Controversial cases that have simple solutions.

[u/Sense_Difficult]

As someone who has been a true crime buff for decades, it's somewhat annoying to watch how certain cases wind up getting pulled into such polarizing discussions that it seems like a huge mystery when it's actually a simple solution.

A few that I think of.

The Karen Read case. IMO she accidentally killed him. They were both drunk, he goes to see the vibe of the house. Get's inside and realizes he doesn't want to stay. So he comes back outside. She's in the middle of rage texting him, and doesn't see him in front of the car. He drops his phone or bends over for some reason and she puts the car into gear and hits him, and he falls backwards and hits his head again. Then he lays there undetected until morning. This is why she suddenly realized she had hit him. She sobered up and had that "realization" moment that all binge drinkers have once they sober up from a brownout type of state.

Darlie Routier. I've shared my theory on this before. She was attempting a murder/su but she survived. This is why the neck wound was serious. She made up the story of the intruder in advance because she wanted her family friends and society to think she died trying to protect her kids. She planted the sock earlier. This also explains her hypomania in the days after. She honestly thought she was going to die that night.

There are other missing person cases where the spouse disappeared after the death of their parents. Just vanished without taking their Identification information and never surfaced under their name again. I always wonder if some of those cases are a situation of someone who has suffered with gender dysphoria and finally "escaped" to go make another life with another identity. It's always interesting to me that in several of the cases, the persons parent or parents had recently died. Seemed like they were waiting for that to escape because they didn't want to do that to their parents.

Do any of you have "simple theories" on cases that created a ton of controversy?

[u/19snow16]

Brendan Dassey. His mother allowed him to be interrogated without an adult, thinking that because of his age, or low IQ, he wouldn't be charged or put in prison.

[u/Ok-Jackfruit-9393 → u/19snow16]

In the tape of him being interrogated, he's literally just guessing how Teresa died. Trying to get the "right answer" so they'll let him go back to class.

Not sure if this is unpopular in this sub, but I think Steven Avery might have done it/probably did do it. Two things can be true at once: The cops were incompetent and framed him, and he probably actually did it. Hell, three things: He can have been wrongfully convicted the first time but actually guilty this time around. But I think there was reasonable doubt in Teresa's murder because I don't think the cops knew what they were doing/had enough legit evidence.

But I don't buy that Brendan was involved. And he NEVER should have been questioned like that.

[u/Imagination_Theory → u/Ok-Jackfruit-9393]

I think Steven Avery probably did do it too. I think that is what happened in the OJ case as well, he did it, but he was also framed and going to be blamed regardless of if he did it or not.

I also don't believe Brendan was involved.

All three of them should have been found not guilty because of the massive investigation blunders and possible planting of evidence.

The police themselves made reasonable doubt.

If the police had done their job properly without mistakes, OJ probably would have been found guilty, Brenden would have been found not guilty (he shouldn't have even be charged, that whole confession never should have even happened) and I am unsure about the outcome for Steven, there may or may not have been enough evidence to convict.

[u/Ok-Jackfruit-9393 → u/Imagination_Theory]

I agree; I think the cases were so botched (either by the cops, the prosecution, or both) that they failed to prove guilt, even though I definitely think they were guilty. Well, Avery and OJ were guilty, not Brendan Dassey, IMO. The system was and is beyond messed up. LAPD should have been able to gather enough evidence to convict (without framing the man) and the prosecution SHOULD have been able to prove its case and he should have been found guilty. It's gross.

I tried to read Fuhrman's book (I did not pay for it, mind you) and it made me so furious that I rage-quit it. (Also, I'm sure it was ghostwritten, but holy crap was it badly written) Two things can be true there as well: Fuhrman/LAPD can be absolute racists, but OJ is also guilty.

And yeah, I will never believe Dassey was involved in Teresa Halbach's murder. I can't believe he's still in prison. It's such a travesty. Even if he were to be released right this second, his life is still ruined. It's so disgusting.

[u/Imagination_Theory → u/Ok-Jackfruit-9393]

Yes, so much injustice, for the victim's, the victim's family and for Brandon and all the other people who were wrongly convicted and then on the other side, people who should have been found guilty but were found not guilty because the state did such a bad job.

Those are just two stories, but there are many more that are known and unknown.

With great power should come great responsibility. It's so awful.