Darlene’s Mom, Missing Deaf Man on Early Show
Commentary: The mother of Darlene, Dee VanderGiesen, leaves me humbled with her spiritual capacity for forgiving. At the death penalty sentencing, she spoke to Daphne Wright, telling her she is forgiven. When the life sentence was announced, Dee smiled slightly. Then she wrote a letter to editor, expressing appreciation for all who was involved in the case, including the police and the reporters. Â
Frankly I don’t know many people with this capacity to forgive someone for not just murdering their child but also sawing their child’s body into parts and discarded them like trash. Forgiving permits one heal spiritually, even though no parent will ever recover from the loss of their child. VanderGiesen’s religious faith substains them through this difficult period. MZ
VanderGiesen family thanks those involved in trial
By Dee F. VanderGiesen
We, as a family, wish to extend our sincerest thank you to the whole Sioux Falls Police Department (especially the CAP officers.) These men and women always were so helpful and gracious to us as they investigated our daughter’s disappearance and her murder. Sioux Falls has a police force to be proud of. They are all professionals.
To the staff of the state attorney’s office,
To read the rest of the article, click on http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070504/VOICES09/705040316
.Â
From the death sentencing part of the trial: “Daphne, there are no words to describe the hurt you have brought to our lives. The pain is deeper than anything we could ever describe. Yet we no longer feel the anger and vengeful thoughts that were first in our thoughts. The lord has reached down in his grace and mercy … and brought us to a ploace where we can forgive you …http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/04/18/wright-verdict-life/
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Missing Deaf Man, Khoi Vu, on Early Show
(CBS) Each week, the CBS drama Without a Trace profiles a real missing person at the end of the show and, the next morning, The Early Show gives details on the case.
VideoClip of Early Show covering this mysterious disappearance. (unfortunately not captioned)
A young, deaf and mentally impaired man named Khoi Vu vanished from the home he shared with his parents in Washington State. Local police suspect foul play. Sandra Hughes reports. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/31/earlyshow/main1458699.shtml?source=search_story
Khoi Vu, of Vancouver, Wash. disappeared nearly a month ago. He is deaf and mentally impaired.
As CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reported on The Early Show, the case is puzzling: Police say there’s no sign he was taken against his will.
His mother and brother told Hughes that Khoi, 25, who looks like a teenager, isn’t shy, and would think anyone who approaches him is his friend.
Khoi’s brother, Danh Vu, says, “He was still in my parents room watching TV until one o’clock in the morning, and he blew my mom a kiss to say good night, to go to bed supposedly. … The room looks like looks like he never slept in his bed … so we don’t know exactly when he disappeared.”
Thanks to Sam for alerting me to Early Today show.
Commentary: I would be scared stiff, too if I am his family. This mentally-challenged man has the trusting view of the world like a child does and doesn’t have the concept of dangerous predators. This doesn’t look good. MZ
Email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Copyright TMÂ MishkaZena 2007
Commentary: The mother of Darlene, Dee VanderGiesen, leaves me humbled with her spiritual capacity for forgiving. At the death penalty sentencing, she spoke to Daphne Wright, telling her she is forgiven. When the life sentence was announced, Dee smiled slightly. Then she wrote a letter to editor, expressing appreciation for all who was involved in the case, including the police and the reporters. Â
Frankly I don’t know many people with this capacity to forgive someone for not just murdering their child but also sawing their child’s body into parts and discarded them like trash. Forgiving permits one heal spiritually, even though no parent will ever recover from the loss of their child. VanderGiesen’s religious faith substains them through this difficult period. MZ
VanderGiesen family thanks those involved in trial
By Dee F. VanderGiesen
We, as a family, wish to extend our sincerest thank you to the whole Sioux Falls Police Department (especially the CAP officers.) These men and women always were so helpful and gracious to us as they investigated our daughter’s disappearance and her murder. Sioux Falls has a police force to be proud of. They are all professionals.
To the staff of the state attorney’s office,
To read the rest of the article, click on http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070504/VOICES09/705040316
.Â
From the death sentencing part of the trial: “Daphne, there are no words to describe the hurt you have brought to our lives. The pain is deeper than anything we could ever describe. Yet we no longer feel the anger and vengeful thoughts that were first in our thoughts. The lord has reached down in his grace and mercy … and brought us to a ploace where we can forgive you …http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/04/18/wright-verdict-life/
 __________________________________________________________________
Missing Deaf Man, Khoi Vu, on Early Show
(CBS) Each week, the CBS drama Without a Trace profiles a real missing person at the end of the show and, the next morning, The Early Show gives details on the case.
VideoClip of Early Show covering this mysterious disappearance. (unfortunately not captioned)
A young, deaf and mentally impaired man named Khoi Vu vanished from the home he shared with his parents in Washington State. Local police suspect foul play. Sandra Hughes reports. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/31/earlyshow/main1458699.shtml?source=search_story
Khoi Vu, of Vancouver, Wash. disappeared nearly a month ago. He is deaf and mentally impaired.
As CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reported on The Early Show, the case is puzzling: Police say there’s no sign he was taken against his will.
His mother and brother told Hughes that Khoi, 25, who looks like a teenager, isn’t shy, and would think anyone who approaches him is his friend.
Khoi’s brother, Danh Vu, says, “He was still in my parents room watching TV until one o’clock in the morning, and he blew my mom a kiss to say good night, to go to bed supposedly. … The room looks like looks like he never slept in his bed … so we don’t know exactly when he disappeared.”
Thanks to Sam for alerting me to Early Today show.
Commentary: I would be scared stiff, too if I am his family. This mentally-challenged man has the trusting view of the world like a child does and doesn’t have the concept of dangerous predators. This doesn’t look good. MZ
Email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Copyright TMÂ MishkaZena 2007
May 8th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Dee is a remarkable person. I don’t think many people are capable of forgiving someone for murdering their child. I doubt I can.
May 8th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I believe Darlene’s mother has a powerful comment to Daphne to let her know she forgives her for murder Darlene.
I know people may not understand why some poeple forgive a killer or an criminal.
If I’m in her shoes, It’ll be difficult for me to forgive but what I was taught that forgiveness is very valuable in our lives. I believe forgiveness is a powerful thing to do.
I’ve heard many stories about a person approach an criminal or killers to tell him/her that they forgive him/her.
For me, I would forgive a person who murder someone I love – it may be take a long time to forgive; I may not announce it in the court.
I understand it may be difficult for people and even few would disagreed about forgiveness. My own mother told me that she think forgiveness should not be given to a criminal.
If you would like to hear stories; I’ll be happy to give you some.
May 8th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
I wonder what is the current status with Chris Lambert’s case in NC? While I do not have a good timeline in my mind – (thinking/assuming that Darlene’s death occured after Tallie’s death), I find it so fascinating that the case of Darlene/Daphne was done very quickly compared to Chris’s case. Any reasons?
May 8th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Can I be that forgiving? I honestly don’t think I can.
V, someone else asked me this few weeks ago and I find it odd, too. A domestic violence advocate noted that crimes committed by women command a high level of interest whereby the crimes done by males don’t elicit the same response. She also remarked that female criminals were judged more harshly than their male peers. Double standards, eh?
With Lambert case, the issues seem to be related to interpreters. The next hearing will be held this incoming August. I’ll check around and see if there is any new development.
May 8th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
MZ,
Dee is a brilliant lady for doing this. She ceases her wasteful energy on being angry because she knows that Daphene is going to prison for life.
Like you said, I don’t really know if I can forgive the murderer if it happens to one of my children.
G-d bless VanderGiesen family!
May 8th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Dee must had found strength to forgive Daphne especially how brutal a cold blooded murder was committed.
I admire her ability to do that because I cannot imagine myself forgiving a murderer for what he or she had done by taking away from my loved ones. This must be the hardest thing to do in life.
It is so true that women get more media attention since historically, the cases are considered uncommon for female murderers. Yes, I have heard of that before that double standards do happen for women.
May 8th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I have enormous respect for Dee in showing compassion for Daphne. God knows what this world be made of with more people like Dee.
From a bible point of view, I understand Dee’s intention of doing what she did. As hard as it is for many of us to do, we are encouraged not to cast a stone at other people unless we have never sinned.
The higher power or whoever that may be do not see one sin as worse than the other. One is not judged more harshly based on what sin it is. All sins are viewed equally. Our ability to forgive is a sign of being in peace with ourselves.
May 8th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
hi,
I live in NC.. The case is expected to be on trial August 6th (Chris L.) I am going to see if I can find out any more information on this.
I have to go to the court to do something related to my adoption process.
Tallie was brutally murder before Daphne killed Dee’s precious daughter.
I have to really admire Dee’s ability to forgive. It is the hardest thing to do and she has my upmost respect! We could learn from her..
May 8th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Yes one needs to forgive but not forget. That is the most important lesson anyone can learn. If one does not forgive, then their life is at a stalemate and they cannot move on. Im sure the family will have a lot more grieving go on as time moves on but they are wise to forgive so that they can move on, im sure darlene would want that.
Its such a sad case and im sorry it happened.
May 9th, 2007 at 1:56 am
I cant imgaine that person commited murder and took a life of the child in parent’s
eyes. I think forgive is very diffuclt for this kind of crime. I would have same situation if someone murder my loved one that I cant imgaine if I impossible to forgive. this case is very sad. I dont understand Daphne’s mind condition. I hope family of the child will able to heal and move on with life.we all learned from this happened. Iam sorry for what happened.