Not sure how many of you are familiar with this case, but it was on American Justice. She was one of 3 people charged and convicted in the shooting death of her 4-year old son Christopher in Arizona in late 1989. Though it is not believed she was the actual shooter, some had suspected her of arranging it. Christopher was shot 3 times in the head. :( :mad:

She was convicted largely based on a supposed confession she gave to Detective Armando Saldate, who did not record the confession. It was later learned that Saldate had 8 previous instances of misconduct (as noted in his personnel file). In those cases, he either lied under oath or violated a suspects rights during interrogation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debra_Milke

http://murderpedia.org/female.M/m/milke-debra.htm

I think I saw this on Nancy Grace. Wasn't this near Christmas time. IMO she is guilty as sin.

I think I saw this on Nancy Grace. Wasn't this near Christmas time. IMO she is guilty as sin.

Yes. The one guy told him he was taking him to see Santa Claus and instead they drove him out to the desert and shot him! Very horrible crime!

I used to think she was pretty guilty, but now I just don't know.

I do believe she should get a new trial. The first one had everything from a bad judge, to an inept defense lawyer, to her supposed confession claimed by a crooked investigator, and the list goes on.

I am sort of disappointed with the American Justice episode on this. They had several pieces of an interview with Mark Milke (Christopher's father and Debbie's ex-husband). He claimed that Debbie had constantly neglected Christopher, sometimes leaving him in the care of others for weeks at a time, and was certain she killed him. However, according to one site I found on the net, Mark was an alcoholic and drug addict who had been jailed numerous times, had beat up Debbie and threatened her. So he's hardly a reliable source.

A life insurance policy has been stated as one of the motives, but would Debra really knock off her own son for less than 5 grand? Plus, I learned that the life insurance policy was offered to her as a benefit of her then-new job, it's not like she went out of her way to get it.

I don't know, would it really take 3 people to murder a 4-year old? And Debbie's story that the reason she let Christopher go with her roommate because he wanted to see Santa Claus was totally believable.

Interestingly, Debbie was the first woman sentenced to death in AZ since 1932.

I'm torn on this one.

But didn't she already take him once before to see Santa. I just don't think she is totally innocent. Wasn't she flat broke? It has been awhile since I read anything on the case.

But didn't she already take him once before to see Santa. I just don't think she is totally innocent. Wasn't she flat broke? It has been awhile since I read anything on the case.

Yeah, he had already seen Santa, she said he wanted to see him again. I'm not entirely sure about her financial status, but since she had divorced her husband, she was a single mother and had gotten into the insurance field I believe and was angling for a promotion for more money. It sounded like she was taking the steps to secure a good-paying job.

Update on this case. About 10 days ago the state of Arizona decided not to retry her for the murder of her son.

Update on this case. About 10 days ago the state of Arizona decided not to tetra her for the murder of her son.

wow, thanks for that, I was unaware. What a shocking turn of events. I certainly hope she's innocent then. She did spend 22 years behind bars.

wow, thanks for that, I was unaware. What a shocking turn of events. I certainly hope she's innocent then. She did spend 22 years behind bars.

Here is a link to a news story on the case.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/No-second-trial-for-mom-who-spent-time-on-death-row-for-sons-murder-285535741.html

Debra Jean Milke, Arizona Woman Who Spent 22 Years on Death Row, Has Murder Case Tossed

Link (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/debra-jean-milke-arizona-woman-who-spent-22-years-death-n328576)


PHOENIX — A judge on Monday dismissed the murder case against an Arizona woman who spent more than 20 years on death row in the 1989 killing of her 4-year-old son.

Debra Jean Milke hugged her supporters and sobbed as she exited the Phoenix courtroom. Judge Rosa Mroz ended the case after prosecutors lost their last appeal last week.


Milke was convicted of murder in 1990 in the death of her son, Christopher. Authorities say Milke dressed him in his favorite outfit and told him he was going to see Santa Claus at a mall in December 1989. He was then taken into the desert near Phoenix by two men and shot in the back of the head.

Authorities say Milke's motive was that she didn't want the child anymore and didn't want him to live with his father. Milke has maintained her innocence and denied that she confessed to the killing. The two men who led her child to his death were convicted of murder but refused to testify against Milke.


Debra Jean Milke listens to a judge during a hearing at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix on Aug. 1, 2013. A judge on March 23, dismissed the murder case against Milke, who spent more than 20 years on death row in the 1989 killing of her 4-year-old son. Judge Rosa Mroz ended the case after prosecutors lost their last appeal last week. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool, File)

An appeals court overturned Milke's conviction in 2013, ruling that prosecutors failed to disclose a detective's history of misconduct. Her conviction was based entirely on a confession Milke gave to the now-discredited detective, which he didn't record.

The federal appeals court threw out Milke's conviction and death sentence, arguing prosecutors knew about Phoenix police Detective Armando Saldate's record of misconduct but didn't disclose it. Multiple court rulings in other cases said the now-retired officer either lied under oath or violated suspects' rights during interrogations.

Saldate has said he would not testify at any retrial, citing fears of potential federal charges based on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' accusations of misconduct. Both county and federal authorities have said they don't intend to seek charges against the detective based on any accusations leveled by the federal appeals court.

Milke filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the city of Phoenix, Maricopa County and numerous individuals. She alleges authorities violated her civil rights. She also contends she was denied a fair trial and was a victim of malicious prosecution

Who takes out a life insurance policy on a four year old child? :crazy:

Who takes out a life insurance policy on a four year old child? :crazy:

I think her workplace offered it, so she took it.

Sure, the police work was very sloppy, but it doesn't mean that Debra is innocent. Just sloppy police work. Debra is still guilty as sin.
Sacrificed her child sorta like how Diane Downs sacrificed her children for a man who didn't want to be a daddy.