Coping with the Pocatello teen tragedy
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Our region is still coping with the shocking news of Cassie Jo Stoddart, who police said was fatally stabbed by two of her boyfriends’ friends while house sitting in the Pocatello area.
According to KPVI, Torey Adamcik and Brian Lee Draper were arrested last Wednesday night after they took polygraph tests, though police said “they had a good idea of what happened before Draper and Adamcik came in for a polygraph.” A little birdie has whispered to me the “good idea of what happened” the police had was a gruesome video tape the boys made of the killing. This rumor flies against what Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Neilson has publicly said, so confirmation will have to wait.
Two of the teens’ MySpace pages are still up, and it appears you can still leave comments on them. Cassie Stoddart’s page can be found by searching in Myspace under People for Cassie Stoddart. Brian Draper’s page can be found in Cassie’s friends section (man they were fairly tight, huh?) under the screen name (Place your screen name here). [That is his actual screen name, I didn't put that in and forget to replace it] The PR this morning reported one of them also had some type of tribute page to the Columbine massacre, but they did not provide the URL.
Judging from the number of our recent visitors searching for information on this case, we thought we’d provide a place for people to talk about it and express their feelings.
What do you think about this tragedy?
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Comments
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0 Oh, great. The guy is a heavy metal fan. It’ll be the W. Memphis Three all over again 
I teared up reading the most recent comments of Cassie’s page. If you scroll down, you can find a few comments from before she was killed … some about how some of her friends miss her over the summer, some about how they’re sad they didn’t say goodbye on the last day of school. It’s very sobering, to be able to see stages in someone’s life like that - and this should be a message to all of us. We are not given a guarantee on how long we are allowed to live this life - never take one second for granted.
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0 0 U.S. News and World Report had a recent cover story (9/18/06) titled “what parents need to know about myspace.” It had some great info about what kinds of things parents should look for and how they can more effectively monitor their kid’s pages.
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0 0 With all due respect to fellow e-friend, Jeremy (and others) who appropriately use MySpace, I honestly think it should be closed.
People who are motivated for the right reason to use a page like that will use the newer pages, such as “spaces” from Microsoft, or others.
This is a terrible tragedy. Please make sure your own are safe. I’ve had this talk previously with teenagers very closely related to me, but not my own children. However, it is time to talk again with perhaps a little stronger emphasis of a local tragedy. And while I don’t like to doubt my own blood relatives, I’m doing a search to see if I can bring up any information online about 3 pre-teens/teens about whom I am most concerned.
Maybe my actions are extreme, but one of those I’m researching witnessed the stabbing in Tautphaus Park not long ago. I haven’t a clue of what that teen was there and will do all I can to influcenc parents/teen to review some choices. I would like to see that teen, along with others, make it to their high school graduation and many other milestones people experience in life. However, the teens/pre-teens have to BE ALIVE to experience those wonderful things that await them in life.
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0 0 Thanks to a visitor who went by the name ‘Scared!!!’ who gave me the address of that Columbine site that one of the Pocatello killers allegedly built:
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0 0 It’s just hard to believe that a boy who is against cruelty to animals (see Draper’s blog) could commit so brutal a murder. I don’t know anything about the other boy, but what could lead so such violence and why????? What evil influence led these boys (aledgedly) to brutally stab a classmate for no apparent reason? How involved in their lives were the parents of these boys? There are lots of questions that need to be asked of these boys, their parents and family and a lot of community soul-searching as well as to how we let these kids fall through the cracks when they obviously were deeply disturbed.
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0 0 From viewing his website, he was obsessed with horror movies, so perhaps that’s either the cause or a symptom of an obsession with death. The human mind is a moldable thing, so maybe his obsession with horror films led him to need to see death first-hand. Who knows?
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0 0 I have been following this case because it is close to home and near where my in-laws live. Some very odd high-profile cases have occurred in Idaho over the past few years. I know it happens all over, but it’s so much more unsettling when it happens so near to you.
I happened upon this website & read the comments about this tragedy. I have to comment regarding the idea that these teen’s MySpace pages are where some of the blame lies in the actions these teens commit. I don’t think unrestricted use to any internet site is safe for any child. But, I think the fact that MySpace is not as monitored as some think it should be is the reason that teens, and adults, are able to post the things about themselves that they do. It is an outlet to post maybe deep feelings that they have, that they want others to hear and know, that they wouldn’t otherwise reveal. If parents do take the time and concern to allow their children to post, but also to monitor what they’re saying, they could learn a lot more about their children than what they’re willing to reveal otherwise. There is a website called mydeathspace.com that collects MySpace pages from people who submit information on people that have died (or even people who have murdered) and still have live MySpace pages. It is very interesting to read through a person’s thoughts and actions before the tragedy. Some reveal very little, but some blatantly reveal that a person is headed towards some kind of danger. Some teen’s pages show that they’re into drinking, partying, drugs. Some show the teens or adults with guns, or list their desires to do harm or live the life of a gangster. Some, sadly, have blogs that detail the path to a suicide, with the intense pain these young people are going through. I can’t help but think that if a parent or friend had taken the time to read what is sometimes like an open book into these people’s lives, and maybe stepped in, they could have helped to prevent the things that eventually can happen.
My teens have MySpace pages, but I also monitor their computer usage. Their computer is connected to our big screen living room TV, so not much is missed. But, my children are much more likely to divulge things they’re going through and feeling on their pages, than they are to me. I signed up a space for myself and, although it’s not necessary to have an account to view MySpace pages, my kids, and their friends, know it is a place they can go to talk to me. They email me and leave me comments and I have gotten to know quite a bit more about my kids, and their friends, than I feel I would have otherwise. Even some of my kids’ parents have spaces & we use it to talk to each other. If one parent sees something out of place, or knows something another parent should know, they know it’s easy to leave a message when they might not otherwise feel comfortable calling.
Ok4Now lists their concerns with MySpace and feels it should be closed, but do you realize that it is (presumably) MySpace and/or the internet in general that you are going to research some young people you are concerned about? Please realize that you just might find what you’re looking for! Whether it is good news and progress, or red flags that will help you to intervene and cause some change in a wayward life.
There are pros and cons to the internet and I certainly don’t like everything about it, especially not everything about MySpace. But it is an outlet that otherwise might not be there for young people wanting to vent. Allowing them that freedom, might help us learn what we need to know to keep them safe.
My prayers are with Cassie’s family and friends. I can’t even imagine what they are going through. It makes me want to lock my family in the house and never let them out! How unrealistic. What a crazy world we live in.
Thanks for letting me put my two cents in.
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0 0 I agree completely with Lisa and I do the same monitoring with my teen. The tragedy here in Idaho has really given me a reality check. I moved here from southern california 13 years ago and took this small town for granted. Things happen here also. My prayers are with the Cassie Jo’s family.
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0 0 So Brian Draper was just found guilty of Cassie’s murder.
Apparently they only called one defense witness who only testified about 15 minutes.
The story is that Draper was trying to say he thought he was making a movie.
How stupid is this kid that he thinks we are so stupid to believe that?
How invincible did he think he was to go through a trial where he is on videotape in a discussion about just stabbing Cassie, and Cassie was found stabbed so many times?
I wish those kids could get the death penalty for what they did. At the very least I hope they get life in prison with no possibility of parole.
What are the odds that Torey Adamcik will try to cop a plea bargain now that he saw his accomplice go down so quickly?
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0 0 I hope Adamcik goes to trial…I have heard that Judge McDermott believes defendants that take the case to trial when they are obviously guilty get an increased sentence from him….life in prison with Paul Ezra Rhoades…now that would be a great sentence!
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0 0 yes myspace should me monitered by parents, no it should not be closed down, yes this would have happened whether myspace was around or not , and yes brian and torey need to spend the rest of their lives in prison.
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0 0 When does the second trial begin?
Any hints if the second one will realize he’s doomed and cop to a plea bargain?
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0 0 I last read Adamcik’s trial would begin May 29. I also read part of the defense for Draper was that he was the not so bright follower who did whatever Adamcik told him (whatever). I didn’t think the tape revealed that at all, but I wasn’t on the jury to hear the whole case.
Lots of Journal blog info about the trial on this link:
http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/jimmy.php
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0 0 beware of myspace. I got a special active X program that blocks any unintentional uploading to my computer from myspace. I have noticed that myspace has a lot of active X coding that keeps trying to upload to my browser.
Thats how the myspace worm started. It seriously damages the computer memory in one way or another and renders the computer unbootable. I know, it happened to my laptop. No more myspace for me.
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0 0 And then the other teen, Torey Adamcik was found guilty on both counts yesterday.
Both teens face life in prison, the only question apparently is how much will be fixed/mandatory.
Good riddance to a couple of the stupidest teenagers in southeast Idaho.
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0 0 I want to compliment the prosecutors, law enforcement and all who went the distance on this case.
I also have great respect and thanks to the citizens of Twin Falls to be sequestered in Pocatello, yet serve a civic duty so far away from their families, homes and daily lives.
From my POV, justice was served twice in this awful murder.
I don’t mean this disrespectfully, but I think of other times when Justic appears to not have been served and wonder about those who were on the Jury.
Savannah Berrey, IMHO, also received justice. Her case is one that bears reviewing a bit further, partly because having a mistrial because two jurors feel asleep does not speak well of who will serve on juries in Bonneville County (or at least on hers).
When that store broke, there were posts on IFz.Com. Just because I believe we might learn from our past actions, it may be useful to re-read what was written about her compared to the recent incident at McDonald’s with the male employee.
Has anyone here every received the card to report to jury duty? I have. Did you immediately try to find ways not to have to serve? I didn’t - the case I was called for got cancelled.
Has anyone here actually been on a jury? If so, I’d love to hear anything you can tell us about your experience.
After watching a few cases go before juries this last year, I am grateful those in Bannock and apparently Twin Falls Counties take their Jury Duty so seriously. I’m not saying there haven’t been good juries in Bonneville County in the past, I simply wonder if some in Bonneville County work a bit harder to get out of jury duty?
What frightens me about that, is if I’m charge with a crime, having read the recent McDonald’s Comments and knowing 2 jurors fell asleep during Ms. Berrey’s first trial in Idaho Falls, I wonder who will serve to be my “peers” in Bonneville County?
We lose money serving on juries instead of going to work. We have to follow the schedule the judge sets, not what works for us. Jury work is truly community service, from my POV.
I wonder how many of us know people that found ways to not serve on juries? There are legitimate medical and certain work issues that prevent some from serving.
Just become I curious about this, and totally understanding how 2 people could fall asleep in a trial, I’m asking each of you: What populations (age wise, job types, student vs. full-time employees, male vs. female etc.) do you think is serving on juries in Bonneville County these days?
Being honest, would you be comfortable of having 12 of your closest friends serve on a jury for you? Or, do you know that a percentage of those friends would try to find a way out of surving their jury duty?
I don’t know the answers to my questions, which is why I’m asking them.
I do look forward to reading your answers. If Joe believes this is more appropriate in a new thread, that is fine. But, the issue of how professionals, potentially INL employees at the Site, and others can get out of jury duty and who that leaves in the pool die jurors concerns me.
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0 0 I had jury duty twice in Florida and twice in Arkansas. However I only got picked to actually serve once in each state. I personally found it very interesting and the time I served in Arkansas I was chosen to be the jury foreman. It was a very interesting 2nd degree murder case of which we sentenced the young man to 40 years in prison.
I can tell you that it’s a scary thing, being judged by “a jury of your peers”. The majority of people I’ve known over the years who have been called to serve have tried to find every reason in the book to get out of this very important duty. I enjoyed it even though I was losing out on a weeks pay and I had to be away from my friends & family for a week. I thought it was interesting to learn all the different techniques the prosecuter and the defense attorney use and just the whole trial process in general.
I thought it was an honor to serve and I went in fully prepared to give this person my utmost attention and the best possible judgement I could. It had to be a unanimous decision, “beyond a reasonable doubt”, that he was guilty of this crime. Once the trial was over and we heard both sides closing remarks and the judges instructions, we went back into the jury room to go over the case and all the evidence. Before you start, everyone has to agree on a jury foreman, of which I was lucky enough to be choosen. I was only 26 y/o at the time and I couldn’t believe they would pick me. There were a couple of older gentlemen and womem on the jury but they didn’t want the job so I accepted. We immediately took a vote to see where everyone stood and it was pretty much split down the middle. I could tell people didn’t want to be there and some changed their votes right away just to try and get out of there and get home. But being the foreman I insisted we go over all the evidence in order to be as fair as possible not only for the victims family, but for the man whose life we held in our hands. The trial lasted a week and we only got paid 8 bucks a day and free meals, so most jurors were in a bad mood already for missing out on a whole weeks pay. Yeah the money thing hurt me too, but I wasn’t going to let anybody walk out of that room until we went over everything and we all came to a unanimous decision without haste and to the best of our ability.
I can honestly say it was one of the most exciting and interesting things I’ve ever done. Sure it was boring at times sitting there for 9-10 hours a day just listening and trying to pay attention. After going through it though, I can honestly tell you it isn’t hard for somebody to fall asleep while sitting in that jury box all day. Its not like being at work were you’re at the office and actually doing something with your hands and your mind, talking with people and being able to get up and move around. It’s a long tedious day and you definately have to focus to stay alert.
We eventually agreed he was guilty after 6 hours of deliberating and we sentenced him to 40 years in prison.
To answer some of OK4Now’s questions: I honestly don’t know if I’d feel comfortable having 12 of my closest friends serve on my jury. I’ve had plenty of friends over the years try to come up with excuses not to serve on jury duty. People just hate being away from their family, friends, the comfort of their own homes etc.
However, there are not too many legitimate medical issues and even less work issues that will get you out of jury duty. The best way to do that is wait for “jury selection” when both lawyers interview you to see if they actually want you to serve. Thats your best bet. I won’t explain why, as I don’t wish to help anyone get out of their civic duty, but you’ll understand once you have to experience it.
Age, jobs, college student, full time employees, etc. all have nothing to do with serving on a jury. If you’re a registered voter, you will eventually be called to serve. Everyone is picked at random but the actual selection process begins in the courtroom by the attornys. Different people are picked for different reasons according the each case and what the person is charged with. Jury selection has a major impact on the outcome of a trial in my opinion. But there will always be times when the evidence so overwhelming, that it really won’t matter one way of the other who is on the jury. Such was the case with my jury experience. There was a wide variety of jurors young and old, white and blue collar, male and female, caucasion & african american on the case I served. But after going over all the evidence, we had no choice but to charge him with the crime.
If you ever get chosen to serve on a jury, do so enthusiastically and with pride. You’ll learn alot about our court system and I promise you its really not that bad. After all, someday you may need someone like yourself judging a family member or a friend of yours or even yourself. And you’re going to want somebody that WANTS to be there, not somebody that would rather be home watching Oprah.
I can’t even imagine how many people are serving time because of jurors that didn’t pay attention and/or just made a snap judgement and agreed with everybody else in the room, just so they could get home. Not many people really think about it like that, but until you’ve served on a murder case where you’ve had to put somebody behind bars for a very long time, its hard for people to understand. Don’t take jury duty as an obligation, but a service to your community. Go into it with a positive attitude and an open mind and it will be a very interesting experience for you. At least it was for me.
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0 0 That’s an awesome account, thanks for sharing it with us.
Don’t most workplaces nowadays pay employees for jury duty the same full pay as if it was sick or vacation leave? I don’t think missing work for jury duty is quite the financial burden it used to be.
That is scary what you describe about some folks changing their votes instantly just to get out and go home. It makes you want to go for a judge trial instead.
Then you have folks like me who have never served on a jury and would volunteer every year if I could, but alas I never get called.
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0 0 “When you go into court you are putting your fate in the hands of 12 people that weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty.”
–Norm Crosby
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0 0 Re Joes question: “Don’t most workplaces nowadays pay employees for jury duty the same full pay as if it was sick or vacation leave? I don’t think missing work for jury duty is quite the financial burden it used to be.”
I’m really not sure how it works these days. The case I described above was back in 1993 and my employer didn’t reimburse me. I haven’t registered to vote here yet. Do they call you to jury duty by your drivers license or voters registration in this state? I was wondering about that when I was writing my post.
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0 0 Thanks for the info, CR67. Your first hand experience, being forman no less, sounds amazing.
Despite the case being settled, for which I was called to jury dismissing those of us who were called the night before, I do know a fair amount about some of the depositions, expert witnesses and thinking strategies through with attorneys.
I, too, hope someday I can serve on a jury both because I hope that if I were charged with a crime I would have people who took my future and what the alleged crime/conduct was, and review all the evidence.
As for 12 of my “real friends” compared to what Jeremy labeled as my e-friends about a year ago, I think probably 95-98% have valid reasons to excused from Jury Duty. While I understand each case is different, thus certain factors will give one side or the other one of their “free” stricks and dismissals, I’m trying to encourage my friends to serve their turn on juries.
There have to be people, like CR67, who insist on going back through the EVIDENCE and building either an acquittal or a guilt verdict beyond a reasonable shadow of a doubt. Someone has got to keep the jury on task and reviewing facts, not just feelings.
Attorneys always end with highly emotional statements in trials. The jury can’t buy into an appearance of someone as either a victim or being guilt, simply by his/her appearance.
Joe, maybe we should consider adding a new feature on IFz.Com and that is nominating the Particpant of the Week. I’d nomiate CR67 based on what he has told us about his jury duty and how he insisted FACTS be used for evidence. The nominating could be from the most powerful posts of the week.
CR67, good job!!!!
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0 0 Thanks for the kind words Ok4now. I appreciate it. After reading all of the different opinions regarding the “Savannah Berry Trial” post, that is exactly how it is while a jury is deliberating. I’ve been reading that post the past few days, trying to decide on a reply of my own and it made me think of my time as a juror. We all have our opinion of the case, but unless we sit in that courtroom and have access to all the evidence, none of us can speculate or judge this woman. Sure we can all agree that she’s not going to get a mother of the year award and she’s got a pretty shady past, but none of that is supposed to come into play when a jury sits in on her case. Obviously there was enough evidence for them to convict her, but there’s no sense in convicting her again on this site by using her past against her. We can all speculate, but none of us know for sure exactly what happened. We don’t know if she cleaned up her act and just slipped up this once, or she made it a daily habit of smoking weed around her child.
We CAN however all agree that it was a horrible tragedy in which a child paid for with their life. And this woman has to live with that for the rest of HER life. No matter what sentence they impose on her, it won’t compare to the torment she’ll go through every day of her life, knowing that she endangered her child and ultimately caused his death.
And you’re exactly right OK4now in saying that attorny’s closing arguments are emotional. They try to tug on the heartstrings of the jurors and get them to acquit or charge a defendant with whatever crime their being charged with. Even though they know better than to do this and they know it’s wrong. The judge tells you before you go back to deliberate NOT to use your feelings, but only the evidence that is presented, “beyond a reasonable doubt”.
It is hard though. Jurors can’t help but use their emotions it’s human nature. You may not like the person and they may have a tarnished past like Ms Berry has, but none of this is admissable. It makes no difference what she did in her past and what kind of person she is, we have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, with the evidence presented, that she was at fault.
Hopefully someone else will share their jury experience with us. It’s definately an interesting experience. When you get that letter in the mail telling you that you’ve been chosen to serve I would advise sticking it out in the hopes that you get to sit in on a trial as a juror. After my experience, it made me want to become an prosecuting attorney. But I had just finished college 2 years earlier and 3-4 more years of college was the last thing I wanted at that time in my life.
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0 0 Oh brother, I received this message via the IFz contact form:
We have started a petition on behalf of Torey Adamcik asking for a reduction in his sentence. There was so much negative media coverage involving this boy that people forgot he is still a child and a first time offender. He had an unfair trial and was not allowed to testify even though he wanted to. Torey’s attorney’s only cared more about their law practice and future cases in front of this Judge than giving the jury the full story, which is why the family feels they rested their case so soon into trial. No DNA evidence linked Torey to the actual murder yet he was punished the same simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You can access the petition here:
Voices For Torey
thepetitionsite.com/1/VoicesForTorey
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Cari Barichello
justiceforjuveniles.org
815-673-4931
poochyboo@msn.com
Isn’t it ironic that this group cries for the “child” being sent to prison while ignoring the “child” who was murdered for fun?
I believe there is some injustice in our system, and I applaud those with the time and energy who fight to fix the legitimate wrongs. When people make up obviously lame excuses for clear-cut cases like these two Pocatello brats, they set back the work of all those legitimate cases.
I just looked closer at the petition site, and realize it is those environmental idiots Care2 who once mistook IFz for the city newspaper. Most of the folks who signed their petition (26 as of this moment) do not live in Idaho and so they are probably not familiar with the case.
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0 0 I think the boys got what they deserved. I think the death sentence would have been nice. I think they should let the victims mother stab them both to death with a knife and get some personal healing from it. Eye for an eye. Those to sick boys deserve to meet death. I hope they both rot in hell.
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0 0 Another issue I take with this person is labeling Adamcik a “child”. He was 16 years old at the time of the murder, wasn’t he?
We could have an interesting discussion on the double-standard of treating teenagers as adults in murder crimes but treating them as children in consensual sex cases, but I think portraying a 16 year old as a “child” further illustrates the ridiculousness of this person’s argument.
And I’ll say it again, that Care2 organization is full of band-wagon-hopping sheep who will sign their names without understanding any of the issues.
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0 0 “Most of the folks who signed their petition (26 as of this moment) do not live in Idaho and so they are probably not familiar with the case.”
You clearly don’t know the case any any bit beyond the very one sided local media coverage. Read some comments left at the petition site. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/VoicesForTorey
“Another issue I take with this person is labeling Adamcik a “child”. He was 16 (and 3 mo.)years old at the time of the murder”
(Brian had just killed Torey’s freind) Call Torey what you want, he is not an adult nor did he act like one during any part of this- befor or after. He has been locked in issolation continuosly averaging more than twenty hours a day and still is. It is unlikely that an adult in this situation would be subject to this or not having viewed the evidence aginst him. Now comes time for Torey to ask the district court to reduce his sentence- he cant yet ask for a new trial. He has always maintained innocence of the two charges aginst him, and he is. So just read and sign his petition asking for a more just sentence,one that will allow future parole board review. Thats all, and send the letter to the judge as wsll per the court rules outlined at. Sean http://www.justiceforjuveniles.org/
And “those environmental idiots Care2″ din’t write the petition, I did- we are just using the petition site.
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0 0 A life sentence is death
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/-help-stop-child-executions
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0 0 You clearly don’t know the case any any bit beyond the very one sided local media coverage. Read some comments left at the petition site.
Ok, I am supposed to get the facts from comments left anonymously at that Care2 site? I looked over them and they still appear to be 90% non-Idahoans, folks who have no clue what happened besides what they read on your petition.
He may not be a full adult, but he is definitely not the child you are trying to portray him.
And “those environmental idiots Care2? din’t write the petition, I did- we are just using the petition site.
Fair enough mistake, but what’s the difference? You are using a site well known for their users being rabid clickers on any subject without those users truly investigating the facts. Take a look at the rest of their site and see if you agree.
I read over some of your myspace page. Some of that DNA evidence is what you need to go with, not this junk about him being a child and showing sympathy photos of him playing games with his family.
Nobody cares how many hours a day he spends in the dark if we think he did it. Prove he did not do it with DNA and facts, not sympathy plays.
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0 0 The 90% (I havent counted) either have direct ties to Idaho, the case, other cases dealing with the issue of the over 2,200 people in USA serving life with out for crimes they commited or wer involved in when they were UNDER 18. The rest of the worlds developed countries have under 12 total, yeah. Sympathy aside Torey is still not an adult by any means. We chose the site for it layout and ease of use and most respondents thus far were already following the case or have prior corrospondence with Torey or his family for support or to offer information. The DNA evidence did prove Torey did NOT stab his friend (it was his idea to test all the evidence for DNA, at our expence, before he even understood this testing). This and the evidence about Brian’s threats of school killings, years befor he knew Torey, and facts about PPD not fully investegating this, wont help torey now.(but it cuold have saved Cassie) This will come out in Stoddart’s civil suit. The judge wont concider this now, he said early on he belives they are guilty and so he dose not want to hear about new trials or innocence. Just send letters to the court with cc to Aaron and Mark, asking for a chance to see a parole board someday becouse He is not an adult. Use the guide lins for you letter in the petition when you sign it. The information is at http://www.justiceforjuveniles.org/
http://www.myspace.com/triedasadults
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/VoicesForTorey
We wish the jury had all the stuff in evidence that supports Torey’s defence, we relied on atterneys we later found out wern’t- well I still don’t yet understand lawyers. This is only about the rule 35 that is now.
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0 0 Who cares if the petition signers are from England? I don’t really care where they are from.
What I care about is a young girl died senslessly at the hands of these two young boys. They BOTH knew right from wrong. If they didn’t, then they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to conceal and destroy evidence. They probably would have tried to kill her in broad daylight and not at night when no one is around.
It is amazing that our society continues to even accept such excuses. I guess that is why we see ridiculous rule 35’s for post-conviction relief. The community needs to send a strong message to other young men and women….if you engage in murder as a teen, you will do time (and lots of it). Murder is the ulimate act of narcissism….and one that we cannot tolerate. If we give these boys a free pass and a slap on the wrist for MURDER—what about the next victim? What do we say to them? What does innocent life mean?
These two convicted murderers deserve to stay right where they are. Society made the right choice about these two. Society is certainly protected from these two and they can and will be used as a deterrent to other teens that might wish to act out what they have done.
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0 0 I’d have to agree with Mike & Joe here.
These two punks certainly knew what they were doing and they knew right from wrong. We all make stupid decisions and mistakes when we’re that age. God knows I certainly did. But with that being said, I also knew better than to take another persons life. That thought never crossed my mind at that age. What they did goes above and beyond any teenage prank and/or stupid mistake. They took this girls life, and then tried to cover it up. And now they must pay for their actions. I sure don’t feel any pity for these losers! The fact that their sitting in isolation for 20 hours a day is just too bad. That’s the price you pay for taking another human beings life. They should have thought about the consequences of their actions BEFORE going through with this murder. I say tough luck! You wanna act like an animal and end somebodys life, then society and our court system will treat you like an animal and lock you up in a cage for the rest of your life.
Good luck boys….you not only ended this girls life, but your own! Its rather ironic….dontcha think?
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0 0 I think it is worth reading Brian’s comments to the judge at sentencing. In his words, “Your honor, I will not ask for leniency, nor will I beg you to impose the lightest sentence upon me possible. All I will ask is that you give me the punishment I deserve for my part in this crime; that is the only way I will be able to find some sort of closure, by getting what I deserve. You may question my reasoning for turning myself in; but I did so because the emotional anguish I felt was too much to bear.”
Brian Draper’s complete statement at sentencing as pulled from him MySpace page:
To Cassie’s family: I know that there is nothing I can say or do which will hold the capacity to bring back Cassie and her life which was lost, nor can I erase the pain and the tears which I have caused. But I pray that you can hear the sincerity in my voice as I say that I am truly sorry for the loss of Cassie. Not an hour passes without me thinking of her and remembering her. I reminisce on all of the memories I have of Cassie and reflect on all of the times I have spent with her and shared with her. I can still hear her laugh and see her smile. She was a very unique person who had the ability to beatify anyone in their darkest hours. She was a true friend of mine and I betrayed her. She was scared and alone and needed someone to help and to protect her from harm, but I did not do that. Instead, I stood back and did nothing to help her, I even gave her more harm and more pain. It doesn’t matter if I wanted to harm her or not. All I desire for is forgiveness, but I will not ask for forgiveness, because I do not deserve to ask of anything from you. I owe you everything in the world. Your daughter is gone; her dreams have been smashed to pieces. She is gone because of my actions. I would do anything to bring Cassie back to you and to ease all of your suffering. I am sorry for all the pain you feel, and I am sorry for all the memories which I have stolen from you. I can only pray that someday your wounds will heal, and your tears may cease.
Your honor, knowing that I could have been Cassie’s hero on that night tears me apart inside. That mistake will be with me forever and I will always ask myself, “What if?”
When I was first brought into this whole ordeal, I genuinely thought of it as nothing more than a pretend horror movie. It began as such, but unfortunately, that is not how it ended. It ended with the death of a young girl. An innocent, harmless young girl who did nothing to anyone. I never expected anyone especially Cassie to Die. But Cassie did die; she lost her life because of mine and Torey’s actions and I know that I could have prevented it. It wasn’t supposed to end this was, but it has. If I would have listened to the Holy Ghost which was telling me “this is wrong”, I know that I would not be standing in this courtroom today.
I know that even in pretend my actions were unacceptable. To this day I still have failed to fathom how I ever allowed myself to get involved in something like this. I deeply hate myself for the mistakes I have made in the past and that will never change, but I have done all that is in my power to make sure that these mistakes were not made in vain. I have made so many changes in my life, and I am becoming a new person. I have used the pain and the anguish I have experienced to evaluate my past and where I went wrong in my life. I have learned from my mistakes, and that will help to make me a better, smarter, stronger individual. With the knowledge I have gained, I know that nothing of this heinous nature will befall me in the future.
Through the many dark, restless nights I have spent alone within the confines of my cell, I have thought deeply about my past and the life I used to lead, and the rebellious beliefs I used to harbor. I have realized how young, how foolish, and how lost I was in the world. I tried to find my way alone, but without God there was nothing to light my way. I ended up doing all the wrong things and putting my faith in common man, rather than where it should have been, in God.
In the wake of this tragedy my life has found a hand to hold in my darkest hours. I now look above whenever I need to make my decisions. I look to my heavenly father to help keep me on the right path.
There is endless darkness in jails and prisons but I have found a path of light given to me by God. I am becoming the man I have always wanted to be; the man God created me to be. I want to make everyone proud, including myself and I will.
There hasn’t been a day that Cassie hasn’t been on my mind. I am sorry for what I have done to her family, and for the harm I caused Cassie. I will never forgive myself for my part in this crime, and the inexpressible pain and sorrow I feel because of what happened will never leave me. I have hurt so many people, including my family and myself.
It is true, and I will admit that I had many issues and problems in the past, which is transparent from my old stories and writings, like Black River. But the problems I had in the past have stayed in the past, and are no longer with me. And the anger I have is only for myself. Who I was in the past does not have to dictate who I am today, or who I will be tomorrow. An element which was absent from my life was God, but I have him now, and he has induced so much of my change.
Your honor, I will not ask for leniency, nor will I beg you to impose the lightest sentence upon me possible. All I will ask is that you give me the punishment I deserve for my part in this crime; that is the only way I will be able to find some sort of closure, by getting what I deserve. You may question my reasoning for turning myself in; but I did so because the emotional anguish I felt was too much to bear. Living a normal life was no longer an option for me; it was either ending my life or coming forward, and I know I made the right decision, regardless of what happens to me. I did the right thing. I will admit I was untruthful of my involvement in the past, but I took the detectives to the evidence, and to the videotape. I knew that the tape would be viewed and conclusions would arise from it. But I wanted to go home for one more day to say goodbye to my life, until the tape was viewed. I have since admitted to my involvement in this crime and have taken full responsibility for my actions. I pray you can all see me for the true person I am, and not just for the mistakes I have made. I am not my past but I will make a difference in the future, because no matter where I am, I will always have God and my true self with me, forever.
I will always remember Cassie. I think of her constantly and I cry at the thought of her no longer being here. Suicide was my first solution to the pain, the grief and the guilt I felt. In my mind I thought the only way to make things right was to take my own life, because Cassie had lost hers. But after the dream I was given by God, my life and my mentality began to change, and are still changing today. The only way I can make things right is by changing my life, bettering myself, and helping to better others lives as well, and I will do that, regardless if I am free or incarcerated; I can still make a difference, and I can still change lives. I can still be somebody. The Bible teaches us that no sin is unforgivable. When I believe I cannot be forgiven, I realize I am still immature. I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself, or if Cassie’s family will ever forgive me, or if society in general, will ever forgive me. But I know that God has, and that is keeping me alive.
“…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Thank you.
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0 0 Yeah….WHATEVER! Hindsight is 20/20 buddy! Of course he’s sorry, NOW. Those words mean absolutely nothing to me and I’m sure they bring no comfort whatsoever to Cassie’s family. Nobody cares about Brian’s myspace page or what he wrote. The point is he took a persons life and for that he’s paying the ulitmate price. His own life. YOU sir Bob may think it’s worth reading….perhaps it tugs on your heartstrings….and we can only thank God you didn’t serve as a juror on his trial. The facts are the facts and you won’t find any sympathy from this crowd I can assure you of that.
Go peddle your sob story somewhere else.
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0 0 “Your honor, I will not ask for leniency, nor will I beg you to impose the lightest sentence upon me possible. All I will ask is that you give me the punishment I deserve for my part in this crime; that is the only way I will be able to find some sort of closure, by getting what I deserve.”
Uhhh what happened with that, now he’s appealing and begging for a lighter sentence?
So much for that sincerity.
Let’s give him that closure, give him what he deserves, and keep him in prison for life without parole.
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0 0 It seems both sides are continuing the saga, for whatever reasons. Draper and Adamcik are guilty, period. They videotaped it and killed her in a horrifying way. Now a petition and further court for Adamcik, plus a civil lawsuit from the victim’s side. What monetary gain do they really expect? This will never end for any of them. I believe a life sentence was just. How many of you want these boys out in 10 years and around your daughter? Both families have suffered enough, this only draws it out infinitely. Online and emailed petitions are a joke most of the time. I really like the letter to the editor a lady wrote to the Idaho State Journal in today’s edition. She sums it up well. The only sentence I disagree with is “death is a natural course of life” - maybe so, but death by murder is not a natural part of life!
/start letter/
Rebecca Sherwood, Pocatello
Today, I am heartsick. Our community has already suffered because of Cassie Jo’s murder. All three families have suffered losses of their children. Cassie’s family has lost their daughter in a tragic way. However, death is a natural course of life.
Cassie’s death was awful; I’m not trying to discount that in any way. Her killers lost their lives by their actions. They will never have the life their parents wished and hoped for both boys to have. Thus, they have lost their children also.
This lawsuit will not help bring Cassie back. It will not soothe the heartache of her family. It will not help her family move on without their precious child.
In my mind this lawsuit will only further divide this community when it needs to heal and come together. Please, don’t ruin the lives of the boys’ families, they, too, are grieving. Please, to all members of our community, please be kind, be thoughtful and help the Stoddarts, Drapers and Adamcik families through this difficult time. /end letter/
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0 0 I agree both are guilty and I hope regardless of their future inside our out of prison they will choose good over evil. I think it is important that regardless where they are they do have the opportunity to help or hinder other adolescence choices. The fact that Brian has taken responsibility (regardless of the aforementioned and inevitable legal appeals process) shows some future potential and desire to improve himself, and influence the future in a positive manner. I am familiar with the STOP program he is participating in and his participation can make a difference to some future family.
Nice letter Rebecca Sherwood I do agree we must move to the healing process now, and put the past behind us.
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0 0 The rule 35 motion is not aboute guilt or innocence or a sentence lees than life, it is about a convicted 16 year old haveing a chance to see parole board some day. The parole board dose not mean he will get out in 25, 30, of 40 years, only to be reviewed, they have no chance of that now. What do you think ? Other states say 25 years then parole board, some states say under 17 then no death in prision sentence. the trend is changing away from life without. Brian was caled a moderate risk to reoffend if he is traeted, Torey was called a low risk. Brian wont get help he needs in an adult jail with LWOP. That is a big problem, people arnt disposable! Torey proved he did not stab, but that dosent seem to matter now that he is convicted. The law suit will undoutably cause the plaintifs more pain than can be offset by any potential gain as finger pointing is rarely benificial. So no one is begging for a lighter sentenence, just rule 35 motions to consider facts. Please try to think like someone other than a 5th grader traped in an adults body.
thepetitionsite.com/1/voicesfortorey
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0 0 This is the 4th time you’ve put that link on this sight. Personally I don’t think THIS site should be used as a platform for your cause. These two punks did the crime and now they must do their time. So what if Torey didn’t actual stab this girl. He was involved completely in this case and he very well could have prevented it from happening. The fact that he didn’t, shows me he’s a scumbag and belongs right where he is with NO chance of parole! These two took another persons life! What part of that do you not understand????
I don’t care if they were 16 or 18. He still knew right from wrong and choose to stand idily by while his punk friend repeatedly stabbed this girl.
Like CR67 said ealier….”you won’t get any sympathy from this crowd”. Which should be obvious to you by now since nobody is signing your petition.
Why don’t YOU try thinking like it’s YOUR child that was stabbed to death and will never be around again, instead of some tool who’s trying to give these punks leniancy?
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0 0 Does the news release today that 1 of every 100 americans are in prison give anyone new perspective on this issue?
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0 0 Yeah, it means that 1 in 100 Americans are in prison. So what? I suppose that it is somehow society’s fault that 1% of the population turned to a criminal lifestyle? Or can we just dispense with the liberal slant and state unequivocally that people are responsible for their actions…including those actions that landed them in the joint? That would be refreshing……I won’t hold my breath though. Anymore everybody has an excuse for everything…I thought the excuse of a 5th grader in an adults body was rich. I understand that Sean is a relative and wants the best for his family member…but if that is the best they have got for a rule 35 then that is weak.
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0 0 I am very sad to read any of these posts. It seems that Joe and his readers do not know what a tragety is except to use it as a venting for ignorance and hate. I hope that none of you are ever faced with the kind of pain and devistation that has occured to these THREE families. They all loved their children and everybody lost.
If you have ever sat on a jury you know that even a jury is not given all of the facts. If you know anything about the press you know they do not report all of the facts. You are entitled to your opinion, but that is all it is. You were not there.
These ARE children. The reason there is no death penilty in the US for minors is because the supreme court ruled that juveniles are not fully developed and therefore should not be held to the same level of accountability as an adult. You can debate that too, but the people involved in making that desicion were better educated than you. We are talking about much more than knowing the difference between knowing right from wrong, we are talking about brain developement and if you are not a neurophsycholigist you probably do not know much about what you speak.
Let people heal. These cruel words are hurtful and harmful and delay the healing proccess for all.
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I think you’re going to find that the MySpace com thing is going to enter into this in some way. As noted in the thread on this subject, these can be dangerous sites and it’s my understanding that there is absolutely no monitoring of what is being placed on these pages. Doing some research this last week led me thru several pages and I have been absolutely appalled at what is being posted here! It’s like a mob mentality, inciting some bored teens to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Once it’s posted, it’s hard to back up and retract one’s position, after which we end up with tragedy. I hope that isn’t the case in Pokey but I have a suspicion that these pages are going to factor in.