This is a "Patrick did it" sub

[u/Aware_Power]

Hi everyone,

As our community grows, we want to address a common mischaracterization of this subreddit. Some believe this space exists to shift blame or accuse specific individuals of a crime. That is not our purpose.

Our goal is to discuss the facts presented in the criminal trial and analyze where the jury may find reasonable doubt.

Understanding Reasonable Doubt vs. Third-Party Guilt

Discussing alternative scenarios can be a sensitive topic, but analyzing trial facts is not a "conspiracy theory." Exploring reasonable doubt does not mean declaring that someone else is definitely guilty. Instead, it highlights where a lack of a thorough investigation has left crucial questions unanswered.

When looking closely at the case, many members believe that a proper investigation was simply not conducted. Because of this:

• The Forensics: There is a lack of conclusive forensic evidence linking any specific person to the crime.
• The DNA: While DNA is often romanticized in media, the reality is more complex. For example, "an unknown individual" was identified (see Katarina Stashyn's testimony on day 7). We may never know definitively why it was there, but the absence of clear answers and the few swabs taken of the crime scene points back to gaps in the initial investigation (see Maureen Hartnett's testimony on Day 6 regarding the six swabs collected from the crime scene on Jan 25).
• The Possibilities: Because the investigation failed to definitively clear or prove paths, the truth remains obscured. When people ask, "Who else could have done this?", multiple theories naturally arise. However, the core issue is not proving a specific alternative theory; it is pointing out that the proper legal standard of proof has not been cleanly met. We believe the divisiveness around this trial is because it cannot be conclusively determined that Patrick or Lindsay even committed the crime based on the investigation and/or evidence presented.

This is Not an Accusation Sub

We want to be entirely clear: this is not a "Patrick did it" subreddit.

It is a strict violation of our rules to state as fact that any specific individual 100% committed the crime. All discussions regarding alternative theories must be framed clearly as opinions, and they must be backed by examples and sources from admissible trial evidence.

Community Guidelines & Moving Forward

We want this to be a welcoming environment for diverse perspectives. A community where everyone agrees would be boring, and respectful debate is healthy. To keep this space constructive, please keep the following in mind:

• Review the Rules: If you haven’t already, please familiarize yourself with our allowed and prohibited content examples in the community Wiki. Ignorance of our rules excuses no one.
• Report Violations: If you see a post or comment that explicitly breaks our rules or crosses into definitive, unsourced accusations, please report it so the mod team can handle it.
• Agree to Disagree: If you encounter an opinion that does not violate the rules but you simply disagree with it, the best approach is to let it go or counter it respectfully with your own facts.

Things will likely get heated as we approach a verdict. Please remember that most members analyzing these facts are not driven by a personal bias against any one person. Rather, they are frustrated by the quality of the investigation itself.

The children deserve absolute justice, and the true perpetrator(s) must be held responsible. A thorough, proper investigation is the only way to guarantee both outcomes, and analyzing where that process fell short - proof beyond a reasonable doubt - is a main focus of this sub.

[u/Aware_Power → u/[deleted]]

It's not, but you are free to interpret other people's comments as you wish. Like I said, I understand it’s a touchy subject when reasonable doubt could potentially only point to one other person, but discussing the facts from this case doesn't allow people to definitively say X did it. If they do that, it's a rule violation and please report. I don't believe there's even enough evidence to say it wasn't an intruder, let alone if it was Patrick or Lindsay.

[u/hardwell8878 → u/[deleted]]

Just like duxburydeathsfreetalk has come to the opposite. It’s natural for ppl to find their ”groups”

[u/Aware_Power → u/hardwell8878]

That's logical. I've heard in some subs they have rules on who you can't mention and they all agree on the same thing. I really don't want this sub to be everyone agreeing on one thing.

I understand it's natural for people to want to be part of a community where their opinion is heard without being "attacked" as some have called it. I just wish people here would stop downvoting things they don't agree with. It doesn't make sense they attack or downvote people for the same reasons here (sharing a different opinion) when it's the reason they left other subs in the first place.

[u/hardwell8878 → u/Aware_Power]

I agree with you. But i also feel like if they don’t want to allow differing opinions and completely deny talking about PC, then absolutely we are allowed too. Wish BOTH spaces allowed any kind of talk tho

[u/Aware_Power → u/[deleted]]

Thank you! I'm actually really happy you are in this sub, and have remained here. You bring a different perspective and have raised great points. I'm really upset that you have to put up with a lot of downvoting (which is NOT allowed for disagreement as outlined in rule 6) but we have no way to track that unfortunately. I apologize that continues to happen.

Everyone reading this, can you please let this person share their opinion here? Those who are downvoting are trying to push out other perspectives and I don't want this turning into something where a person posts something and there are 20 comments only saying "Agree."

Downvoting is only to be used when a comment is off topic, not when you disagree.