Connie Lawless

[arielilane]

Please post any and all information regarding Connie Lawless (MH’s grandmother). I look forward to everyone's posts.

[arielilane]

What do we know were her activities on March 27, 2009?

[arielilane]

Connie Lawless Speaks Out About Cantu Case

http://cbs13.com/video/?id=51564@kovr.dayport.com

[Winnow]

1. Raw Video: Pastor's Wife Talks About Sandra (4/10/09)
http://www.ksbw.com/video/19151715/index.html


2. Tracy Pastor, Wife Speak About Sandra Cantu
Tracy pastor and his wife who talk to KSBW about their relationship with slain 8-year-old Sandra Cantu.

This is the longer, entire video as shown on TV:

http://www.ksbw.com/video/19153334/index.html

[daisy.faithfull]

Connie Lawless Speaks Out About Cantu Case

http://cbs13.com/video/?id=51564@kovr.dayport.com

Regarding Sandra, Connie says that she was at their home to play with their great-grand-daughter "almost everyday". If that is true it is odd that the little girl wasn't at Sandra's house more often. I wonder if Connie ever saw Sandra and her great-grand-d playing or how MH interacted with Sandra. You'd think with visits that frequent Connie would have noticed something odd about MH's behavior around Sandra.

She seems to me to be genuine in her comments. When the reporters started asking her about being asking the couple if they are co-operating with investigators Connie's answer is, "Of course..." but Pastor Lawless looks down. I may be reading too much into it, but I saw that as being deceptive and it is that point in the interview he seems to shut down.

Something else I could be reading too much into occurred at the beginning of the video when she is questioned about LE's searching the mh and church. She says that investigators took "the usual" stuff from their home. I can't imagine that she knows what LE usually takes when search warrants are served. I sounds like she is repeating something that her husband or MH told her to explain why LE was searching the areas if they were not guilty.

[daisy.faithfull]

1. Raw Video: Pastor's Wife Talks About Sandra (4/10/09)
http://www.ksbw.com/video/19151715/index.html


My computer acts weird with some videos, with this one I had a hard time with the audio. What stuck out to me was that Connie mentioned her husband and her great-grand-daughter, but she made no mention of MH. MH wasn't mentioned in the clip of the Lawless's answering the media questions from their car either.

She also mentioned that Sandra's sister would come over to the mobile home as well. Do we have a verified source regarding this? I remember hearing that she babysat for MH's little girl the day of the murder, but I don't know if that has been confirmed. I hope that she was never harmed by MH! :praying:

[daisy.faithfull]

I was really believing Connie until they talked about her frustration with false reports that the suitcase could be connected with the case. I find it difficult to believe her when she says that it is not connected to the church. She was either lying or deeply in denial.


2. Tracy Pastor, Wife Speak About Sandra Cantu
Tracy pastor and his wife who talk to KSBW about their relationship with slain 8-year-old Sandra Cantu.

This is the longer, entire video as shown on TV:

http://www.ksbw.com/video/19153334/index.html

I was really believing Connie until they talked about her frustration with false reports that the suitcase could be connected with the case. I find it difficult to believe her when she says that it is not connected to the church. She was either lying or deeply in denial. :no:

Great idea for a thread, I'm surprised that there wasn't already one going! :aktion033:

[SharetheLight]

I've only watched the first video posted and what stuck out to me was when the reporter asked Mr. Lawless if he had anything to do with Sandra's disappearance, he said, "Me? No."
Then Connie pipes up right behind him saying, no, no, no one we know

That is an odd statement. I think at this point they both knew MH was involved.

With his, Me? No.
Like, no not me, but someone else in my home, type answer. Especially when he repeated part of the question, Me? That is a stall tactic.
And with Connie throwing in, no one we know. They didn't ask that, they simply asked if the pastor had anything to do with it.

[passionflower]

What do we know were her activities on March 27, 2009?

Yes where were Connie & Lane............
They seem protective of MH.
Could they also be involved in a cover up?
LE went straight to church first. Lawless was
the first POI also...........
I still feel someone close was involved some how.........IMO

[JoeFromLB]

Does anyone know if Connie has backed up MH's detailed story to the press about leaving the suitcase on the driveway?
As I recall, MH said she couldn't find her car keys and cell phone, then took the spare car key and forgot about taking the suitcase. She then said Connie called her at the church to let her know she found her keys and phone, and when asked by MH about the suitcase, said it wasn't out there on the driveway.

I would assume if Connie testifies this conversation never took place, that's serious trouble for MH. "Smoking gun" material in a trial, even.

[SeriouslySearching]

Connie's initial statements to LE will be most interesting.

She does hold the key to many questions surrounding Melissa and how things transpired with Sandra. She knows the truth of Melissa's story about the suitcase (also where it was stored), the keys, and phone. She knows if Sandra was seen earlier at their house. She knows how Melissa acted before she left and after she returned. She also knows if Melissa looked different in any way.

Connie will know about the church, too. Did Melissa tell her she was going there? Did Melissa have her own key? How long was she really gone that day? How much time did Melissa spend at the church (LE said an extraordinary amount of time)? What reasons did Melissa give for so much time spent there? Were things out of place after Sandra went missing? Did she notice recent cleaning had been done in specific areas?

So many questions...

[wanttohelp]

Connie Lane Lawless,
Both her and hubby have same name?, they have the same initials CLL. A bit odd.

[JoeFromLB]

I've only watched the first video posted and what stuck out to me was when the reporter asked Mr. Lawless if he had anything to do with Sandra's disappearance, he said, "Me? No."
Then Connie pipes up right behind him saying, no, no, no one we know

That is an odd statement. I think at this point they both knew MH was involved.

With his, Me? No.
Like, no not me, but someone else in my home, type answer. Especially when he repeated part of the question, Me? That is a stall tactic.
And with Connie throwing in, no one we know. They didn't ask that, they simply asked if the pastor had anything to do with it.

Very interesting thoughts from a blogger on just this issue:

http://www.***********.blogspot.com/2009/04/pastor-lane-lawless-video.html

[SharetheLight]

Very interesting thoughts from a blogger on just this issue:

http://www.***********.blogspot.com/2009/04/pastor-lane-lawless-video.html


Very interesting site. Thanks.
I didn't mention Pastor Lawless's demeanor in my last post. But I thought he looked like a man who has been beat. (not in the physical sense) This could be because he is aware of some wrong doing by MH or it could be because he was just questioned for 3 hours by LE (in the video I watched). He just seemed very sad, or worn down. Whereas Connie was quickly giving information, added information, kind of like MH giving info.
Like if I give all this info maybe they'll stop looking my way.
It will be interesting to see what comes out from these two. I really don't think they were involved but I do think they hold a lot of answers to many of our questions.

[passionflower]

Connie's initial statements to LE will be most interesting.

She does hold the key to many questions surrounding Melissa and how things transpired with Sandra. She knows the truth of Melissa's story about the suitcase (also where it was stored), the keys, and phone. She knows if Sandra was seen earlier at their house. She knows how Melissa acted before she left and after she returned. She also knows if Melissa looked different in any way.

Connie will know about the church, too. Did Melissa tell her she was going there? Did Melissa have her own key? How long was she really gone that day? How much time did Melissa spend at the church (LE said an extraordinary amount of time)? What reasons did Melissa give for so much time spent there? Were things out of place after Sandra went missing? Did she notice recent cleaning had been done in specific areas?

So many questions...

SS yes these will be very IMPORTANT questions that need answered.
Hope Connie is HONEST and does NOT COVER UP for MH.
bolded by me...........

[Columbo]

Very interesting thoughts from a blogger on just this issue:

http://www.***********.blogspot.com/2009/04/pastor-lane-lawless-video.html

Wow, very interesting. Thanks!

[JoeFromLB]

Connie Lane Lawless,
Both her and hubby have same name?, they have the same initials CLL. A bit odd.

They both have the same middle name, "Lane"?? That's odd to me.

[oceanblueeyes]

Connie's initial statements to LE will be most interesting.

She does hold the key to many questions surrounding Melissa and how things transpired with Sandra. She knows the truth of Melissa's story about the suitcase (also where it was stored), the keys, and phone. She knows if Sandra was seen earlier at their house. She knows how Melissa acted before she left and after she returned. She also knows if Melissa looked different in any way.

Connie will know about the church, too. Did Melissa tell her she was going there? Did Melissa have her own key? How long was she really gone that day? How much time did Melissa spend at the church (LE said an extraordinary amount of time)? What reasons did Melissa give for so much time spent there? Were things out of place after Sandra went missing? Did she notice recent cleaning had been done in specific areas?

So many questions...

I cant remember where I read it now, SS but I thought Connie said Melissa went to the church for about an hour and returned. I think she said Melissa didn't act any different when she came back but I am not sure about that.

imoo

[oceanblueeyes]

Very interesting site. Thanks.
I didn't mention Pastor Lawless's demeanor in my last post. But I thought he looked like a man who has been beat. (not in the physical sense) This could be because he is aware of some wrong doing by MH or it could be because he was just questioned for 3 hours by LE (in the video I watched). He just seemed very sad, or worn down. Whereas Connie was quickly giving information, added information, kind of like MH giving info.
Like if I give all this info maybe they'll stop looking my way.
It will be interesting to see what comes out from these two. I really don't think they were involved but I do think they hold a lot of answers to many of our questions.

I don't think either of them were involved in any manner, either.

I think when all of this comes out they too have been victimized by their very own granddaughter. They opened their home and hearts to her and M. I feel sorry for them. I am sure neither one of them wants to believe MH is capable of this.

imo

[Wannabesleuth]

Well, I can say that Connie must be a Republican. I belong to a women's Republican group in my area. I received an email from them about an upcoming event. The email lists the 100 plus members names & emails and Connie Lawless' contact information was there.
I never paid attention to that before as I had never heard of her before this tragedy.

[daisy.faithfull]

Very interesting site. Thanks.
I didn't mention Pastor Lawless's demeanor in my last post. But I thought he looked like a man who has been beat. (not in the physical sense) This could be because he is aware of some wrong doing by MH or it could be because he was just questioned for 3 hours by LE (in the video I watched). He just seemed very sad, or worn down. Whereas Connie was quickly giving information, added information, kind of like MH giving info.
Like if I give all this info maybe they'll stop looking my way.
It will be interesting to see what comes out from these two. I really don't think they were involved but I do think they hold a lot of answers to many of our questions.

My first thought when I saw that demeanor in Pastor Lawless was deceit. I've looked at it a couple times and it could be exhaustion or maybe shame that this is happening and his church is implicated. That we live in an age where so there have been so many church scandals people don't really think twice about a church leader being called in for 3 hours of questioning.

Joe, the Eyes for Lies site is awesome, but when she sees another video of the pastor I think she may have something different to say. Much of the things she made note of could be related to fatigue. And it is a possibility that Connie's rapid speaking was her trying to hurry home because she was concern for husband.

I really hope we see some more footage of Connie.

Did anyone notice Connie or the Pastor at the family's statement to the press? I don't recall them being there.

It looks like I'm not alone in feeling like Connie may be lying about having seen the suitcase before. I can't decide between that and denial. What does every body think?

[ilovemew]

Very interesting site. Thanks.
I didn't mention Pastor Lawless's demeanor in my last post. But I thought he looked like a man who has been beat. (not in the physical sense) This could be because he is aware of some wrong doing by MH or it could be because he was just questioned for 3 hours by LE (in the video I watched). He just seemed very sad, or worn down. Whereas Connie was quickly giving information, added information, kind of like MH giving info.
Like if I give all this info maybe they'll stop looking my way.
It will be interesting to see what comes out from these two. I really don't think they were involved but I do think they hold a lot of answers to many of our questions.

I was thinking because as a pastor he maybe feels that he should have recognized the signs of "evil" or whatever in Melissa and he feels like he let her and Sandra down. Or he is struggling with his faith now and his belief in God because of how terrible all this is.

[Memphis Belle]

Wow, very interesting. Thanks!

I don't think you can read into this. There was a sound problem. You can hear the sound guy trying to adjust his mike so that he could pick up the Pastor's comments. I don't think either one of them had anything to do with it.

[Columbo]

I don't think you can read into this. There was a sound problem. You can hear the sound guy trying to adjust his mike so that he could pick up the Pastor's comments. I don't think either one of them had anything to do with it.

Maybe so. You do make a valid point.

[Katana]

Something that Connie stated early on when LE was searching the church was that she "couldn't imagine who would abuse Sandra....and murder her." She used the term "abuse" before the arrest and before anything was being reported of what happened to Sandra. She could have just been speculating but, it made me think she knew more.

[JoeFromLB]

Something that Connie stated early on when LE was searching the church was that she "couldn't imagine who would abuse Sandra....and murder her." She used the term "abuse" before the arrest and before anything was being reported of what happened to Sandra. She could have just been speculating but, it made me think she knew more.

Very interesting. I highlighted your sentence above. Here's the exact quote:

"She was at our house quite often. She was the sweetest little thing and it breaks our heart that anyone would take such a tiny little thing and abuse her and murder her," said Connie Lawless.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6749467

[SeriouslySearching]

After reading the account about the other incident I have to ask...Was Connie ever interrogated then by LE?

Where was MH's child? Was she with her mother during that entire incident? How did her child act that night at home? Where did she tell Connie she was going? Was Connie aware she had the 7 yo child with her? Did Melissa have a key to the church?

[6thcents]

Very interesting. I highlighted your sentence above. Here's the exact quote:

"She was at our house quite often. She was the sweetest little thing and it breaks our heart that anyone would take such a tiny little thing and abuse her and murder her," said Connie Lawless.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6749467

She said abuse before we knew abuse,and now there is another child that may have also been drugged while in MH care. CL knows how MH was acting
and was most likely taking care of her great grand daughter while MH was recovering from her internal bleeding.She and her husband know alot.It did
bother me that they did not go to her arraignment that speaks volumes to me
either they are totally outraged.... or they have gotten a lawyer which is
what they should do anyway.Her husband for being a preacher and I live in the south have been asked if my soul has been saved while I have been waiting in line to pay for mints,this sure would be a good time for him to preach forgiveness wouldn't it.?God bless them.

[arielilane]

I too wonder about Connie Lawless...We need to know more about her.

[arielilane]

http://connie-lawless.love.com/

[daisy.faithfull]

I too wonder about Connie Lawless...We need to know more about her.

For all we know Connie could have molested MH when she was younger. I would say that it is unlikely, but I never would have thought a woman would be responsible for Sandra's rape and murder. :shakehead:

[Wannabesleuth]

Periodically, I sign on to the California State's Unclaimed Property website to check my name. Nothing for me, but I did see these entries:


Owner's Name: LAWLESS LANE
Amount: $548.07
Type of Property: Death benefits
Reported By: MANHATTAN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reported Address: 2933 WEST WAY
REDDING CA 96001-
--------------------------
LAWLESS CONNIE L
Amount: $50.00
Type of Property: Other
Reported By: AT T WIRELESS SERVICES INC
Reported Address: 812 W CLOVER RD
TRACY CA 95376-
---------------------------

Hmmmm - I lived in Misawa, Japan - there's an airforce base there. Did they live overseas?

Owner's Name: LAWLESS CONSTANCE L
Amount: $41.08
Type of Property: Dividends
Reported By: MERRILL LYNCH 4
Reported Address: P O BOX 4651 US FS MISAWA
SAN FRANCISCO 96519-
----------------------------------------

Posted as a FYI . . .

[Bobbisangel]

My first thought when I saw that demeanor in Pastor Lawless was deceit. I've looked at it a couple times and it could be exhaustion or maybe shame that this is happening and his church is implicated. That we live in an age where so there have been so many church scandals people don't really think twice about a church leader being called in for 3 hours of questioning.

Joe, the Eyes for Lies site is awesome, but when she sees another video of the pastor I think she may have something different to say. Much of the things she made note of could be related to fatigue. And it is a possibility that Connie's rapid speaking was her trying to hurry home because she was concern for husband.

I really hope we see some more footage of Connie.

Did anyone notice Connie or the Pastor at the family's statement to the press? I don't recall them being there.

It looks like I'm not alone in feeling like Connie may be lying about having seen the suitcase before. I can't decide between that and denial. What does every body think?


I read somewhere that the pastor isn't well. That he is having some serious health problems. Maybe that accounts for his fatigue after being questioned for hours. Questioning by LE would make anyone tired I think. But if you aren't well in the first place it is sure to take a toll.

[STEADFAST]

Periodically, I sign on to the California State's Unclaimed Property website to check my name. Nothing for me, but I did see these entries:


Owner's Name: LAWLESS LANE
Amount: $548.07
Type of Property: Death benefits
Reported By: MANHATTAN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reported Address: 2933 WEST WAY
REDDING CA 96001-
--------------------------
LAWLESS CONNIE L
Amount: $50.00
Type of Property: Other
Reported By: AT T WIRELESS SERVICES INC
Reported Address: 812 W CLOVER RD
TRACY CA 95376-
---------------------------

Hmmmm - I lived in Misawa, Japan - there's an airforce base there. Did they live overseas?

Owner's Name: LAWLESS CONSTANCE L
Amount: $41.08
Type of Property: Dividends
Reported By: MERRILL LYNCH 4
Reported Address: P O BOX 4651 US FS MISAWA
SAN FRANCISCO 96519-
----------------------------------------

Posted as a FYI . . .

The Misawa address may relate to this -- it's the only tax-excempt, non-military religious APO 96519 address I could find, even though it has a different PO box #. (APO addresses for bases in the Pacific used to be addressed as APO San Francisco #####, so this would be a pretty old address for Lawless. The FS in the address usually stands for Fighter Squadron -- not sure how that relates to Lawless.)
WOMENS AGLOW FELLOWSHIP OF MISAWA JAPAN MILITARY
Tax Exempt/NonProfit Organization Information

http://www.taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=1404953