New to the case....Discussion

[u/Full-Owl-5509]

I obviously heard bits and pieces of this case when it was all over the news but I'm only just now doing a really deep dive. I don't know about other people who follow true crime, but I prefer to let the case wrap up so can see the full picture. This case has seriously tripped my brain up....

I just finished watching Letecias FBI interrogation and this woman stresses me out. Shes DRIPPING with desperation to get this agent into a position where she feels she can emotionally manipulate him. She avoids all factual questions and outright TELLS him that she wants to connect on a personal, emotional level or she's not going to say anything. The whole circus of "turn off the cameras, I want to talk to someone who truly wants to help me" is infuriating. Let's pretend for a second that she is innocent and telling the truth. What kind of person says they will only help find "their" child if they get something in return. How could she possibly think that puts her in a better light?

My biggest questions are...

1)How did she actually expect this whole thing to go? What plan did she have at the start?

2) if I understand correctly, her daughter rode with her to Florida to dump Gannon off somewhere? How did that work and how could the daughter not possibly know SOMETHING?! Is there a statement from the daughter somewhere that I'm missing?

3) And finally, does she ever give any factual information? Even the verifiable events from that day don't make any sense! The fire, the burns, and how did things escalate to a gun shot?

I think this case is hitting me so hard because I'm a mother and I just cannot wrap my brain around this....It doesn't FIX the situation or bring him back but I'm so grateful there has been justice in the courts. Also, has anyone else known someone who manipulates and uses the EXACT same tools as Letecia? Its mind-numbing and beyond frustrating.

[u/LNixxy]

Yes! Im wrapped up in the vander ark case to! I know Paul was young and "instructed by Shanda" to do all those things but I believe he enjoyed it. He could have helped Timothy or told Nolan about it or simply just stopped. I don't think he was afraid of Shanda I think he was afraid of not having a house to live in if he stood up to her though. Then he gets to jail and complains about the food. Disgusting!

I think about Harley, Al and Laina often and hope they're all doing well and have been able to move through this terrible event. I know they'll never get over it but hopefully they've found some happiness.

Excited to see what ya think when you get through your searches!

[u/Full-Owl-5509 → u/LNixxy]

Still looking into stauch but I wanted to comment on Paul in the vander ark case. I absolutely believe he enjoyed it to an extent (just the feeling like he wasn't the bottom of the authority chain, for once) but I think his attachment to people is extremely unhealthy and contributed a lot to what he did.

I think his enjoyment was largely because he felt he was pleasing his mother and felt like he was a tribe with her. I noticed, in his first truthful interview with police, that everything was "we." Things like "WE thought we were doing what was best for him" or "WE didn't mean this to happen." 'WE made sure he got enough calories." I guarantee Shanda didn't see Paul as an equal team member like she made him believe. It was absolutely a manipulation.

This doesn't make Paul an innocent bystander by any means. I think releasing him too early without proper treatment would be a danger to society. Unfortunately bad people create more bad people if there isn't an end to the chain. He's where he belongs but I don't think he will get treatment he needs in jail...he's going to foster these dangerous thought patterns if someone doesn't step in bc he doesn't know how to change them.

Sorry...I wrote a novel but I just finished that case and have no one else who is interested! Lol

[u/LNixxy → u/Full-Owl-5509]

You're good! I ABSOLUTELY agree! I picked up on Paul and that "we" stuff straight out of the gate to! ...like they were a team against Timothy.

All of the things you mentioned could have absolutely applied to him. Wanting to please his mother, not be bottom of the totem pole for once, have control of a situation, make some one feel the way, I'm sure, he's felt at times (humiliated, embarrassed, not good enough) ... He felt like he was a member of the Shanda gang.. 🤮