if i were on that jury there's no way i could convict Steven or Brendan based solely on the evidence introduced at trial. there are too many holes in the state's theory.

- if Steven (and/or Brendan) kidnapped, raped, murdered and mutilated Teresa in Steven's trailer, garage and fire pit - why would Steven need to put Teresa's body in her SUV as evidenced by the blood and hair found in the back of the SUV? that says to me that Teresa was likely held and/or killed elsewhere and the killer or someone else may have used the SUV to move her or her body.

- if all of that ^ happened in Steven's trailer and garage there would've been much more of Teresa's DNA found. Steven isn't savvy enough to have sanitized the crime scene w/in 4 days such that none of Teresa's DNA was in the trailer and only that tiny trace was on a bullet fragment found DAYS after the police had secured the crime scene.

- Brendan's statements changed each time he told the story of what had happened. and he missed details only the killer(s) would have. i think. i need to get back into that part w/more depth. but most importantly - Brendan always started out telling the truth and when confronted by the interviewer's disbelief and alternate theory of the facts Brendan would agree w/the interviewer. he did this w/the cops, his mother, and his first lawyer's investigator. he is an entirely unreliable witness.

- Brendan's cousin Kayla should be scorned and shamed forever. but anyway, she's also unreliable. the state asked her which newscast she'd seen that had all of those gory details. umm...ALL OF THEM?!!? wtf???

...just. ugh.

and then of course there were the judges. i often feel like i'm trying my cases against the state AND the judge. i had that same feeling watching this.

and i think Steven's lawyers were great - except i winced HARD when Strang argued that the cops were framing Steven b/c they think he's guilty. b/c that argument lets the cops and the jury off the hook and makes it too easy for the jury to convict. i understand what he meant and i agree w/him but i wouldn't have made that argument. the state smartly picked up on it and told the jury that even if they disregard the planted evidence (bones in fire pit and blood in SUV) there's enough evidence to prove Steven's guilt. i disagree w/the state but that bit was set up in part by Strang's argument on this point.

the whole thing though...so sad. so sad.

fuck you.