Sunday, December 20, 2009

Happy Holidays to all our friends and family!!

Hi everyone!! First of all, please accept my apologies for not posting or responding to all the wonderful emails you have sent. My step mom was rushed to the hospital last Thursday with spinal menengitias. (sorry, Colin, sure I totally mispelled that!) Fortunately, it was not bacterial, but viral. Anyway, I had to drive to Louisiana and give my sister a hand. For those who do not know, my dad is 85 and not in the best of health, so I stayed with him a few nights. Made a quick trip home today and will go back tomorrow. Hopefully she will be sent home in the next few days. But, it's just been crazy the last few days, so I hope you all will understand. Mechele sends her thanks to all of you who have written and sent her Christmas gifts! It truly brightens her holidays. Oh, if anyone sent her a book from Barnes & Nobles, it was a hardback and therefore sent back to B&N. So, if you did send it, make sure you check that you have been issued a credit. To our wonderful friend who sent me the beautiful floral arrangements, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! My favorite, roses and Mechele's favorite, lilies! It was perfect and ever so thoughtful!! I hope each and every one of you have a beautiful holiday season. Take time for your loved ones, family is so important, especially this time of year. In spite of everything, our family has so much to be thankful for. The closeness and love we have for each other is truly enhanced by the love and support people like you have shown us. It is our prayer and belief that our beloved Mechele will be sent home to us and next Christmas our family will once again be complete! Thank you all, we are truly blessed to have your care, concern and thoughtfulness. Each and every one of you are in my Christmas prayers!

15 comments:

JODY P. MLYNEK said...

Sandy, it was so nice to "meet" you via our emails a few weeks ago. I came in on this late, so am only now getting up to speed on Mechele's case and all that is currently happening with the appeals. This case so struck me when I first heard about it, particularly since I spent 20 years working as a litigation paralegal, and my father was a criminal attorney who defended some very notorious cases (including the infamous "In Cold Blood" case written about by Truman Capote). The weakness of the prosecution's case was just plain appalling. Heaven help any of us who might be tried on criminal charges with such weak evidence.

Our family's thoughts and prayers are with your family during this holiday season. I'm sure this is a trying time every year to have your daughter, wife, mother, and friend missing from the celebrations. We are hoping and praying for the best for Mechele and for your family, and also for your family in Louisiana and for their health. Godspeed to you all, and thank you for keeping us updated on what is happening in this important case. Please let us know if Mechele needs anything and if we can help.

All the best,
Jody Mlynek and Family, along with
Logan's Friends

JODY P. MLYNEK said...

Sandy, it was so nice to "meet" you via our emails a few weeks ago. I came in on this late, so am only now getting up to speed on Mechele's case and all that is currently happening with the appeals. This case so struck me when I first heard about it, particularly since I spent 20 years working as a litigation paralegal, and my father was a criminal attorney who defended some very notorious cases (including the infamous "In Cold Blood" case written about by Truman Capote). The weakness of the prosecution's case was just plain appalling. Heaven help any of us who might be tried on criminal charges with such weak evidence.

Our family's thoughts and prayers are with your family during this holiday season. I'm sure this is a trying time every year to have your daughter, wife, mother, and friend missing from the celebrations. We are hoping and praying for the best for Mechele and for your family, and also for your family in Louisiana and for their health. Godspeed to you all, and thank you for keeping us updated on what is happening in this important case. Please let us know if Mechele needs anything and if we can help.

All the best,
Jody Mlynek and Family, along with
Logan's Friends

Mechele's Friends said...

Jody, thank you so much! How wonderful that your father's influence has lead you to pursue the legal field. Please feel free to email me personally with your thoughts from a legal perspective regarding this case. A very Happy Holiday to you and your family!

Unknown said...

Sandy, this is a first for me, writing a post. So bear with me in my befuddled state.....I still have a little chemo brain left over from cancer.....But, here's my thoughts!

I will only admit to living in Alaska for over 50 years, or for years before statehood, but the truth is I was raised in Anchorage, Alaska. I've always been proud of my state and its people. However, it breaks my heart to see some of the consequences of our growing population over the years. I think Michelle's case is a perfect example of the judgemental newcomers to Alaska.

The vast majority of my close friends were born and raised here also, so I'm still surrounded by that true Alaskan spirit and attitude here on the Kenai peninsula that the early Alaskan residents enjoyed and lived by. No matter their backgrounds and livelihoods, they had the basic core values,honesty, respectful attitudes, behaviors and characteristics, regardless if they were affiliated with a church or not. Taking responsibility for themselves.... Right was right, wrong was wrong, and they taught and practiced honesty, hard work to better themselves and their families, and did as Jesus did.... they all mingled together, helped and supported each other and had the most positive opinion about everyone .... Yes you might not condone some portion of someones life, but gossip was squashed before the wildfire spread. You helped each other, NOT judging a lifestyle..... that has nothing to do with you, or how you interact with that person.

After Mechelle was sentenced, I was attending church ..... The Pastor never referred to Mechelle by name, but we all knew whom he was speaking about.... His blurred feelings with all the unanswered questions.

He went on to tell the bible story about the "scarlet woman". The men in the town were all trying to get the woman stoned because she committed adultery, and they wanted to trick Jesus into judging this woman's past actions. Instead Jesus told the crowd...you who has no sin, cast the first stone. Slowly the crowd understood, and left Jesus to speak to this women. He told her to sin no more, change her life...and follow him!!!

While our Pastor was NOT MAKING ANY TYPE OF JUDMENT ON MECHELLES TRAIL, the Pastor spoke of how this women changed her life... became the person God planned for her to be....just as Mechelle has.

The dancing[striping lifestyle certainly IS NOT A MURDEROUS LIFESTYLE.

In my opinion, the 'pilgrims" in Alaska reinforced the State of Alaska's sensationalism...... the new Alaskans, who are out for themselves..... have forgotten our pioneers values, characteristics of right and proof of right..... and yes every aspect of human nature was represented by the pioneers.

When I drive to Anchorage, and Eagle River, it is all I can do, not to stop at Hillcrest's and act like I was taught to as a child, and give Mechelle my love and support.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and positive thoughts to overturn Michelle's conviction.

God Bless you all, your all in my prayers.

Unknown said...

Dear Sandy, Greetings! My heartfelt prayers go out for your father's return to wellness, and for Mechele's freedom and peace of mind, always. I, too, have just begun recovering from an ongoing illness. My letter has been mailed out to you via snail mail, and Mechele's Christmas package of books and DVDs has been packaged up and made ready for shipment.I apologize profusely for it being late in shipping, and therefore late in arrival. I have been having you and your family on my mind all the time that I've been recuperating. I pray that next year through God's Grace Mecele will be back home with Colin and Audrey, and everyone else in her family who loves her. May it be so! Blessings - may they pour into your hearts and lives forever, and in all ways.

Your Friend,

Mazie

Unknown said...

Dear Sandy,

My prayers are indeed sent forth for your step mom ... and how I wrangled it around to being your 'father' is beyond me. My apologies for the error! Prayers and best loving wishes for ALL your family and friends, Sandy.

Kindest Regards,

Mazie

beemodern said...

Thank you, Sandy.

Positive energy toward your stepmother's healing, both of your parents, you and your spouse, and of course, Mechele and her family.

It is difficult to say Merry and Happy...to someone in Mechele's position and to her family, but the positive this year is that she is no longer waiting for an appeal hearing date but has actually had the hearing. One big step forward away from what must feel like an interminable limbo.

Happy Holidays!

Anonymous said...

FREE MECHELE!! THEY HAD NO SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AGAINST HER, SHE HAD AN ALIBI, AND NO MOTIVE, HER NAME WAS REMOVED AS A BENEFICIARY! THE COURT SYSTEMS ARE FUCKED UP AND THEY'RE SNEAKY!! THEY PAINTED A NEGATIVE IMAGE OF HER BEING A SEDUCTRESS JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS AN EXOTIC DANCER. NO WEAPON, NO MOTIVE, NO EVIDENCE, FREE MECHELE! I SUPPORT THE INNOCENCE OF A FREE WOMAN!!

Taylor Austin said...

I saw Mechele's story on tv. I am a former "stripper" and current college student. It is blatantly obvious that Mechele was black balled because of her former employment. It's such bullshit how the story portrayed " A former-stripper with a masters degree" as if it's so shocking that a "stripper" went to college... give me a friggin break! I am working on writing a book about my "dancing days" which has alot to do with the common myths about dancers. I am astounded at the lack of common sense and intelligence on the part of the prosecution. There were so many holes in the prosecutions evidence that it was quite apparent all anyone was looking at was " she's a stripper, she just wanted money, she's so evil because she manipulated those poor men..." OMG give me a break how shallow can people be??? What if Mechele had never been a dancer? What if she had only been a college student working as a waitress???... she would have been treated entirely different. I think I could write an entire book on why her case should have been dismissed. People don't know the mindset of the type of men that frequent strip clubs. They are not innocent victims. They go in willingly, give there money away willingly, they even know those young pretty girls would have nothing to do with them if it weren't for their money and that fact alone messes with their head. The very girls they fall in love with they begin to resent because they know they wouldn't give them the time of day if they were not tipping well. I'm not saying you can't develop some genuine relationships with anyone you meet in a club, but rarely. When I worked at the clubs I rarely had to dance to make money. If you want to call it manipulation to make money then so be it but those men are not stupid. They spend extravagantly on "strippers" to feel better about themselves, and then reality sets in for them they want to act as if they had no idea what they were getting into. A strippers job is to make money, to create a fantasy, to make you believe you are the VIP. It's a dancers job to create fantasy. That's where the problem lies. The people that cannot separate fantasy from reality have problems dealing with reality. And that is supposed to be who's fault??? The victim was clearly having trouble separating fantasy from reality, Mechele was only doing her job to make money. Do we hold an actor or actress responsible for someone becoming obsessed with them and acting out a crime they saw on tv??? Do we go as far as saying an actor manipulated a tv viewer to commit a crime they saw on tv? If Mechele is responsible for "manipulating" someone to kill, then Linda Fiorentino should be responsible for influencing Mechele to carry out the plot from "the last seduction" movie, simply by acting on the screen. Well strippers are actors on a stage. How ridiculous is that??? Well that is what the prosecution is saying. Does anyone catch my drift here??? That's what "strippers" do they act, they create a fantasy... it's just that most people have the presence of mind to separate that fantasy from reality. Obviously the victim and whomever committed the crime did not. Why is it a entertainers fault that a grown man goes to a strip club, spends money on beautiful women to make himself feel better, falls in love with what he can't have, begins to stalk her and live with inner torment because he can't have her... the list goes on and on, but this was not Mechele's fault. These men knew what they were doing and they made choices. UGH I could go on about this forever, it's so easy for me to see, I can't believe the jury was so shallow. Why can't they see the truth???

Taylor Austin said...

Wow, I used to be a stripper, there are so many myths about strippers. Why isn't anyone looking at the mental stability of the victim at the time, or the man convicted of the shooting. He knew what he was doing going to that club, spending money on pretty young girls. Those men know those girls would not give them the time of day if it weren't for their money and I think that causes them to begin to resent them, it makes them crazy and messes with their head, and makes them do crazy things. If Mechele hadn't been a former stripper she would have been treated completely different. She was black balled. All they could see was this manipulative stripper, not what games were being played by these men who frequented these type of clubs. It's obvious that actual FACTS in the case didn't have much bearing, or actual evidence. I hope you get your appeal and a competent jury.

Richyrich said...

A jealous guy, who was despondant because he couldn't have the girl he wanted, thought up the ultimate in revenge! He hired someone to kill him, and mailed the letter to his parents with perfect timing to set up these 2 people that he thought were responsible for his grief. That seems more likely than the fairy tale that the prosecution sold this clueless jury on! If nothing else it proves reasonable doubt doesn't it?

Unknown said...

I just watched the show on ID Channel and I was wondering if anyone looked at this as a possible suicide or murder for hire to look like suicide, where he hired someone to kill him. The letter screams at me that he wrote that to incriminate all of the people on purpose. I would get some experts to see if he could have done this himself in any way and reinterview people in Hope to see where else he went that day.

Unknown said...

any new updates?

Skyler said...

They may have take away a part of Mechele's freedom but they can't take away her freedom to see, touch, hear, feel, speak, share, laugh, cry, and love.
It's wonderful to see so much support from her friends and family. I'm sure it is making a difference and helping her get through each day. I wish everyone the best and hope that you will hold Mechele in your arms soon.

For Mechele's daughter:

Make faces and play in mud puddles.

Believe in magic and wish on stars.

Dance, laugh, cry, and sing when you want to.

Always be true to yourself and never apologize for being yourself.

Never forget that your mom loves you more than any other person in the world, no matter how far apart, you will always be her daughter.

Be strong and smile.

beemodern said...

Wow, there are some really nice comments here from good people, and thinking people. Warms my heart!