there are people all over the country with our eyes open, helping them to find their baby.
--Alicia

I do not believe Sabrina's parents had anything to do with her vanishing. Maybe it seems unlikely that someone came in and took her, but it is certainly possible. What a horrible thing to lose a child -- then to be accused of harming or killing her. Please let the Aisenbergs know that there are people who believe them and hope they will be reunited with Sabrina.
--Diana

As I watched your program, something struck me as odd. On the 911 tape, they asked the mother if she had other children in the house. She then asked her husband if their other children were there. As a mother, it seems odd. If I had found an empty crib, I would have immediately checked the other children's rooms. My first instinct would be that they maybe took the baby out of her crib, but she reported her missing right away.
--Paula

There was a part where the newscaster pointed out that Mr. Aisenberg was smiling at one point when he was getting into a car, and saying this was one factor in leading people to speculate on his guilt. I am really amazed at this. So if a loved one dies or is missing, one is not supposed to smile anymore? Look at Caroline Kennedy smiling as she left her place with a friend just a day or two after her brother's death. That was on the news, yet no one criricized her for smiling, or suggested she had something to do with her brother's death. His supposition that one has some involvement with a death of a loved one if you are seen smiling after the loved one's death or kidnapping is absolutely crazy.
--Michael

It just amazes me how you can interview the Eisenbergs. They got away with one of the biggest scams in history. Why didn't you ask the mother and father of baby Sabrina where their tears were? They are the first people I know who can cry without shedding a single tear. Any other parent, who lost a child, would have swollen eyes, and puffy faces from crying so hard. ...

For those still uncertain, ask yourself a question. Would you cry if your child disappeared, or would you just pretend to cry? There is your answer. One day, the game will be over, and they will be behind bars where they both belong.
--Barb

Nothing can replace this kind of loss for any parent. I pray that the suffering family and friends might also find some forgiveness in their hearts so that they may go on and cherish the loves that they have lost.
--T.

If Mrs. Hill was such a bad driver, why didn't someone take her license? Or prohibit their kids from riding with her? Sometimes parents are too willing to let someone else, like the Hills, chauffeur their kids around. Then, when something happens, sue them!
--Carl and Pat

Thank you for the excellent job in reporting about Mary Hill. I only hope it also reminds all motorists, especially parents, to drive responsibly - and not irresponsibly. As a member of an emergency agency, we see crashes like Hill's every day. It's rarely the fault of the vehicle.

It's more often "driver error," driving impaired-by driving recklessly, speeding, unrestrained and under the influence of alcohol and other drugs - or just being ignorant. Hopefully your story educated everyone in more ways than one.
--Monica

How precious life is. I think most people get into their cars each day without really thinking of ever getting into a serious accident, or really being attentive to surroundings until it's too late. This story is a sad one for both families who lost their loved ones. Their lives will never be the same.
--Danny

Your show touched at my heart and ached for that family. What happened in that car is known only by Mary. Only she will know the truth. All we know from the show was history. Too many people said the same thing about her driving. When I get in the car and drive, I know that what I do can change lives. She does too, but it's too late.
--Ellen

I have met Mary Hill, and heard her story from her own lips. There is no doubt in my mind that what happened to Mary, her daughter, and the other children in the car was nothing more than a tragic accident. This woman was shattered, both physically and emotionally, by this accident. Her love for Amy, and her grief, was so obvious when I met her. I will never believe that she would in any way endanger Amy purposely. ... Please know that there are people in this community who believe you to be innocent.
--Debbi

I feel that body language says a lot. Mary Hill could not even look into the camera and didn't appear to make eye contact with her interviewer. She is guilty of what she was charged with, and like Rita Brown said, she needs to be made accountable.
--Teresa

Mary Hill is not guilty of killing those children. She needs treatment for depression. Putting that woman in prison will only make things worse. She's been put through to much.
--Carol

I am so disappointed in our court procedures. ... Mary Hill made her own decisions. She was a drunk and a drug user. Many people are sitting on death row because of things that they did while drunk. That is where Mary Hill belongs. The jury found her guilty without any doubt, and now because she has money to fight court systems, the judge now feels he needs to think about what to do with her.

She will get medical treatment while in prison. Maybe not the kind that rich people can afford, but she gave up that right. ...The judge needs to stay with the jurors' decision and send this woman to where she belongs. Prison without a doubt.
--Norma

The prosecutor mentioned that there were no visible signs of abuse. Abuse doesn't need to be physical. I believe there was mental torture involved. She lost touch with reality afterwards. I believe this because she mentioned how the house had to always be clean, and that shows me that he was the person who controlled the relationship. Why would she even bring that up? I have suffered verbal abuse and you go into another world to escape the pain and then punish yourself for being a bad person (in your mind.) Then you try to do the "right thing" to get out of trouble and hope the abuser will be nice to you. I think she is innocent and did this deed because she was abused. I think she couldn't take the abuse anymore.
--Germama

I think that the female prosecutor from Houston is histrionic, deplorable and only concerned with proving that she can win a case for her ego gratification. I truly believe that Susan was abused by her husband, especially since her husband abused his last girlfriend. The old saying is what goes around comes around. That female DA better hope that she is never the victim of abuse and has to succumb to the histrionic antics of some ego- driven prosecutor and a manipulated jury.
--Emwbkstre

It is obvious to me that she killed in self defense. Why would she stab him in the eyes? Possibly to disable him from attacking and killing her as easily, should he arise. Why stab him so many time? Most people have heard stories of the superhuman strength of people on drugs. How could anyone possibly know how many stabs it would take? I've heard stories of many people who were left for dead, in terrible, unthinkable conditions, yet they lived to tell about it. How could anyone seriously fighting for her life leave anything to chance? Most disturbing of all are the cold responses of that obviously ignorant jury. Dealing with a person (for decades) who is not reasonable, cannot be explained with reason.
--Anonymous

I am heartbroken by the story on Susan Wright. I do not blame her for what she did. I totally sympathize and believe she thought she was in danger. This poor woman deserves to be with her family and little boys. Domestic violence is a deadly and silent cycle. It doesn't matter that her husband seems like a nice guy on the outside, I can absolutely believe that he did rape and beat her, and would have killed her if she stuck around. ... I don't think that Susan is a cold blood murderer. I believe she is a victim who needs a voice and support.
--MD

I think this woman is telling the truth. I know from personal experience that it is more than possible to give the abuser supernatural abilities, and I believe that this is what Susan was doing. She kept saying she thought he was alive and she only wanted to stop him from coming after her. She truly believed he was still alive. I believe that she stabbed him in the eyes so that he couldn't see her -- so it would take him longer to get to her. ... I hope that the truth comes out so this woman won't have to spend the rest of her life in prison.
--LiLo

I believe that this poor woman definitely killed her husband in self defense because she was abused and could not take no more. If anyone knows anything about abused women, they would be able to see that she is not a killer. The man had a knife, and he had abused her, and when you're abused, you live in fear. This was purely self defense. She is not a liar nor a cold-blooded murder. She is an abused woman who got tired of covering up and tired of his abuse.
--Pamela

Ms. Wright's act of killing her husband is a direct result of abuse -- being controlled and bro
ught to think she has no other choices. My wife and I over the last several years have helped several young women get out of similar marriages. The common thread has always been loss of self-worth resulting from both physical and psychological abuse. It is often hidden from their family. Restraining orders do not help. Quite often, they result in causing the abuse to increase.
--Wayne

I am so appalled at that woman who calls herself a lawyer. I know from experience with domestic violence that when you are constantly being abused and threatened, you have to do whatever you have to -- to get to a safe place. I believe Susan Wright 100 percent. ... When a victim is scared and completely frightened that her abuser is never going to stop abusing her, reality can be distorted in their mind. I believe that she really thought he was still alive, because that fear you have from your abuser doesn't stop all at once. It takes a long time for it to go away, if ever.
--Sally

What 13-year-old boy would want to subject himself to the stigma attached to such an accusation? The victims' lives and their families' lives have been made into a living hell, and they have been robbed of their innocence. The abuse that they experienced is not "hazing." It is abuse and something needs to be done so that this does not happen to other children.
--Corinne

I can't understand how the community rallied for the sake of football, but not for the victims. The families were ostracized because the majority wanted to watch the game. People have major issues with standing up for the right reasons in today's society and then wonder why our youth are so out of control.
--Halah

I believe that the coaches should have stood up and taken responsiblity for not knowing what was going on with their team. As parents, we entrust teachers and coaches with the lives and welfare of our children. And for the coach to state "I am not psychic" was completely inappropriate. Maybe that is a part of why they lost their jobs. I wish those parents all the best, and hopefully their sons will get help and heal.
--Logan and Julia

My heart goes out to those young kids. They did nothing wrong and were helpless in this situation. For the coaches and town members to act as if nothing criminal was done is beyond me. They seemed to care more about their careers and high school football team than the kids that were tortured.
--Michelle

I find it interesting that Coach McElroy would stay silent for such a long time. ... Based on what I've seen in the various news reports, the coaches should absolutely be held responsible for what happened. They should never be allowed to be mentors of children again. Your interview of Coach McElroy made my skin crawl. He is obviously trying to save what he can of his career, but he is callously dismissing the very real suffering that those boys endured. Anyone who defends him is allowing these tragedies to continue to occur in our schools.
--Patrick

The interviews tonight with the two coaches showed a defensive and irresponsible stance. Never, ever, should those put in a supervisory position (let alone a school-sponsored event) allow youth to remain unsupervised overnight in a cabin. This is clearly a liability, whether the kids are hazing peers, injesting drugs/alcohol or simply sleeping. The coach's comment regarding "picking the wrong kids" was, at best, a poor defense and I applaud the school system for its termination of these two individuals.
--Ozzie

Is the coach for real? The kids did not scream and did not ask for help? They were tortured and will never recover. How ludicrous for these adults to make excuse after excuse. They failed those children in the most repulsive criminal manner. I am appalled and disgusted, and they should never ever be allowed to coach or even be near children again.
--Cathy

I cannot believe what the police did to make that boy confess to the murder of his parents. The detective who told the boy his father said he had done it was so annoying. It seemed like he did not care that he could have possibly put an innocent boy behind bars. He seemed so nonchalant, like he did not want to admit he was wrong. I hope the real truth comes out.
-- Obigthings

I can't help thinking how one man, Det. McCready, could have botched a double murder case so badly at the cost of an innocent teenager who lost his parents in such a tragic way -- then have to spend so far 14 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. I think criminal charges should be brought against McCready for the damage he has done and then have him spend 14 years in prison.
-- Ellen

I feel so bad for Marty. I think he has nothing to do with the death of his Parents. I think the cops did not want to do their jobs and that they were thinking he must have had something to do with it. ...I don't think Marty had anything to do with it, and I hope that Marty gets out.
-- Sharon

The frightening aspect is what happened to Marty could happen to any of us. When do cops like Det. McCready, who think nothing of railroading the first person that comes along, get to face his own court trial? I would like to volunteer for jury duty on this triumphant day.
-- K.B.

I have never been more sick, disturbed and outraged at the injustice placed on the young Marty Tankleff. Rarely do I feel the accused is completely innocent in these investigatory programs, but I simply cannot rest until I express my concerns with the horrific incompetence on behalf of the detective responsible for coaxing out a false confession.

How easy it would be to intimidate a naive 17-year-old to the point of confessing anything after a constant litany of accusations, lies and scare tactics from an arrogant professional who considers his "feelings" to be more accurate than a lie detector test. It was so grossly evident that Marty was wrongly convicted. Even still, the people responsible for his conviction would rather spare their pride than admit possible fault by granting him a new trial.
-- Rebecca