Sorry for doing another Baskin thread, but this is something I've wondered about for a long time. Whenever I'd see a rerun on Lifetime (especially with that scary "half update") I'd think about what their lives were like. This could be anytime from 1989/90-2008 when the Maples were on the run, but especially like up to high school when we know they'd still be living at home, so basically all through the 90s is what I'm most curious about.

Of course no one knows for sure except them and Marvin (who probably would put his own spin on it even if someone asked him) and perhaps little bits from any friends or classmates of theirs. Reason I'm asking is I think that if we can trace it forward and kinda get an idea of what their lives were like during the inbetween years, we can better understand more their side of it today (like why they're sticking up for the Maples). Like how they were treated or just how everyone interacted and got along. I also wonder if anything changed when Sandra passed away a couple years ago. I really wish she'd lived to see this turn of events - I get the feeling from the segment that she was even worse than Marvin and probably masterminded it.

It's even more baffling to me (using a Stack word ;) ) how Bobby and Kristi apparently were in one place ever since fleeing Tennessee (coincidentally the area I live in too)... and with the reruns, how they were never identified. Especially in the earlier years when they'd be more recognizable to someone, like kids at their school.

I think that their lives were extremely orchestrated. They were home schooled, and they were probably allowed to have one or two friends each, but only at a very superficial lever and only for appearances. The friends would have been children of associates of the grandmother. There would have been very structured playdates and a few invitations to birthday parties, but nothing spontaneous.

IMOm their personalities would be very trained to project whatever the grandmother wished for them to project. Like the Joan Crawford kids who always sayd "Mommy Dearest" to overcompensat for what a B!t@h she really was.

I would challenge anyone to reveal a real friend of those poor kids. By now though, they would have work associates. But would they be friends or just co-workers? Like the Stephan King movie "Misery", the grandparents would have had very captive grandchildren.

Good points Franklin, yeah I think that's probably pretty accurate. I could especially see Sandra controlling them with an iron fist. Like not even hardly letting them watch tv, listen to music or play video games.

They might've loosened the reins little by little as they got older, but not much.

That's what's so horrible about things like this, is that the aftereffects tend to follow people as they get older. Thank gosh they both seem pretty successful today, but I wouldn't be surprised if they could be a little naive just from being (if we're right about this) so sheltered, deprived of much a social life/school life, and worst of all, lied to as kids.

The home environment in the Grandparents house would actually have been very good training for employment in todays corporate world. Bobby and Christy would have learned to conform and mesh with the controlling personalities of the grandparents. Often it is the control freaks like Sandra and Marvin who become the supervisors and move on to management positions. The Baskin kids would be the most trained in validating abusive supervisors and bending to their wills. And they would therefore be the last to be layed off in that kind of work environment if the economy slows down.

Or worse yet, the girl may have used the grandmother as a role model and might go "Hell on Wheels" with power if she ever gets promoted to a supervisory position. (while a sweet and docile favorite of an egocentric supervisor in the meantime) We see they are attractive enough and WE MAY SUSPECT they are "succesful" in the narrow realm of the workplace, but that only scratches the surface. We know nothing more than this.

In my eyes it is Mark and Debbie who demonstrate success. Strength against the onslought of abuse and bullying by some, and a Christian outlook that doesn't measure success by income or popularity.

^ Whoa not quite sure I follow you, although I totally agree with your first post.

I can't see there being anything good growing up in that environment, especially since they were living a lie and being deprived of normal lives (as well as robbing Mark and Debbie of their own kids) just because the Maples became possessive and selfish and couldn't take no for an answer. Especially Sandra.

If Bobby and Christie are well adjusted as young adults (as they seem to be) then I'd say it's a VERY lucky coincidence. I'm just relieved they're still alive, as I'm sure alot of the other people who've known the case for years are too.... but I wouldn't give any credit to the Maples for that. Their actions are despicable and I know alot of the posters on here have said the same thing.

I have no idea but since today is the 12th of May, hopefully we will get some answers in the next few weeks if Marvin Maples' trial isn't postponed.