Who was Darlene VanderGiesen?
Commentary: Two people lamented in the blog last week how people were always talking about Daphne Wright, ignoring Darlene VanderGiesen. They were correct. I found a classmate who grew up with Darlene who was willing to write an article below, so this may help us know Darlene a little better. From what I’ve gathered by talking to people who knew her, I can see why she was well-liked and popular in the Deaf Community. She had a cheerful personality, always smiling. MZ
I knew Darlene VanderGiesen personally.  She was a very strong person. I remembered her that she could fight with boys in school. She was a tomboy. She always stood up what was right or wrong. She always determined herself to get good fights with others if they were not doing right. When I heard the bad news that Darlene was murdered, I thought she could fight back with Daphne strongly.  I believed that Darlene tried to protect others from Daphne for some reasons. The story was put up the theory for me. I remembered that she protected her friends and was willing to stand up with others for her friends in school. However, she was an excellent reliable person to accept her responsibilities very well. She was possibly a hero person for her death for some reasons because I knew her personally in school. Darlene was always a joy and happy person in school. She had some difficult in school; however, she tried her best with positive attitudes. She loved to tease with others and had a sense of humors to share with others.  She was a people person to love and talk with anybody.  Her life always gave us the positives what we are supposed to do our life.  Things never stopped her. She always was an innocent lady and kept her beautiful smile with others.
Darlene’s sister, Sandra Silford is also deaf.  The family generation has not evidence why Darlene and her sister, Sandra are the only Deaf. It was an unknown cause.
I totally was surprised that Darlene was killed because she could be able to protect herself from Daphne. I believed that Darlene was much stronger than Daphne. Darlene might take risks from her life to protect the Deaf community in Sioux Falls, SD, it reminded me of her childhood background in school. Tom Kober who is a president of the South Dakota Association of the Deaf commented that Darlene was a popular person in the Deaf community Sioux Falls area due to her friendly attitudes and positive outlooks.
Daphne found a guilty of first degree murder, a guilty of felony murder and a guilty of kidnapping charges. She will be either received the death penalty or stayed in the prison for life without paroles.  The jurors will make the decision next Tuesday to give Daphne a penalty sentence while the witnesses will be testified to explain their experiences to give the judgment to the jurors’ hands. Â
We all do not know the perfect story of what happened. The testimonies were given by Darlene to give the evidences. That was the only witness through DNA, etc.
Written by Darlene’s childhood friend.
From MZ: Please add any more information if you know Darlene. For example, I was informed Darlene loved football and is an avid follower of SuperBowl. The S.F. Deaf Club received donations of TV and video equipment in her honor. They will have a ceremony in recognition of Darlene at the Deaf club after the murder trial is completed.
Trial Coverage:
Argus Leader – Jury could decide Wright’s fate today http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/NEWS/704170308
Â
Kelo: Wright Trial: Sentencing Begins http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=0,56329
Let’s not forget Chuck Baldwin’s hourly updates: http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/ So far, Daphne’s troubled childhood was discussed and Darlene’s father spoke what they went through once they discovered Darlene missing. The testimony of Darlene’s mother was heartbreaking.
From many sources, they expect the sentencing phase to be wrapped up today or tomorrow am. None expects a lengthy deliberation.Â
e-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
copyright mishkazena (TM) 2007
Commentary: Two people lamented in the blog last week how people were always talking about Daphne Wright, ignoring Darlene VanderGiesen. They were correct. I found a classmate who grew up with Darlene who was willing to write an article below, so this may help us know Darlene a little better. From what I’ve gathered by talking to people who knew her, I can see why she was well-liked and popular in the Deaf Community. She had a cheerful personality, always smiling. MZ
I knew Darlene VanderGiesen personally.  She was a very strong person. I remembered her that she could fight with boys in school. She was a tomboy. She always stood up what was right or wrong. She always determined herself to get good fights with others if they were not doing right. When I heard the bad news that Darlene was murdered, I thought she could fight back with Daphne strongly.  I believed that Darlene tried to protect others from Daphne for some reasons. The story was put up the theory for me. I remembered that she protected her friends and was willing to stand up with others for her friends in school. However, she was an excellent reliable person to accept her responsibilities very well. She was possibly a hero person for her death for some reasons because I knew her personally in school. Darlene was always a joy and happy person in school. She had some difficult in school; however, she tried her best with positive attitudes. She loved to tease with others and had a sense of humors to share with others.  She was a people person to love and talk with anybody.  Her life always gave us the positives what we are supposed to do our life.  Things never stopped her. She always was an innocent lady and kept her beautiful smile with others.
Darlene’s sister, Sandra Silford is also deaf.  The family generation has not evidence why Darlene and her sister, Sandra are the only Deaf. It was an unknown cause.
I totally was surprised that Darlene was killed because she could be able to protect herself from Daphne. I believed that Darlene was much stronger than Daphne. Darlene might take risks from her life to protect the Deaf community in Sioux Falls, SD, it reminded me of her childhood background in school. Tom Kober who is a president of the South Dakota Association of the Deaf commented that Darlene was a popular person in the Deaf community Sioux Falls area due to her friendly attitudes and positive outlooks.
Daphne found a guilty of first degree murder, a guilty of felony murder and a guilty of kidnapping charges. She will be either received the death penalty or stayed in the prison for life without paroles.  The jurors will make the decision next Tuesday to give Daphne a penalty sentence while the witnesses will be testified to explain their experiences to give the judgment to the jurors’ hands. Â
We all do not know the perfect story of what happened. The testimonies were given by Darlene to give the evidences. That was the only witness through DNA, etc.
Written by Darlene’s childhood friend.
From MZ: Please add any more information if you know Darlene. For example, I was informed Darlene loved football and is an avid follower of SuperBowl. The S.F. Deaf Club received donations of TV and video equipment in her honor. They will have a ceremony in recognition of Darlene at the Deaf club after the murder trial is completed.
Trial Coverage:
Argus Leader – Jury could decide Wright’s fate today http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/NEWS/704170308
Â
Kelo: Wright Trial: Sentencing Begins http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=0,56329
Let’s not forget Chuck Baldwin’s hourly updates: http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/ So far, Daphne’s troubled childhood was discussed and Darlene’s father spoke what they went through once they discovered Darlene missing. The testimony of Darlene’s mother was heartbreaking.
From many sources, they expect the sentencing phase to be wrapped up today or tomorrow am. None expects a lengthy deliberation.Â
e-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
copyright mishkazena (TM) 2007
April 17th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Hi,
You said that Darlene would fight with boys at school but I disagree with you about Darlene that she would fight back or stood up. She got scared or hate to argue with people very easily. I have seen her around a lot at deaf community. she was too friendly and nice to do that. I remember one time we all played basketball for league and she accidently hit my teeth and it was bad cut and bleed. Of course, I was pissed off at that moment and she was really SCARED and kept saying she was “sorry” I told her forget it. After that when I saw her some place, she was still scared to see me because she still thought I was pissed off at her for what s happened at game.
Remember in Argus Leader voice, the lady from CSI said that they didnt find anything that Darlene did fight back because no DNA from her fingernails. I believe Daphne attacked her with unexpected because Darlene didnt had a chance to fight her back to defense herself or so shocked Daphne would do that and too scared to fight back.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Maybe in school she used to be tough but through the year she has became a victim.. It can happen to anyone even you can be a victim.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Yes, Darlene always gave us a big smile and brought us a brighter day.
Darlene loved cats so much. She had her two cats in the apartment before she was passed away. In the past, her family had dogs and cats. Darlene seemed loving with pet animals. She loved to play the softball games/tournaments especially. Her favorite collection was TY animal beanies. Yes, she enjoyed Superbowl with her friends at the Deaf Club.
Her memorial funds donated for Sioux Falls Deaf Club and Hope Haven. The Sioux Falls Deaf Club is planning to purchase equipments with TV something. They is planning to purchase a TV to remember Darlene’s favorite Super bowl. She was faithful to be there for Superbowl party.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:42 am
I saw her picture somewhere in deafreader.she seems friendly and innconect person. and i notice how bully daphne is. i belive that pictures never lies
April 17th, 2007 at 11:01 am
no one tested the dna under the fingernails not daphene or darlene…. strange huh?
April 17th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
JBL:
I was at court when the lady from CSI did test on Darlene’s fingernails. I asked Chuck to verify if I was right about no DNA was found under her fingernails. Chuck said: That’s correct. Nothing found under the fingernails to verify that she fought back.
My guess is that Daphne knew that Darlene wasnt that kind of person who would fight back so she took advantage the opportunity to do that to Darlene.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
alternative theory to #6.
Darlene may have been knocked out from behind, not giving her any chance to defend herself.
Remember she was knocked on the side. I don’t recall reading anything whether the blunt object touch part of face or back of the head, just the side of the head.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Everyone said Darlene was so sweet and would not want to hurt anyone, but Darlene flashed her middle finger at Wright during an argument. There would be no way for me to do that to anyone to “scram” from his ex lover who still stalked around.
I believe all stalkers have the tendency to kill before losing his lover for good.
I have seen lots of movies of stalkers who can be very dangerous and cunning.
Wish Darlene never flashed that sign to that maniac.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
It would not have matter if Darlene flipped the bird.. The abuser would have done something anyway..to gain access to her lover.. The abuser hurt people that the victims love the most.
In Darlenes own way she was fighting back… Telling the abuser to back off.
If I said Please back off instead of flipping the bird, I am almost sure the abuser would come back and do me harm.
It is about power and control.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
KBJ, I agree with you then.
By the way, what puzzles me is every evidence points at Wright, yet she denies.
I know that if she confessed, she would feel better and may be able to dance away from the death sentence.
Maybe she just wants the death sentence to get over with. Does anyone know if she wants to be executed or not?
One more thing her roommate is hearing and she is immobile and stayed home during the time of sawing. She should hear the saw roaring, smell and others.
The murder is still a mystery in some ways.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
An abuser always tries to avoid accountability. Wright is no different. It looks like she is stubborn to the very end, denying denying
April 17th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Yeah, stubborn denying, denying. I am curious if Wright wants to be executed or not.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
I knew Darlene also and know her sister / brother in law. It really makes me angry with all this guessing – “She hung around with lesbians so she must have been still in the closet”… To me, talk like that shows ZERO respect fror her, ZERO respect for her family, and ZERO respect for her friends. She was straight to the end – if she DID have feelings for other women, let her keep that secret with her. Also, to let you know she DID have a boyfriend for several years (until he left her for another woman) – his name is Jerry B. and lives in TN now – TALL biker dude. I will also say I do not believe Sallie’s stories one bit – I also believe she was working on trying to convince Darlene to ‘cross over’ and which may have been what made Daphne do it. One other member of the deaf community here (Cheryl Br.) knows some people in the deaf / lesbian community in Florida and she did ask them about Sallie and she found out many things that Sallie had done while down there and how mean she could be – that doesn’t sound like the “dear, sweet, gentle” Sallie story that was posted recently.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:37 am
SFdeafguy:
Leave Sallie alone! She have nothing do with you. Did you have an effort to chat with her? What you get stories baout Sallie in the past is NONE of your business, you have no right to do that.
How will you feel if your ex killed your new friend over jealousy. And we turn against you and think you are involved even there is evidences that you have nothing to do with it. Think about it? How will you feel? Don’t tell me it wont bother you, many people have feelings.
So, I don’t care if you are only one who is against Sallie. Many does believe her side story.
This is unfortunately for you because you don’t have your own effort. Does that mean you investigate on a person before you became friend with new face? If so, you make me sick.
Do me favor? Tell Cheryl and I’m telling you.. LEAVE Sallie alone! You do not know her period!
April 19th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Aha, just as I thought. I was thinking all four women were lesbians. Yup. I found out about this case just recently, so my own little “investigation” is late. This is what I’ve found. It’s at http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_097150537.html and reads: “Wright’s house mate, Jacki Chesmore, testified that she and Wright met through an Internet chat room in 1998 or 1999. Chesmore said she flew to Maryland, where Wright was living, and they started what became a brief romantic relationship.
In October 2000, Wright moved to Sioux Falls and lived in a house with Chesmore where prosecutors believe the slaying happened.
In August 2002, after the two had broken up, Wright moved in with Collins,
who was living in Madison, Wis. Two years later they both moved to Sioux Falls and lived with Chesmore.
Collins testified that she moved out about 13 months later because she and
Chesmore didn’t get along and her relationship with Wright was over.”
The prosecution had all this information, yet they still acted as if Daphne was the only one that could have done the crime to Darlene. The question is, how did Jacki feel about a former lover in the same home with her with a new lover? That had to be irksome at the very least. So there could be a lot that hasn’t been told about the four women’s interaction with each other. Deaf or hearing, nobody is going to fight their way in between a couple of lesbians. They would naturally get away from it. Unless, UNLESS, that person was also a lesbian and wants something.
Some people are thinking that being a lesbian is wrong and tarnishes Darlene’s image. I don’t think so. If that’s what she was, then that will have to be accepted.