Cindy James

[CanadianUMFan]

I have said this before on another thread but I will repeat my theory on this one as well. If Cindy was actually being stalked and beaten by someone, that person must be one of the most inept killers around as it took some seven years for him/her to finish the job when they had ample opportunity to do so. If, on the other hand, they were just stalking her for "kicks", why would they suddenly kill her? My firm belief is that she did this stuff to herself and had some severe psychological issues.

[kamy]

Originally Posted by CanadianUMFan

I have said this before on another thread but I will repeat my theory on this one as well. If Cindy was actually being stalked and beaten by someone, that person must be one of the most inept killers around as it took some seven years for him/her to finish the job when they had ample opportunity to do so. If, on the other hand, they were just stalking her for "kicks", why would they suddenly kill her? My firm belief is that she did this stuff to herself and had some severe psychological issues.

I'm going to have to agree with you.....maybe she had split personalities and didn't realize she was doing it to herself. I say this, because I know a couple of people w/ split personalities (we were all in the eating disorder clinic together) and they don't remember what they did when they were "another person".
Reguardless, some don't agree with me on this, but if you are that fearful for your life, why would you walk your dog at 3 in the morning?

[mozartpc27]

Originally Posted by kamy

I'm going to have to agree with you.....maybe she had split personalities and didn't realize she was doing it to herself. I say this, because I know a couple of people w/ split personalities (we were all in the eating disorder clinic together) and they don't remember what they did when they were "another person".
Reguardless, some don't agree with me on this, but if you are that fearful for your life, why would you walk your dog at 3 in the morning?

I like this theory. For example, maybe it was the "other" personality that walked the dog at 3AM.

[Padfoot]

Originally Posted by ForeverPluto

I think I'm going to get Melanie's book. I checked Amazon and it was out of stock sadly

RSBM

This is quite a late reply, but I am curious about Melanie Hack's book, "Who Killed My Sister, My Friend?" Was it ever available on Amazon?

This is probably my favorite case of all time. I check on-line every six months or so for any new information, but there is never anything new. I emailed Mrs. Hack a few years ago through her website, melaniehack.com, asking if the book was still going to be released, but I never received a reply. I don't know if she even updates the website anymore--maybe she lost momentum or the subject became too painful.

I have read the other two books about Cindy James, and would love to hear her sister's version of the story. Cindy is such a sympathetic character. I tend to believe she was stalked and killed by another person, but can't completely rule out her own involvement. Either way, she clearly experienced years of torment.

So, does anyone have any information about the book? Could Mrs. Hack not find a publisher? Has the book been totally scrapped?

[purple rose]

The publication of Who Killed My Sister My Friend has been on hold.
However there is a recent article about Cindy's case in the Special Edition of Maclean's magazine currently on the shelves at Safeway checkouts. (Canada's greatest Unsolved Mysteries issue; Pg 52: "Shadow Of A Doubt")

[TracyLynnS]

Originally Posted by purple rose

The publication of Who Killed My Sister My Friend has been on hold.
However there is a recent article about Cindy's case in the Special Edition of Maclean's magazine currently on the shelves at Safeway checkouts. (Canada's greatest Unsolved Mysteries issue; Pg 52: "Shadow Of A Doubt")

Thanks for that info Purple Rose. Sorry about the delay on the book, tho, I've been looking forward to it's publication.

[isotope]

Originally Posted by Ava

RSBM


I have read the other two books about Cindy James, and would love to hear her sister's version of the story. Cindy is such a sympathetic character. I tend to believe she was stalked and killed by another person, but can't completely rule out her own involvement.

I'm the opposite on this point - I'm mostly convinced it was self inflicted (who walks their dog at 3 in the morning? Why would she do such a thing if she was being stalked? Why couldn't the stalker kill - or even seriously injure - her after years of trying? Why couldn't cops or PIs find any forensic evidence - of any nature whatsover - pointing to another person?) but I'll admit the manner of her death does give me pause. I tend to agree the cops wrote it off as a suicide far too soon (not the first time that's happened!).

In any event, regardless of the truth of the matter, I agree that Cindy was an extremely tragic figure, fully deserving of sympathy

[Brock Landers]

My thoughts on this case can be summed up in one quote:

"Man, she kidnapped herself." - Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

[Shakou]

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

My thoughts on this case can be summed up in one quote:

"Man, she kidnapped herself." - Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

I don't think it's quite that cut and dry. I'm pretty sure Cindy knew more than she was saying, but I'm not convinced she staged it herself.

[Thiussat]

Originally Posted by Shakou

I don't think it's quite that cut and dry. I'm pretty sure Cindy knew more than she was saying, but I'm not convinced she staged it herself.

I am convinced she did it to herself, or at least made up the whole stalker story. The suicide itself was odd, but as was talked about on the episode, the way she was tied-up was completely possible to do to oneself. If she can put a knife through her hand, set her house on fire, and lead police on a years long wild goose chase, then I am confident she was capable of staging an elaborate suicide.

After years of staking out her house, police never found a stalker. (The stalker only "appeared" as soon as the police left). Neighbors never saw a stalker. Her parents never saw the stalker. The private investigator never saw a stalker. The stalker never left one shred of physical evidence anywhere nor were any of Cindy's injuries of the sort that could not be easily self-inflicted. Moreover, Cindy kept telling people she knew who the stalker was but when asked she always refused to tell. I don't know about you, but if I were being stalked and I knew who it was, I would be telling the police, my family and anyone else who wanted to know. If I were being stalked, I would not be out "walking my dog" at 3 AM.

To me the stalker angle is uninteresting because it's so easy to see through. To me the real story here is one of unrecognized and untreated mental illness and an extremely bad psychiatrist. If he had done his job, she might still be alive today. How he could not see that she had Munchausen's Syndrome (or maybe even a dissociative disorder) is beyond me. Maybe he didn't have experience with it or maybe he was trained in a time before much was known about it. Or perhaps he was guilty of letting Cindy's professional background convince him she was not mentally ill, which in itself means he is a bad shrink as you are not to discriminate based on one's background. There are people who function at a high level who are still mentally ill.

Cindy's story is tragic but not because of a stalker.

[Smokescreen]

That taped message make my blood run cold

Listening to it I think it sounds like a women talking in a creepy voice

Anyway, just a thought but I'm wondering since Cindy seemed to think that no one believed her - any chance that as a last resort, she might've paid someone to kill her? (I know it sounds crazy but given the nature of the case..)

I mean, she was tired of no one believing her she was being stalked and attacked, so why not hire someone that's willing to do it for a price?

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Smokescreen

That taped message make my blood run cold

Listening to it I think it sounds like a women talking in a creepy voice

Anyway, just a thought but I'm wondering since Cindy seemed to think that no one believed her - any chance that as a last resort, she might've paid someone to kill her? (I know it sounds crazy but given the nature of the case..)

I mean, she was tired of no one believing her she was being stalked and attacked, so why not hire someone that's willing to do it for a price?

Doubtful. Who would have agreed to do it? Where did the money come from? I think she definitely was responsible for the attacks on herself and her unfortunate death. That voice message is definitely a woman.

[tlc38tlc38]

This is one of the few cases that truly has me stumped. Honestly, I don't even have a theory. It's a tragic event but this would make an awesome Lifetime movie...no disrespect in any way to the friends and loved ones of Cindy.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

This is one of the few cases that truly has me stumped. Honestly, I don't even have a theory. It's a tragic event but this would make an awesome Lifetime movie...no disrespect in any way to the friends and loved ones of Cindy.

I'm actually surprised they didn't make this story into a Lifetime movie.

[dynoguy88]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

I'm actually surprised they didn't make this story into a Lifetime movie.

I think it would be too hard. Every attack, every incident, the inquest and the eventual death would have no satisfying conclusion. Or ANY conclusion for that matter. Not a single thing that happened during those seven years could be conclusively proven either way. And for an average viewer who had no knowledge about the case, I think it would be too hard to invest in watching this story as a movie.