Doreen and Stephen Marfeo

[bugnpinky]

Originally Posted by idol

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....

[idol]

You qouted the wrong poster bugnpinky.

[unsolvedfan4life]

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

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.

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.

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by unsolvedfan4life

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.

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

[unsolvedfan4life]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

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

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.

[economistman192]

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!

[WishfulDreamer]

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.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

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.

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

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.

[rysmytsharp]

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.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

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/...d.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."

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

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/...d.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.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

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.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86

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.

[justins5256]

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.