Found Deceased MI - Venus Stewart, 32, Colon, 28 April 2010 - # 4 *D. Stewart guilty*

mommame said:

I agree......I was simply trying to point out that just because he sleeps in. It may be his sleep pattern and doesn't make him a grumpy man just because he doesn't like getting woke up by noisy children.

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I'm with him. I don't like being woken up by noisy children either. :snooty:

Natal said:

I find it hard to believe that someone would leave with literally nothing unless they were physically chased or fled from the house, and if that were the case the kids would not have been with her.

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It happens. But I'm not going to bore with anecdotes, again, because every situation is different.

Natal said:

Not when you are in a city far from home. You would at least take the car. Otherwise what would you do...walk? take the bus? open an interdimensional portal?

I can see it if you have friends or family close by, since you could allways come back later to collect your property, with a police escort if necessary.

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as I said, it happens

never say never

Natal said:

Not when you are in a city far from home. You would at least take the car. Otherwise what would you do...walk? take the bus? open an interdimensional portal?

I can see it if you have friends or family close by, since you could allways come back later to collect your property, with a police escort if necessary.

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Who cares how she got there? The point is... she got to what she believed to be a safe place. Whether she rented a car, drove, flew, who cares?

Maybe her husband took the distributor cap off of her truck or disabled it in some other way where she couldn't take it, if he had any inkling that she was about to leave. Maybe he took the keys. Regardless, she got home safely.

Maybe Venus intended to retrieve her property later, with family and escort; which is now impossible for her to do, since she is missing.

pufnstuf said:

Plus the neighbor saw the man crouched by the Dodge Ram at "about 7AM" and five minutes later, he was gone.

ETA: Your quotes didn't carry forward...

Her mother left at 6AM. Venus had coffee with her before she left.

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Okay, Thanks.

So Venus's Mom leaves at 6:00 am,

Venus, 32, was last seen in her pajamas outside the residence around 7 a.m. Monday.

Was abducted Between 7:10 and 8:30 a.m

Father wakes up hearing the children .

Do we all agree that 8:30 am is when the Father probably woke up?

Natal said:

I doubt 5 year olds keep track of time that well.

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They may not keep track of time that well, but they sure do keep track of kid's shows on TV.

ETA: Panthera, I see you and I were thinking the same thing! I can remember so vividly my son knowing the early-morning schedule for every show he loved.

Natal said:

I doubt 5 year olds keep track of time that well.

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It seems like a pretty specific time, you are right. But my 5 year old can read a digital clock and repeat back the information as "time."

PickieChickie said:

WHY? What is your best guess?

Venus's father was asleep and stated he was annoyed because the children were being so loud they woke him up.

Why didn't Venus give the letter to her mother to mail?

Why didn't Venus put the letter in the mail box before her mother left for work?

Why didn't Venus wait until her father woke up to mail the letter?

Why did Venus leave the children in the house, while her father was asleep, to mail the letter?

Why didn't Venus take the children with her to the mail box?

What time does the mail carrier routinely pick up mail at Venus's parent's home?

How many feet/yards is it to the mail box from the house?

Where is the letter Venus supposedly tried to mail?

PLEASE don't respond with "Only Venus knows". ​

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Well, I'd assume Venus thought he was in VA, and therefore not a concern.

And as such, then the answer to the first many other questions would be "why not?" in my mind.

Even when we knew Chelsea King had been abducted, within eyesight of my home, and before JAG was arrested, none of my neighbors didn't go get their morning paper or go to the mailbox with kids in the house as a result of what was going on - and we KNEW there was an abductor in the area.

A few feet, in what you believe is earshot of a home you feel safe it...I wouldn't think it would cross most people's minds to wait for someone to be up before going out and doing it, when it was a very quick thing and she clearly thought the kids were occupied and out of danger so it was ok for her to run to do it.

Add to that if Venus believed the danger was several states away, her mom had just recently left, and presumably had her mom seen something weird she'd have called, so I'd think Venus thought she'd just run out, be gone a minute or two, and be back right away.

I'm quite sure we've heard NOTHING about what the letter was (which would seem to mean either that's important OR that it's not known...in which case either their mail comes early or it never crossed anyone's mind to go to the box to get it when they realized Venus went missing).

And, at least as far as I've heard, there's never been a mail pick-up/drop off time given.

LadyL said:

Another point I haven't seen made is that it takes 13+ hours to drive
according to google maps but that's going the speed limit I assume.

While I know that someone who just committed a crime would probably want to stay within the speed limit to avoid suspicion, that doesn't always happen.

I don't know anything about the speed limits down there or how strictly they enforce them BUT

I do know that one can shave quite a bit of time off of a trip by speeding and on the highways here, they don't even give you a second glance unless you're going 30k+ above the speed limit (they're looking for the racing charges and the big fines). 100 km/hr. is the speed limit on major thoroughfares here - most people go 120 bare minimum and I'd say a good 15% travel at 140.

If Doug were to stay with the flow of traffic and that flow of traffic were significantly speeding, his trip could take much less time IMO.

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The shortest route for Doug to have taken would have put him going though several toll booths.

Another route that is about an hour longer--he would have had no toll roads. And there are dozens of Walmarts along that route.

All in all, he could have made the return trip in ten to 11 hours, even if he just drove 5 to 10 mi. over the speed limit (which is pretty common in my neck of the woods... don't know about those states, tho.)

It intrigues me that anyone cannot believe there is a situation that would cause you to cut and run with your minor children and the clothes on your back. I think that you have to be in denial of the concept of domestic violence, regardless of who the perp is.

DS has an Temp Order against him regarding the kids, and VS has/had one from the incident where she bloodied his nose. Whatever has gone on in the marriage is surely complicated and even if Venus were available, it was going to be tough to sort out.

I would love to know when DS decided to transfer to MI-if it was in response to the current situation or if the request had been put in before Venus disappeared.

LadyL said:

as I said, it happens

never say never

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bbm~

You got that right LadyL! I know every case is different, but I did just that! Years ago, my 16 y/o daughter called me @ work one afternoon and said "mom, don't come home...dad said that he was going to beat your a$$ when you get here" That's exactly the words that he told her..:furious:.. I'll never forget it. Sad thing is (besides the fact that my (our) daughter had to witness him do just that on several occasions over the years ) even though I couldn't tell you to this day what set him off that particular time (it didn't take much and always depended on his mood at any given time) she and I both knew that he would follow through with his threat, and I finally was done..:banghead:..Long story short, she was @ home and her b-friend @the time was with her.. I told her to get her little brother..put a change of clothing for both if possible in her purse/coat, tell her dad that they were going to get something to eat and have her b-friend bring them to my work and we left from there. I knew he wouldn't stop her as he would prefer that they weren't there, but in the end it wouldn't matter, kwim?..but I finally had had enough..KNOWING that when I didn't come home and neither did the kids I was going to be setting off THE RAGE of rages...and I did, but thankfully lived to tell about it. I'm very much afraid that Venus was not so lucky....

Although of course I speak only for myself, I think SO many of us can identify with Venus's disappearance that I know for me it's really difficult to know even the little bit that we do know for a fact and not think..*what are the odds that the husband's not involved*?..and my answer is slim to none...and he's done nothing to change my view on that either. He is one really, really unlucky guy if this turns out to be anything other than spousal abuse turned deadly.. IMO, if you have nothing to hide..hide nothing. If he feels it necessary to have an attorney, I can respect that, but it doesn't appear (at least to me ) from everything I've seen so far that he's doing much cooperating through his attorney either. If I've missed anything stating or even inferring otherwise, I apologize..


Anyway, I don't care how you cut it, Venus was IMHO was right smack dab in the middle of the MOST dangerous time of the *separation* especially when it involves an abusive spouse..(which appears to be the case to me anyway)..maybe they both abused each other, IDK..but in my mind, that doesn't even matter..as another poster said, 'Venus is the one that's not here'.....MOO..

The only record that we have the Venus "bloodied Doug's nose" comes from Doug's own mouth. He stated that she bloodied his nose and hit him five times in the face in his divorce filing. Then, a month later when he filed for an order of protection, he changed his story, saying that she hit him in the head nine times and hit the child.

The record of what actually happened on that June 2008 day ,which would have been written by the responding police, is sealed, most likely because Venus completed pre-trial diversion for first DV offense (according to the prosecutor). The second incident--she pleaded nolo contendre to disturbing the peace, NOT domestic violence.


Also...

According to Newport News Circuit Court, Doug filed for divorce against Venus on March 30, 2010. He has a lawyer and initiated the proceedings. Venus does not have a lawyer, according to the NNCC database.

I wonder if the move to Virginia was a move to separate Venus from her friends, family, and independence. At least when she lived in Michigan, she had a job and friends who seemed to like her, plus family around her (and as evidenced by some other stuff I've read on the net, a protective, loving big brother). I've seen no evidence that she had a job in Newport News...I think the move was to give them a "fresh start" in Doug's mind, which, in his mind meant exerting even more control over Venus by isolating her from everything/one she knew.

pufnstuf said:

The only record that we have the Venus "bloodied Doug's nose" comes from Doug's own mouth. He stated that she bloodied his nose and hit him five times in the face in his divorce filing. Then, a month later when he filed for an order of protection, he changed his story, saying that she hit him in the head nine times and hit the child.

.

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sbbm

Court records from when Doug filed for divorce in July of 2008 show that Schoolcraft Police responded to the Stewart home at least three times. In June of that year, they found Doug with a bloody nose. He says Venus had hit him in the face five times.

Police did arrest Venus, put her in jail and she was facing charges for domestic violence.

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http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1376536-bottom-page.html

That leads me to believe, they the police saw the bloody nose.

pufnstuf said:

The only record that we have the Venus "bloodied Doug's nose" comes from Doug's own mouth. He stated that she bloodied his nose and hit him five times in the face in his divorce filing. Then, a month later when he filed for an order of protection, he changed his story, saying that she hit him in the head nine times and hit the child.

The record of what actually happened on that June 2008 day ,which would have been written by the responding police, is sealed, most likely because Venus completed pre-trial diversion for first DV offense (according to the prosecutor). The second incident--she pleaded nolo contendre to disturbing the peace, NOT domestic violence.


Also...

According to Newport News Circuit Court, Doug filed for divorce against Venus on March 30, 2010. He has a lawyer and initiated the proceedings. Venus does not have a lawyer, according to the NNCC database.

I wonder if the move to Virginia was a move to separate Venus from her friends, family, and independence. At least when she lived in Michigan, she had a job and friends who seemed to like her, plus family around her (and as evidenced by some other stuff I've read on the net, a protective, loving big brother). I've seen no evidence that she had a job in Newport News...I think the move was to give them a "fresh start" in Doug's mind, which, in his mind meant exerting even more control over Venus by isolating her from everything/one she knew.

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Being a victim of domestic violence in three relationships, I will tell you it is a fact that there are two stories to tell when the police officer arrives and it is up to the police to decide who is telling the truth and that they don't always believe the victim's story! It is obvious Doug gave the more convincing story and the cop didn't believe Venus which I am sure was devastating to her at the time.

Nothing is more demeaning than being the victim in a domestic violence altercation only to have the fricking police believe the abuser which I believe is what happened in the case of the bloody nose arrest!

If Doug had a bloody nose from Venus, there is a good chance he got it during a domestic altercation while Venus was trying to ward of his attacks and was self defense.

A woman who has been living with a man like Doug, who is afraid for her life and who has lost her confidence in herself and can't explain things correctly because she is so traumatized, has a hard time communicating with anyone, much less an intimidating police man!

Venus was charged because of what Doug told the police officer happened, not necessarily because it was a fact.

Sure, if the guy had a bloody nose, that was obvious.

I am SURE that Doug would sit there and allow Venus to hit him in the nose FIVE times. Give me a break!

All he had to do was grab her by the wrists and that would have been the end of it.

pufnstuf said:

The only record that we have the Venus "bloodied Doug's nose" comes from Doug's own mouth. He stated that she bloodied his nose and hit him five times in the face in his divorce filing. Then, a month later when he filed for an order of protection, he changed his story, saying that she hit him in the head nine times and hit the child.

The record of what actually happened on that June 2008 day ,which would have been written by the responding police, is sealed, most likely because Venus completed pre-trial diversion for first DV offense (according to the prosecutor). The second incident--she pleaded nolo contendre to disturbing the peace, NOT domestic violence.

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You don't get charged with DV unless there is clear evidence of injury or unless you are witnessed attacking the other person.

She was charged with DV in both cases. Diversion courses in this sort of stuation are court ordered (which means you are guilty). After completing the course and "staying clean" the original charge is dismissed. It is essentially a free pass to avoid a record for first time offenders.

In the second case she was originally charged with DV, but pled no contest to disturbing the peace which implies that the charge was reduced in court. I assume that means there was no physical injury in the second case, most likely she was witnessed assaulting DS in some manner by a third party. Pushing, shoving, hitting, something like that. Maybe the reason for reducing the charge could be that DS himself wasn't pushing the complaint.

But I don't see what any relevance that has to the present situation, except possibly to explain the presence of blood in the vehicles.

We know one side of the story in this case. Statistics say the ex is most likely responsible for Venus being gone....but, it is possible that something else happened besides Doug snatching her. Is there some way to discuss other scenarios without offending those who have been victims of DV? I respect everyone here and feel uncomfortable bringing up anything that doesn't point in the direction of Doug being an abuser.

Amster said:

We know one side of the story in this case. Statistics say the ex is most likely responsible for Venus being gone....but, it is possible that something else happened besides Doug snatching her. Is there some way to discuss other scenarios without offending those who have been victims of DV? I respect everyone here and feel uncomfortable bringing up anything that doesn't point in the direction of Doug being an abuser.

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We have discussed a lot of possible scenarios in this case. But, because of the truck matching the description of the truck Doug had access to, which belonged to Venus, being seeb in the area during the time she was abducted, the tarp cover found on the ground near the gravel was disturbed and the slipper print found on the propane tank, and because the tire casts appear to match the tread on the truck Venus left in Doug's possession when she left, and because there was a receipt found in the truck dated the day before Venus disappeared which indicated someone who had the ability to access the cab of that truck purchased a shovel, hat, gloves and a tarp, there aren't really many other possibilities other than Doug kidnapped Venus or hired or conspired with someone to do so who he gave the truck to use and who drove it to where Venus was living with her parents and grabbed her!

PickieChickie said:

We have discussed a lot of possible scenarios in this case. But, because of the truck matching the description of the truck Doug had access to, which belonged to Venus, being seeb in the area during the time she was abducted, the tarp cover found on the ground near the gravel was disturbed and the slipper print found on the propane tank, and because the tire casts appear to match the tread on the truck Venus left in Doug's possession when she left, and because there was a receipt found in the truck dated the day before Venus disappeared which indicated someone who had the ability to access the cab of that truck purchased a shovel, hat, gloves and a tarp, there aren't really many other possibilities other than Doug kidnapped Venus or hired or conspired with someone to do so who he gave the truck to use and who drove it to where Venus was living with her parents and grabbed her!

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ok...thanks. You answered my question. I hope and pray that Venus is found safe.

RubyRed said:

sbbm



http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1376536-bottom-page.html

That leads me to believe, they the police saw the bloody nose.

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Read the bottom of that article:

The St. Joseph County prosecutor says Venus likely completed a diversion course for the first domestic violence offense, and then had her record cleared, which is why court records for that are no longer public. For the second offense she paid about $200 in costs and fines.

Natal said:

snipped..

But I don't see what any relevance that has to the present situation...

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With this I agree 100%