Posted on 11/21/2006 10:21:53 AM PST by NormsRevenge
ORLANDO, Fla. - Relatives of a missing boy's mother who killed herself after aggressive questioning by CNN's Nancy Grace sued the network and the talk-show host Tuesday, claiming Grace caused emotional distress that led to the suicide.
Melinda Duckett committed suicide Sept. 8, a day after Grace's show on CNN Headline News aired a segment in which Grace grilled Duckett about her whereabouts Aug. 27 — the day 2-year-old Trenton Duckett was reported missing.
Authorities, who said last week they believe the boy is alive, have named Melinda Duckett as the prime suspect in his disappearance.
Jay Paul Deratany, the attorney representing Duckett's estate, said Tuesday that Grace encouraged Duckett to appear on her show by saying the goal was to draw public attention to help find Trenton.
"It's not just about the questioning, it's about the misrepresentation with the knowledge that she was emotionally distraught," Deratany said. The attorney said Grace improperly took on the role of a law enforcement officer.
CNN Headline News declined to comment specifically on the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages.
"We stand by Nancy Grace and fully support her, as we have from the beginning of this matter," a spokeswoman said in a news release Tuesday.
The moral of this story is that nobody has an obligation to talk to the media. Whatever happened to "No comment." The woman's family should have told CNN to sod off.
It took a few weeks longer than I expected...
you may not like Nancy - but she didn't do anything wrong here. the mother went onto that show freely, and was questioned, and it was obvious from her answers what the deal was.
She has 'created' this persona of being all righteous indignation against this and that...and when it is all said and done, it is about ratings, money and power! Period!
"Tonight, breaking news. A mother's worst nightmare". Not as bad as the overkill your show does, Nancy.
A recent picture of Nancy Grace on Fox News shows a very different person physically that your picture....she looked overweight and bloated with a pasty complexion...much like an alcoholic.....quite a drastic difference...
The mystery remains where is Trenton? With Melinda's porn producer? Or did the relatives who now sue Nancy and everyone else with money have a hand in his death and/or disappearance.
Very true.
I saw that interview. Melinda refused to help the police or answer even simple questions, she tried to frame her former husband, acted in porn films with Trenton present, and spread malicious lies. She committed suicide perhaps just to stick it to her son's father.
As far as I know, these relatives did not help in the search for Trenton, and yet you support them? Or did you forget the sarcasm sign?
"Grace was pushing the girl for a confession."
Maybe they should sic Nancy on OJ. She would either get a confession out of him, or he would get so angry that he might do something on camera.
Not a bad idea, actually. If he confessed we might even get more angry because he can't go to trial again. But then Nancy would draw him no quarter, which would be enjoyable because he deserves no quarter. Might be dangerous for her though.
To ALL:
I have watched Nancy Grace, and hated her behavior.
I think she follows her emotions and not the law.
I think she is being paid well to do it that way on TV, because it draws viewers (money).
That being said. In this case she might be right. In this case she was putting the child's concern above a mother obviously hiding something.
If they find this child alive, no matter what my thoughts of this woman are, I would be the first to give her credit for having had the guts to do so, and risk ridicule.
She might be wrong most of the time, IMHO, but it doesn't mean she is this time.
Here's hoping she is and the child is still alive.
No one could likely have stopped this mother from committing suicide. I suspect that agreeing to be interviewed was an attempt at fixing things, but a failed attempt.
The mother chose death over confession, and it would have happened eventually.
LOL
Rooting for the family's lawyers on this one.
i'd hate to ask, but hasn't something very similar to this happened in the past (woman gets grilled on tv, commits suicide, reporter gets sued by family)
i'm feeling major deja vu
Still has that helmet hair, though.....
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