vicktor
New Member
The show Unsolved Mysteries that aired on Oct. 21st featured an interesting case that parallels the Ramsey case. The time line in this case went from Sept. 1988 till sometime in 1992. I assume the segment was made between 1992 and 1996, while the show was being produced by one of the major networks.
In Sept. 1988 David and Cynthia Dowaliby got up and later discovered that their 7 yr. old daughter, Jackie, was missing from her bed on the first floor of their apt. They found the front door of the apt. open. They searched the neighborhood and called police but Jackie wasn't found until 4 days later when she was discovered in a field dead with a length of rope wrapped around her neck. Cause of death was listed as undetermined. A basement window of their apt. was broken out.
The parents were intensely questioned and re-questioned by the police.
David took a polygraph and was told by the police examiner he passed, the 2nd day.
The police first said the window was broken from the inside and that a towel rack and vanity table with asst. items located below the window would have been disturbed if someone had come in.
Later, forensics would conclude the window was broken from the outside and a videotape done by the Dowalibys would show a neighbor able to enter through the window without disturbing the table and items below.
A witness claimed to see someone with a large nose near the field in a car from 75 yds. away that night. He was given a photo line-up sheet with 5 pictures, with David's being 30% bigger than the others. He thought David had a big nose and picked him.
2 witnesses claimed to see Cynthia's car near the field that night, yet apparently more reliable testimony showed the car remained in front of the apt.
No fingerprint, hair, DNA, or fiber evidence was ever mentioned as being found in the apt. or on Jackie's body, nor was the rope's source mentioned, if known.
David D. was given a 2nd polygraph by the Indiana State Police but a problem developed when he was told to answer Yes to questions that would normally be No during preliminaries. The test, on day 3, was inconclusive.
The case escalated, with multiple police jurisdictions being involved, media coverage, and public sentiment against the parents.
Based on the above, murder charges were brought against D. and C. Dowaliby in FEb. 1990. Cynthia's were dismissed but David stood trial and was convicted by a jury after 3 days of deliberations. After 18 mo. A grassroots effort by C. D. and 2 lawyers resulted in a ruling by the Appellate Court releasing David from prison on grounds of insufficient evidence for conviction.
Of 2 other suspects in the case, one was David D.'s brother, a schizophrenic, who had alibis that he was working at his restaurant job that night and that he was also with a woman. When the show originally aired 2 people called to refute the alibi he claimed to have--one being the woman. Five regulars at the restaurant said he had not worked the night in question. Lacking any evidence, the police were not able to build any further case against him.
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When interviewed, D. and C. Dowaliby seemed to be straightforward working class people. When asked if he regretted spending 18 mo. in prison, he said the important thing was his daughter was gone and they missed her.
In Sept. 1988 David and Cynthia Dowaliby got up and later discovered that their 7 yr. old daughter, Jackie, was missing from her bed on the first floor of their apt. They found the front door of the apt. open. They searched the neighborhood and called police but Jackie wasn't found until 4 days later when she was discovered in a field dead with a length of rope wrapped around her neck. Cause of death was listed as undetermined. A basement window of their apt. was broken out.
The parents were intensely questioned and re-questioned by the police.
David took a polygraph and was told by the police examiner he passed, the 2nd day.
The police first said the window was broken from the inside and that a towel rack and vanity table with asst. items located below the window would have been disturbed if someone had come in.
Later, forensics would conclude the window was broken from the outside and a videotape done by the Dowalibys would show a neighbor able to enter through the window without disturbing the table and items below.
A witness claimed to see someone with a large nose near the field in a car from 75 yds. away that night. He was given a photo line-up sheet with 5 pictures, with David's being 30% bigger than the others. He thought David had a big nose and picked him.
2 witnesses claimed to see Cynthia's car near the field that night, yet apparently more reliable testimony showed the car remained in front of the apt.
No fingerprint, hair, DNA, or fiber evidence was ever mentioned as being found in the apt. or on Jackie's body, nor was the rope's source mentioned, if known.
David D. was given a 2nd polygraph by the Indiana State Police but a problem developed when he was told to answer Yes to questions that would normally be No during preliminaries. The test, on day 3, was inconclusive.
The case escalated, with multiple police jurisdictions being involved, media coverage, and public sentiment against the parents.
Based on the above, murder charges were brought against D. and C. Dowaliby in FEb. 1990. Cynthia's were dismissed but David stood trial and was convicted by a jury after 3 days of deliberations. After 18 mo. A grassroots effort by C. D. and 2 lawyers resulted in a ruling by the Appellate Court releasing David from prison on grounds of insufficient evidence for conviction.
Of 2 other suspects in the case, one was David D.'s brother, a schizophrenic, who had alibis that he was working at his restaurant job that night and that he was also with a woman. When the show originally aired 2 people called to refute the alibi he claimed to have--one being the woman. Five regulars at the restaurant said he had not worked the night in question. Lacking any evidence, the police were not able to build any further case against him.
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When interviewed, D. and C. Dowaliby seemed to be straightforward working class people. When asked if he regretted spending 18 mo. in prison, he said the important thing was his daughter was gone and they missed her.