Newly freed widow (Cynthia Sommer) of Marine may sue D.A. in San Diego

L A Times ^ | 04.19.08 | By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[Perdogg]

After 876 days in jail for a murder that prosecutors now say did not happen, Cynthia Sommer knew what she wanted: a fancy coffee drink at Starbucks, followed by a coconut-shrimp dinner at Bully's restaurant.

In the next few days, Sommer, 34, said at a Friday news conference, she plans to go shopping and spend time with her children. Her 16-year-old daughter was to reunite with her Friday night. She plans to travel to Michigan to see her three sons -- ages 8, 12 and 13.

[Poetgal26]

Hmmmmm I am not really sure how I feel about this case, but I guess the DNA say she isn’t guilty, but maybe she knew who did it...

I don’t know, it’s just so sad to hear that we lost another hero and those kids have no father now

[Perdogg]

What really bothers me is soon after her husband dies she gets breasts implants. That seems so trashy to me, but it isn’t illegal.

[Poetgal26]

Yeah I totally agree on that one, thats why I was like omg you are so guilty...

[Bob]

Hmmmmm I am not really sure how I feel about this case, but I guess the DNA say she isn’t guilty, but maybe she knew who did it...

I'm not sure what you mean by "who did it". She wasn't exonorated based on DNA testing. There's no clear indication that anyone did anything.

From the article:

When they had the new samples tested, experts could not find arsenic -- creating what Dumanis called reasonable doubt that Todd Sommer had died of arsenic poisoning.

(emphasis mine)

[When do we get liberated?]

It is thought to be a heart attack or reaction to diet pills.

[Poetgal26]

Hmmmmm

[Poetgal26]

BTW love your tagline!

[abb]

Nifonging is apparently not peculiar to North Carolina.

[dominic flandry]

Perhaps she felt inadequate and at 34 felt she had to do something to make herself attractive to find a new husband?

People do all kinds of things when they become desperate. I do not know what happened in this case but there could be a very good alternative to what the prosecution contended.

[quiet_reverie]

I remember reading that she couldn’t party enough or have enough one night stands after her husband’s death and never grieved for him.

I used to watch Forensic Files all the time and there are numerous drugs that can’t be detected following death.

I don’t think she’s innocent but she will milk this although she is.

[MainFrame65]

==> “...there are numerous drugs that can’t be detected following death.” <==

Arsenic - a heavy metal element - is NOT one of them.

[devere]

“Nifonging is apparently not peculiar to North Carolina.”

The prosecutors had a good case: a corpse full of arsenic, and a widow who started partying before the corpse was even cold. Now the arsenic has been called into doubt, and there is reasonable doubt of guilt. But the prosecutors deserve no insults, and Mrs Sommer has no case against them.

[Coldwater Creek]

Have you ever lost your spouse to a sudden death? Sometimes ya just got to get your mind on something else.

Not trashy at all, and certainly not a reason to falsely accuse a widow of murder.

[Coldwater Creek]

I understand that new test proved that he didn't die from arsenic poising, but natural causes.

[freespirited]

Seems to me she has a better case against the lab that performed the toxicology testing. It was negligent to allow the samples to become contaminated, and she certainly can show damages.

I am not sure how far she can get against the prosecutor. He probably has broad immunity. We need one of our FReeper lawyers to explain her chances.

[quiet_reverie]

I didn’t say arsenic. I said that numerous drugs can’t be detected following death.

[SoCalPol]

Our DA in San Diego is first class and a major professional.

Sommer is pushing her luck and her
situation isn’t finished yet.

[MainFrame65]

You didn’t, but the article was titled, “She was jailed 876 days for an arsenic-poisoning murder that prosecutors now say didn’t occur.” And the article mentions arsenic and arsenic poisoning many times. If the lab found a false positive, all of their evidence is suspect because arsenic is not something subtle, like some easily degraded organic poisons.

Arsenic is a heavy metal chemical ELEMENT, easily detected and measured by simple lab techniques, and it would NEVER dissipate, dissolve, or change its nature over time. If Arsenic were present in the stomach, it would still be detectable in the cremated ashes.

[papasmurf]

Read the whole article: In response to a discovery motion by Bloom, Sommer's new defense attorney, prosecutors gathered all the tissue samples that had been taken from her husband's body, including some that were not tested before the first trial.

When they had the new samples tested, experts could not find arsenic -- creating what Dumanis called reasonable doubt that Todd Sommer had died of arsenic poisoning. An expert newly hired by the prosecution also suggested that earlier samples in which arsenic was found had been contaminated.



So, having evidence and information and not divulging it isn't grounds for a lawsuit? None of the so called sleeping around was proved, or even attempted to be proved, it was just hearsay and rumor, designed only to damage her character and poison the jury. As for the breast surgery, if you look, you can notice she didn't have an enlargement, she probably had them lifted, being that she had 4 kids at such a young age. I understand why she would do that.

Then, there's the question of why the Navy didn't take action to find out how Sgt. Sommer really did die, or were they afraid that they'd find one of their Doctor's made a mistake issuing a deadly prescription?