Just a quick question.....as I was re-watching (again!) UM favorites #4 on my snow-day off, I was hoping Crystaldawn or someone could help me on what happend with Stephen Mafero and his missing wife Dorene. Basically she went missing, his story did not match up with what the police thought had happen, he wrote a couple of weird letters to the police, and the segment ended with Stephen not knowing what happend to his wife and he was the only suspect. Then there was an update at the end, saying that in 1999 Stephen had died from a self-inflicted gunshot but then it was cut off!! :(

What else did the update say? Did he do it? Did he leave a note? And where is Dorene? Can anyone help?

Sugarbaby, while it is officially unknown whether Stephen murdered Doreen, the odds are he did because that update, if you were to ever see the complete version, it would say in 1999, he shot and killed his girlfriend or maybe it was his ex-girlfriend, but it was a woman he had been recently dating. Appaerantly Marfeo was drunk and stalking her and he killed her and shot and wounded her boyfriend than Marfeo drove off into Connecticut where his car was later found and he had shot himself. He left a note but didnt confess to killing Doreen in it.

Hi Sugarbaby,

From my understanding, Marfeo killed his girlfriend before killing himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He maintained his innocence in the Doreen Marfeo disappearance until he died.

Doreen has never been found.

I hope that helps. A lot of us on the boards have speculatated that given the last actions of his life, Marfeo more than likely murdered Doreen as well.

Thank you guys for the information! I knew you guys would know!

I believe Mafero also wounded the man his girlfriend was having an affair with. He survived.

As at least one other poster has mentioned, Steve Marfeo, at the end of the segment, sips a cup of coffee, like in one of those International Coffee commercials, where they say "celebrate the moments of your life" Oddly enough, I was watching an old episode of the Price is right the other day, and they played this commerical. I immediately thought of the segment. It's interesting to note how some people/things always remind me of UM, like whenever I see Michael Jordan on tv, I always think of Danny Wheeler. :lol:

As at least one other poster has mentioned, Steve Marfeo, at the end of the segment, sips a cup of coffee, like in one of those International Coffee commercials, where they say "celebrate the moments of your life". . .

ROTF! :lol: That is hilarious!

He does seem to appear to have an odd inner peace for a guy who most likely killed his wife.

IIRC, doesn't the update say they searched the area where he killed himself, thinking since it was a remote place, that maybe he offed his wife there too?

Yeah, they did start a search of the area but unfortuneately, turned up nothing. Though I think it's a safe bet to say the case has been unofficially closed.

Noticed that bit about the coffee too. Just like a commercial.

I was never sure about this. Other than the whole "let's assume the husband did it since he was the closest to her" theory there isn't a lot to go on with Stephen. Doreen's mother and sister did not believe it was him. That doesn't mean a whole lot, but still.

I think the whole fiasco with how he ended his life makes him look even more guilty but if that's the case you just killed a woman, injured another and are about to kill yourself. Why not confess to Doreen and her whereabouts? Hey you are already a murderer, your legacy even from your own family's standpoint will not be good but it might help give some solace.

This is why I am neither here nor there on this one.

I usually am very careful not to judge something w/o a lot of available evidence but in this case I don't see where there would be much doubt. Quite simply, the odds against a man that later kills his EX-girlfriend, attempts to kill her current boyfriend and kills himself having NOT killed his first wife also, have to be astronomical. Possibly on the order of a double lottery jackpot win in the same day. Or being struck by lighting twice...after an airplane crash.

The scariest part of Stephen Marfeo is that he seemed genuinely sincere that he wasn't a violent person and that he didn't do anything to his wife. It's unfortunate that his wife and his ex-girlfriend had to run into and fall in love with, this monster.

The Marfeo update was shocking to say the least. I really thought he was innocent, and I thought it was possible that Dorene left on her own. But the guy shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and attempted to kill her new boyfriend. What makes you think he wouldn't do the same to his wife if she upset him in any way?

The Marfeo update was shocking to say the least. I really thought he was innocent, and I thought it was possible that Dorene left on her own. But the guy shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and attempted to kill her new boyfriend. What makes you think he wouldn't do the same to his wife if she upset him in any way?

I wish there was more information on Marfeo's other girlfriend that he killed. I don't doubt he did it, but they gave little information about it. I agree that it would be astronomical odds to NOT have killed your missing wife and then 10 years later kill your ex-girlfriend. If it looks like a duck...........tastes like a duck........you get the picture.

But is there in some small way a chance that he was innocent........of Doreen's disappearance? If he was in a rocky relationship there is little doubt there were words exchanged with the ex girlfriend and who knows she could have said to him "you're just a wife killer anyways!" along those lines. Maybe he figures so many people think he's guilty as it is, why not just do it and then "off" myself. This isn't a logical way of thinking but the stress that Stephen would have been going through with the accusations could have put him over the top.

So without that confession at the end, I still have to wonder about this one, although perhaps if I were to lean either way it would be that he was involved with Doreen's disappearance.

That update really upset me the first time I saw it several years ago. I had been convinced that he seemed innocent and it definitely startled me.

I wish there was more information on Marfeo's other girlfriend that he killed. I don't doubt he did it, but they gave little information about it. I agree that it would be astronomical odds to NOT have killed your missing wife and then 10 years later kill your ex-girlfriend. If it looks like a duck...........tastes like a duck........you get the picture.

But is there in some small way a chance that he was innocent........of Doreen's disappearance? If he was in a rocky relationship there is little doubt there were words exchanged with the ex girlfriend and who knows she could have said to him "you're just a wife killer anyways!" along those lines. Maybe he figures so many people think he's guilty as it is, why not just do it and then "off" myself. This isn't a logical way of thinking but the stress that Stephen would have been going through with the accusations could have put him over the top.

So without that confession at the end, I still have to wonder about this one, although perhaps if I were to lean either way it would be that he was involved with Doreen's disappearance.

If Stephen was innocent in Doreen's disappearance, then he would have had no prior history of violence. For him to fly off the handle and kill his ex-girlfriend in a jealous rage would be next to impossible without a prior history. That's why I think he killed Doreen as well.

[QUOTE= For him to fly off the handle and kill his ex-girlfriend in a jealous rage would be next to impossible without a prior history. That's why I think he killed Doreen as well.[/QUOTE]

But don't all histories have to start somewhere? I haven't decided whether or not Steve killed his wife, but if he was innocent in Doreen's disappearance, the history could have started with the murder of the new girlfriend. I could be remembering wrong, but I was not able to find anything on the murder of the new girlfriend, so I don't know how LE knows he did it (unless the survivor provided that information). If the survivor did not ID Steve, then why did he make it so obvious he killed the new girlfriend and never admitted to his involvement (if any) in Doreen's disappearance?

For those who think he was innocent, let's keep this discussion going: why do you think that way? Itt is certainly interesting that his in-laws supported him -- I think we can all agree that most times a missing spouse is profiled on UM, the missing person's family is convinced the spouse not missing is responsible (think Mr. Pollis, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Noe as examples).

One more thing: is this the case where the reporter followed up on so
me psychic comments and there was a "for sale" sign with some numbers and a cross street that matched the psychic's comments?


I know this post goes in a thousand different directions ...

Man, what are you guys seeing that I missed? I always thought Stephen Marfeo was absolutely guilty. I'm interested in why those of you who think he's innocent feel that way. I thought he came off as really cocky and uncredible.

Also... you can have a violent history WITHOUT having a criminal record. I know several violent individuals who do not have "violent" criminal histories because their victims wouldn't report the crime, etc...

Man, what are you guys seeing that I missed? I always thought Stephen Marfeo was absolutely guilty. I'm interested in why those of you who think he's innocent feel that way. I thought he came off as really cocky and uncredible.

Also... you can have a violent history WITHOUT having a criminal record. I know several violent individuals who do not have "violent" criminal histories because their victims wouldn't report the crime, etc...

I always thought he came of as incredibly arrogant as well. But I also thought he was honest in his interview. He just seemed much more composed than the likes of Chad Noe or Leonard Rizzo. I guess it was "shocking" for me because of the update. Marfeo (who claimed innocence) murdering his ex-girlfriend and then taking his own life has got to be one of the most shocking updates in the history of UM.

This case was especially interesting with what happened in the aftermath with Stephen Marfeo. Spellbinding stuff!

I think it's interesting that in Marfeo's suicide note he did not confess to killing Doreen. What would he have to lose in confessing?

I think it's interesting that in Marfeo's suicide note he did not confess to killing Doreen. What would he have to lose in confessing?

One final forget you to the family? He wanted the family to keep thinking he didn't do it because he cared what they thought? He could have been so focused on the woman he had just killed he didn't think about his wife or anything else before he killed himself.

It seems unusual that he would spend thousands of dollars to find someone when he knew where they were. Hundreds maybe, but thousands?
He had been publicizing the case and offered a reward. He must have been one confident killer. Maybe he received a lot of sympathy from the case being publicized and was willing to spend that much money in order to appear innocent.
When they show his wife in the lawn chair (home movie or actress in um clip?) she has a bandage on her arm. What's up with that? It does make me wonder if he was abusive. It isn't proof of it though.
Was he the only witness to her "bizarre behavior"?
If he thought she was acting bizarre and there were things she wasn't telling him, why would he wait two days to look for her?
Did they talk to the private investigators he had hired to follow his wife for eleven months? The P.I. could have given them some valuable insight.
Seems like maybe he made her quit her job because he was jealous.

I lean towards the he did it camp even if he didn't ever admit to it. How much time passed between the disappearance and the murder/suicide?

I lean towards the he did it camp even if he didn't ever admit to it. How much time passed between the disappearance and the murder/suicide?

IIRC it seemed like it was somewhere around the ten year mark. What are the odds that someone's wife disappears, and they are completely innocent of any wrong doing, to murder a ex-girlfriend in a jealous rage years later? Almost astronomical.

I think it's interesting that in Marfeo's suicide note he did not confess to killing Doreen. What would he have to lose in confessing?

Ego. Some people have said something over and over again so many times that they eventually believe it to be true or will not confess to the truth. I think Marfeo had done so much to "find the killer" that even in death, he wanted to save face and not admit to the murder, which I believe he committed.

Marfeo (who claimed innocence) murdering his ex-girlfriend and then taking his own life has got to be one of the most shocking updates in the history of UM.

Completely agree.

One final forget you to the family? He wanted the family to keep thinking he didn't do it because he cared what they thought? He could have been so focused on the woman he had just killed he didn't think about his wife or anything else before he killed himself.

I know that Doreen's family continued to support him and proclaim his innocence after her disappearance, but I'd be REALLY curious to know what their feelings were after the murder-suicide. I can't possibly imagine them still thinking he didn't do it unless they subscribe to the really thin theory that all the years of false accusations caused Steven to fly off the handle.

As at least one other poster has mentioned, Steve Marfeo, at the end of the segment, sips a cup of coffee, like in one of those International Coffee commercials, where they say "celebrate the moments of your life"

:lol: Now I'm imagining Paul Pollis and Jule Caylor having a coffee date, and sharing reminisces about how their wives "left" them.

There's no doubt in my mind that Marfeo killed his wife, and kept the ultimate control of the situation by never fully disclosing the location of her remains.

Also... you can have a violent history WITHOUT having a criminal record. I know several violent individuals who do not have "violent" criminal histories because their victims wouldn't report the crime, etc...

This can't be said enough. Also the disturbing fact that some members of LE still don't want to get involved in domestic disputes, even when there's evidence of abuse and/or stalking.

I lean towards the he did it camp even if he didn't ever admit to it. How much time passed between the disappearance and the murder/suicide?

IIRC it seemed like it was somewhere around the ten year mark. What are the odds that someone's wife disappears, and they are completely innocent of any wrong doing, to murder a ex-girlfriend in a jealous rage years later? Almost astronomical.

I agree.




I know that Doreen's family continued to support him and proclaim his innocence after her disappearance, but I'd be REALLY curious to know what their feelings were after the murder-suicide. I can't possibly imagine them still thinking he didn't do it unless they subscribe to the really thin theory that all the years of false accusations caused Steven to fly off the handle.


I'm curious about that too. I figure they probably supported him before because it meant they had hope she would come home.
Also, I can't see that someone saying "You're a murderer!" would ever actually make someone kill a person they are supposed to care about. I could see it pushing him to suicide, but not murder.

With a little bit of poking around I found this:
http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/coldcase/content/projo_20031014_14cold.76d6c.html

Has a lot of interesting information in it about Doreen and Stephen.

With a little bit of poking around I found this:
http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/coldcase/content/projo_20031014_14cold.76d6c.html

Has a lot of interesting information in it about Doreen and Stephen.


Thanks for the link! It answered some things I had wondered about.
I feel really bad for Doreen's mother. He gave her a ride to the hospital the day before his suicide. He must have just wanted her to keep thinking he didn't do it. Also, the time card, I have no doubt he killed Doreen.

With a little bit of poking around I found this:
http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/coldcase/content/projo_20031014_14cold.76d6c.html

Has a lot of interesting information in it about Doreen and Stephen.

Thank you for sharing the link. UM left out yet another crucial detail when they profiled this case. Had they brought up the fact that Marfeo had hired two separate PI's to follow Doreen around, there'd be no question IMO that he killed her. It's already been proven that he killed someone in a fit of jealousy in 1999, so why is it so hard to believe he did it nine years prior?

EDIT - Just checked out the Charley Project website which featured Doreen's case and it had another interesting tidbit about good ol' Stephen:

"In June 1990, police received two typewritten letters. The first one stated that Stephen had strangled Doreen on the day of her disappearance and dumped her body in a pond in Providence, Rhode Island. The second letter accused Doreen of having affairs with some of her co-workers, men which the letter identified by name. Both letters were typed on a typewriter from Stephen's mother's house; authorities believe Stephen wrote them, although the letters refer to him in the third person. When the police confronted Stephen about the letters, he hired an attorney and stopped cooperating in the investigation."

Its weird but in most of the cases profiled of a wife/girlfriend disappearing or murdered, and the husband/boyfriend is a key suspect, I almost always think that the husband/boyfriend did it. That's not because I'm a self hating male. Its just that the guys usually come off really badly in the segments themselves & don't do a whole lot to take the suspicion off of them.

The ONLY exception I can think of off the top of my head is the Angela Hammond case. I truly believe that her boyfriend had nothing to do with it and even in the segment, he came across like somebody who was truly upset over what had happened and that he really cared for her.

EDIT: I just watched the Jefferey MacDonald case for the first time. OK, I believe he is innocent as well. The case for him being the murderer of his family seems less likely than the story he originally gave based on the information given to us in the UM segment.

And that's what separated him from the husbands/boyfriends that go on these segments to plead their case don't usually come across as very sympathetic to the woman they claim to love. They sound more ticked off over having the finger pointed at them.

In the case of the Marfeos, I got that same vibe from Stephen. He really came across like a jerk to me, and the fact that he waited two days to call the cops that she was missing was VERY suspicious to me. I was a little surprised that Doreen's family members defended him.

We'll probably never know what happened, but the fact that he killed his ex-girlfriend and himself years later tells me that, at the very least, he was definitely capable of killing his wife. I think he did it, but we'll never know for sure unless there is some major break in the case.

The story also mentioned she wanted to or was thinking of leaving him 10 years earlier, but yeah the update was shocking.

And that's what separated him from the husbands/boyfriends that go on these segments to plead their case don't usually come across as very sympathetic to the woman they claim to love. They sound more ticked off over having the finger pointed at them.

oh yeah the hippies killing his family for no rational reason. Puh-leeeze. That dude has gotten some lucky breaks, but his story reeks of too many elements of the Manson murders. I don't see how there were two different groups of murderous acid-tripping hippies killing in very similar ways running around. Changing stories.

One thing you have to remember is that there are sociopaths and average joes. Many of these men are average joes....they did it and it's obvious. They show it, they're lousy at hiding their guilt.

However sociopaths are a different breed. They have have higher then average intelligence and are very charming, very disarming. They easily make themselves blend in and look normal. Ted Bundy is an example of this type. This type causes people to say "Well he doesn't look like a killer." "He was a devoted family man, there's no way he'd do something like this." "He didn't have any issues, he was loving and wonderful." People are pulled into and believe the stuff they do and say. People like this are adept at making things appear normal on the surface. My long point is, just because someone doesn't look like or act like a typically guilty person does not mean that it isn't there. Men like Bundy are on a very different caliber, and MacDonald, as far as I can see with the different research I've done, is up there with him.

Ok sorry I went OT there....

You qouted the wrong poster bugnpinky.

As at least one other poster has mentioned, Steve Marfeo, at the end of the segment, sips a cup of coffee, like in one of those International Coffee commercials, where they say "celebrate the moments of your life" Oddly enough, I was watching an old episode of the Price is right the other day, and they played this commerical. I immediately thought of the segment. It's interesting to note how some people/things always remind me of UM, like whenever I see Michael Jordan on tv, I always think of Danny Wheeler. :lol:
:lol: :lol: Funny How we all notice these simple things about the segments. I also take notice of the calmness of the whole end of the segment. Accussed murderer drinking his cup of coffee looking out the window.

:lol: :lol: Funny How we all notice these simple things about the segments. I also take notice of the calmness of the whole end of the segment. Accussed murderer drinking his cup of coffee looking out the window.
:lol: :lol: I always found that part amusing, too. Oh and good to see you on here unsolvedfan4life. I missed you and your avatar :D

:lol: :lol: I always found that part amusing, too. Oh and good to see you on here unsolvedfan4life. I missed you and your avatar :D

Thanks, been away for awhile, been busy but still a huge fan. Glad this board is still alive and well. It is so cool knowing how many unsolved fans there are.

The fact that he hired a private investigator to trail her (like he probably did his ex-girlfriend) told me everything I needed to know about him. Men who are that controlling, usually snap if they find out a woman wants to leave them - maybe he found out about an affair. I believe he wrote the letters and I think he made the whole thing up about her having a nervous breakdown. I don't think she talked to him about anything at all!

This has to be one of the creepiest cases on UM, with everything from the music to the update. And did anyone find the sister kind of off-putting? I don't mean to be rude, obviously she's gone through quite a lot, but I found her demeanor puzzling and strange.

And did anyone find the sister kind of off-putting? I don't mean to be rude, obviously she's gone through quite a lot, but I found her demeanor puzzling and strange.

Yes. I always thought she seemed rather nervous. I'm nearly certain she didn't know anything she wasn't telling, however.

Yes. I always thought she seemed rather nervous. I'm nearly certain she didn't know anything she wasn't telling, however.
That's probably it. Whenever she laughed, it seemed more nerves than anything else.

Does anyone know if Doreen's mother is still living? She was elderly at the time of Stephen's death and I remember reading an article afterwards where she was interviewed. I'm hoping she still is but she'd be really up there.

I remember when I was a teen & working at a stop n shop in the area they had Doreen's missing person flyer. I didnt know these people personally but during the time alot of people in the area felt Steven was guilty. This case was pretty crazy.

Does anyone know if Doreen's mother is still living? She was elderly at the time of Stephen's death and I remember reading an article afterwards where she was interviewed. I'm hoping she still is but she'd be really up there.

I found an article someone posted in another thread that indicated Laura Dobson, Doreen's mother, was 89 years old in 2003, which doesn't mean she couldn't still be living of course, but chances are probably slim. I haven't found an obituary online, however.

ETA: the link to the thread--

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=148616

There's some pretty interesting information in there, like this creepy little tidbit:

Nardolillo and Stephen Marfeo stayed close, too. For years after Doreen disappeared, the men were locked in a psychological standoff.

The detective lost sleep thinking about the case. It burned him that Marfeo seemed to be getting away with murder. Marfeo claimed the police were trying to "railroad" him.

The men played head games. A couple of times they met at stoplights and stared at each other until the signal blinked green. Nardolillo sometimes followed Marfeo to his favorite breakfast spot, just over the line in North Providence. Marfeo talked to a lawyer about keeping the detective off his back.

One day, Nardolillo was driving past the one-story house the Marfeos had shared on Hartford Avenue. He saw Stephen in the driveway and he pulled over.

"Do you think it's time to tell the truth yet about your wife?" he asked.

"You're a nice guy," Marfeo replied. "But you're in the wrong business."

I found an article someone posted in another thread that indicated Laura Dobson, Doreen's mother, was 89 years old in 2003, which doesn't mean she couldn't still be living of course, but chances are probably slim. I haven't found an obituary online, however.

ETA: the link to the thread--

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=148616

There's some pretty interesting information in there, like this creepy little tidbit:

Nardolillo and Stephen Marfeo stayed close, too. For years after Doreen disappeared, the men were locked in a psychological standoff.

The detective lost sleep thinking about the case. It burned him that Marfeo seemed to be getting away with murder. Marfeo claimed the police were trying to "railroad" him.

The men played head games. A couple of times they met at stoplights and stared at each other until the signal blinked green. Nardolillo sometimes followed Marfeo to his favorite breakfast spot, just over the line in North Providence. Marfeo talked to a lawyer about keeping the detective off his back.

One day, Nardolillo was driving past the one-story house the Marfeos had shared on Hartford Avenue. He saw Stephen in the driveway and he pulled over.

"Do you think it's time to tell the truth yet about your wife?" he asked.

"You're a nice guy," Marfeo replied. "But you're in the wrong business."
That's a fascinating article. I noticed some interesting things here and in the Charley Project's notes:

+Has something happened to Doreen's sister or is she not on good terms with her mother? Doreen's mom said she had no one but Stephen.
+Stephen's lunch break was three times as long as it usually was the day Doreen vanished and nothing he stated about what happened during that time supports a reason for that.
+ Not only did Stephen have TWO detectives follow his wife, he was extremely possessive and would call her mother's every time he thought she might be there and was always looking for her. This makes me understand why the detective was so drawn to the fact that Stephen didn't look for her after she disappeared. Wouldn't he have gone phoning and calling everywhere, just like his prior behavior? Doreen's mother had to force him to make the report. Totally out of character- unless he knew where she was, of course.
+Did Stephen know anything about the man Doreen considered leaving him for ten years earlier, as claimed by her sister? Perhaps it was this and/or her wanting a divorce during that lunch break that caused a confrontation.
+Stephen saying ''I've been alive nine years longer than I should have been.'' Nine years prior? Doreen's disappearance.

That's a fascinating article. I noticed some interesting things here and in the Charley Project's notes:

+Has something happened to Doreen's sister or is she not on good terms with her mother? Doreen's mom said she had no one but Stephen.
+Stephen's lunch break was three times as long as it usually was the day Doreen vanished and nothing he stated about what happened during that time supports a reason for that.
+ Not only did Stephen have TWO detectives follow his wife, he was extremely possessive and would call her mother's every time he thought she might be there and was always looking for her. This makes me understand why the detective was so drawn to the fact that Stephen didn't look for her after she disappeared. Wouldn't he have gone phoning and calling everywhere, just like his prior behavior? Doreen's mother had to force him to make the report. Totally out of character- unless he knew where she was, of course.
+Did Stephen know anything about the man Doreen considered leaving him for ten years earlier, as claimed by her sister? Perhaps it was this and/or her wanting a divorce during that lunch break that caused a confrontation.
+Stephen saying ''I've been alive nine years longer than I should have been.'' Nine years prior? Doreen's disappearance.

I noticed that "I have no one else" comment as well and thought it was pretty unusual. I wonder what's up with that.

I get a bit of a hinky feeling that Doreen actually did have an affair, or at least strongly considered it at one point in time. It might explain why her sister and mother are so certain Stephen had nothing to do with her disappearance. Of course that doesn't excuse Stephen's batty propensity toward surveillance and monitoring throughout their marriage, but it might be the reason why her family seemed very supportive of him.

That "nine years longer" remark seems to be exactly what it sounds like, IMO: a roundabout admission of guilt.

I watched this segment again since this thread was bumped today and you're right: it's a creepy case. The letters always freaked me out.

I noticed that "I have no one else" comment as well and thought it was pretty unusual. I wonder what's up with that.

I get a bit of a hinky feeling that Doreen actually did have an affair, or at least strongly considered it at one point in time. It might explain why her sister and mother are so certain Stephen had nothing to do with her disappearance. Of course that doesn't excuse Stephen's batty propensity toward surveillance and monitoring throughout their marriage, but it might be the reason why her family seemed very supportive of him.

That "nine years longer" remark seems to be exactly what it sounds like, IMO: a roundabout admission of guilt.

I watched this segment again since this thread was bumped today and you're right: it's a creepy case. The letters always freaked me out.If Doreen had an affair than the pieces really do fall together about why Stephen acted the way he did when he killed his last girlfriend and why he was so paranoid.

Maybe when he saw her with her new boyfriend it brought back memories of what happened with Doreen and that was the final straw? I can't see why else he would choose to kill himself then.

Just watched this after not having seen it in years.

Even without knowing the update about the murder/suicide, I would guess Stephen was guilty.

One fact that seems overlooked is that a psycholinguist with no connection to the case was asked to review the anonymous letters and believed Stephen was the author. Moreover, the letters were eventually traced back to a typewriter Stephen had access to.

I found the details about Doreen abruptly quitting her job to make changes in her life interesting. She had also had an affair some years prior and had contemplated leaving Stephen to go with her lover. My gut feeling is that she wanted out of the marriage, told Stephen this, he flipped, and killed her. I think he disposed of her body (where, is the real mystery) and wrote the letters as a means to try to divert the investigation in to other areas.

I found the details about Doreen abruptly quitting her job to make changes in her life interesting. She had also had an affair some years prior and had contemplated leaving Stephen to go with her lover. My gut feeling is that she wanted out of the marriage, told Stephen this, he flipped, and killed her. I think he disposed of her body (where, is the real mystery) and wrote the letters as a means to try to divert the investigation in to other areas.

In cases where I have a TRUE victim of domestic abuse, this happens more often than you'd think. A lot of it is to try to get out of the situation with as little confrontation as possible. Moving and switching jobs are good ways to sever ties with a person you may not want to be with.

And yes, I agree about the typewriter. Wasn't that in the UM segment? I thought it was very convincing of his involvement and/or guilt. I completely missed the part in the suicide note about being alive "nine years too long." In retrospect, that does sound awfully incriminating. Right up there with "I love my wife and would never hurt her INTENTIONALLY."

Always thought Stephen Marfeo was guilty.

I know the police searched the area around where Stephen committed suicide for any evidence of Doreen's body and found nothing, but I strongly feel that they were probably on the right track. I would not be shocked in the least if she was eventually found in that vicinity.

Always thought Stephen Marfeo was guilty.

I know the police searched the area around where Stephen committed suicide for any evidence of Doreen's body and found nothing, but I strongly feel that they were probably on the right track. I would not be shocked in the least if she was eventually found in that vicinity.


I don't think Doreen is in Barkhampstead. It is two hours from Johnston, RI.

And this may be unpopular, but I'm not entirely convinced Stephen killed Doreen. I think he knew more than he was saying, but I'm not convinced he killed her.

A few things: The type written letters were analyzed by a Dr. Murray Miron in the psychology department at Syracuse University. Dr Miron's bad analysis of David Koresh's writing played a big part in the fiasco that was Waco.

Check out this link:
https://books.google.com/books?id=WJbYG7k3bK8C&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=murray+miron+syracuse&source=bl&ots=EOdLy6jtwh&sig=EZUJ_DB4izuzsj17xGVV7rG9Ih0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FjinVL3OK5CTyATCs4KgAw&ved=0CCsQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=murray%20miron%20syracuse&f=false

In addition to this, at this time, Syracuse's psychology/education department was in the middle of a "breakthrough" that would eventually turn into a heartbreaking fraud for thousands of parents: facilitated communication for severe autism. Heralded by Syracuse as a wonder, proper scientific method was ignored and eventually facilitated communication was discredited in most cases.


I'd also be very curious to know Stephen's father's name. That may hold a clue to what happened if he didn't kill Doreen.

Not going to toot the Stephen Marfeo is innocent horn, but for every piece of evidence used against him, I could see a counter argument for his innocence. I find it odd that even though his lunch break on the day Doreen disappeared was unusually long (70 minutes, IIRC they said he usually only took 20 to 30 minute breaks), that's still not enough time to murder someone and hide their body to where it still hasn't been found all of these years. But, he did have 2 full days, since he didn't report her missing until 2 days after her alleged disappeared date. One thing in Marfeo's favor, IMO, is the fact that he and Doreen had $50,000 in a joint bank account. That's a lot of money. It's not like they were hurting for cash, and a murder for insurance money makes no sense since Doreen is still classified as missing. I still ultimately think he's guilty. The typewriter used to write the letters to police were found in Marfeo's mother's house. Unless someone was trying to frame him within his family, I don't see how anyone other than Marfeo would be the writer of those letters.

I haven't posted on this one much, but I've always thought he was guilty as sin and have never waivered on that. Came off horrible in his interview. I really can't tell you how awkward it was watching him sip that coffee at the end of the segment, as if he was expecting her to stroll in anytime and pick up where they left off. Yeah, right. What he did 9 years later clinched it for me.

My first reaction is that Rhode Island is the Ocean State, so I figured he might have dumped her body in the ocean. If that's the case, it is probably not retrievable, which would explain why she hasn't been found in 25 years. I could be wrong.

TheCars1986, have you listened to Serial? It's a podcast about an old murder case from Baltimore, I think.

Prosecution alleged the murder was committed in the span of 21 minutes.

The typewriter used to write the letters to police were found in Marfeo's mother's house. Unless someone was trying to frame him within his family, I don't see how anyone other than Marfeo would be the writer of those letters.


I am not certain he's not guilty.


But if you're interested in why this might be more complicated than it seems, google "marfeo 1966"

Politics in Rhode Island have been very, very complicated for a very, very long time.

And why would he write letters implicating himself in murder when Doreen was only missing?

And why would he write letters implicating himself in murder when Doreen was only missing?

That's a good question. This may sound weird, but I wonder if that was his way of confessing to get it off his chest.

This may sound weird, but I wonder if that was his way of confessing to get it off his chest.

I always thought that was exactly what it was. I think deep down, Stephen Marfeo always wanted to be caught. I'm not sure if he would be the type to ever outrightly admit to killing Doreen (which I absolutely think he did). But I don't think he would've pitched the biggest fit in the world had he actually been picked up.

I always thought that was exactly what it was. I think deep down, Stephen Marfeo always wanted to be caught. I'm not sure if he would be the type to ever outrightly admit to killing Doreen (which I absolutely think he did). But I don't think he would've pitched the biggest fit in the world had he actually been picked up.
I agree with this, but I also think he had somewhat of an ego. His attitude in regard to the police detective Nardolillo (in the article you posted earlier) indicates his arrogance and possibly explains why he never actually confessed, even before he took his own life.

And why would he write letters implicating himself in murder when Doreen was only missing?

I wonder if it was a reverse psychology type thing. Maybe he figured if he implicated himself the police would think he was innocent because why would someone write such a letter to implicate themselves?

Additionally, the first letter didn't implicate Stephen at all. Rather it suggested possible suspects as Doreen was supposedly having affairs (none of these claims checked out, btw).

My gut feeling is that the point of both letters was subterfuge.

TheCars1986, have you listened to Serial? It's a podcast about an old murder case from Baltimore, I think.

Prosecution alleged the murder was committed in the span of 21 minutes.

No I have not, but I know a lot of people who loved listening to it.

I think the letters were a way of either trying to get heat off of Marfeo or his backwards way of confessing to what had happened.

That kind of typewriter evidence is supposed to be damning, but charges were never filed.
I find the author of the letters a subject of intrigue, since they are so dubious, you have to wonder who would write something like that.

I think it's less likely that Marfeo killed his wife since the murder of his cheating girlfriend was so sloppy in comparison.

That kind of typewriter evidence is supposed to be damning, but charges were never filed.
I find the author of the letters a subject of intrigue, since they are so dubious, you have to wonder who would write something like that.

I think it's less likely that Marfeo killed his wife since the murder of his cheating girlfriend was so sloppy in comparison.I find it more likely, actually. I believe what happened was that when he learned his ex-girlfriend was "cheating" on him, he probably had flashbacks to Doreen and just lost it. He knew he wasn't getting away with this one, so he killed himself instead of getting caught.

That's just how I see it, anyway.

I've only seen this segment a few times and not in a while. But I thought he was guilty esp when I saw the update that he committed suicide. Sometimes when spouses abuse and or kill in a relationship they are destined to be repeat offenders. I think UM featured many cases like that when the perp was caught the second or third time around.

It just bothers me because the first murder was the perfect crime compared to the second.
If he murdered Doreen, he kept himself together for years and even had the nerve to appear on TV and seem genuinely innocent.

Since he pulled off the first murder so well (if he actually did it) the only thing that would make them both make sense was if he intended to commit suicide beforehand. Regardless of how suspicious he was, he was the default suspect in Doreen's murder because he was her husband and there were no other promising leads.

I am generally a suspicious person, but I see significant reasonable doubt without considering his verified murder. Maybe he did kill Doreen, but everything I can think of pertaining to that is pretty strange, so it remains somewhat of an interesting mystery in retrospect.

It just bothers me because the first murder was the perfect crime compared to the second.
If he murdered Doreen, he kept himself together for years and even had the nerve to appear on TV and seem genuinely innocent.

Since he pulled off the first murder so well (if he actually did it) the only thing that would make them both make sense was if he intended to commit suicide beforehand. Regardless of how suspicious he was, he was the default suspect in Doreen's murder because he was her husband and there were no other promising leads.

I am generally a suspicious person, but I see significant reasonable doubt without considering his verified murder. Maybe he did kill Doreen, but everything I can think of pertaining to that is pretty strange, so it remains somewhat of an interesting mystery in retrospect. well there are a lot of different ways to look at it. Maybe there's not enough evidence to prove he did it but he was abusive was he not? I don't exactly remember the details just know that once I realized he killed later It made me very suspicious that he indeed killed her. Who else could have done it. Him committing suicide is also alarming on top of everything else. He had to live with her murder for years holding it in and living a lie if he did kill her. That has to be hard for anyone who
Remotely has human feelings.

Did anyone else find it interesting that none of Stephen's family appeared on camera?

It is Rhode Island. It is possible there are reasons his family didn't want to appear on camera. Marfeo is a little bit of a famous last name in certain circles in Rhode Island/Boston/Eastern CT.

Read this.
http://americanmafia.com/Cities/New_England-Providence.html

Pretty confident he killed Doreen. The police captain had a point of saying a man who hires a private detective to follow his wife around for a year for no good reason yet doesn't immediately report her missing? It's not consistent. He sounds like an unemotional unstable, jealous insecure abuser (whether physically or emotionally). I think the second time around he couldn't handle those overwhelming emotions of jealousy or fear of someone leaving again. He probably didn't hide her murder because this time he knew he was going to kill himself. If he's dead, he can't be brought to justice. So no need to hide her body and cover up the crime. I just think he was an emotionally unstable and disturbed individual who couldn't control his jealousy and insecurities.

Pretty confident he killed Doreen. The police captain had a point of saying a man who hires a private detective to follow his wife around for a year for no good reason yet doesn't immediately report her missing? It's not consistent. He sounds like an unemotional unstable, jealous insecure abuser (whether physically or emotionally). I think the second time around he couldn't handle those overwhelming emotions of jealousy or fear of someone leaving again. He probably didn't hide her murder because this time he knew he was going to kill himself. If he's dead, he can't be brought to justice. So no need to hide her body and cover up the crime. I just think he was an emotionally unstable and disturbed individual who couldn't control his jealousy and insecurities.

This^^^^

Pretty confident he killed Doreen. The police captain had a point of saying a man who hires a private detective to follow his wife around for a year for no good reason yet doesn't immediately report her missing? It's not consistent.

I had forgot about this part and it's an excellent point. Marfeo was obviously a jealous a-hole, who had it in him to actually murder his ex-girlfriend...it's not that much of a stretch to think he would have done the same to Doreen as well since he did assume she was cheating on him.

Should also point out that the letters sent to the police were made on a typewriter that was owned by his mother. And he had a 70 minute lunch break, who takes this much time out to go home and eat?

If his mother's typewriter was a positive match, why didn't they charge him? I don't expect anyone to be able to answer that.

If his mother's typewriter was a positive match, why didn't they charge him? I don't expect anyone to be able to answer that.

Technically that only makes him guilty of writing the letters, not killing his wife. But just bc it's his mothers type writer , in a defense attorneys argument, doesn't mean he was the only one who could've wrote those letters. Also, since there is no body, a defense attorney could argue Doeeen herself wrote it before she disappeared to cover her tracks and frame her husband. As I'm sure Doreen would've had access to a type writer at her in laws before she vanished.

Thr DA and LE know they only get one shot at trying a case. If he was acquitted , they can never try him again even if later on Doreen's body was found and there's a forensic like to her husband. I think police were hoping her body would be found and they would have more evidence. Since he killed himself in 1999, they wouldn't charge him now.

Also, it's beyond a responsible doubt, that's a very high standard and even though from the episode he looked very guilty, it's a high burden of proof for all 12 people to reach just on a letter.

Lastly, Doreen's own family (mother and sister) believed in his innocence (atleast at the time the episode aired, they might have changed their minds after his murder/suicide and the passage of time) so, a defense attorney would put her family on the stand in his defense. That's pretty powerful when you have no body and no crime scene.

Again, they get one shot and at that time, it was probably felt that there was to high of a risk of an acquittal. Once he's acquitted, he can't be tried again no matter what.

If his mother's typewriter was a positive match, why didn't they charge him? I don't expect anyone to be able to answer that.

Well they really couldn't be 100% certain that Stephen wrote them. There had to be other family members who also had access to the typewriter.

Good point, good chance of acquittal.

The thing that makes those letters so dubious is that they read like an odd confession, as if Stephen wrote it in the third person, accusing himself, and disclosing his excuse/motive.
If he was confessing, why write the letters in the third person? He seems too composed to write an anonymous letter accusing himself of murder, as well as providing details and motive. It's just so weird.

It's not entirely unlikely that he killed Doreen, but a lot of the circumstances are so odd.

Seen this pic on facebook earlier and the last part made me immediately think of this segment.


https://scontent.fmci1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12208798_652485674888542_535445101188011997_n.jpg?oh=87d26d366cf30ce2ed5a39d5af432ae1&oe=56EAEA87

LOL!!

lol at that picture.

I have to agree with those who think he killed her. The typewriter is a big help in convincing me, but I agree with everyone who says they couldn't arrest him with just that. But I am sure he wrote the letters. And I agree it was a way to get it off his chest and possibly throw the suspicion off himself in some odd way.

I also don't think the fact that his second murder was sloppy and his first was well hidden means anything. He probably knew he was going to kill himself and it was a heat of the moment thing, and didn't care enough to bother with covering it up.

I think the suicide letter is telling too. The 9 years too long, the I'm sorry about Doreen, etc... but I think he still didn't want to outright admit he killed her because he had spent so long hiding it. But he did apologize to get it off his chest again.

I couldn't read the link posted a few pages back, it goes to a different article now, but on something I read about this case, maybe on Charley Project, it said that her mother still didn't think he killed Doreen even after his suicide.

I think him killing the ex-gf shows he had an explosive temper, the whole PI thing with Doreen, he sounds controlling and possessive. Just because he wasn't charged with anything between the two things doesn't mean he wasn't exhibiting violent abusive behavior. Lots of guys do and back then police didn't have to arrest someone like they do now, so if women did call the police (which they often don't anyway) they could drop the charges and the guy would have no record.

I have no doubt this guy was abusive, killed Doreen and got away with it, was probably abusive and obsessive with his ex-gf and just couldn't find the courage to drop his pride and directly admit he killed Doreen even when he was going to die and people would know he was a killer anyway.

Yes, I think Mr. Marfeo killed his wife nine years before his own suicide and the murder of his onetime girlfriend but two things I have to wonder.

1. Could it have been JUST jealousy that caused him to kill the onetime girlfriend or could he have earlier told her what had happened to Doreen and, now that they were broken up, he was afraid she'd sing?

2. Could Doreen's family who refused to believe he was guilty of Doreen's disappearance (including her own mother even AFTER his confirmed murder-suicide) have ALSO blown off Doreen's earlier pleas for help because they liked him SO much that they didn't want him not to be part of their family? Crazy but this wouldn't be the first time a victim's family would side with their abuser (and, if they DID blow off Doreen, I seriously doubt they'd have honestly admitted this). . :mad:

[QUOTE=TheCars1986]Thank you for sharing the link. UM left out yet another crucial detail when they profiled this case. Had they brought up the fact that Marfeo had hired two separate PI's to follow Doreen around, there'd be no question IMO that he killed her. It's already been proven that he killed someone in a fit of jealousy in 1999, so why is it so hard to believe he did it nine years prior?

EDIT - Just checked out the Charley Project website which featured Doreen's case and it had another interesting tidbit about good ol' Stephen:

"In June 1990, police received two typewritten letters. The first one stated that Stephen had strangled Doreen on the day of her disappearance and dumped her body in a pond in Providence, Rhode Island. The second letter accused Doreen of having affairs with some of her co-workers, men which the letter identified by name. Both letters were typed on a typewriter from Stephen's mother's house; authorities believe Stephen wrote them, although the letters refer to him in the third person. When the police confronted Stephen about the letters, he hired an attorney and stopped cooperating in the investigation."[/QUOT

I can't understand why Stephen would type a letter incriminating himself. He would have to be extremely arrogant to do something like that.

I can't understand why Stephen would type a letter incriminating himself. He would have to be extremely arrogant to do something like that.

I think Stephen did it and suffered under a TON of guilt about it. I think the letters were Stephen's attempt at both confessing to and justifying what he did to Doreen.

When he ultimately killed himself, he left a note saying he felt "guilty" for Doreen's disappearance but he stopped short of confessing. He was obviously a troubled man who did horrible things to people and then would feel tremendous guilt about it.

Another one of the "Truth is stranger than fiction" crowd.

I think Stephen did it and suffered under a TON of guilt about it. I think the letters were Stephen's attempt at both confessing to and justifying what he did to Doreen.

When he ultimately killed himself, he left a note saying he felt "guilty" for Doreen's disappearance but he stopped short of confessing. He was obviously a troubled man who did horrible things to people and then would feel tremendous guilt about it.

Another one of the "Truth is stranger than fiction" crowd.

Yes, I think one of the reasons Doreen's family believed Stephen was innocent and openly supported him is because it sounds like he went out of his way to be nice to them after Doreen vanished. In fact, I believe I read somewhere that Stephen was giving Doreen's mother rides to medical appointments shortly before his death. I wouldn't doubt he did all this to overcompensate for feelings of guilt.

This one really creeped me out
Finding out about the girlfriend murder turned suicide really scares me

The best part of waking up....is double murder in your cup.

As far as the "nine years longer than I should have" comment, one persuaded of his innocence could take it to mean his life had been meaningless since Doreen died.
To me, it's truly mindboggling that she has yet to be found after 28 years. He must have found the world's best hiding place. Any chance she was dumped in the Atlantic? Rhode Island is right on the coast and in the ocean, there's a good chance she'd never be found.

I was able to transcribe some of one of the letters that policed received a few months after Doreen disappeared, thanks to Amazon Prime. Here's what it said (spelling and punctuation corrected by me):

Considering myself a good christian and citizen I feel a moral obligation to impart my knowledge of Mrs. Marfeo. Although on the outside she personifies class, beauty, and professionalism, in reality she is nothing more than a cheap harlot. A diabolical individual with an insatiable appetite for sex. I've been witness to the majority of the boys fondling her or worse in various locations throughout the premises. Her promotions were achieved by her sexual prowess rather than management or leadership abilities. I've seen disgusting acts of immorality unbecoming to a married lady. Experiencing mechanical failure one evening after work, I walked by her lighted office to use the phone. Upon opening the door, I found her and Mr. Inder engaged in the sinful sex of adultery. I excused myself and ran out.

The next few sentences are too blurry to make out complete sentences, but the gist of it is accusing her of being seen with an older man kissing in a car while the letter writer witnessed this while leaving a restaurant. The letter ends with, "God help her". I don't doubt for a second that Stephen Marfeo wrote this letter under the guise of a coworker who caught her cheating. Why else would he have hired 2 different PI's to trail Doreen for a year? Plus, UM says that the police were able to determine that this letter was written on a typewriter owned by Stephen's mother. He suspected she was cheating, so he killed her.

ETA: The second letter sent to police said this:

Stephen Marfeo left his work place, drove home to have lunch with his wife. There was no lunch. Doreen sleeping on couch in living room. Stephen got hot under the collar. He made for couch and strangled Doreen. Stephen meted fast. He stuffed Doreen's shoes and handbag in a shopping bag and tied it on her waist. He wrapped body in blanket, secured it with clothesline rope. He deposited body in trunk of his car. Marfeo got in car, crossed Providence line. Two miles on a narrow dirt road he stopped and deposited his wife's body in reeds in a pond. Marfeo returned to work. A flat tire his excuse for extended lunch hour. Marfeo was home at 4 PM, on [illegible] phone calling police reporting his wife missing. Marfeo is highly skilled in fine art of deception. He can make a lie have the ring of truth.

I'm not so sure Marfeo wrote this 2nd letter. For one, it says he called the police at 4 on the day of her disappearance to report her missing. This isn't true. It took him 2 full days to report her missing to the police. I wonder if this was a friend of Doreen's, or a coworker/friend of Stephen's who suspected he was involved with his wife's disappearance and wanted the attention shifted to him. The cops seem to think Marfeo wrote both letters, but the tone and overall linguistics of both letters is strikingly different.

This guy was a true psychopath, never seen anybody so convincing on their segment-you could honestly believe he was telling the truth as opposed to the usual ones who look & sound insincere, arrogant, etc. He was so convincing he even managed to fool her sister & mother.

This guy was a true psychopath, never seen anybody so convincing on their segment-you could honestly believe he was telling the truth as opposed to the usual ones who look & sound insincere, arrogant, etc. He was so convincing he even managed to fool her sister & mother.

I think UM helped play up his being believable. They used his story and narration about how Doreen was acting extremely strange days prior to her disappearance. They let him lay the groundwork for the theory that she either had an affair and ran off, or had a mental break and took off. And they offer no rebuttal. They use his story (which cannot be verified) as the back drop to the entire segment.

This UM segment was bonkers. One of the few segments where I feel comfortable saying they interviewed a murderer. He was probably a narcissist ... and don't get me started on Doreen's sister. She acted like Stephen's #1 cheerleader even offering up a possible past affair angle. I'd love to know what kind of relationship these two women had. I know it's super common for family members to be in denial on these shows, but it really made me question what quality of sister she had been.

I'm still 50/50 on this one even after the update.

We know Doreen had a major affair at one point and was only convinced not to leave Stephen after talking to her sister and brother-in-law. If not for those two she probably would have left with the guy like she planned. The idea of later affairs doesn't seem odd to me, whether for pleasure or promotions. The fact her bosses said they didn't engage with her are pointless claims. What were they going to do? Say yes? They probably had their own wives and families and reputations to uphold. Knowing how offices are I also don't think her coworkers would have necessarily known anything either. Things like this are usually kept pretty hush hush.

The only thing that really baffles me about this one is that she quit her job. Seems completely random. I doubt she would have felt bad for what she had done even if she did only have that one past affair. I have a hunch Stephen found out about something and she knew he found out. This and her clear disinterest in her marriage makes me think it's very possible she did just up and leave, possibly quitting as a way to kick off her new life away from everyone and everything, also possibly going back to the man she had an affair with years ago or a new one.

People do just up and leave. If her breakdowns really did happen this is especially possible. UM was rife with disappearances like this such as Patricia Meehan who seemed to just walk off and vanish after she became disappointed with her life. Stephen's later actions definitely show he's capable of homicide but actual evidence would be needed to really sway me knowing what else we do about this case.

At the end of the day it's all speculation. However loved ones and relationships are always looked at as potential suspects for a reason. If she was that unhappy - she divorces him and moves on. Unlikely she drops off the face of the map.

I agree that Stephen was probabally innocent. The later incident has little to no informative capacity on the probability of the prior event. Keeping in mind he was a man who had lost his wife and had no closure from that event I can see how his later mental state might have been impacted. Nor is his statement later on an admission of guilt, far from it.

https://media.tenor.com/t3rSlaTvy7wAAAAC/50cent-on-phone.gif

When I want to run off on my spouse, I take $600 out of the $50,000 we have in our joint bank account, and a suitcase full of clothes. I do not take tooth brush, my pets, or my car. Totally plausible.

When I want to run off on my spouse, I take $600 out of the $50,000 we have in our joint bank account, and a suitcase full of clothes. I do not take tooth brush, my pets, or my car. Totally plausible.

Whoa man. She just wanted Stephen to have everything, that's all. She only took $600 because she wanted Stephen to have the rest. She also wanted Stephen to have the car so she traveled on foot. He's totally innocent, she just inconvenienced herself for Stephen

Also, him shooting his girlfriend and her ex DOESN'T prove anything! That totally doesn't prove that Stephen was a jealous lover with a hothead. There's no way he shot Doreen, she just traveled on foot. He also didn't mean to shoot his other girlfriend, his finger was just itching and when he tried to scratch it the gun went off. Again, Stephen HAS NOT displayed acts of jealously, controlling, and anger (end sarcasm)

Whoa man. She just wanted Stephen to have everything, that's all. She only took $600 because she wanted Stephen to have the rest. She also wanted Stephen to have the car so she traveled on foot. He's totally innocent, she just inconvenienced herself for Stephen

Also, him shooting his girlfriend and her ex DOESN'T prove anything! That totally doesn't prove that Stephen was a jealous lover with a hothead. There's no way he shot Doreen, she just traveled on foot. He also didn't mean to shoot his other girlfriend, his finger was just itching and when he tried to scratch it the gun went off. Again, Stephen HAS NOT displayed acts of jealously, controlling, and anger (end sarcasm)

Don't forget that someone very close to Stephen's mother, who would have had to have had access to her typewriter and house, wrote two letters and mailed them to police in an effort to frame poor Stephen.

Don't forget that someone very close to Stephen's mother, who would have had to have had access to her typewriter and house, wrote two letters and mailed them to police in an effort to frame poor Stephen.

Oh wow I completely forgot about that. Well that obviously eliminates Stephen because he obviously wouldn't do anything like that.

After doing some armchair detective work and reading alot of articles and other sites the only suspect I could come up with were the cats that Doreen left behind. I know this seems crazy but let me go over a few points:

1.) We know that Doreen wouldn't leave her fur babies behind

2.) In no way would Stephen do this

So after some deep digging the only conclusion I could come up with were that her two cats were the culprits. Those cats cunningly tried to frame Stephen for her disappearance. Using the car that was left behind, they drove to Stephen's mother house and used the typewriter and mailed those letter out to frame him.

I bet if LE dusted that typewriter today for prints they would find multiple cat paw prints on it

At the end of the day it's all speculation. However loved ones and relationships are always looked at as potential suspects for a reason. If she was that unhappy - she divorces him and moves on. Unlikely she drops off the face of the map.
You're assuming people make the same choices you do. Doreen already proved once that she wasn't the negotiation type. She was all set up to walk out on him without him even knowing anything was happening.

Lots of spurious conclusions being drawn here.

Her not cleaning out bank accounts or bringing things with her is at most evidence she did not plan to leave for an extended time. If she left for only a short while and met with foul play at the hands of persons unknown that would be consistent with what she did not take with her.

As to the letters, typewriter analysis is more of a "consistent with" than "exclusively from" exercise in forensics. Its reliability is frequently overstated. Moreover, even if that letter did come from that typewriter, several other persons had access to it, some of whom may have written the letters in an attempt to deflect attention from Stephen in a misguided attempt to "set things right" etc. That seems at least, if not more, likely than him writing them if he were guilty.

If she left for only a short while and met with foul play at the hands of persons unknown that would be consistent with what she did not take with her.

Great. Where is she at? Who has more incentive to hide her body? Someone completely unknown to her, or her soon to be ex-husband?

Moreover, even if that letter did come from that typewriter, several other persons had access to it, some of whom may have written the letters in an attempt to deflect attention from Stephen in a misguided attempt to "set things right" etc. That seems at least, if not more, likely than him writing them if he were guilty.

Lol

I appreciate the devil's advocacy you do in every thread, but this is laughable. A relative of Stephen's (or close friend to his mother) writes up a letter detailing how, why, and where he killed her to "set things right"? What does that mean? Why write this letter in graphic detail if you only suspected Stephen? Or...maybe someone else did write this letter because of what Stephen Marfeo told them. That seems at least, if not more, likely than someone randomly writing a fan fiction of a murder because they wanted to "set things right".

Moreover, even if that letter did come from that typewriter, several other persons had access to it, some of whom may have written the letters in an attempt to deflect attention from Stephen in a misguided attempt to "set things right" etc. That seems at least, if not more, likely than him writing them if he were guilty.

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

So this mystery person who wanted to "set things right" for Stephen also probably shot his other girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend to "set things right" again too right?

https://media.tenor.com/2ZHOSWcGrSkAAAAC/literally-grasping-at-straws-reaching.gif

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

So this mystery person who wanted to "set things right" for Stephen also probably shot his other girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend to "set things right" again too right?



False, strawman. The letter writer was almost certainly not the perpetrator, but rather a relative who feared Stephen would be suspected and wrote the letters trying to deflect attention, they didn't have a clue what happened to Doreen.

Another incident 9 years later has no bearing on the case, its noise not signal.

False, strawman. The letter writer was almost certainly not the perpetrator, but rather a relative who feared Stephen would be suspected and wrote the letters trying to deflect attention, they didn't have a clue what happened to Doreen.

One letter accused Doreen of being a "harlot" who essentially made it through life by sleeping with every man she encountered. The other letter went into graphic detail as to how Stephen strangled her to death, ditched her body in a body of water, and then went back to work with the excuse that he had a flat tire.

^ On no planet is the above the actions of a concerned relative of Stephen trying to "set things right".

One letter accused Doreen of being a "harlot" who essentially made it through life by sleeping with every man she encountered. The other letter went into graphic detail as to how Stephen strangled her to death, ditched her body in a body of water, and then went back to work with the excuse that he had a flat tire.

^ On no planet is the above the actions of a concerned relative of Stephen trying to "set things right".

On what planet would it make sense for Stephen to send either letter, especially the second, in an attempt to clear himself?

One key point being glossed over here is that the first letter was the one actually matched to the typewriter and is the one who's contents reflect a concerned relative trying to redirect attention away from Stephen by calling attention to his wife's indiscretions.

The second letter was not a match for the typewriter, and very likely had a different author.

Another incident 9 years later has no bearing on the case, its noise not signal.

You're out of your mind if you don't think the incident 9 years later has anything to do with Doreen. First, I don't understand why you think Stephen is innocent. You're literally arguing for someone who killed another girlfriend and also shot her ex-boyfriend. The fact that you're defending such a terrible person confuses me, but I'll leave that alone.

Now to get to the main point. You think that Doreen and his other girlfriend's murder has nothing to do with each other, when in fact they do. The main link being your homeboy...Stephen Marfeo. Stephen had suspected Doreen of cheating and even hired private investigators to follow her around for several months before she became missing. He was also very controlling and paranoid of Doreen, calling her work and families house to make sure she was there, etc.

Now we have established that while with Doreen that Stephen was controlling, paranoid, suspected her of cheating, and possibly abusive. Now why on earth wouldn't you think someone like this who killed another girlfriend wouldn't kill Doreen?

I'm going to be completely honest, the fact that some people still think Stephen is innocent is completely insane and makes me nervous that we live on the same planet. Normally I do the whole "we're all entitled to our own opinions" but forget that. Like seriously, what's wrong with you? How are you so logically inept that you really think Stephen is innocent? Are you okay? Are you under the influence? I really don't understand

The second letter was not a match for the typewriter, and very likely had a different author.

Wrong (https://charleyproject.org/case/doreen-ann-marfeo)

Both letters were typed on a typewriter from Stephen's mother's house; authorities believe Stephen wrote them, although the letters referred to him in the third person. When the police confronted Stephen about the letters, he hired an attorney and stopped cooperating in the investigation.

You're out of your mind if you don't think the incident 9 years later has anything to do with Doreen. First, I don't understand why you think Stephen is innocent. You're literally arguing for someone who killed another girlfriend and also shot her ex-boyfriend. The fact that you're defending such a terrible person confuses me, but I'll leave that alone.

Now to get to the main point. You think that Doreen and his other girlfriend's murder has nothing to do with each other, when in fact they do. The main link being your homeboy...Stephen Marfeo. Stephen had suspected Doreen of cheating and even hired private investigators to follow her around for several months before she became missing. He was also very controlling and paranoid of Doreen, calling her work and families house to make sure she was there, etc.

Now we have established that while with Doreen that Stephen was controlling, paranoid, suspected her of cheating, and possibly abusive. Now why on earth wouldn't you think someone like this who killed another girlfriend wouldn't kill Doreen?

I'm going to be completely honest, the fact that some people still think Stephen is innocent is completely insane and makes me nervous that we live on the same planet. Normally I do the whole "we're all entitled to our own opinions" but forget that. Like seriously, what's wrong with you? How are you so logically inept that you really think Stephen is innocent? Are you okay? Are you under the influence? I really don't understand

Take 15 minutes to read their posting history. I am convinced this person is just posting to troll us. This is what the "ignore function" comes in handy.

Take 15 minutes to read their posting history. I am convinced this person is just posting to troll us. This is what the "ignore function" comes in handy.

Damn, you're right

You're out of your mind if you don't think the incident 9 years later has anything to do with Doreen. First, I don't understand why you think Stephen is innocent. You're literally arguing for someone who killed another girlfriend and also shot her ex-boyfriend. The fact that you're defending such a terrible person confuses me, but I'll leave that alone.

Now to get to the main point. You think that Doreen and his other girlfriend's murder has nothing to do with each other, when in fact they do. The main link being your homeboy...Stephen Marfeo. Stephen had suspected Doreen of cheating and even hired private investigators to follow her around for several months before she became missing. He was also very controlling and paranoid of Doreen, calling her work and families house to make sure she was there, etc.

Now we have established that while with Doreen that Stephen was controlling, paranoid, suspected her of cheating, and possibly abusive. Now why on earth wouldn't you think someone like this who killed another girlfriend wouldn't kill Doreen?

I'm going to be completely honest, the fact that some people still think Stephen is innocent is completely insane and makes me nervous that we live on the same planet. Normally I do the whole "we're all entitled to our own opinions" but forget that. Like seriously, what's wrong with you? How are you so logically inept that you really think Stephen is innocent? Are you okay? Are you under the influence? I really don't understand

I agree with you - no one, except Stephen, would have a motive to make Doreen disappear.

I agree with you - no one, except Stephen, would have a motive to make Doreen disappear.

Exactly. He has also shown that he has what it takes to kill someone. The same thing that happened to his ex girlfriend that he killed was the same thing that happened to Doreen. His jealousy and anger was the reason he killed both of them.

The act of being left or cheated on drove him to murder. Then the coward couldn't even tell the police where Doreen was before killing himself. He's going around killing women, but as soon as the police close in on him he kills himself. It shows you what a spineless, insecure, jealous little man he was.

The detective on this case said it best. The guy had two private investigators follow his wife. He was that paranoid about where she was going and what she was doing. But when she disappeared, he just wasn't "that concerned" at first. This is classic for cases in which possessive spouses and partners are the guilty party--they're no longer concerned because they know exactly where the missing person is and what happened to them.

The detective on this case said it best. The guy had two private investigators follow his wife. He was that paranoid about where she was going and what she was doing. But when she disappeared, he just wasn't "that concerned" at first. This is classic for cases in which possessive spouses and partners are the guilty party--they're no longer concerned because they know exactly where the missing person is and what happened to them.

Precisely. You said it better than me

The detective on this case said it best. The guy had two private investigators follow his wife. He was that paranoid about where she was going and what she was doing. But when she disappeared, he just wasn't "that concerned" at first. This is classic for cases in which possessive spouses and partners are the guilty party--they're no longer concerned because they know exactly where the missing person is and what happened to them.

Spurious logic here which draws the wrong conclusions. Her behavior was clearly indicative of someone having an affair, hence why he sought investigators to find her.

At the same time her behavior constituted what would be called "normalization of deviance" where absences and leaving without saying where she was going became an expected part of the relationship.

The detective is wrong, there is no inherent tension between wanting someone to check into your spouses odd behavior because you suspect an affair is happening and not being alarmed when they are not home for a couple days. In fact those things go hand in hand.

Spurious logic here which draws the wrong conclusions. Her behavior was clearly indicative of someone having an affair, hence why he sought investigators to find her.

At the same time her behavior constituted what would be called "normalization of deviance" where absences and leaving without saying where she was going became an expected part of the relationship.

The detective is wrong, there is no inherent tension between wanting someone to check into your spouses odd behavior because you suspect an affair is happening and not being alarmed when they are not home for a couple days. In fact those things go hand in hand.

So he's extremely paranoid about his wife's actions (to the point of hiring two PIs), but magically not worried at all when she suddenly is nowhere to be found? Those don't go hand in hand at all. It would be highly abnormal for him to be obsessive about what his wife is doing only to be calm when she can't even be located. If anything, he should have been even more riled up.

This behavior doesn't MAKE him guilty, but it's a very common occurrence among guilty partners to suddenly not be so concerned for the mate they were previously tracking so intensely.

So he's extremely paranoid about his wife's actions (to the point of hiring two PIs), but magically not worried at all when she suddenly is nowhere to be found? Those don't go hand in hand at all. It would be highly abnormal for him to be obsessive about what his wife is doing only to be calm when she can't even be located. If anything, he should have been even more riled up.

This behavior doesn't MAKE him guilty, but it's a very common occurrence among guilty partners to suddenly not be so concerned for the mate they were previously tracking so intensely.

False. He is not "extremely paranoid", he notices her doing things which most would interpret as having an affair, so he has investigators look into it.

Likewise, and as a consequence of that normalization of deviance, when she is not home for a couple days he is concerned, but because she has been evasive about what she has been doing he does not think it is immediately suspicious that she is gone for a while. That is perfectly sensible.

You are assuming facts not in evidence and looking through the wrong end of the telescope. When someone is having marital problems and is concerned about what they are doing behind their back they are less, not more, likely to be concerned if their partner simply does not return one night.

Let me try to illustrate the stupidity of the logic in the theory posed by the detective.

He is concerned his wife is cheating or otherwise involved in something and she won't tell him so he has investigators look into it. Still concerned that she is doing something behind his back or involved in something she does not come home one day or the next. What is he supposed to do, run to the detective and say my wife has been weird lately and didn't come home tonight? That same detective probabally would have assumed she left him and not bothered to file it as a report.

He is concerned his wife is cheating or otherwise involved in something and she won't tell him so he has investigators look into it. Still concerned that she is doing something behind his back or involved in something she does not come home one day or the next. What is he supposed to do, run to the detective and say my wife has been weird lately and didn't come home tonight? That same detective probabally would have assumed she left him and not bothered to file it as a report.

Uh...yes?

Your wife, who you are convinced is having an affair, does not come home one day or the next. Something that has never happened before. You absolutely report her missing if you had nothing to do with her disappearance.

Uh...yes?

Your wife, who you are convinced is having an affair, does not come home one day or the next. Something that has never happened before. You absolutely report her missing if you had nothing to do with her disappearance.

Nope, that is not how normalization of deviance works.

Your wife, who you have a good marriage with, does not come home one night. You report it because it is not normal for her to be gone and not tell you where she went and you are concerned.

By contrast.

Your wife, who you have been on the rocks with for months/years and has been leaving to places without informing you of her whereabouts on a regular basis is not home. What do you do? This deviance has been normalized, so your concern is less, and you are concerned that going to the police will antagonize her in the 99%+ chance that this is another one of her "I'm going out" nights. So you waffle, wait, and after some delay realize that this is probabally serious and go to the police (as he did).

Your wife, who you have been on the rocks with for months/years and has been leaving to places without informing you of her whereabouts on a regular basis is not home. What do you do? This deviance has been normalized, so your concern is less, and you are concerned that going to the police will antagonize her in the 99%+ chance that this is another one of her "I'm going out" nights. So you waffle, wait, and after some delay realize that this is probabally serious and go to the police (as he did).

According to Stephen their marriage was on the rocks. I do not believe him. Your wife, of whom you suspect is having an affair, does not come home one night. Okay, so he doesn't call the police. Why doesn't he go off and try to find where she's at? Why doesn't he get one of his private investigators to go try and find where she's at? No. He doesn't do any of that. Because he already knew where she was and where he put her body. He admitted to as much in his typewritten letters to the cops.

.

Your wife, who you have been on the rocks with for months/years and has been leaving to places without informing you of her whereabouts on a regular basis is not home. What do you do? This deviance has been normalized, so your concern is less, and you are concerned that going to the police will antagonize her in the 99%+ chance that this is another one of her "I'm going out" nights. So you waffle, wait, and after some delay realize that this is probabally serious and go to the police (as he did).

I understand what you're saying, and I get your logic, but why didn't he contact her family and friends as he normally did when she wasn't missing?

You don't just act crazy controlling and suspicious when she isn't missing, then stop caring when she is missing

You don't just act crazy controlling and suspicious when she isn't missing, then stop caring when she is missing

You do when you are the one responsible for her disappearance. Just like Adnan Syed (of serial "fame") never once tried to call Hae Min Lee after she disappeared...he knew she was dead.

You do when you are the one responsible for her disappearance. Just like Adnan Syed (of serial "fame") never once tried to call Hae Min Lee after she disappeared...he knew she was dead.

Exactly

Stephen certainly played his in-laws for fools. They seemed to genuinely like him.

Anyone who watches the segment and thinks he is innocent, I can understand. To be honest, my spider tingly senses weren't going off here but after the update of him killing another woman just shows what he was capable of... and it leans pretty heavily in favour of guilty.

Anyone who watches the segment and thinks he is innocent, I can understand. To be honest, my spider tingly senses weren't going off here but after the update of him killing another woman just shows what he was capable of... and it leans pretty heavily in favour of guilty.

I can’t remember watching this segment and ever thinking that he was innocent. The only thing going for him was that his in laws liked him and took his side. It’s kind of sad in retrospect that they didn’t encourage her to leave him when she had the chance. Not that any of that changes anything though. He was really weird and I cringe any time I see the segment and he’s staring out of his window pretending to act like he’s waiting on her or something.

He was really weird and I cringe any time I see the segment and he’s staring out of his window pretending to act like he’s waiting on her or something.

Same. I've seen people mention on here it's like a Folgers commercial as he sips his coffee and the music plays.

Same. I've seen people mention on here it's like a Folgers commercial as he sips his coffee and the music plays.

:lol:

Made my skin crawl. Didn’t believe a word he said.

Made my skin crawl. Didn’t believe a word he said.

Same. The fact that Doreen’s own family backed him up is downright disgusting. If I had one wish regarding this case it would be to ask them to explain themselves now. They should be ashamed.

Made my skin crawl. Didn’t believe a word he said.

Welcome! definitely agree. I don't know who I dislike more, he or Mark Nichols. Some how I think Marfeo come off as more of a self centered prick but Nichols looks more guilty.

From what I remember about the segment the thing that makes him look guilty is his demeanor, not the evidence so much. In a way he is a bit of a Paul Pollis type of case. Pollis really has no physical evidence against him, but does come across as weird in the interview.

If you take away Steven's demeanor and the fact that he killed his next girlfriend before killing himself then I will agree that it looks like Doreen could have just left him. Maybe with her lack of support from her family was enough for her to say "Screw it". It wouldn't be the first time. However, I do think he killed her.

I don't know about all of you, but the moment I saw this guy's eyes and then he spoke, I knew he killed her. It was obvious. Maybe it's from growing up in New York, you learn to survive by catching the fakers and he was clearly fake, at least to me. The update more shocked me because I thought there would just be an update where the police charged him or he finally confessed. I think he did not confess when he committed suicide because he didn't want to hurt her mother and sister because they believed him. It didn't occur to him that killing his ex-girlfriend would make it fairly obvious that he killed his wife. Everything about this guy appeared fake to me. He was trying to sell an image for the cameras. He reminds me of the narcissists I've known who think they're so clever that they have everyone fooled. The only reason they might fool people is because those people would not do some of those things and assume others are the same.

The fact that he hired a private investigator to trail her (like he probably did his ex-girlfriend) told me everything I needed to know about him. Men who are that controlling, usually snap if they find out a woman wants to leave them - maybe he found out about an affair. I believe he wrote the letters and I think he made the whole thing up about her having a nervous breakdown. I don't think she talked to him about anything at all!

She likely did tell him something. She likely asked him not to kill her.

I remember seeing this case on lifetime back in the early 2000’s and that scary blue update came on and said what happened in 1999. It was horrible.

Same. The fact that Doreen’s own family backed him up is downright disgusting. If I had one wish regarding this case it would be to ask them to explain themselves now. They should be ashamed.

IDK I always saw that as them having to come to grips with either he killed her or she ran away on her own - and they were clinging to the one that leaves the possibility that she's still alive.

I will admit that despite his smug interview, I was shocked when that text update first appeared on Lifetime reruns.

IDK I always saw that as them having to come to grips with either he killed her or she ran away on her own - and they were clinging to the one that leaves the possibility that she's still alive.

I can totally see your point, in fact I would probably feel the same about a missing family member. I think we all would want to believe a missing loved one is still alive.

But Doreen’s family’s aggressive defense of Stephen leaves me like…..what? Why? Why did they specifically believe he was not responsible? That is what I would like to ask them. My immediate “true crime” thought is sister was having an affair with him. Or at least she was attracted to him. But seriously now, I’m at a loss at to why they seemed to like him so much, he was so smug. The older I get the more I believe water finds its own level.

But Doreen’s family’s aggressive defense of Stephen leaves me like…..what? Why? Why did they specifically believe he was not responsible? That is what I would like to ask them. My immediate “true crime” thought is sister was having an affair with him. Or at least she was attracted to him. But seriously now, I’m at a loss at to why they seemed to like him so much, he was so smug. The older I get the more I believe water finds its own level.

That was my exact thought too. You can see it in the sister's face in the segment. She clearly felt something for the guy. Maybe it was an affair, maybe she was an accomplice or pushed him to do it, maybe she wanted to be with him and it went terribly wrong. It doesn't usually lead to murder, but women mate snatch all the time. Seems like a pretty obvious case of it here.

It’s so obvious he killed her and he’s so smug too “the police can say whatever they want and they do and they get away with it” he’s was playing the victim!! And now he’s dead, I wonder what the “sister” says now??

It’s so obvious he killed her and he’s so smug too “the police can say whatever they want and they do and they get away with it” he’s was playing the victim!! And now he’s dead, I wonder what the “sister” says now??

Doreen's mother and sister have since passed away

Doreen's mother and sister have since passed away
Well too bad they didn’t live to see this

the investigator owning Marfeo in the segment for being overly possessive and then trying to play it cool kind of reminds me of Mark Nichols when he gets called out for identifying all of the outfits that Christy Nichols packed.