Something that stands out to me is, no autopsy. I used to be a deputy coroner, and anytime a young person (under 30) died, an autopsy was performed. Now, all autopsies are at the discretion of the coroner, but I have to say the coroner messed up big when not ordering an autopsy.

 

Before someone says it, I know the family did not want an autopsy, but it is not up to them, the coroner can and should order an autopsy when a cause and manner of death is not obvious.

 

An autopsy would have answered a lot of current and future questions. The defense could and should argue that the player had a congenital heart condition, and the prosecution can not dispel that argument without an autopsy.

Hearsay, I understand what you are talking about when you say some may see it his position because they have been wrongfully accused or made a scapegoat. And again I don't have a problem with him proclaiming his innocence and using the facts to support his case against the charge. My problem is with his trying to convince people he is a victim in this situation.

Yes he may lose his job. He may never coach again. I personally hope neither of these happen. I don't think he is guilty of this crime. I wouldn't even have a problem with the statements if it wasn't for the terrible timing. It just looks like he is trying to garner sympathy. When I read the comments they seam self centered and disrespectful to the family of the deceased child.

Again, I know I am hypersensitive. I just can't believe everyone else isn't also.

 

He is a victim in this situation. But that is not what I get from his comments, particularly this whole passage.

 

"The one thing people can't forget in this whole situation is that I lost one of my boys that day. A boy that I loved and a boy that I cared for and a boy that meant the world to me," coach David Jason Stinson told dozens of supporters at his home Saturday night. "That's the thing that people forget and don't ever forget that. That's a burden I will carry with me for the rest of my life."

I've been to soccer games with my kids playing, and I pay attention to their game and when its hot I watching them, from the first day of this I wondered how these "witness's" could hear conversations on another field.

 

The coaches were mad because they returned slowly from a "water break"?

 

Max's best friend spoke on TV and said the coaches did nothing wrong.

 

I hope everyone learns something from this like Max's mother has stated. I know in the south in the old days you didn't see much water, and we hated that and I was glad to see at Male you got it anytime you wanted it.

 

I Pray for Max's family and the PRP family.

 

Heresay, I wonder how than can find a local jury who hasn't heard about this story, will they move it?

RAM, you are right. The coroner messed up badly. I am not going to put blame on the parents in this situation. They were in no condition to make an decision. The coroner's office, in this situation, failed to do their job.

I understand what Fatman is saying. I also know what Coach Stinson is trying to say as well. I have lost a kid I coached several years ago to cancer. So I know how I felt.

 

But Hearsay hit the nail on the head, his comments can be veiwed by non-sports people as he is suffering more than the parents. It is probally best for the coach not to make any comments until his trial. It is bad enough the media attention has grown. The jury pool has been influenced and we are months from having a jury picked.

RAM, you are right. The coroner messed up badly. I am not going to put blame on the parents in this situation. They were in no condition to make an decision. The coroner's office, in this situation, failed to do their job.

Exactly. And now the body of this young man will, more then likely, be disinterred and an autopsy will be done. And still some evidence will never be collected now. At this point, the true and complete cause of death may never be known.

 

Most of this will now be speculation and innuendo.

However, there are many, many people who have gone through the experience of having been wrongfully accused or made a scapegoat. Not necessarily for someone's death, but just wrongfully accused, and so I think a lot of people are going to empathize with the coachs' situation here.

Put me in the empathetic category.

I've been to soccer games with my kids playing, and I pay attention to their game and when its hot I watching them, from the first day of this I wondered how these "witness's" could hear conversations on another field.

 

The coaches were mad because they returned slowly from a "water break"?

 

Max's best friend spoke on TV and said the coaches did nothing wrong.

 

I hope everyone learns something from this like Max's mother has stated. I know in the south in the old days you didn't see much water, and we hated that and I was glad to see at Male you got it anytime you wanted it.

 

I Pray for Max's family and the PRP family.

 

Heresay, I wonder how than can find a local jury who hasn't heard about this story, will they move it?

 

That's a good question, Larry.

 

If the prosecution moves for a change of venue, he is conceding defeat.

 

If Alex Dathorne (good lawyer by the way, and former prosecutor) moves for change of venue, it will be because he has conducted informal polling and the pulse of the community is against Stinson. I don't think that happens here. I think this case gets tried in front of a peerage in Jefferson County.

Put me in the empathetic category.

 

No doubt.

He is a victim in this situation. But that is not what I get from his comments, particularly this whole passage.

 

Did you read on and find this statement? "Part of my life's been taken away," he said. "I no longer teach. I no longer coach." He is seeking sympathy. A sympathy the parents have paid for, not him.

 

Habib asked in an earlier post if I would rather he had been indifferent. The answer is no, I would rather he just shut up. Quit tormenting the parents who have suffered a loss most of you can't even imagine. (This was the comment of most posters when the death initially occurred). Remember, the parents did not bring this indictment. It was the Commonwealth Attorney and the Grand Jury. Do you understand the parents also have access and have no doubt heard this guys comments. Think about how it would make them feel. Think about how it would make you feel.

 

I have said several times, I don't think there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt this guy caused the death. The reasons have been well documented by Hearsay, RAM and others. I don't even see the case making it to a jury. Without the proper medical testimony that the heat was the sole reason for Max' death a good judge won't let it go to a jury.

 

The day no doubt started for the Gilpin family by saying goodbye to their son and their world as they knew it ended a few hours later when they found out about the death of Max. The coroner failed them and Max by not doing his job properly. The prosecutor has to know the problem with the case and is relying on public sympathy for a conviction. The coach now is countering by trying to drum up sympathy for himself. The only victims in this case are the Gilpin's. The rest of us are just spectators.

Did you read on and find this statement? "Part of my life's been taken away," he said. "I no longer teach. I no longer coach." He is seeking sympathy. A sympathy the parents have paid for, not him.

 

Habib asked in an earlier post if I would rather he had been indifferent. The answer is no, I would rather he just shut up. Quit tormenting the parents who have suffered a loss most of you can't even imagine. (This was the comment of most posters when the death initially occurred). Remember, the parents did not bring this indictment. It was the Commonwealth Attorney and the Grand Jury. Do you understand the parents also have access and have no doubt heard this guys comments. Think about how it would make them feel. Think about how it would make you feel.

 

I have said several times, I don't think there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt this guy caused the death. The reasons have been well documented by Hearsay, RAM and others. I don't even see the case making it to a jury. Without the proper medical testimony that the heat was the sole reason for Max' death a good judge won't let it go to a jury.

 

The day no doubt started for the Gilpin family by saying goodbye to their son and their world as they knew it ended a few hours later when they found out about the death of Max. The coroner failed them and Max by not doing his job properly. The prosecutor has to know the problem with the case and is relying on public sympathy for a conviction. The coach now is countering by trying to drum up sympathy for himself. The only victims in this case are the Gilpin's. The rest of us are just spectators.

 

I read the whole article that you linked. I certainly understand that the parents have access - I assume that you mean media access to the coach's statements.

 

I feel that the parents are NOT the only victims. The young man's friends and teammates are victims. If the coach did nothing wrong (which you say you believe may be the case) then he is a victim, too. He lost a team member.

 

One of the coaches I worked under made a comment one time that if something happened to one of his kids on his watch - no matter what the reason - that he would not be able to continue his career as a coach or a teacher. That the pain would be too much to bear. I know several years ago in my town that a 12 year old girl accidently ran out in front of her teacher while the teacher was driving down the highway. The teacher was not negligent in any way, yet she never taught again.

 

The reason for Max's unfortunate passing has yet to be determined. Two things are determined though- his family will never be the same again and neither will Coach Stinson's. I certainly have sympathy for both groups, and moreso for the parents that lost their son.

Edited January 28, 200917 yr by True blue (and gold)

The prosecutor has to know the problem with the case and is relying on public sympathy for a conviction. The coach now is countering by trying to drum up sympathy for himself. The only victims in this case are the Gilpin's. The rest of us are just spectators.

Thats a lot of speculation about the motives of both parties. The family certainly has gone very public, but that is their right. Lord, if I judge them, let me give them lots of room because I cannot imagine walking in their shoes.

 

As far as the coach's comments, I'm going to hesitate to form an opinion on them too because I wasn't there to hear the entire exchange. We have seen a few quips taken from the "interview" but I'm not sure of the entire context. I'm not so quick to say he is trying to play the victim. I have no doubt he is hurting badly and that is coming out in his comments.

 

I'll have to wait and see what transpires before I form any sort of opinion. For now, I'm just sorry for all parties, especially the parents.

 

And I have to disagree with one thing you said, there are a lot of victims here. Most notably, of course, are the parents, but there are many others, including the teammates and coaches. And that is regardless of consideration of blame, IMO.

I have said several times, I don't think there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt this guy caused the death. The reasons have been well documented by Hearsay, RAM and others. I don't even see the case making it to a jury. Without the proper medical testimony that the heat was the sole reason for Max' death a good judge won't let it go to a jury.

First, I have the utmost sympathy for the family of this young man, I know they are hurting and they want justice. I don't blame them, but sometimes when in such an emotion state, people make errors in judgement.

 

Now, as for the indictment. Sure the prosecutor is one that gets an indictment. But, there can be political pressure for him to indict someone. And don't think for a minute that prosecutors always think someone is guilty when they get someone indicted. They are elected officials and do what the public wants to assure a reelection.

 

Now, some people would say the prosecutor does not indict anyone, the grand jury does. That is correct. But, I can assure you right now that anyone, attorney or not, could get an indictment against a fence post if he wanted to. The rules for testimony in the grand jury is much different then in a court of law.

 

As for this case going to trial. I would say with almost certaintinty, this case will go to trial. No judge is going to be the one person that stopped this from going to trial. That gives the feeling of impropriety to some people, and judges know that. Most judges would rather a jury of 12 make that decision then the judge himself.

 

Medical testimony in this case will be interesting. The prosecution will, more then likely give expert testimony on the process and occurrences of heat related death. Not specific medical testimony to this case, because they are handicapped in this case with medical testimony. The defense will be the ones that give specific medical testimony to this case.

 

The prosecution is going to focus on the witness testimony of the way the coaches were talking and make him look like an overbearing war monger that pushed the kids to hard and try to alienate the coach with the jury.

RAM, I also know a lot about the court system. I understand what you are saying about prosecutors giving into public pressure. I also understand the judge may not have enough guts to do the right thing in hopes the jury will bail him out. This just supports my opinion that the parents are being victimized by the court, and in some manner the community. This was an innocent child who was only playing football for his high school team at the time of his death.

 

I have tried to argue my position, but either I am not very persuasive or I am totally wrong. I don't think I am wrong. In an earlier post in this thread, before the coaches statements, I acknowledged the coaches pain. I know he hurts, but he is not a victim. I think it makes us all feel good to think we all suffer when a child dies, and it's true we do for a short period of time. But time eases our pain. In a few years coaches, teachers, classmates, and even teammates will be fine. But in a few years the parents will think of Max every minute of every day, and it will never get better.

 

Again, I disagreed with the indictment from the beginning. I didn’t think there was any evidence to support it. I also believe the coach is a victim. But not a victim of the death. He is a victim of the court system.

Did you read on and find this statement? "Part of my life's been taken away," he said. "I no longer teach. I no longer coach." He is seeking sympathy. A sympathy the parents have paid for, not him.

 

Habib asked in an earlier post if I would rather he had been indifferent. The answer is no, I would rather he just shut up. Quit tormenting the parents who have suffered a loss most of you can't even imagine. (This was the comment of most posters when the death initially occurred). Remember, the parents did not bring this indictment. It was the Commonwealth Attorney and the Grand Jury. Do you understand the parents also have access and have no doubt heard this guys comments. Think about how it would make them feel. Think about how it would make you feel.

 

I have said several times, I don't think there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt this guy caused the death. The reasons have been well documented by Hearsay, RAM and others. I don't even see the case making it to a jury. Without the proper medical testimony that the heat was the sole reason for Max' death a good judge won't let it go to a jury.

 

The day no doubt started for the Gilpin family by saying goodbye to their son and their world as they knew it ended a few hours later when they found out about the death of Max. The coroner failed them and Max by not doing his job properly. The prosecutor has to know the problem with the case and is relying on public sympathy for a conviction. The coach now is countering by trying to drum up sympathy for himself. The only victims in this case are the Gilpin's. The rest of us are just spectators.

 

First off let me say that this was obviously a terribly tragic loss. I can't say I understand, but I can empathize with their loss.

 

But I'm not buying making the coach a scapegoat for commenting here. It is on record as the parents saying that they wanted a criminal trial "to make a point." That doesn't sound the least bit like someone who wants things to go away and not be talked about. The man is on trial (at least publicly for now) for his and his family's livelihood and we expect him to say nothing, do nothing? You state that the prosecutor is trying to drum up sympathy to convict this man and you suggest that he stand idly by?

 

Let us not judge anyone, lest we be judged first. I hope the parents are able to properly grieve and mourn for their loss, as well as ALL of the other friends, family members, and coaches.