The Death of Dominick Dunne. A Fighter for Victims.
The world lost an incredible man on August 26th, 2009, author Dominick Dunne at the age of 83 from bladder cancer. Throughout his life he told shocking crime stories among the rich and famous through his magazine articles (Vanity Fair) and best-selling novels (such as “The Two Mrs. Grenvilles“). Unfortunately, news of his death was minimal, because of Ted Kennedy’s death the day before.
Before becoming a well established writer, he attended Williams College, and he also served in World War II. After returning from the war, he moved to New York, then eventually Hollywood.
Dominic Dunne spent years in courtrooms covering high profile trials. He covered cases such as the William Kennedy Smith rape trial in 1991 and the trial of Erik and Lyle Menendez, accused of murdering their millionaire parents, in 1993.
As much as those trials shocked the nation, nothing compared to 1994, when football star O.J. Simpson was accused of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The trial stretched out over a year and cable TV provided endless coverage. If you didn’t know Dominc Dunne before the O.J. trial….you definitely knew him after…..his became a familiar face to millions.
Before all of those famous and high coverage trials, Dominic Dunne experienced his own very personal trial of murder. In November 1982, his daughter, Dominique Dunne best known for her part in the film Poltergeist (she was the oldest daughter in the movie), was murdered. Strangled to death by her boyfriend. Dunne attended the trial of her murderer, John Thomas Sweeney. John Sweeney was a chef who dated actress Dominique Dunne and strangled her after a domestic dispute. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for her death and received a prison sentence in November 1983 of a shocking six and one half years. He was released after serving only four and one-half years because time served before his conviction was subtracted from his sentence. During this time, Dominick started righting for Vanity Fair and wrote the article “Justice: A Father’s Account of the Trial of his Daughter’s Killer”.
He also had his own T.V. show Dominick Dunne’s Power, Privilege and Justice on Court T.V. I always enjoyed watching his show. He was a great voice for victims and he will be sadly missed.
For more reading on Dominick Dunne, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-abrams/remembering-dominick-dunn_b_270058.html This is a wonderful article written by Dan Abrams, a talented journalist who was also close friends with Dominick Dunne.
More on Jaycee Lee Dugard
The picture on the left is of Jaycee Dugard that was posted everywhere in 1991 when she first went missing. The picture on the right is an age progression picture of what Jaycee might look like today.
What an incredible story to follow. Jaycee and her two daughters ages 15 and 11 (who she had with her kidnapper) are said to be reunited with Jaycee’s mother. There has not been any public appearances. I am glad they are getting some time to be alone, talk about the last 18 years, and cry. Can you imagine what the conversation would be? So much to talk about. 18 years. Does Jaycee remember her school classmates from when she was 11 years old? What does she remember about her parents, her home, her family? The day she was taken? What has she been thinking all these years? Did she think her parents stopped looking for her? What a joy that she is alive, but what sorrow for what she and her parents went through.
There are reports that she suffers from “Stockholm Syndrome”. This is a condition that develops after the initial feelings of terror and confusion wear off and involves the victim building a positive bond/relationship with their kidnapper as a way to cope with the trauma of being held captive. Instead of feeling anger and hating the person who has abducted them, they come to empathise with them and view the outside world as the enemy. Jaycee’s stepfather made comments to the press suggesting that Jaycee has guilty feelings of forming a bond with her kidnapper.
Jaycee’s grandmother Wilma Probyn, age 83, claims that is the only reason that her granddaughter is still alive, because she did bond with the kidnapper.
No doubt about it, this story is taking on all kinds of twists and turns. Now, the FBI have said they are checking into many murders of prostitutes in the area, possibly Jaycee’s abductor is also a serial killer!??
More postings to come. For now, if you are a parent, hug your children a little tighter tonight. Enjoy the blessings of the day and your family. How lucky we are…..to have and know where our children are right now. The knowledge that they are safe. Pray for those families that still don’t know, that don’t have answers….and now, because of Jaycee Dugard, maybe some of those families have more hope then ever before.
Jaycee Lee Dugard
Most of you have probably already heard this breaking news….Jaycee Lee Dugard is ALIVE! Now the question is “is she well”.
What an unbelievable story! How amazing! What joy….she has been found and she is alive! But how can your stomach not be tied in knots and feel the real sickness of the life she has had? So sad and disgusting to hear about the abuse she went through.
Laws need to be changed. Sex offenders need to be locked up for GOOD! They prove to all the communities in this world, that they WILL offend again. Our children are not safe with these sick freaks out there. As parents….this is our worst nightmare…and it must STOP! We need to protect our children from these people.
As neighbors, we need to always be watching. You can’t feel like “this is none of my business”. If you have questions or concerns, you need to call and report. And the most important thing….you MUST follow UP!! Make sure something was done….make sure the police checked on your concern. In Jaycee Dugard’s case, a neighbor DID call the police, complaining of children living in tents in her neighbors backyard. The police went to the home and spoke with the abductor and sexual predator, not even checking the backyard. BIG mistakes were obviously made! I am glad that the police are taking responsibility for this now, but things need to change! We need laws with ZERO tolerance for these people. You hurt our children ONCE….you go to jail…..you die in jail….you DON’T get a second, third, or fourth chance.
I would love to hear your responses and comments about this.
Hello and thanks for visiting~
I have a strong passion to speak for victims rights. We live in a world with so much violence. Especially violence against woman and children. Through this blog, my hope is to reach people, educate them, support them, and share current events. My goal is to create a group of loyal people who also wish to help support others. I hope you read this blog, continue to visit this blog, and share your comments. Thanks for visiting.
