On the Nancy Grace show which aired last night, doubts were raised concerning the seemingly lack of cooperation of Trenton Duckett’s mother, Melinda with authorities.
It could have been attributed to the way the show was edited but her responses were in contrast to her husband. She was asked if she had been offered a polygraph, her whereabouts the Saturday before and what she specifically had done to aid in search efforts.
She said she was working with the FBI, not local authorities, distrusted the media and couldn’t say which stores she visited on Saturday, August 26th, the day before his disappearance even though she admitted to going shopping that day.
The guests on the show drew parallels to several previous missing children Elizabeth Smart, Polly Klaas, Jessica Lunsford and ironically Susan Smith’s drowning of her child.
The case took an even stranger twist yesterday when her body was found, her death an apparent suicide.
Update: New witness comes forward.
Update: Melinda Duckett family files lawsuit
Update: Person of interest interviewed
There is little new information in Trenton’s disappearance as the middle of January 2007 approaches. The recovery of Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby should offer the Duckett family some hope.
Should you have an interest in Melinda’s suicide you may want to read this article which contains a description of the scene and her autopsy report.
“…The revelation that two shots were fired on the day Melinda Duckett died has been confirmed. Although Bill had to repair the roof eave due to gunshot damage, it was not until he received a copy of the search warrant itemizing confiscated items that he learned two shots had been fired…”
Update 02-22-07: WESH 2 News is reporting Leesburg Police have made little progress in the search for Trenton.
Marion County is also involved with the case. The sheriff’s office said its investigators are talking very little, if at all, with Leesburg police, making their case more difficult.
They said the possible Korea connection is going nowhere, but they are looking at other theories, such as the idea that perhaps this was a stranger abduction.
Update 03-22-07: After starting a website to help find Trenton, a blog and his own Command center, Joshua Duckett and his mother are blaming the Marion County Sheriff’s of leaking information.
Joshua Duckett said the Marion County Sheriff’s Office is bungling the search for his son, Trenton, WESH 2 News reported.A sheriff’s office official said a person of interest they’ve been questioning in Marion County failed a lie-detector test. While that does not make him a suspect, investigators said it’s proof nothing has been bungled.
Update 03-28-07:
OCALA, Fla. — Authorities searching for Trenton Duckett said Wednesday that they are now looking for a couple who a witness said met with the boy’s mother at a construction site south of Leesburg about a week before he disappeared. A witness told investigators that Melinda Duckett met a couple at a construction site on U.S. Highway 27, south of Leesburg, in August.The couple is described as an Asian or Hispanic man and woman in their late 50s to early 60s, driving a light silver or light gold SUV with a possible New York license tag. The Escalade SUV may have been a model built from 2002 through 2006. Correction: Police are now searching for a Cadillac EXT
Update 06-19-07
OCALA – A federal judge ruled Monday that the civil lawsuit between Melinda Duckett’s family and the Nancy Grace camp will be tried in federal court.In an order, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary R. Jones ruled that, because the parties involved reside in different jurisdictions, federal court would be the appropriate venue to handle the trial. Jones also dismissed Melinda’s ex-husband, Joshua Duckett, from the lawsuit, stating that her estate fraudulently put him on the lawsuit in hopes of arguing that more than one party lived in Lake County, where the case was originally filed.
Note: PDF files of the original transcript and the motion to dismiss can be found at Ocala.com in this article “Talk-show host or journalist?”
Update 08-10-07 Today is Trenton’s 3rd birthday. Do a Google news search on his name and you will see at least 166 articles about the trial of Nancy Grace. You will at this time find one lone Local 6 News article on Trenton. The helpfindtrenton websites doesn’t mark the occassion either.
While the case of Missing Madeleine McCann reaches day 100 tomorrow, please remember Trenton and other missing children today.
Update 08-21-07 The Ocala Star-Banner Evidence photos to be released in Trenton Duckett disappearance. There was no breaking news for the press conference on any of the cable news channels or regional Florida coverage.
“The press conference is not until 2 p.m., at the Leesburg Police Department, but a press release by Maj. Steve Rockefeller addresses some of the controversy, including a statement that says: “The evidence collected in this investigation does not support the theory of abduction, in any form.”
Update 08-23-07: In an update from the Ocala Star-Banner one of the other agencies investigating his disappearance disagree.
Maj. Chris Blair, head of Marion County Sheriff’s Office major crimes bureau, said his agency believes in the handoff theory for several reasons.
Update 08-27-07 On the anniversary date of Trenton’s disappearance, Dr. Karen Gold shares her thoughts in this article, from the Ocala Star-Banner.
Psychologist weighs in on Duckett story
Suicide Categories
- Egotistical
- Revenge
- Cowardly
- Martyrs
Update 08-29-07 A Trenton Duckett video was added at the Dont You Forget About Me YouTube site.
Update 10-01-07 Authorities are attempting to identify them,
WFTV9 Human Remains Found Inside Bag Along Lake County Road
Update 08-02-08 Judge Refuses to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Nancy Grace
OCALA, FL (AP) – A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit that claims CNN’s Nancy Grace pushed the mother of a missing toddler to suicide through aggressive questioning.
Update 08-06-08 Attorney Jay Paul Deratany Expects to Depose Nancy Grace in Wrongful Death Suit
Chicago, IL: Attorney Jay Paul Deratany has handled many wrongful death suits in the past, but this one promises to be a little different. He is representing the parents of Melina Duckett, a Florida mother who shot and killed herself after a taped interview about her missing baby with the combative crime show host, CNN’s Nancy Grace in September of 2006.
Update 01-02-09 CNN’s lawyers seek court order to get Melinda Duckett’s mental-health records
OCALA – Lawyers for CNN and the network’s host Nancy Grace want a federal judge to order a Lake County mental-health facility to turn over its treatment records of Melinda Duckett, who was mother of missing toddler Trenton Duckett and who committed suicide.
In documents filed New Year’s Eve, the lawyers contend Duckett’s mental-health history is relevant to her family’s wrongful-death lawsuit, which accuses Grace and her show of “intentionally inflicting emotional distress” on the 21-year-old mother.
Officials for LifeStream Behavioral Center in Leesburg, which treated Duckett, told the cable network’s lawyers last month that they would not honor a deposition subpoena but would follow a judge’s order.
Update 01-06-09: Lawyers won’t block release of Melinda Duckett’s mental-health records
since she did not wish to furnish the names of stores where she was suppose to be shopping and did not volunteer a liar dector test, I felt like she was propable resposible for his disapperance
On June 29th, 1989, my daughter was abducted, beaten, raped and murdered in Leesburg, Fl. It made headlines in all the local and regional papers. I got to read as they crucified her in the papers, even insinuating she may have been prostituting. When a reporter can not talk to the parents (we were advised strongly to NOT talk to the press), he will dig up a story even if he has to embellish it. For 6 months I did not know who killed my child (she was 18) and I began to suspect everyone. Not knowing what has happened to your baby, distrusting the media, knowing lie detector tests are so inaccurate they are inadmissable in court, not knowing who to trust and just plain being in shock, what did you expect Melinda to do? Put on a show for you? In cases like these, some people don’t react. I didn’t. I was too numb. I was too afraid to feel because I knew if I let myself feel the terror and the pain, I would have put a gun to my head. Don’t be so sure you know what you would have done in the same circumstances.
And thank God, Nancy Grace wasn’t around for my daughter’s circus media. She’a a disgrace herself.
I saw the little boys mother on Nancy Grace and I could not believe how elusive she was being when asked questions regarding her son and there where abouts before he disappeared. I’m just wondering if he was really taken from his bedroom since no one saw him in the bedroom not even the two friends she had over to watch movies. How do we know she didn’t cut a ten inch slit in the screen to make it look like he was taken from the bedroom when in fact he was never in the bedroom to begin with. I think she totally knows what happened to Trenton since she claims one of the friends has disappeared as well. Now we may never know since I just heard that she was found dead at her grandparents house. I pray Trenton will be found safe and alive.
I hate to believe a parent could do something horrific to their own child, but when a child does disappear I think it is always the first thought running through people’s minds. This is an extremely tragic story where nobody ever wins. Even if they do find the child alive and well, he has still lost his mother, which is a terrible thing for anyone to have to deal with, especially a 2 year old child. My first thoughts when I saw the Nancy Grace episode were the parents were going through a nasty custody battle and the mother had hidden the child to prevent the father from taking him. Until I saw she had commited suicide, then I started to believe the worst case scenario. I am disgusted by the fact that someone could do something terrible to their own child and I do believe our judicial system is too easy on the parents who commit these crimes. (I.E.) Andrea Yates.. knew exactly what she was doing when she brutally murdered her 5 children. She should have recieved a tougher sentence.As for me, I have never been able to have children and I would love to raise a family of my own,and that is why these stories I see on the news about parents killing their children hurts me very deeply. I mean Do these people know how lucky they really are to be blessed with such a gift? A human being they created? I don’t think they understand how precious children are. I don’t think they understand anything but their own selfish needs.
My instinct tells me this adoreable little boy has gone to a better place. A place where no one argues or yells. A place where there is only laughter and fun.
It is so sad to imagine an innocent trusting child being at the mercy of someone (who is suppose to love and protect him) suddenly thrust into a fearful and tragic situation.
I hate to suggest or even THINK the mom could have harmed this lovely angel.
I was once told by a “shrink”; “The Only Difference Between Suicide and Homocide is The Name of the Victim.”
I believe anyone capable of Suicide is also capable of murder. If you can MURDER yourself is it such a stretch to imagine one could kill their child?
I can understand being so stressed you can’t take anymore. And I don’t want to say I know what I would do in that situation.
I want to BELIEVE I would hang onto life if there was the slightest chance I could maybe help find my child. The only way (I think) I would take my own life is if I knew he wasn’t coming home.
The only way she could know that is if she was somehow guilty. I hope I am wrong. I hope the child will be found alive and well…but the circumstances makes it look highly unlikely.
Children are so often the innocent victims of parents messes. They are such a precious gift from God but are murdered, beaten and neglected every single day. I originally thought there might be hope for finding this precious little boy alive, however, since the only person that actually had most of the facts surrounding the events up to his disapperance is now dead… it just doesn’t look good. I can understand being so distraught that you would want to end your life if someone did in fact take your child. I would think that would happen ONLY if a dead body was found and you KNEW for sure that baby wasn’t coming home. It makes no sense to give up hope so quickly. Something about this case isn’t right.
I hate to think she had something to do with what happen to her baby, for her to commit sucide just makes me wonder why did she do it. Was it becuase she knew the police was going to find out she had something to do with the disaperance to her baby.Its sad to think a mother could kill her own flesh and blood its sad to know that this could happen,where was her family thorough all this. Nancy Grace, did her job,if Melinda Duckett felt nancy was to hard on her she should of never of gone on. We all just want to find that cute little boy with a great smile. She was so distraught that killing herself would make things right for her. I pray for her and pray for her baby to be found. I hope she didnt kill her baby,i will continue to pray for her and her baby.
I think she was setting her husband up by making the complaint to police that he treatened to kill her and Trenton. She may have been so hateful and unstable that she decided to commit suicide and kill her son and leave the blame on her husband. I just pray that Trenton will be found alive but it doesnt look good.
Nancy Grace may be brash at times but I love her show and believe she is looking out for the best for children and all people. She has also shown her love for animals which gets my vote any day!!
Keep up the good work Nancy!
Yeah, I saw that show and felt Nancy Grace was asking her (Melinda) some basic questions and she was far too evasive for my taste.
I was vacationing down in FLA with my family when all this happened. It really got my attention since I have a 2 year old son that I love to death. Each local news agency was reporting that the father “had not left the police station” since he found out about the disappearance. He had fully cooperated with all authorities and was found at home, in bed, at 9:45 pm an hour away from his wife and sons home.
Then I saw the mother in interviews. I did not see any harsh treatment by the media towards her. I was struck by how calm and collected she was. She was saying, “I can’t be sitting at home crying my eyes out. I have to be out doing something.” She was so cool and matter of fact it was very odd. Seeing pictures of the father and then the mother I saw some striking contrasts. The father looked like he hadn’t slept in days his eyes were blood shot, red, and buffy, as though he had been crying. The mother had none of that and was in full makeup without a smear or even a hair out of place.
Hearing how the crime was to have reportedly took place I found it odd as well. She puts a 2 year old to bed by 7pm (was she planning on waking up at 4am when he was well rested and bouncing off the walls?) She puts a child to bed in denim shorts and maybe a striped t shirt? Why was he not changed into his, more comfortable, pajamas after a diaper change? A 10 inch slit was cut into the screen to gain access through a window. Why not remove the screen? I saw the screens at our condo there and saw that it is not difficult to get around. They were your typical screen that is flimsy and any weight against it would knock it out of place. Seeing the view of the apartment I don’t see that placing going high tech on window coverings. An adult going in through the cut screen would have disturbed it, knocking it to the ground and/or getting caught up in it and made more noise, not to mention, one coming out holding a toddler but, yet mom heard nothing. The two male friends that came over to watch the movie never saw the child or heard the child from the time they got there until she called 911. On Nancy’s show mom tried to throw suspicion on one of the 2 friends stating police have talked to both but one had completely disappeared after that. police state they know where both were.
Nancy asked where she went shopping and even explained that someone shopping could have remembered seeing them and gave information regarding anything or anyone else in the area at that time or surveilance cameras from those stores could pick up someone following her and get a picture of the suspect who took her child. (interesting enough the Saturday before America’s Most Wanted had a segment on what surveilance camera’s can reveal that an investigator can pick up on and gave examples)Mom having been told this, still did nothing to help get the message out to this national audience. When the parents of abducted (and ultimately slain) children began to question her behavior she got off the phone.
Her husband was asked the same questions by Nancy and answered them without a problem. Local stations before the show, that I saw, were stating he had been questioned extensively and so far he was not seriously considered a suspect but was not ruled out.
Why was the mom so evasive, why did she consult her attorney, her husband didn’t? Why, after being asked pointed questions did she feel the need to leave the show? Her grandmother gets on and tries to make excuses for her and does a poor job of it. Then I see the banner stated she was found dead before the airing at her grandparents home. Sounds like she got a glimpse of what an attorney was going to do to her on the stand and she knew she was going to be in trouble and decided to have the last laugh and check out and leave her estranged husband to forever wonder what happened to his son.
Nancy Grace did nothing wrong when asking Melinda Duckett the basic questions any mother should be able to answer. It seemed to me Nancy was more concerned about her sons where abouts then Trentons own mother was? Sure everyone has differant ways to reacting to such a tragic situation, but the way that mother acted throughout that crucial broadcast spells out GUILTY to me.I pray to God that a miracle happens.That little Tenton Duckett bless his soul is safe and sound wher ever that may be.
I believe that just because Melinda took her own life does not say that she has done something to her own child. I think it could have been the stress and what she thought everyone is thinking about her. I hope and pray that little sweet boy is united with his father. I just cannot give up hope that this baby is still alive.Sometimes if you just hang on a little longer things can get better and that is what I am praying for. Trenton you are loved by many.
Who are all you people who are trying and sentencing this woman on what the editors of the Nancy Grace show ALLOWED you to see? Do you really consider yourselves Americans when you judge a person without confirmed facts and a legal trial?
Nancy Grace has a talk show, not a court room, and you are not jurors unless you get picked by a defense and prosecution team in a REAL court of law. Individual reactions to tragedy and trauma vary and if any of you call yourself Christians, you will remember the verse that says “Judgment is mine sayeth the Lord.” Also, who’s to say the father is not the best actor in the world and has the boy safely tucked away somewhere until all this blows over?
This is a very tragic story that has not found a conclusion yet. Nancy Grace placed herself in the superior role of judge and jury over a woman that is, (at least until the media and the administration obliterate our Constitution completely) innocent until proven guilty. The media did the same thing to the Ramseys. Based on the forensic evidence and John Ramsey’s caution to not jump to conclusions about that Karr joker, I hardly think he was involved in his daughter’s murder either.
The media must make ratings and they feed people to the lions, guilty or not because it boosts ratings. All of us (myself included) must bear the responsibility that we are feeding this media machine with our clambering for every nasty little detail about our neighbor’s dirty laundry. When are we all going to learn?
I would encourage people to exercise caution when casting judgment. None of us know the intricate details of the case. What happened to the child at this point is pure speculation. What happened to the mother is pure injustice and tragedy.
Shame on you Nancy Grace. I hope this gets your vile show canceled so people will stop wasting time watching other people’s train wrecks.
I was watching the interview. This “mom” did NOT seem weak or intimidated by Nancy Grace.
This “mom” loved the cat and mouse game. She wasn’t even nervous or jittery on the phone on national tv…steely and unresponsive. The “mom” thought she was smarter than the rest of the world. She has killed her son. PERIOD.
ditto ‘lanette,’ and ‘confused in colorodo.’ and thank you. it’s not even worth writing… but i thank you for you give me a bit of hope for this homosapien race. just a bit because there are so few of you, unfortunately. i can’t stop crying for melinda, trenton, dad, grandparents. somebody please take miss nancy graceless off the air…
my reply got deleted???
oh well, just DITTO ‘Lanette,’ and ‘Confused in Colorodo.’ and thank you.
Nancy is the murderer.
do not be so quick to judge…all the people out there that court tv assumes are suspects aren’t always the person that commited the crime. Look at Jon Bonet…her parents were in the media for years…they have no proof they were ever liable for their daughters death. If they have no concrete evidence, they have no person to pin it on so they will pin it to someone that was with the person at the time of the disappearance & this may have been too much on a young mother…a child herself…to deal with. Give this women the benefit of the doubt until the law does its job & determines where this child is & who is to blame for it all. I have 5 children…things do happen in real life & circumstances are out of our control. WE LOVE THEM…WE TRY TO PROTECT THEM…BUT, SOMEONE OR CIRCUMSTANCES SET IN & WE ARE NO LONGER IN CONTROL…this is what happened. Either, she was in total denial & cracked up after the incident…or she was young, not knowing what to do, in media attention & a suspect, & couldn’t handle it. Until the questions are answered, she is innocent until proven guilty. The media is NOT always right. Let them go back to WHERE IS SURI CRUISE & ANGELINA JOLIE & BRAD BREAKING UP AGAIN. It sells more papers
I am sorry to speculate, but I wonder if the mother didn’t leave poor Trenton in the car as she shopped either on purpose or by accident and the heat killed the child and so she staged the kidnapping as she tried to figure out how she was going to get out of that and the overwhelming guilt and fact that media had already started pointing fingers at her caused her to suicide
I hate to speculate but I get the feeling that the mother left poor Trenton in the car as she shopped on purpose or by accident and that the heat killed the child so she decided to stage the kidnapping as a cover up but with the mounting media fingers being pointed at her she decided it best to take her own life seeing as how it was becoming less possible that her story was going to fly.
I watch the Nancy Grace show regulary. I think she is fair to her all of her guests. I think this case has Susan Smith written all over it except Susan didn’t have the guts to do herself in. ONe less legal defense for tax payers to end up paying for if you ask me.
well, if you have been watching court tv for some time you would know that nancy grace is a very passonate person — she always has been – so her interview with mrs duckett was just nancy being nancy — frankly — look at it this way she saw like we all did something highly suspicious in this womans behavor and this woman now killed her self — doesnt sound good for trenton – whom ,after all of this, I feel she has played a huge part in his disappearence/possible death
I was a Nancy Grace fan but now I just saw how she interviewed Elizabeth Smart, I’m starting to see why so many dislike her, she sure can be cold. Nonetheless, I think Melinda is definitely guilty of something, she kept trying to talk over and ignore Nancy’s questions, I found it odd to say the least.
Nancy Grace is a good spokeperson for the victims of this country, she is straight to the point and doesn’t hold back. Those that have problems with her questioning, such as Melinda Duckett, probably have something to hide and should understand that is how she would be questioned in court. If she were innocent she more than likely would have taken the polygraph test in the first place, wouldn’t you? How can you blame Nancy Grace for asking questions that probably are looming somewhere in the back of your very own head?
Nancy Grace did nothing wrong. She was doing her job and asking questions that needed to be asked. Melinda Duckett was very illusive which made me wonder right off what she was hiding. She did something to her son and then took the cowardly way out. No doubt she has killed him and didn’t even have the the decency to leave a note and say what happened to Trenton.
Also its frightning to find out that the boys grandfather(Josh’s) dad is in prison on death row for raping, and murdering and eleven-year-old little girl some years back, and he was a former cop!
Not exactly a deep gene pool were dealing with here!!
We all have our own beliefs on whether or not Melinda Duckett is to blame for little Trentons dissappearance or not. Nobody truly knows accept for Melinda. My belief is her suicide shows very little hope for little Trenton. Obviously Melinda had no hope for the supposed abduction of her son of finding him alive, if she did my guess is that she would have done everything a mother naturally would do to try and find little Trenton. We all have one thing in common and that is to find this little boy alive and safe, but i have great doubt………this is too sad
Nancy Grace is a nightmare. A cold, heartless woman. I’ve seen her show, and she’s in it for herself, not the truth. Just look into her eyes to see the truth of her.
Nice to see we have so many “armchair judges” here. I guess we don’t need courts when we can watch a tv show and decide guilt or innocence. It’s one thing to be an investigative anchor, but something else when the behavior of the anchor is for the benefit of the tv audience. Nancy Grace does have some responsibility in the death of this woman.
Melinda was very cold in every interview I saw her in, including the Nancy Grace interview. I can honestly say I was frustrated and angered over her attitude and just plain lack of interest in finding her child. She was not a meek person and came accross very forward and not at all scared. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, who wants to believe a mother can hurt her child, although they do every day. I know that if my child were missing, that’s when he needs me the most. I could see if it had been years and she was just so distraught she could not go on but it had not even been two weeks. Trenton needed his mom the most now. The only way I could see her killing herself is if she hurt him and knew he was not coming home and the FBI was closing in on her. There have also been reports here in Florida that she purchased a shotgun from a pawn shop 2 days before his disappearance. Police cannot confirm this because it is part of the investigation, but they have not said it is not true. Why wouldn’t a parent that has nothing to hide work with with authorities. It makes no sense, they are there only to help you. The media too, in this instance they can only help you. I think this mother was distraught, not over her son though, over getting caught. As far as people judging her, she should not have ended her life and she should have faught for her son and defended herself if she was innocent.
Nancy Grace has really gone too far this time. I stopped watching afternoon/evening CourtTV a long time ago because I couldn’t stand her voice, and her mindless rants any longer, it made my head want to explode. The only time I ever was able to tolerate her doing that was when she was dogging Scott Peterson, but that’s another story.. It is not up to a reporter and their audience to decide if a parent is innocent or guilty in the disappearance or possible murder of a family member. That needs to be addressed by law enforcement, and after all the evidence is in, there is a trial.
If this mother was involved they may never know what really happened or where Trenton is, now that she is dead. Big help you were Nancy, happy with yourself?? I noticed on the CourtTv.com website, there is NO mention of the Duckett story in crime news. Sounds like some major litigation on the way for them!
Oh Please, Nancy Grace is NOT responsible in any way shape or from for the mental health or lack thereof of Melinda Duckett or this family. Don’t even try to blame Nancy or any media for the fact that this unstable individual no doubt has murdered her little boy in cold blood and then tried to blame everyone else. She is(was) a coward and when the truth comes out we shall see who was quick to judge, the sad fact is people in this world do harm their children, it happens every day so please get your head out of the sand and face the facts…
You cannot go through life with your hands folded in your lap and do nothing.
Thank god we have people like Nancy who are not afraid to tell it like it is.
Apparently the only one of you who has any good sense about you was Confused in Colorado. The pronouncement of whether this woman is responsible for her son’s situation is not for you and I or even Nancy Grace to decide. Nancy, along with the rest of us, have seen no evidence. We have not participated in the police investigation. We have no first hand knowledge of the personalities of the people involved in this situation. I realize that the televsion has become a part of all of our families, but for heaven’s sake please try to be a critical viewer. What Nancy Grace did was unconscionable!! The only fact we know for certain is that a woman who claims her son had been kidnapped was bashed on air by a media personality who has no legal or ethical authority over her. Now, that mother is dead, apparently by suicide and her family, the people who know her best, believe that this interview with Nancy Grace was enough to push her over the edge. The hardball tactics used by cable televsion personalities are corroding the foundation of what once was a civil society. Whatever happened to polite discourse? If her show appeared on network television (public airwaves) I would insist that she be removed from the air. Unfortunately, she is wholly under the control of private interests, the same interests who see their advertising dollars increase every time they have a new tragedy to package and sell. Shame on Nancy Grace, shame on cable tv media, and shame on you!!!!!!
All you have to do is read ALL the information on this case and if you have any sense at all, you’ll know what happened. Nancy is not the only person to report on this case. The sad fact is if Trenton were alive we would know before now. If you watched the interview with Nancy, as soon as Melinda opened her mouth, guilt was all over her. The reason she could not(would not) give the names of the stores she went shopping at the day before Trenton went “missing” is because she did not go shopping. She was not interested during the interview with offering facts, only excuses, why, because she already knew what happened to Trenton, period.
Its not jumping to judgement when people do all but tell you what happened based on their actions or behaviors.
The sad part to the who;e thing is people are blaming a reporter for doing her job and doing it well, put the blame where it belongs.
It is clear to me that the mom is the killer. for her to sit there and not give information about what stores they visited blows my mind. there could be answers on the survallience tapes from the stores, but for some reason she didn’t give any information. and then she kills herself. ok i’m a 19 year old single mother and if my son went missing i would do anything in my power to find him. i’d name off every street i drove on, what stores i stopped at, and i certainly wouldn’t kill myself knowing that my baby is out there somewhere in danger. so what if the media is putting alot of pressure on you, if you know ur not guilty then you have nothing to worry about. am i right? i just dont understand how anyone could do that to their own child. babies are a gift and some people for some odd reason cant see that. well this story touches me just because i have an 8 month old son and i cant imagine what the father is going through. i pray that they find lil trenton alive but something tells me that thats not how its gunna be:(
Let’s not forget the real victim here folks. Trenton is the victim. He was a victim before he even went missing- as is a lot of children in break-ups. Despite the young age of Joshua and Melinda,they took on the role of being a parent. Trenton did not ask or deserve any of this. I have a son around Trenton’s age- and as bad as things get…you live. You live for your children and because of your children. Don’t pass the buck on the media. That is all a moot point when you think about the fact that child is missing and now his mother is dead. But I will say this- as a GOOD mother, you stay alive and search for your child. As for Joshua- he doesn’t get bonus points for cooperating with police…it’s what your supposed to do as a parent. I pray that Trenton is found alive and well and can find a home that is surrounded by people who love him- not one’s with their own agendas.
I really think she was operating under the “spite” of not wanting the child’s father to get visitation nor custody.
In my opinion, her suicide was planned. And going along with these theories…
The FBI needs to thoroughly investigate her real mother, relatives or friends from out of town (that would explain where she was during the missing 24 hours…bringing the child to whomever). My other thought is that the grandmother knows this and agreed to go along with plan. (Her phone should be tapped, etc.)
I sincerely hope and pray that if they find this child and give custody to the father that he is a good father and not impose more tragedy on this innocent child.
ONE word can describe Melinda Duckett perfectly… COWARD
After the entire ordeal was over, and after Melinda Duckett killed herself, who could ever believe that she didn’t do it? The pressure that was put on a TWENTY ONE year old, single mother, in the middle of a nasty divorce… there was no place for her to run and hide, no support..Nancy Grace is out there to get answers to the questions we are all asking ourselves.. where is Trenton? I feel she is an outstanding reporter, trying to find answers to her own questions.. if you were a parent, wouldn’t you cooperate with every law enforcement agency involved to find your child? not her. she wanted to pick and choose who she spoke too… bottom line.. Melinda Duckett could not take the heat and pressure from all around her.. she couldn’t get herself out of her own lies and deceptions she tried to make us all believe.. she took care of herself, the cowardly way out.. so many questions left unanswered thanks to her
I hope and pray that Trenton will come home safe, and if he dosn’t.. he’s just another innocent angel in heaven.
For all of you self righteous types that have convicted and condemned the mother, let’s take your side and follow the logic..
If the mother DID hide the child to prevent the hubby from getting to him, it looks like the media pushed her into a situation where she won’t have to reveal his location.
God have mercy on Nancy Grace if two possiblilities occur:
1) The mother had nothing to do with the disappearance.
2) The mother hid the child, and he’s still alive and alone somewhere, because the only person that knows his whereabouts was frightened into committing suicide.
Of course, Nancy and crew are hoping for:
3) Mother killed the child, committed suicide after seeing things weren’t going to work out as planned..
Any of the three (and many more) are possible, but I feel for future parents of lost children that read this website after losing a child. What sort of action, and what kind of cooperation would you expect?
I’m a big fan of crime shows (Law and Order, etc..) and my wife of 30 years was watching with me one night and came to the conclusion: “I guess whether you are innocent or guilty, you just never talk to the police without your attorney.”
And the more Nancy Grace’s that show up on primetime will really start to push this home.
Though I have not been able to follow the story carefully, I have by pure chance, tuned in at key moments in this case. I heard Melinda Duckett’s first phone interview with Nancy Grace, and I too thought she was abnormally calm for a mother who’s child was missing. However, I could not make any assumptions because shock is very mood altering and doesnt allow you to be “normal” and is different for everyone. I didnt hear anything else about Trenton until the headline about his mother taking her life caught my eye. I still wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt though because no one wants to think of a mother harming her child, but soon hope becomes denial. She had just lost her job and was going through a messy divorce. She put an add in the local paper in hopes to sell his car seat 17 days before he went missing and purchased the gun she used to kill herself with only 2 days before an amber alert was issued. Her Eclipse was also allegedly spotted in the Okala National Forest before she reported the kidnapping. But the fact that she killed herself is the most incriminating piece of the puzzle. A mother, no matter how distraught over a child’s disappearance and no matter how tough the media is on her, clings to the hope that her child is coming home. They will stay in the same location until the last glimmer of optimism has died, usually when the body is found. To kill herself before anything was concrete, only tells me that she had no hope and added to guilt, gave her no reason to live.
Melinda is weak, and the society does not need such people to stay around. As for Trenton, why do people pray for him to be found? He probably have the same weak mentality his suicidal mother has. Why burden the society with a child of imbecile?
“a lie detector test!” Lady, Polygrpahs have ABSOLUTELY no efficacy whatsoever of detecting/differentiating truthful from untruthful responses. May as well use a **** ouja board.
What evidence does anyone have? Is the fact that she could not answer a question proof that she did anything wrong? She was probably advised not to speak to the media, she was obviously distraught over her son missing, and she was 21 years old. How would anyone expect her to hold up in a situation like that with a woman like Nancy Grace beating her down? I do not know if she was involved or not, but no decent person would treat anyone in her situation like that. I truly hope that the mother was not involved so Nancy Grace has to live with this the rest of her life. Nancy Dis-Grace should be off the air.
To the person who says that parents who kill thier chidlren get off easy (i.e. Andrea Yates)….were you there when she killed her children? No….were you the judge or jury who convicted and then found her insane? No….then you have NO idea what you are talking about. I am not condoning her behavior, don’t get me wrong, but people do unthinkable things out of desperation….and everyone’s level of desperation is different. I know what mental illness is like and those who are afflicted do things a “sane” person would never do.They don’t think like a healthy person, nor do they believe what they think is not normal. THEY ARE SICK….just because you can’t see physical symptoms, it doesn’t mean the illness isn’t there.
We may never know what happened to Trenton, and his Mother very well could be guilty of his dissapearance….we will probably never know. But one of the most important things as humans we need to remember is that “Unless you have walked in a person’s shoes, don’t judge them”
People make horrible choices in their lives sometimes, things that most of us will never understand but because we have been given Free Will by God, people will continue to do stupid things. FOREVER! Accept it, deal with it and if you think you can change it, go ahead.
You idiots need to stop blaming Nancy Grace, CNN, or any other media. The FACT is it is not anyone’s fault that something happened to Trenton except his mother.
Unless you are a total retard, you know after reading all the reports on this case that Melinda did something to Trenton, she did not HIDE him(alive anyway). I was an investigator for years and I can smell a rat 10 miles away. She killed him, freaked out after discovering she would not get away with it and took the cowardly way out, period.
He will probably be found at some point depends on how well she hid the body and whether or not she left any clues, hopefully she did.
Blaming an excellant reporter for this individuals sick mental health is absurd.
I applaud Nancy Grace, she has guts and is not afraid to ask the questions that need to be asked.
GO NANCY!!
Nancy Grace’s questionning did not kill Melinda! Melinda killed Melinda.
She also probably killed her child. On video interviews posted in a florida newspaper she is asked questions about her child in the present tense, but answers most of them in the past tense. Speaking of someone in the past tense usually occurs if he is dead or you haven’t seen him in a very long long while.
She was evasive in that interview too. She never answered the simple question “tell me how you discovered him missing”.
Too bad the child had her and the father, who hasn’t bothered to see the baby since June, as parents.
Terry, get a clue.
Remember the Susan Smith Case? Sure the media hounded her for interviews under the pretense that it would get the story seen by lots of people. Sure there was pressure on her which may have contributed to her finally confessing. BUT nobody put Nancy Grace’s brand of pressure on her and it’s a good thing because instead of killing herself, Susan confessed to the police. Yes she was guilty, but at least the family had closure as to the wherabouts of those two little boys and found out what really happened to them instead of spending countless agonizing years speculating, not knowing if they should have hope or be grieving.
Melinda Duckett may very well be guilty, but that’s going to be awfully hard prove if they don’t find Trenton and getting closure for the Dad and extended family is extremely important. Do we have more of a right to see Nancy pound her fist and scream at the mother, than that family has to find out what happened to that baby? The only thing more important would be to locate Trenton right away if he is still alive (though doubtful).
The one bit of evidence that could point to the mother (other than her evasiveness) was the cut screen window. I’m sure forensics can tell if that screen was cut from the inside or the outside.
First off no one made Melinda do the interview with Nancy. Nancy merly asked simple questions to which Melinda was very evasive. Same questions asked of Trenton’s dad were answered very quickly. Nancy no doubt knew immediatley Melinda was hiding something as most of us watching did. Sure she was upset, she was about to be caught, and she was obviously in a desperate state already, afterall she had just killed her son a couple days before. Do I have a crystal ball, no but I could tell during the interview and other reports I read, the fact she committed suicide just validated my thoughts on the case. No way she killed herself just because Nancy Grace asked her tough questions she didn’t want to answer. She was a sick puppy, proven already and further proven once the poor child is found…..
The point here is not whether the mother was elusive or evasive, and not even whether she had anything to do with her kid’s disappearance. The point is it’s NOT up to the media to demand answers from her on national television while the investigation is under way. It is the responsibility of the police to find the answers to these questions. And if the mother was not willing to answer any of Nancy Grace’s questions, it was likely a very wise choice. This is information meant to be shared between herself and the authorities, not info to be broadcast out for the purpose of ratings.
And to the public out there who are upset about the mother’s “evasiveness”, it’s none of your business at this point. It’s an issue between herself, her kid, and the authorities.
Witch trials died a few hundred years ago, but they’ve apparently been resurrected by the intrusive media and a self-righteous public which has nothing better to do with it’s time.
To Jack: That has to be the most selfish thing i have ever heard!!! To say that you do not want to find that innocent baby alive is the most assinine thing to every say!!! What kinde of person are you.
That’s the only thing I may agree with you on, the mother was imbalanced. Because of people like her, police are trained to question them in ways that brings out the truth without making them freak out. Most likely she was between a rock & a hard place doing the interview – damned if she did and damned if she didn’t.
One other thing, Melinda’s father is on death row after being convicted of murdering an 11 year old girl. Could the remote possibility exist that a relative/loved one of the 11 year old may have brought revenge on the family for the loss of their loved one? I’m not trying to make the deceased 11 year old’s family look bad in any way, but pain and grief can sometimes make people do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do.
i am really appalled by these comments.
i know that crimes against children are the most horrific and terrifying for all of us… but this country was a pioneer when it declared us all innocent until proven guilty.
i cannot even imagine what it must be like to lose a child… but even worse would be the naked exposure to the self appointed furies of cable. anyone who believes this woman is guilty, purely because she was driven to take her own life, should go back and see the reporters who interviewed the husband of the runaway bride. everyone convicted him too… until she came home.
12 ANGRY MEN– has anybody here seen the movie (or read the play)? The majority of your comments bring to mind characters from 12 ANGRY MEN. The story is about jurors who are so full of preconceptions and prejudices, and are so quick to assume the defendant is guilty, that they are ready to convict him before considering his case adequately. That is a serious injustice. Fortunately in the movie the jurors, when pushed to explore the case further, begin open their minds to the possibility of innocence, and found reasonable doubt. In the Duckett case, we have limited info, we do not know the truth of this case and we certainly are not jurors. But we are all part of this society and we have a responsibilty to each other to keep our minds open in the process of seeking truth and justice. Heaven forbid that I or any of my loved ones get wrongfully accused of a crime and end up with you as jurors- we’d be convicted in a flash and never see the light of day again! I’m appalled by all the self-righteous, quick judgments and know-it-all attitudes, people who do not even attempt to put themselves in other people’s shoes (well perhaps that’s just a coping mechanism to deal with fear in this complex world- the world is easier to view in black and white). Thank you Lanette, Confused in Colorado, Maya, and the small handful of others whose comments I found so thoughtful and not disturbingly frightening like the rest….
The runaway bride was herself a sick individual. Were talking about a 2-year-old. He did not leave on his own, his ill mother knew what happened to him, that’s why she took the cowardly way out.
By the way to Karen, it is Joshua’s(Trentons dad) father that is on death row for the rape and murder of an eleven-year-old girl a few years back not Melinda’s father.
Nancy Grace went way overboard while inviewing Melinda Duckett.
Did Nancy push Melinda over the edge?
It’s the Susan Smith story all over again. Young mother, everyone says she wouldn’t hurt a fly, loved her child, etc., going through a nasty divorce. There were people who believed in Susan right up until her arrest. This woman chose to end her own life rather than be arrested. I think she probably killed her son and buried him somewhere, and now the child’s father & family may never know what happened to him.
Nancy had nothing to do with her death. Melinda knew she was about to be caught so she took the easy way out. Now she gets to avoid the whole thing, what a coward, the scary thing is the court gave her custody of the child in the first place.
Of course on one hand, the childs fathers father is on death row for raping and murdering a child and the mother was herself obviously nuts so what chance did this poor child have?
Did anyone read her my space entries? The woman was insane.
I’m amazed that those who condemn Melinda so readily. There’s something that makes a person monotone and preternaturally calm — it is called __depression__. It’s great that some of you would be so brave and right in there with the search — pat yourselves on teh back and feel superior. As someone else mentioned, not everyone responds the same way, and a depressed person is in a state of mind that is not “normal”. That neither proves nor disproves her involvement in Trenton’s disappearance, but it does explain why she wasn’t playing media whore and acting it up for you guys (*sob Gasp* *my bay-beeee* ETC.).
I don’t have a child and I’d be taking a “get away” stance to Nancy Grace. Attack journalism is about ratings, not about truth. Someone needsto put Nancy Grace in the hot seat a few times, and let her see how it feels. I doubt she’s be quite as abusive after that.
How many of you bleeding hearts with your hands folded in your lap are aware that 2 days before Trenton was reported missing his sick mother Melinda bought a shotgun at a local pawn shop. I wonder what she did with that gun? HMMMMM!
Whoever thinks that nancy grace did this girl an injustice or drove her to suicide has not read the available material on the case.
Melinda would not tell the police or the FBI where she and Trenton were from 4pm saturday to 7pm sunday. Forget not taking a polygraph. Just the fact that she refused to give information to the police and FBI about her activities prior to his reported disappearance is obviously a giant red flag of guilt.
I can’t believe anyone could argue elsewise. Additionally, the two men she entertained that evening never even saw the little boy. I can only say
to those who think we are rushing to judgement that common sense has taken a back seat to nonsense and that in your quest to be “open minded” you sound more like you have a hole in your head and your brains fell out.
I didn’t get to see much of the
interview at all so I am commenting
on the case. If the facts are true as
stated and happened in said sequence
the purchase of the gun talks the
loudest. She may have made her plan
and everything else is on the way to
the final results. Parents do kill
their offspring for a variety of
reasons to save them from the other
parent, to save them from the devil
to save them from growing up in a
perceived cold heartless world. Its
rarely out of hate. More often are
the accidental killings. The cover
up can happen under any circumstance.
How we come to believe how wrong it
is to kill our own children might not
match up to the situation and odd
as it is a parent can actually love
their children still as they are killing them. That said is not an
excuse. Mother cats faced with a dog
coming too close will literally eat
them. How does that jive from animal
to human? It is a belief that the
greater danger is not in death. For
most of us we are lucky enough to
see beyond the fear or we have enough
of a support system and we are not
suffering from a mental illness. We
clearly don’t know who this woman was.
Nancy was as some say being Nancy and
she like the rest of didn’t know the
woman either.
When your child goes missing, and you have nothing to do with it, as you say, why would you kill yourself? I’m sorry, but I can be scrutinized til the media is blue in the face! The most likely suspects are someone that knows the victim. So, if something like this ever happened to me, and I didn’t harm or do something worse to my kid, you can question me time and time again. Heck, it’s just more media coverage with your child’s name all over the place, increasing the awareness that your child is missing! You don’t kill yourself, unless you’re guilty of something….Think about it–you actually kill yourself because the media is bashing you, and you are innocent? Please.
Anonymous,
I’m not saying she didn’t do it, probably did. However that was not Nancy Grace’s job to determine either way. This woman was messed up, emotionally fragile, and had that interview not taken place the way it did, Melinda would probably still be alive. If she did kill Trenton, she is the only one who knows where the body is and could have eventually shed some light on what happened, now that opportunity is gone forever…
If Susan Smith had killed herself, those two little boys would probably still be at the bottom of the lake and as difficult as it was for the family to realize what had happened to those poor boys, the years of waiting, hoping, wondering, grieving would have taken even more of a toll on their lives. Our human nature is such that we cannot move on until we have had closure.
she killed herself with her grandfathers shotgun.
I agree with Karen and insulted that “Anonymous” (who can’t even identify themself) would think those of us with “open-minds” lack brains….you are a perfect example of someone bursting with ignorance. We all have a right to our own opinions….fine….but again….unless you walked in Melinda’s Duckett’s shoes…..shame on you. And…for the record, I have plenty of common sense…
Thank you for all that do feel that we should not rush to jusdgement. Obviously we are in the minority…NONE of us has said we DON’T think she did it….we stated it is NOT for us to decide. It is people like all of you that are the first to cast stones that have no common sense. Shame on you.
Before some go on a crusade against Nancy or other media, Remember that in most cases, the media is the source that provides us with the picture of the child, numbers people can call if a child goes missing- etc. Placing blame on a tv show that has spent countless hours posting his photo is about ratings to an extent -I agree. I hope a lot of people are watching in the hopes that someone saw that little boy someplace in the hours before he went missing. If you want to know how much media helps- check out the America’s Most Wanted website and see how many captures there have been. There is good and bad in everything including the media. As far as casting judgement- that’s not for me to decide. But I’ve put a few puzzles together in my day and there are just so many signs that point to the mom it’s hard not to judge. But in my opinion everyone should be focused more on Trenton and his wherabouts then about Melinda or Nancy. I felt sorry for Melinda went her child went missing but I don’t feel sorry for people who take the easy way out-just stating my opinion.
I am entirely disturbed by people that are so quick to position themselves as judge and jury. The burden of having to pass judgement on anyone including someone who’s guilt you are convinced is enormous and should never be taken lightly. I am especially disturbed when that judgement is passed based on only the most superficial knowledge of the facts surrounding the accused’s situation. If you think that watching a tv interview and reading a few headlines as the scroll past on CNN makes you qualified to pass judgement, I fear that it will become more and more impossible for people to receive any sort of fair hearing. When did we regress away from ‘innocent until proven guilty’ back to ‘guilty until proven not guilty’. And when I say ‘guilty’ I mean having been declared so by a court of law and a jury of peers, not by the audience of a cable tv show.
Finally, regarding Nancy Grace, the matter of Melinda Ducket’s innocence or guilt is not the point. The point is the horribly insensitive and irresponsible way Grace behaved. If we are to believe this woman is guilty, confronting her on tv is irresponsible because of its potential to force the individual to do something desperate (like kill yourself). If we are to believe this woman is innocent, confronting her is insensitive and could potentially push a very fragile person over the edge forcing them to do something desperate (like kill yourself). When did we begin to accept that trial by tv host is acceptable? I guess it was probably about the same time that the news became entertainment.
I also applaud Nacy Grace, I too believe that she is a great reporter. I think that motherhood was just too much for Melinda and she missed her social life. So I have two theories, the first one is she killed him and disposed of his body and then she thought that no one would accuse her. And once she found out that people were suspecting her the fear and the guilt made her kill her self. Another possiblity is she may have sold baby Trenton, not to anyone in the United States I dont think, but to a couple in some Asian country that is unable to conceive a boy. And again the natural feeling of guilt took over and that is when she took her life. I pray to god every night that we will find Trenton alive. My hope will still be alive until we find him.
Come on people, this is not rocket science! Anyone with even half a brain can see what happened to this poor innocent child! It’s obvious that Melinda would have rather died than spend her life in jail. If any parent (in their right mind) is innocent of their child’s kidnapping, they will do ANYTHING to find their child — preferably alive! Trying to blame Nancy Grace for Melinda’s suicide is totally ludicrous! Nancy’s job is to be a victim’s advocate, and to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. I’m sorry, but nobody causes someone to commit suicide. My only wish is that Melinda would have let someone else love and raise Trenton.
Nancy Grace just tells it as it is, as a mother of a murdered child my self, i would be asking the same questions.
Melinda was to calm, and did not seem at all like her son was the up most important thing. if she had her best interest in her son, like nancy said she would give information out so maybe people would remember seeing her and Trenton, she should of worked with the media nd the local officials.
what is her my space url (addy)
#62 Anonymous, you apparently feel free to be insulting behind your safe anonymity. One can only wonder whther you, and the others who border on the abusive, would be so “brave” in person.
The people who treat this like one of their soap operas and they’ve figured out the plot, and who vicarioualy feed off of the blood Nancy Grace taps from people have nothing to do with common sense. In fact, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to make one’s life so narrowly critical and lacking in balance.
Keep the soap operas on you rtv set and try to remember that real life and real people are more complex. Would you like to be judged and talked about the way you have done with Melinda Duckett?
Trenton Duckett’s mother Melinda may or may not have killed her son. But one thing is for sure if she was thinking of killing herself Nancy Grace pushed her over the edge. Nancy Grace is a disgrace. She found Melinda guilty by just sitting on her lazy ass in a network studio. Nancy Grace is just a drama queen and everytime I see her while flipping through the channels I want to vomit.
Now we may never know what happened to Trenton thanks to Nancy Grace.
Though I believe that Melinda Duckett was probably responsible for her son’s death, I also believe that Nancy Grace crossed the line….I would also argue that Nancy Grace crosses the line quite frequently. I am a former Nancy Grace fan and then I realized that she is more consumed with ratings than she is with victim’s advocacy. Nancy Grace often questions her guests that could be profoundly detrimental to a pending criminal case…and as a former prosecutor, she very well knows this. For instance, the questions she posed to Taylor Biehl’s grieving mother, which prompted a response that would have been incredibly beneficial to the defense if that case had gone to trial [i.e. Biehl's mother admitted that Biehl had sex with the perpetrator on possibly more than one occasion - the defense was claiming rough sex]. Nancy Grace is too consumed and greedy for her high ratings and her show and all others like it are problematic to our justice system … they ultimately don’t care about victim’s advocacy – do not let Nancy Grace pull that veil over our eyes.
Hey Jennifer Hocker
Sorry you are unable to have kids, but if you truly think Andrea Yates knew what she was doing when she killed her children, you are, quite frankly, a freak.
Did you not read how her husband knew how sick she was and continued to let her home school. Lets think about it, this woman is on heavy medication for postpartum depression, stuck at home with 5 children…any real man would have made sure to give his wife a break, take care of her and make sure those kids are safe. I too went through postpartum and let me tell you Jennifer, since you do not know what it is like you should keep your uneducated opinions to yourself. I was fortunate enough to have a husband that I could talk to and depend on, Andrea was not.
Note, this is a discussion about a childs abduction, not a message board for you to feel sorry for yourself and bring up Andrea Yates, use some plain old common sense here. See the truth is if you don’t have children you don’t have a freakin clue, oh, and by the way Jennifer, you can adopt.
To the families involved with Trenton Duckett most most sincere prayers go out to you all. I pray he is found safe.
To Jennifer Hocker
Anyone who could possibly think for one moment that Andrea Yates knew what she was doing is quite frankly out of their minds. Truth is Jennifer that you will never know what having postpartum depression is like. You will never know what it is like to home school and be at home with your 5 children is like. What we do know is that Andrea Yates was on some serious medication for her depression so all those around her, especially her husband saw what kind of state she was in. Sorry, Jen, on the day God handed out common sense I guess you were home sick.
What I truly wonder is this, why in the world when this page is discussing Trenton missing and his mother’s suicide would you choose to air your opinions on Andrea Yates and the fact that you cannot have children?!? I’m sure there’s a thread out there dedicated to woman who feel sorry for themselves and want to bash on Andrea Yates…..I suggest you look into it.
As for all those involved with Trenton Duckett my prayers go out to you in the hopes he will be found alive and well. I hope to God his mother had nothing to do with it. Thanks to Nancy Grace we may never know what happened.
This is rediculous. I know this is a forum about sharing opinions but I think we can all agree that we wish to know what happened to baby Trenton. I have watched this site for a couple of days now and I am to the point of saying: Get over it if you dont like Nancy Grace. Stop watching if you think it will make you feel better, but there needs to be people who arent afraid of stepping on toes. She is respected obviously by quite a few people or she wouldnt have a show in the first place. She and I think very much alike so I will continue to watch her. There is a reason for everything. I cant even fathom why Trenton had to suffer BUT if Nancy Grace hadnt “pushed the envelope” or “crossed the line” there would not be this media frenzy and you never know, it just takes one person that normally wouldnt pay attention to a case like this, but because of the unusal circumstances that Nancy Grace brought to a head, to call up and say they saw her eclipse somewhere and the whole investigation could turn a 180.
But lets just get this out there: No matter how much you moan about you dont agree with how Nancy Grace dealt with things she is
NOT
1.) Going to be penalized
2.) Lose her show
3.) Change
So stop beating a dead horse and lets all pray that some closure either way can be brought to light and that, if in fact Melinda had something to do with it that she got what she deserved as she passed over.
Children are such a wonderful gift. It is hard for mr as a Mother and a Grandmother to even begin to fathom how any Mother could hurt a child – any child. When I look at Trenton’s picture, his beautiful big eyes, so trusting, mine fill with tears. His Mother, like Andrea Yates could have taken him to her family or a friend. I know in my heart that Trenton is probably not with us any longer but I pray that whatever the outcome he will be found so that his Father can find some kind of peace. If he is gone, he is resting in the arms of the angels. God Bless You Trenton.
I’m amazed by the number of you that would immediately point the finger at the mother and say that Nancy Grace did nothing wrong. Just because she wouldn’t provide details to Nancy Grace of all people, on public TV, does not make her guilty, nor does her composure. We all react to things differently, some people withdraw, some people put up a strong public front, some people spring into action.
It’s just as likely that she killed herself out of desperation and fear and terror, and the horror of losing her child. As with any suspect she is innocent until proven guilty, and I think it’s a shame that you all are hanging her in public based on or two appearances you see on TV and the information you read on the internet.
Get real people, this was just a case of plain old irresponsible journalism (in fact, journalism is too good of a word, how about sensationalism). The police knew Melinda’s situation (emotional fragility)and they were prepared to question her accordingly A) to not send her over the brink like Nancy Grace did & B)to take a softer approach and gain her trust to get that elusive confession if there was to be one. That was how the Susan Smith case was handled and it worked. Nancy Grace’s approach did not work – obiously. Some of you are patting Nancy Grace on the back saying good job, BUT WHAT DID SHE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH???
Quite frankly, if someone commits suicide right after doing a television with you, and you were aggressive and abusive on them before a national audience you have some serious responsibility in their death.
For all you know the person may have been innocent but filled with other sorts of emotional problems and you just threw them off the cliff. The lack of the interviewer’s sense of concience in the matter reveals to me a cold blooded person who cannot possible bring anything of entertainment value into my home.
We all need to have some standards of decency and sense of responsibility and empathy towards others who may be in a world of pain we simply do not understand yet. I won’t watch sadistic people at work.
Worse I am totally disappointed CNN excercised no responsible judgement and aired the piece on a dead person it just helped kill simply for ratings which as we all know translate into the pay packages of the show’s anchor, producers, and distributors.
I imagine some people will enjoy a nice new down payment on a big car over this person’s massive misfortune of coming on their network. This is not what freedom of the press is supposed to be about.
We have so lost our way in the hands of these people feeding us this so called infotainment that we now sit passively as they beam pre-snuff films into our homes. Wake up America!
I know shock and pain effect people differently. Sometimes it changes many factors of your personality, but it does NOT make you lie. Melinda lied to the police and Nancy Grace over and over. I live here in the same town and she did not work with the police at all. She even said she did not want to attend press conferences because Trenton’s dad was there. I’d like to see someone, anyone keep me away, it’s her baby. Also the interview with Nancy Grace was very civil, Nancy was not rude, she was not judgemental. She did ask Melinda why she would not tell where she was shopping, Melinda refused and Nancy and those watching were very confused, Nancy even told her that store cameras could help if an abductor was following them. She also stated that one of the gentlemen that were at her house that night had disappeared and has not been seen since then. Nancy said that sounded suspcious and asked Trentons Dad about it and he said he never heard this, then she had someone behind scene ask the local police and they said they know where both men are no one is missing and Melinda hung up in the meantime. I find it odd that while this baby is missing his mother is having her hair done and the grandparents are going out to eat. My life and my families would be dedicated to finding this child not entertainment. Know one is judging her or her family prematurly, people have been convicted with less evidence and her suicide is the ultimate lie detector test. All this questioning would never have happened if Melinda wanted to find her child and worked with the police and media. They are your best friend in this situation and you need to use them to get the word out and keep the case alive. Melinda actually asked why people just would not let this drop and why they would not leave her alone. BECAUSE HER BABY WAS MISSING!
What is wrong with you people? You are heartless, she was 21 years old, a baby herself, and here we sit pre-judging her, the case and now she’s dead. Unless you have been in that situation you cannot judge and say how you would react. We all have ideas on how we would react, but no one knows for sure because under those circumstances no one would be in their right mind.
Even after she’s dead, you sit here and talk about her with no shred of evidence that she harmed her child. Shame on you.
Is it possible that the day Melinda took Trenton shopping, perhaps she left him in the car, you know with the windows shut and all, and he died from heat exhaustion, she freaked and didn’t know what to do and hid him somewhere? It’s possible, I don’t think anyone saw him that night so…
russele,laura, casey…, et al., thank you. this world is getting more cold and cruel it seems. it’s nice to see a few intelligent persons who are capable of independent thought and do have heart and soul. this is like the roman times, let’s throw them to the lions and cheer as we watch. i’m sick to nausea by these drama junkies living vicariously through tv soaps, dragging other people’s dirty lauhdry… shame on you. how can you sleep at night? remember you will get exactly what you give. may God bless Melinda, RIP.
as brian stewart say… a very young mother with missing son, already hanging by a thread due to divorce and harrassment by ex-hubby and family, etc., is on your show, and you blatantly fry her, shout at her, make her look badly deliberately by editting… then you have the gall to air the show AFTER the mom is dead… jeeez… you are beyond sadistically responsible, even if she was later found guilty! at the very least, you have just screwed up an ongoing investigation, and you just might have harmed little trenton even more… darn!
Missi # 84, either you are sadly out of touch with teh real world or need medication badly. We’ll pray for you, and hope that you heal your own mind and heart, because your rant reveals a very clueless, unbalanced person.
Post 52 Karen M. You stated that Melindas father was on death row. Sorry to correct you but it is joshuas father on death row.
Brian #89: You’re an idiot. Dont worry about anyone else, you need the medication.
I, too, live in Leesburg, FL. I have read alot of different reports on this case. I am worried about the safety of baby Trenton.
The paper today says that 2 more witnesses have come forward. Both say they saw Melinda the day she reported her baby missing.
One saw her at 8am at a local business…without Trenton. The other says they saw her at 3pm going from her car to her apartment…without Trenton.
Also reported was the time between these 2 sightings, Melinda was on-line blogging….hmmmm….
Also, it has in the past been reported that she purchased a shotgun 2 days prior to his disappearance, but I read that that gun was recovered by the police & they have concluded that it had never been fired.
The gun she used to commit suicide was owned by her grandfather.
Also, her parents reported that before she died, she called them in New York, and made comments to both of them, such as “they’re not going to find him”, and “He’s not going to come home”. Hmmmm……
I read also that while talking on the phone with her soon to be ex, Melinda would make the baby cry if Josh didn’t say or do the things she wanted him to, and that she once made the comment that if Josh didn’t do something (?), it would be a “sad day”…hmmmm……
I also find it interesting that Melinda was studying criminal justice, more importantly, forensics…could she have been a model student & this is why it has been so hard to find any sign of her baby?
And others have suggested the possibility that she sold him…well, then, where’s the money???
In any event, the issue isn’t the sanity or the guilt/innocence of the parents, at this point, the ONLY issue is WHERE IS BABY TRENTON?
At this point it appears she had culpability. Although many have been quick to point this out, there are some who want to believe she had no involvement. If it was reversed and the circumstanial evidence pointed to the father after he killed himself, one should ask would he have recieved the level of empathy or sympathy some have shown towards her?
I live in northern central florida, and myslef have a 2 year old son, and this story really worries me. I pray every day for this young boy to be found alive. I cant even explain how discusted I feel when I think that anyone can do anything to a child,let alone, possibly the parent of that child. I find myself waiting for the next update on the news. I guess it really hits home for me becuase of the fact that I dont know what I would ever do if something happened to my child. I am worried for Trenton and I am sad to say my hope seems to be diminishing for him. I really do pray every day that he is returned to his father and family safe and sound and alive and well.
Nancy had nothing to do with melinda’s Suicide. She was asking questions like she should to get any information out as possible to help find Trenton. Melinda obviously is guilty of somethign in order to commit suicide instead of wondering where her baby boy is.
I think the way she was talking to Nancy as if she didnt want any details of where she had been …tells you she didnt care where trenton was….UUHHH cause she obviously knew. they found a bag they found in the ocala national forest..which matches a bag from melindas home now with blood on it which they are testing now.. and also are trying to trap gators to take a look inside- I am praying for trenton and the family.
Nothing adds up in her story- if your sun went missing, wouldnt you want to share with the police where you were all day and which stores you went to- Wouldnt you put your kid in bed @ 7pm with pajamas and not jeans.
Nothing makes any sense and my own opinion is SHE DID IT.
Brian #89
I simply stated the facts, Melinda lied many times. Maybe you need the medication because I certainly was not ranting. And believe me I am not upbalanced or clueless, I’m also not blind. While you are praying for me I will pray
for your children and hope that you are not of the same character as Melinda. I certainly hope you are a better parent, but from your post I seriously doubt it.
I would like an apology when they find that poor baby and prove his mother did something horrible to him.
Has anyone read the news reports on CNN about what police found in Melinda Duckett’s trash? They found little Trenton’s toys and pictures of him including a picture of a sonogram from when Melinda was pregnant with him. To all of you who have sympathized with Melinda and condemned Nancy Grace, can you please explain Melinda’s reason for throwing away priceless pictures of her baby? Honestly I think it is a bit ridiculous that some of you point the finger at Nancy Grace for causing Melinda’s suicide. She only questioned her the same way Melinda would have been questioned in a courtroom. Had this case gone to trial and Melinda were to have killed herself after a guilty verdict would we still be blaming Nancy? Or maybe we should blame the prosecution…better yet let’s blame the judge and jury.
I think she most definatly did it. First she wouldn’t cooperate. If your son was missing, most people would do WHATEVER they had to do in order to find him/her. The fact that she threw all of his things away just shows what she was thinking. She was 21. She didn’t want a son, she wanted to socialize with guys. Even in her myspace passages she said that some guys wouldn’t date her because of her son. To me it’s obvious what happened.
I don’t think Nancy Grace had anything to do with her killing herself. I think she killed herself because of guilt. Nancy Grace has been in this buisness for a very long time and she knows what she is talking about. I’d be the same way towards a woman who wouldn’t cooperate in order to find her son.
Nancy Grace didn’t do anything wrong. She just found holes in Melinda Duckett’s story which didn’t make any sense to her. Melinda threw all of Trenton’s stuff in the garbage to erase him from her life as though as he never existed. Plain and simple! She sure looks guilty to me.
I cant believe this person. She really was mentally ill. We need to pray because the chances that he is alive, where can he be. The cops have not found him in a month…unless they find another clue, but what could that be. I am a mother, I cant imagine. I just want to go in her grave and kill her again for leaving everyone like this. This little cutie pie, trenton. Poor baby, his mother is a selfish person. If I would of been social services, this kid would be somewhere else until these parents can move on and stop fighting. Life is not over, not too smart those 2. Neither could provide a stable life to this child. The mother did deserve to die if she was that cruel. The father needs to know, how can he live to wonder all his life…
It’s ridiculous to blame Nancy Grace. An innocent mother would NOT kill herself; she would be doing anything and everything she could to FIND her son…who would want to die leaving the question of where is your child unanswered??? She didn’t want to take a polygraph, she wasn’t cooperating by letting authorities know where she had gone, who she was supposed to have visited, and she threw away her baby’s photographs, toys and FOOD. Who erases all evidence of their missing child? What if by some miracle, police had FOUND her baby alive and returned him that night? What would he EAT? Things to ponder…
I have been following the case of Little Trenton Duckett since I first heard about it. I have reserved making a judgement on her just because I’m a mother myself. However, after hearing more and more of the findings in this case, things look more and more likely to point to Melinda. Firstly let me say, I am aware that a polygraph IS NOT always accurate, nor admissable in a courtroom. That being said, let me also say that if this were my child missing, as insulted as I’d be, I’d take one just to clear myself, if for nothing more than the F.B.I., or investigators. Generally speaking, it’s a red flag for investigators if you refuse to cooperate, so I most surely would take the polygraph so they could move on to the task of finding my child. The time wasted on an uncooperative parent(s) or other family members, could be used finding the real perpetrator. Secondly, to take her own life instead of staying around to see her child return just doesn’t make any sense to me. No matter what scrutiny you are put under by press or society, if you’re not guilty then surely you would want to have the satisfaction of your innocence coming out in the wash, when all is said and done. Also you’d want to be strong for your child, and appeal to everyone involved that you want to see your child returned and are doing EVERYTHING in your power, giving every shred of information to whomever you could to help make that happen. I’m guessing the the “coup de grace” for Melinda was that she wasn’t doing everything in her power and she knew it and just couldn’t stand the thought of being found guilty and possible prison time or worse. Lastly, when she committed suicide, she became her own judge, jury, and executioner.
If this so called “wonderful” mother didn’t have anything to do with her son’s dissapearance then why did she take her own life? I realize that everyone handle’s trauma in different ways, I get that, but I believe she killed herself to save herself anymore interogating from the Authoritie’s, she knew she couldn’t keep up her lie for much longer and her wall’s were slowly closing in on her. I feel that she took her son’s life because she was to selfish to let him go be with his father, then took hers because she wouldnt have to deal with the shame of her actions. My heart goes out to everyone involved in this case, exspecially little Trenton.
Nancy Grace was only doing her job, she get’s paid to find out the facts, even if it meant calling the mom at her own game.
I didn’t believe Susan Smith and I don’t believe Melinda Duckett…..
Nancy Grace is a DISGRACE. She is no better than the back woods country bumpkins from Leesburg investigating the case.
I think they should ALL be arrested for MURDER for driving Mindy to take her own life. Last time I checked, a person was innocent until proven guilty. Only a fool would cooperate with Police.
http://www.remail-it.com/sites/melindaduckett.htm
After reading everyones comments, all the news media, and peoples speculations, it hurts to know that this boy is still missing. I pray, that Trenton is found alive, but the odds are slim. A part of me, feels the mother had part….but WHY??? I have a son almost Trenton’s age…times get tough, and I get stressed…but NOT THAT stressed. To think of never seeing my son again…that’s too much too bear, and for it to be a reality, would push a gun to my head. NO ONE, can accuse or judge this lady (the mother). We all handle stress differently…and not to be raciest or prejudice, because I am of the Asian decent too…we get a bit “crazy”, not sure too the extent of killing our children..but we don’t handle stress well. Also, we are at a high risk of suicide too. What pushed this lady to commit suicide we will never know. She could have been covering up something, or she could have been to the point of “STRESSED OUT” The point is, this little boy is missing….at this point I hope he was abducted..because if his mother had something to do with it…and she commited suicide, it’s probably because she knows he’s dead too. Also, we have to consider, she is only 21…She’s barely mature. If her son was abducted, her emotions, or the emotions of what we saw, can not allow you to judge her…At 26, my emotions are still not at hand. And being a single mom, you learn when to fall apart and when not too. As for the father being more emotional. At those situations men fall apart more then women. When my son was taken to the hospital, his father fell apart…thinking the worst. I care and love my son, he is my world, as a mother, I had to keep it together to not fall apart…that doesn’t mean I don’t care….it just means, if I don’t hold up, I will fall apart, at the time of the interviews and all she probably didn’t seem emotional, for hopes of the best…why she never answered the questions, you don’t know what she went through. Maybe she told all she could to a few reporters and interviews, and they turned it around. I’ve been in situatuions where I told to much thinking I was helping for it to be twisted and out against me. I’m not sticking up or condoning her acts….but you can’t judge her, by what you saw. The main point is there’s this little boy that is missing….the one person that may know where he is, is dead. Either way, this child this situation is all messed up, and to know it’s in Florida…these things happen everyday…it sucks……..I PRAY TRENTON IS FOUND….ALIVE. And, if the mother had something to do with it….she’s better off dead anyways…but don’t judge on her actions of killing herself, til’ you know. I once judged people, and when I got in that same situation…fell to their same actions…you don’t know what or why this woman did or acted the way she did……rather wrong or right, there was a reason, and you can’t judge, unless you are her, or GOD!!!!Let’s just all hope and pray TRENTON is found alive. It would kill me to know that the worst has happened. I wouldn’t know what I would do if my son was missing, and to live any day, or even a moment thinking he may be dead, would just take the breath right out of me. I just hope the best for this Boy…
well i think melinda has something to do with the missing of trenton you can just look when she was alive the interviews she was like nothing me i would have been like a nut case if any thing would have happen to my 2 sons
I have been following this case and while I can’t say beyond the shadow of doubt that Melinda was innocent of any crime I will not be so bold as to say that she was guilty. I will state that from personal experience in such matters as this with several murders in my own family is that the cops are often so damn lazy in their investigation that they grab at circumstantial evidence to make people look guilty. Why? because often they are so interested in their system of profiling to solve their cases. There are countless people that have been branded guilty in the media and in court for crimes they simply did NOT committ. Melinda was a young mother going through a HORRIBLE time with a divorce from a man whos family had threaten to kidnap the child and when he did come up missing the media immediately zero in on her as the guilty party. Her lawyer advised her NOT to take a polygraph test, by the way is FAUTY to the point that it CANNOT be admissable in court. Some of you folk have watched to much Jerry Springer.
It would be wonderful if the cops always had it right like they do in CSI and Law and Order but the fact of the matter is that TV is different than real life. I have known people that have been convicted of crimes that there was NO way that they could have committed the same way that people are assuming guilt of Melinda Duckett.
I can understand why a frighten Melinda killed herself. In her mind being dead was easier than trying to convince the witch hunters that want to burn you at the stake that you are not a witch.
i agree but the facts so far in this case indicate an evil woman. nancy grace asked no question that any person whose child was missing would not be expected to ask. and we are very fortunate to have people like nancy grace getting this information & news out to the public. the public is who can help in these instances. someone out there may still know something and that someone needs to come forward.
the truth is a valuable tool and when we choose to elude the truth it subjects us to scrutiny. melinda ducket subjected herself to this same scrutiny by her odd behavior. she’ evil.
Nancy Grace is a disgrace! What difference is there between her show and the sensationalism found at Fox News and other cable outlets? Also, Melinda Duckett being Asian marks her as guilty by the media and some people here in this board. If she was white, would be people think she was guilty? Everyone believed in Susan Smith–but of course she was white, so she couldn’t have been guilty? The racist judicial system puts minorities at a distinct disadvantage even before there found guilty.
Trenton Dyuckett is in fact dead…anyone who believes otherwise is living in some kind of warpped crazy world. Melinda Duckett just didnt want her child anymore. she wanted to be rid of him so she could go on with her merry little life. I mean, hello, throwing out all of his things…including his FOOD!!?? CASE CLOSED..can yall say that??? This child’s mother wasnt even waman enough to face the music..she knew she was done for…i mean, a beautiful young woman in prison for the rest of her life?? Yeah, i believe had she not took the low life cowardly way out, thats what she would have received…she deserved to have to have lived with what she did. Why didnt she just sign away her rights? I mean if she wanted to party all the time and whore around, then why not just give her child to some one who did want him…?? Oh well, now he is dead and so is she…and at least Susan Smith, Andrea Yates, and Darlene Routier faced their fates…at least too, they were woman enough to just take what they had coming and deal with all the hate and lonliness. Oh, and as for Jopsh Duckett…sure, he was all on the tv acting like he cared and stuff and yeah im sure he had nothing to do with this but why all of the audden is he boo-hooing now? Why all of the sudden does he care about his son? Well, fact is, i dont think he really does…I think that in the back of his mind, he hopes they find Trenton dead…that way he wont have to deal with him or pay for him or take care of bhim…he didnt do anything for him while he was alive so why even go on tv and act like he gives a damn now…Josh Duckett is a low life and all he did was cheat on Melinda anyway…he is probably the reason why she killed her son in the first place…i think he needs to kill himself too. His new girlfriend is fat and ugly and looks like she just stepped out of a rehab center for homeless alcoholic prostitutes. She, too, was on tv acting like she was better than God himself..so Josh can just cut his little whiney “i miss Trenton” crap and go crawl under a rock somewhere. I read on the AMW website that Josh’s father raped and killed an 11-yr old girl back in 1987…dont believe me…go to the asit yourself and read it…in a nut shell…that poor child’s family is screwed up…both sides..maybe its better off that he is dead…
JJ #110
EVERYONE knew Susan Smith was guilty. Melinda Duckett being Asain has nothing to do with the reasons people think she is guilty.
Carmon #111
You are a sick, twisted individual that truly needs help. I suggest intense treatment as soon as possible. You obviously do not know the facts of the case very well.
Reply to Carmon #111:Everyone is entitled to an opinion and thats why response columns are available but your comment was just a little too disturbing, maybe you need to seek some type of therapy. I also checked out Melindas suicide note and just maybe there was some hope in it where she writes about Trenton growing up……. That would be a blessing.
As a mother, I can’t imagine what she was going through when all of this was going on. But what i do think is that she is a primary suspect, infact she is the suspect! I am so angry that one’s mom, would put her own child through this. It’s horrible. I have been following the case from the begining and there are so many reasons to point the finger to her. I also dont believe she was on this on her own. Some one knows exactly what happen to that little boy. They had to have been either involved and is to afraid to come out and say anything or she just told some one. This is sad, and leaves so many un sloved questions, all I want to know is why!
I am hoping that little Trenton is alive and well. Perhaps someone did take him out of the window and focus should still be on the thought that he has been kidnapped and not just “let’s blame the mom”. She may have thrown out pictures and toys but I have a 19 month old grandson that lives with me and there are times when there are just to many toys in this house and I have thrown them out. I also have thrown out pictures that were laying around as they get messed up and I have them stored on my computer and also have back up disks of them so they are never lost or or gone even if some have been tossed to the curb. From what I understand Melinda was having money problems and maybe she was cleaning things out getting ready to leave her apartment because she could no longer pay rent. I think that if Trenton was killed by the mom his body would have been found by now. A child kidnapped may never be found if someone is now keeping him as their own. Stange things happen nowadays. Look at the women that now have their stomachs cut open and the baby snatched right out of the stomach. This is a cruel and strange world now and I think we should hope that someone that lost their own child has little Trenton and that he is alive and well and being treated well. I did read a report that he was seen at the airport. I wonder if that was ever followed up in the investigation. Melinda was a confused and unstable young woman but let’s give her the benifit of the doubt and still look for the possibility he was taken by someone. Many children have been taken from their bedrooms and have been murdered. I pray that if Trenton was taken it was by someone that wanted a child of their own to love and care for.
I’m trying to reach Lanette who posted on September 10, 2006 and spoke of her daughter.
Cheryl #109 You wrote “nancy grace asked no question that any person whose child was missing would not be expected to ask.”
I disagree strongly — nancy grace’s child was not missing, she was a schlock tv host allowed to interview an individual and was out of line. Your comment is indicative of an attitude that infects our culture right now. It’s the product of too much “reality” t.v., too much fascination with other people’s persoanl business, too much rudeness that gets written off, too much sensalionalism that gets called “news”.
God help us.
I wonder why Nancy Grace did not state the obvious on her show…that being Melinda killed herself because she could not live with what she had done. I think we should all pray for little Trenton who had the misfortune to be born into a family such as his. Pray that he did not suffer and that he is in a better place. I feel so sad at the thought that she hurt him.
I’m just wandering……. Don’t most of these type of crimes happen within 5 miles of your home? If Melinda didn’t do it, have police searched a 5 mile radius from Melinda’s apartment? If I were Josh, I would be knocking on everyones door 5 miles from Melinda’s apartment. Also, wasn’t Melinda just at the DCF office applying for foodstamps 2 days before. Why would she be applying for foodstamps if she knew she and her son wouldn’t be needing them? Perhaps someone at DCF knows where Trenton is? Maybe police need to be asking employees at the DCF questions. Given Melinda’s history with them, someone likely knew her well. (usually kidnappers, are someone that you know well) You never know, its just a thought that some twisted employee would take Trenton because they knew the hardship Melinda was going through. What… People in these positions don’t commit crimes? I have a huntch Trenton is closer to home that what people think. And….I happen to think he is still alive and well. I pray and hope. I can’t help thinking of the endless possiblities (all lingering on HOPE). Trenton.. I believe has captured the hearts of many people and his pictures say a million words. What a sweetie. GOD BLESS YOU TRENTON DUCKETT and may an angel cradle you in her arms forever wherever you may be. laugh,dream,love,and live…where ever you are. Sweet dreams baby boy.
I absolutely agree with Lanette, confused in colorado and Maya. I don’t have any words for that Nancy Grace woman, really. I hope that little boy is somewhere out there alive and well. I have an almost 2 year old son myself and I am constantly worried that something could happen to him. Most of us do our best to be good parents. I cannot say, and hopefully never have to experience, what I’d do, say and how I would react if something would happen to my family. Enough people did get hurt through this tragedy there is really no point in arguing about Melinda Duckett’s behavior. She won’t be able to tell us anymore. Let’s just hope Trenton will be found alive. I also would like to tell Lanette that reading your story broke my heart. I do not know you but from what you wrote you must be one very strong and brave woman.
Good luck to you all.
As much as I hate to say it…children are snatched right out of their own bedrooms a lot. It is a sick society that we live in and I think focus should stay on track that he has been kidnapped from his bedroom window…until PROVEN otherwise. It is sad that the parents are the first ones that are looked at when something like this happens. Yes…parents do bad things to the children and I am not saying they don’t but until this child is found, let’s keep the focas on him and that he is alive and in the hands of a family that is taking good care of him and loves him.
Laws need to be changed to protect children…from mentally ill parents….so many children would still be here; had they been protected from their ill parent. A long time ago, I wanted to be a social worker. I am so glad that I did not pursue that career…there is no way I could live with myself knowing that I had anything to do with a child being placed back into a dangerous or fatal enviornment, espcially one called HOME…
melinda killed her boy, i have been praying for a month that this baby boy would be found but everyday that passes the chances are slimmer. I hope this woman didnt do anything to Trenton and I hope he is alive, but the truth is that chances are slim! Trenton will always live in all our hearts! Josh (his dad) I am sorry what you are going through!
Yes, child protection Laws MUST be changed to protect KIDS from mentally ill parents…NOW.
Melinda lived in her OWN DEMONIC WORLD..a world she intentionally crafted to destroy her ex, Josh Duckett. Her darkness was fuelled by an intense rage against him, probably because she could not control him. Even If it took destroying HIS child and HERSELF (if need be), she would make him rue the day he had ever crossed her. In her mind, she had concocted a perfect plan…she just did not see the flies in the ointment.
Sadly, Melinda was SO disconnected from others on an emotional level, nobody could read her and see how sick she had become. Why didn’t someone step up to the table and assume full-time care of Trenton…for good..
Melinda was quite intelligent as could be seen by her journals and very organized in her plans and activities (look at the detailed account of going to the movie on her Myspace weblog. She had very strong verbal communication skills, So, why did she not have a real heart-to-heart with anyone near and dear. The answer is simple…there was no one she had any real feelling for. Melinda was a sociopath, perhaps verging on psychopathology. Her own well being was paramount , as well as the implementation of her plan.
I believe she killed Trenton, went back to her apartment, had some friends come over for a movie to witness that Trenton was gone. Then, she made this poor sap make the telephone call to 911, while she appeared to be too distraught to call.
She had planned killing herself sooner than she did. Yet, such a self-absorbed and considerably sociopath would prefer not destroying herself if possible.
Nancy Grace was NOT responsible for Melinda Duckett’s suicide…NOT AT ALL. She only asked reasonable questions that we were all thinking. Melinda only killed herself when she thought her PLAN was FAILING, and SHE WOULD GET CAUGHT…ugh, jail time…death penalty…heavens NO!
She intentionally hid herself in her grandparent’s closet for two reasons; one, she wanted someone to find her body ASAP, so it would not develop maggots and be hideous. this would be very important to her as she wanted to look her best in her coffin, so people would see her as the beautiful wronged woman.
Second, although not connected in life, she wanted to present the illusion of familial connection by dying in her grandparent’s closet.
Sadly, I have dreamt of her standing on a bridge, holding Trenton’s dead nude body and dropping it when she saw two alligators swimming toward the bridge.
Melinda Duckett was evil, conniving, vindictive, and wanted vengeance against Josh, at any and all costs.
I just pray when Josh meets another woman and decides to have children with her, he checks out sanity quotient, instead of looks. His only mistake—naive, immature, and foolish, very foolish to have left Josh with her and not fighting hard to have him removed from the home. In his defence, he was too young to really know the depth of depravity this kind of illness can wreak.
This is my opinion…perhaps I can relate to Melinda because I suffered from the same condition.
well I hope Trenton is not dead, and I hope the alligator story now over the news (they are trying to gind an 8 foot alligator to see if they can find any evidence of Trenton) doesnt come up with any evidence, because I would hate to thing that Melinda kileld her boy in such an evil way. I still hope Trenton is alive and that some family has him somewhere hidden. I just hope he is OK, even if he is not found! I have been fallowing the story and I also DONT blame Nancy Grace for Melindas suicide, if any one I blame her for being so false and so evil.
Trenton I hope u some day find your way home.
I was afraid this would happen. The attention surrounding Trenton is dwindling and people are interested in other stories. This story has to stay in everyones mind so if he’s out there we can find him. I live in the area and I have not seen anything about a search or anything else. We need to keep our focus on this case and this little boy. God forbid he is hurt or worse, but we still need to find him.
missi i think you are right trenton’s story is slowing fading from the spotlight, i think of his smiling face everyday and hope he is returned to his father safe and sound very soon.
trenton you are very loved!
#123 & #124 If you know this definitely, and are such experts, I suggest you call the DA because noone else knows _for sure_.. and this country, people are presumed innocent, unless or until proven guilty.
Officials Say Missing Boy May Be Alive
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/15/AR2006111500252.html
That link is to an article in the Washington Post saying that police now believe it’s possible that Trenton is still alive.
I truly hope he is. If he is found alive, why did Melinda Duckett die?
Of course most people thought Elizabeth Smart was dead. Her parents insisted that they believed she was alive, and many believed terrible things about the Smarts and that they probably had something to do with her disappearance. We all know how that turned out.
I’m not saying Melinda Duckett was innocent, BUT don’t be so quick to judge unless you have ALL the facts.
I dont think that is fair for use to say she did it . I have tryed to kill myself , And not because I hurt someone I loved, But because I was hurting so bad inside and I just wanted the pain to go away. And I think that Melinda knew she was going to kill herself , And she wanted to make sure her husband did not get the little boy. So she took him and gave him to someone then went home and called the police . Read the words this women wrote . I am noot saying that the Father was bad , I am just saying she hated him so much for hurting her that she knew to hurt him. And the way to do it is to take his baby from him . And maybe just maybe he could feel some of her pain . But she knew she was going to kill herself , I know in my heart that this baby is safe God has his hand on him and he will protect him. And I hope one day soon that we will find him safe andtha alive.I think that at 1:00pm tommrow afternoon that we should start a prayer chain and pray every day at the came time . That God will hear us and bring him home safe and alive . Would you please join this prayer chain
I also saw this interview. The way Melinda was questioned by Nancy Grace would have put me on the defensive. I assumed that Nancy Grace was trying to publicize information to locate Trenton but things quickly turned into an inquisition, where Nancy Grace had made the Melinda her prime suspect. Melinda was told not to talk to the press by FBI which would explain her elusiveness and it’s likely that Melinda has a far more stringent appreciation for authority than most North Americans, due to her heritage. Cultural differences also need to be considered regarding her suicide. It’s possible that she felt like a total failure when her son disappeared (she probably had a rough go of being a young mom to start with) and with all of the scrutiny regarding her whereabouts and possible role in the disappearance, she felt she had dishonored her family to the point where she couldn’t go on. Let’s wait for some evidence before crucifying this woman based upon a ridiculous interview with a sensationalist talk show host.
Heads up for some people, because a public figure makes a claim it does not make it correct or reality. Yet saying this is pointless as it seems to be the infection of society in the U.S. Evidence, investigation are unimportant….30 second sound clips determine what is true or false. So many persons in this list of posts alone have already shown the lack of their ability to formulate their own thoughts and ideas, which has lead many down the same road of “Melida killed/sold/lost” the child. I do not know if any of those are correct….but then none of us should unless we are connected.
Why has it not occured to more people that maybe she was sending her child off somewhere for his own protection? The family situation was clearly (you see it is possible to look at facts) not a favourable one…it should be at the top of the “thought” pattern table if people choose to pursue that avenue we know as thinking.
Anyway, we know what internet discussions are like so I will just lead to the only important thing in this jumble of words I have up here.
*UPDATE* Police are investigating sources which lead them to believe Trenton Duckett was sent to South Korea…….
On the Nancy Grace show tonight on Thursday, Nancy finally covered some of the Trenton Duckett case where Nancy is alleged to have assisted and been connected to assisting in Trenton’s mother’s death. Nancy finally spoke about some of the information that Trenton is likely overseas right now, which I suspected from Day-One in many of my posts on the sites that cover some of Nancy’s illegal and unprofessional conduct. She sure is slow now-a-days getting to the up-to-date facts. That news is more than four months old already. I guess the stress she is experiencing facing the potential loss of millions of dollars is finally starting to get to her demeanor. It has already cause Nancy to fire her first two-of-three Damage-Control Specialist Firms, and has gotten her on an in-patient status three times since Nancy contributed to Melinda’s untimely death. Nancy had on Josh, that scum-bag sorry-excuse-of-a-father idiot and he just proved himself useless again on the show. Hopefully, Josh ends up with sanctions after the upcoming cases against him and Nancy get some true justice. Like MSNBC television has stated before, Nancy is scared to death right now. Good for Nancy. She should stop victimizing non-convicted victims. .
To #116 sbjdteam –I read you are trying to reach me. How may I help you?
To #120 Hellen –Thank you for your kind words.
To # 124 and anyone else who thinks Trenton was killed and thrown to alligators—-my daughter’s body was dumped in a canal with hopes she would be eaten by alligators. They don’t eat what is already dead, I was told by an authority on the subject so I don’t think Trenton has been.
To those who believe the Korea connection–unless Koreans have drastically changed in the past 15 years, a half-breed child wouldn’t stand a snowball’s chance in H*** of surviving in Korea. What could be done to a mixed race boy in particular is horrible. I have a Korean sister-in-law and she only recently felt it safe enough for them to consider taking her children there for a visit–and they are now adults.
To #105 Doug Hartwell –I don’t know where you are from boy, but your description of the Leesburg Police Department is so far off base it’s not even funny. They are some of the most dedicated and caring people in this world and I don’t know how my family would have survived without them. They will always be there for the family. They do their job and just because you don’t get a day by day report does not mean they are sitting on their butts. They will not give up until they solve this case and Dave Marsden is one of the finest people on this force as was Jerry Gilbecht before him. ALL of them are and I know from very personal experience.
And to those who have wondered, yes, Tina Hendricks is my daughter that I wrote about. She was wonderful and precious and was treated with great dignity by the LPD and the State’s Attorney’s Office . But she was fodder for the media with the exception of one reporter. We were not allowed to talk to the media -even to defend her honor–until he was convicted, in order to protect the integrety of the case. She died June 29th, 1989 and he was convicted Dec. 1991.
I had people I knew suddenly demanding all the facts of the case because “they had a right to know” when I wasn’t allowed to know all of them myself. You would not believe what the survivors of a murder, kidnapped or missing victim go thru.
As for Josh’s father being found guilty of killing that 11 year old girl–I know the man who took his job after he was arrested and he once told us of a girl who came into that police station (not LPD) and told them her boyfriend confessed to her that he did it. Her info was never followed up on and when this man asked why the lead wasn’t being followed, he was informed that they had their man. My friend tried to get others to listen to him but they also turned a deaf ear and now he is dead and so is what he heard from that girl. I know Mr. Duckett is trying to get a new trial and I don’t know if he is guilty or not, but I’ve always had my doubts. But that is just my personal opinion and I am not the law. I don’t think that even if he is guilty, that makes Josh bad or even “trickles” down to Trenton, anymore than I believe that Mark Olvera’s (he killed Tina) children will be bad because of him.
I just hope and pray that Trenton is in a safe place and loved until he is safely home again.
Nancy Grace was proven wrong again on all of her assertions on the Winkler case on Thursday April 19th. Doesn’t CNN management ever watch Nancy’s shows anymore?
Nancy Grace has documented herself to be incorrect, in some fashion, on just about every single case Nancy has attempted to cover over the recent months. While Nancy continues to rack up more potential lawsuit cases against herself and CNN for her continued defamation, slander, libel, and even the wrongful death Nancy is currently linked to by Nancy’s own possible illegal actions, it is well documented that Nancy Grace is not un-willing to commit even more such crimes against even more and more victims.
Some Courts have already reprimanded Nancy Grace for some of her documented misconduct. But, Nancy continues to rack up more and more violations of Civil Law, and possibly even Criminal Law too, and it is hard to keep up with the continued violations-count, and her seemingly constant violations Nancy has been committing against victim after victim after victim.
The Lawsuits that are soon to be coming from VanderSloot, Howard Stern of the Anna Nichol Smith case, and others against Nancy infractions (according to the attorneys) and the upcoming Lawsuits from all the Duke defendants, as well as possibly from Winkler herself according to her attorney Ferese, Nancy’s continued law violations appear to be occurring on nearly every single day Nancy is on television.
My goodness, Don Imus just lost his job for stating something that could, in-fact, may have been a factual and accurate statement by his derogatory statements towards the women’s basketball team. How CNN can allow Nancy to document even more violations against even more and more victims is just senseless and a total shame for CNN to just stand by and allow this irreprehensible behavior to continue against more and more victims from Nancy Grace. It is truly just ridiculous. Perhaps it is time to change from CNN to broadcasting Nancy Grace on something like comedy central where her conduct more appropriates is representative.
Has CNN already forgotten that Nancy Grace has current lawsuits filed against her for Nancy’s role in the death of a non-convicted victim who Nancy Grace had called on the telephone? Wake up CNN, Imus had to apparently be removed from the airways, and he wasn’t even directly involved in connection of someone’s death. Nor was Imus continuing to victimize more victims as Nancy has documented that she is continuing.
Maybe you, CNN, can provide the public with the “magic number” CNN feels is the appropriate-limit that Nancy has to achieve with her slanderous, libelous, her connections to a possible wrongful death actions Nancy has documented against another victim(s), and her defamational statements against victims before CNN will take similar actions as MSNBC had to do towards Don Imus.
Everyone will be anxious to hear what the “magic number” CNN will tolerate as the group of victims of Nancy Grace grows and grows from her illegal, immoral, and illicit conduct towards so many victims.
And, how can CNN allow a person like Nancy Grace to be around any true victim at Virginia Tech while Nancy has current lawsuits filed against her for Nancy’s alleged involvement in an early death of a emotionally distraught young mother. The management of CNN needs some serious investigation-measures to be implemented immediately, for the safety of current and potential future victims of the unprofessional conduct of Nancy Grace.
How CNN can allow Nancy Grace to have any access to victims at Virginia Tech is a matter that should, perhaps, be investigated by the authorities and by attorneys for the potential victims of her unprofessional conduct. There is a reason Nancy Grace has lawsuits pending against her, with more lawsuits expected in the near future. For CNN to allow Nancy Grace to have contact with any victim is a crime in and of itself, and needs further consideration by the authorities and by attorneys for the victims sake and safety. Allowing Nancy Grace to have access to any victim is like placing a Predator
near a schoolyard while the trial is ongoing for the alleged Predator. It should just not happen.
Nancy laughs about sending people to jail where they will be raped, lobotomized, beaten to death, sodomized by police, sold into homosexual prostitution, forced into poverty, beaten down, and treated less than dirt.
She laughs about this stuff and then goes around begging for sympathy for her ridiculous cause.
There is only one cause where nancy is concerned and it aint the kiddies. It is the Nancy Grace Show.
Nancy should sit down, shut up, and let the cops do their job.
Wow, it’s been almost a year since all the above posts but for some reason the posts have halted!
No one is so concerned for little Trenton any more?!
AMAZING!! You’ve all gone on with life but Melinda hasn’t one anymore. She’s dead because all the people whom were soooo concerned about her guilty behavior shoved her into suicide.
My question is: Why wasn’t anyone concerned enough to do anything other than point fingers and blame?
Has anyone heard anything new on poor little Trenton. Everyday I look and hope that someone has found this poor little angel. If not, I truly hope he is in a wonderful life getting the love and attention he deserves.
it´s so sad story, I believe that the boy is still alive:((( he looks so cute!!
i was just wondering if he’s been found? i haven’t heard anything bout him in a long time….
He is still missing.
[...] Trenton Duckett’s mother Melinda [...]
My instinct tells me that Trenton Duckett is not alive. I have followed this case since seeing it on Nancy Grace. Trenton is an adorable and innocent child who got caught up in his parents’ messy divorce. Melinda was obviously guilty of something when she decided to pull the trigger on herself. If she knew her baby was still alive and may be found, why would she kill herself. It seems obvious that Melinda had something to hid, and it had something to do with the disappearance of her baby.
However, i would like to point out that Joshua Duckett is no innocent angel himself. If he was a good father he would have been paying child support to Melinda whether or not he had visits with his son. He is trash himself, trying to play an innocent and good father figure in front of the media.
Here is an innocent little boy caught in the middle because both his parents are messed up.
My thoughts and prayers are with Trenton Duckett.
I’m not judge or jury so I will freely say what I think. Melinda Duckett killed her child then killed herself either out of guilt or fear.
If Melinda was feeling emotionally unstable during the Nancy Grace interview, she could have easily said that she felt as if she were being unfairly treated and hung up. Where was her lawyer during this interview? You would think she would want one present. No one MADE her talk and continue to talk to Nancy Grace.
Melinda refused to take a polygraph test. There is only one reason not to take one and that is guilt. It should have been the first thing she offered to do so every ounce of the investigation could be focused elsewhere.
One would think that if she were innocent, she wouldn’t care what people were thinking about her.. She wouldn’t give up on her son. She would stand her ground, proclaim her innocence. Most people innocent of a crime don’t believe they will go to prison for it. You would think she would have waited a little longer to make such a decision.. But she knew her son would never be found and she knew she would pay for her crime.
Blaming Nancy Grace is just ridiculous. No one forced Melinda to do that interview and no one forced her to stay on the phone. You would think Melinda’s lawyer would have told her to stay away from things like that considering she “was told” not to share any information.
If Melinda wasn’t guilty, she sure could have fooled me because her performance was spot on.
I was just wondering if this child was ever found.I’ve been following the 3 girls Caylee,Haleigh, and Sandra.So far little Caylee and Sandra have been found,but it’s been awhile since I’ve heard anything about Haleigh.I pray that she will be found safe as with this child,Trenton….It’s a big scary world out there that our children just do not understand….and they should’nt have to…..God bless all our little children
Both Haleigh and Trenton remain missing.