Dorothy Donovan case on Forensic Files - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

crystaldawn · 12-20-2008, 05:13 PM

This was on last night. Did anyone else watch it? For those of you that didn't it was pretty interesting with a bit more info than UM gave considering the murderer has now been caught and convicted. I feel so bad for Charles Holden. He was doing a good deed in giving someone a ride and look what happened. Apparently when he told the hitchhiker he couldn't take him any further (later identified as Gilbert Cannon) he took a screwdriver out of Charles' truck and started to attack him with it. Charles was able to get back in the truck and take off as we all know. It seemed Charles was suspected by most everyone as having something to do with his mother's murder, even after the evidence exonerated him. A bloody palm print found at the scene didn't match his but for some reason he refused to take a polygraph test. Later some blood other than Dorothy's was found and of course the dna didn't match Charles. Thanks to the CODIS database they found a fingerprint match years later. Gilbert Cannon initially denied everything but after being told of the evidence confessed. He said he was high on cocaine and looking for more. He said he had no idea the house he entered was Charles' mothers. He was looking for a house to sleep in and that was the first one he came too that was completely dark and he thought it was deserted. When he broke the window it woke Dorothy up and she confronted him. He was afraid she would be able to identify him so he stabbed her to death with the screwdriver he had taken from Charles' truck. He pled guilty to avoid the death penalty and received life in prison.

Kane · 12-20-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Gilbert Cannon initially denied everything but after being told of the evidence confessed. He said he was high on cocaine and looking for more. He said he had no idea the house he entered was Charles' mothers. He was looking for a house to sleep in and that was the first one he came too that was completely dark and he thought it was deserted. When he broke the window it woke Dorothy up and she confronted him. He was afraid she would be able to identify him so he stabbed her to death with the screwdriver he had taken from Charles' truck.

I can still remember from the UM segment that Robert Stack mentioned the theory that the killer was high on drugs, because of the brutal nature of the murder.

Since the case is now solved, it comes as no surprise that we have learned additional information about the case that we haven't learned before. The most likely reason is because certain details weren't publicly known while the case was still under investigation.

crystaldawn · 12-20-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kane

Since the case is now solved, it comes as no surprise that we have learned additional information about the case that we haven't learned before. The most likely reason is because certain details weren't publicly known while the case was still under investigation.

Another reason is we now have the killer's version of events as well as his mindset explaining why Dorothy's house was chosen.

ididn'tdoit · 12-21-2008, 08:54 AM

Poor guy, I felt so sorry for him

I remember I read somewhere that his sister(s) broke off all contact with him, it was like they were blaming him for what had happened

StackTime · 12-22-2008, 03:06 AM

I tried to find this case on the FF website but came up empty....am I just overlooking it or something? Or do they not profile all cases from television on the website? Fascinating case, and I'd love to read more about it

DALLASTEXAN!! · 12-27-2008, 06:28 AM

well I love forensic files. it is now one of my favorite shows and I hope I come across this episode in the near future to see the details. but good info CD. this is one of those segments that really made one's skin crawl. given the nature of the murder and the solid witness presence at the restaurant, I never originally expected the son to be a suspect. but after watching the segment a few different times it seemed so creepy and improbable to the extent that the son had to be looked at as a suspect. but this is probably one of worst segments I can recall watching. and now that it's solved justice is served, but the events that happened that night were absolutely terrible and can never be changed.

Kane · 12-27-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StackTime

I tried to find this case on the FF website but came up empty....am I just overlooking it or something? Or do they not profile all cases from television on the website?

If anything, they list the episode titles. When you click an episode title, it shows the pre-title opening scene for that particular episode. (Click "Episodes" at the FF home page, and you will see the episode list.) Because "Stranger In the Night" (which is about the Dorothy Donovan case) is a new episode, it probably hasn't been added to that list yet.

DALLASTEXAN!! · 08-15-2009, 09:28 AM

I still haven't seen this airing. Has anyone seen it on FF lately?

TracyLynnS · 08-15-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DALLASTEXAN!!

I still haven't seen this airing. Has anyone seen it on FF lately?

I haven't seen this one in a while. On FF or UM.

DALLASTEXAN!! · 08-15-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

I haven't seen this one in a while. On FF or UM.

I've never seen it on FF? I remember when this was posted way back when, but I've been waiting to see it replayed and still yet have not seen it. I've seen plenty of the same replays on FF though? what's up with that lol?

crystaldawn · 08-15-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DALLASTEXAN!!

I've never seen it on FF? I remember when this was posted way back when, but I've been waiting to see it replayed and still yet have not seen it. I've seen plenty of the same replays on FF though? what's up with that lol?

Well they're showing a marathon of it today (I think they do that every other Saturday) but it does seem like they've been showing just the same few episodes over and over lately. If I notice the Dorothy Donovan FF case is going to be on DALLASTEXAN I'll let you know. I believe the title of the episode is "Stranger In The Night".

DALLASTEXAN!! · 08-19-2009, 11:55 PM

thanks CD. I did notice that from saturday...i was looking for "stranger in the night" didn't see it. I guess I will keep looking with anticipation. It's tough to keep up with it daily though. I usually wind up seeing the same ones over and over.

Kane · 10-02-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DALLASTEXAN!!

I still haven't seen this airing. Has anyone seen it on FF lately?

According to the TruTV schedule, the episode (titled "Stranger In The Night") is scheduled to be shown again next Friday, October 9, at 10:00 pm (Eastern Time).

12-20-2008, 05:13 PM	#1
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Dorothy Donovan case on Forensic Files This was on last night. Did anyone else watch it? For those of you that didn't it was pretty interesting with a bit more info than UM gave considering the murderer has now been caught and convicted. I feel so bad for Charles Holden. He was doing a good deed in giving someone a ride and look what happened. Apparently when he told the hitchhiker he couldn't take him any further (later identified as Gilbert Cannon) he took a screwdriver out of Charles' truck and started to attack him with it. Charles was able to get back in the truck and take off as we all know. It seemed Charles was suspected by most everyone as having something to do with his mother's murder, even after the evidence exonerated him. A bloody palm print found at the scene didn't match his but for some reason he refused to take a polygraph test. Later some blood other than Dorothy's was found and of course the dna didn't match Charles. Thanks to the CODIS database they found a fingerprint match years later. Gilbert Cannon initially denied everything but after being told of the evidence confessed. He said he was high on cocaine and looking for more. He said he had no idea the house he entered was Charles' mothers. He was looking for a house to sleep in and that was the first one he came too that was completely dark and he thought it was deserted. When he broke the window it woke Dorothy up and she confronted him. He was afraid she would be able to identify him so he stabbed her to death with the screwdriver he had taken from Charles' truck. He pled guilty to avoid the death penalty and received life in prison.

12-21-2008, 08:54 AM	#4
ididn'tdoit Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 03, 2006 Posts: 405	Poor guy, I felt so sorry for him I remember I read somewhere that his sister(s) broke off all contact with him, it was like they were blaming him for what had happened

12-22-2008, 03:06 AM	#5
StackTime Here's the kicker Frank Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 17, 2008 Location: For heaven's sake don't buy these coins Posts: 244	I tried to find this case on the FF website but came up empty....am I just overlooking it or something? Or do they not profile all cases from television on the website? Fascinating case, and I'd love to read more about it

12-27-2008, 06:28 AM	#6
DALLASTEXAN!! Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 31, 2007 Location: Devil's Backbone Posts: 3,128	well I love forensic files. it is now one of my favorite shows and I hope I come across this episode in the near future to see the details. but good info CD. this is one of those segments that really made one's skin crawl. given the nature of the murder and the solid witness presence at the restaurant, I never originally expected the son to be a suspect. but after watching the segment a few different times it seemed so creepy and improbable to the extent that the son had to be looked at as a suspect. but this is probably one of worst segments I can recall watching. and now that it's solved justice is served, but the events that happened that night were absolutely terrible and can never be changed.

08-15-2009, 09:28 AM	#8
DALLASTEXAN!! Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 31, 2007 Location: Devil's Backbone Posts: 3,128	I still haven't seen this airing. Has anyone seen it on FF lately?

08-19-2009, 11:55 PM	#12
DALLASTEXAN!! Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 31, 2007 Location: Devil's Backbone Posts: 3,128	thanks CD. I did notice that from saturday...i was looking for "stranger in the night" didn't see it. I guess I will keep looking with anticipation. It's tough to keep up with it daily though. I usually wind up seeing the same ones over and over.