Defrosting Cold Cases

18 years for Jasper S, that is what the judge handed down for the rape-murder of Marianne Vaatstra. The prosecution had asked for 20 years. The defense did not deny the rape but argued that the murder was not intentional hence a reduced sentence was in order. The court did not accept that defense strategy [...]

Verdict against Jasper S. expected April 19, 2013. Jasper S. is of course standing trial re the 1999 rape-murder of Marianne Vaatstra. The prosecution asked for 20 years however, his lawyer thinks that is too much and expects a sentence of 15 years. He does not consider Marianne’s murder proven beyond a reasonable doubt. He [...]

Sum it Up! #40 There are a few cases that I am watching: The Italian Supreme Court heard arguments today re Amanda Knox. The story on CNN is here. The issue of extradition will most likely fail since the US Constitution prohibits that someone faces another prosecution on substantially the same charges (double jeopardy). Note [...]

Jasper S. faces the judge re 1999 Vaatstra murder in the Netherlands. The hearing took place on Feb 27, 2013. Jasper S. did not speak during this hearing. An ongoing debate in the Netherlands is of course, the punishment. Is Jasper S. insane? Should he go to a mental institution? How did he keep this crime [...]

Open letter from M. Holmes re Tess Hilt. Michall has been very active in trying to get justice for Tess. This letter, printed with his permission, is an update about the case. Open letter from M. Holmes: “Hi V, It is almost 11 months ago since we began to defrost Tess’ case. Tess was brutally [...]

Jasper S. will stand trial for the 1999 murder of Marianne Vaatstra on February 27, 2013. Marianne was sixteen years old when she was found raped and murdered. On September 29, 2012, police began a “DNA relationship testing” in a 5 km radius of the crime scene of approx. 8,000 men. In this study, on a voluntary [...]

Today, Jasper S. confessed to the rape-murder of Marianne Vaatstra. During the night of May 1, 1999, Jasper saw Marianne on bike. He stated that he did not know her. Jasper forced Marianne with a knife into the field where she was later found dead. More details will now be made public and we can expect [...]

The 1999 cold case of Marianne Vaatstra is defrosting in the Netherlands. Marianne was only sixteen years old when she was found murdered. Police arrested many people and even held a large scale DNA search but, the perpetrator was never found. On September 29, 2012, police began a “DNA relationship testing” in a 5 km [...]

This guest post “On Tusing and Stidham” was written by Miriam Said and holds her thoughts and feelings about the cold cases of Amanda Tusing and Dana Stidham. _____________________________________________________________ Two beautiful young women, Amanda Tusing and Dana Stidham died in similar circumstances just over ten years apart. Their families still feel the pain of losing [...]

The Connecticut Appellate Court ordered a new trial for Richard Lapointe! From the Hartford Courant: “In a stunning decision, the state Appellate Court Monday ordered a new trial for Richard Lapointe, a mentally disabled dishwasher convicted of a murder a quarter century ago, concluding that state prosecutors wrongly withheld a police report that tends to [...]