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He came out of the woods, in the night, in the rain. Over 14 years, more than a dozen women were raped in their own homes by a stranger who terrorized a Tennessee neighborhood, leaving no clues - except for one.
I am a psychotherapist from Sarasota Florida. Dateline 10/8/09 is about The Wooded Rapist. The same thing has happened in Sarasota. An unknown rapist and robber had been going from our county to the next county raping a 80 year old mother while her daughter had to watch. He graduated on April 5, 2009 killing my friend with her own baseball bat. They have caught the person this week. There are over 15 robberies, many rapes, one possibly two murders that this man did. He terrorized our town. He brutally beat his victims. Turns out the man, Delmar Smith III just got out of prison two weeks prior to starting these attacks. He did 15 years on a 50 yr sentence. Oh, and the worst part is that in those 15 years, his DNA was not put in the system. So, the guy on your show may just be able to do this again. The prison system was flooded in the Reagan war on drugs so we have people doing 30 years for sales of marijuana having to do 80% of his time, but we let this guy go after 15 years. Judges give them sentences for a reason. This man was caught because he beat a man so badly in a bar fight, the police started looking into his past. This did not have to happen. I treat child sexual abuse survivors. It will be sad when the child is prepared to testify and see's the perpetrator sentenced to 45 years, when in reality they may very well run in to them in ten years. It's just sad.
#1 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 9:35 PM EDTI totally agree. Why do people who sell marijuana end up in jail longer than a RAPIST? There's a big difference between people who smoke something CONSENSUALLY and someone who is reduced to being powerless by a rapist who is sexually FORCING himself on his victims, yet the rapist gets a slap on the wrist and is let back into society to rape and abuse more? Someone please explain to me why rapists' sentences are not only reduced, but the rapist ends up re-released into society. What a slap in the face for the victims.
There is a special place in hell for rapist and the lawyers who try to use technicalities, lies, misleading information and loopholes to get their obviously guilty clients acquitted! People like them have no place in society. When is enough, enough and we take a stronger stand on sex offenders and realize there is no "rehabilitation"!
#2 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 10:09 PM EDTLets Hope the POS Attorny who defended the Wooded Rapist dosen't try this case, he is a bottom feeder and will lie cheat steal to win. He marries his clients, takes children from thier fathers, claims them for his own, by abusing the law.
#3 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 10:10 PM EDTkudos to the Nashville PD. They at least kept this on the burner instead of writing it off as an unsolvable case. I am glad that they finally caught this guy and I hope he rots in hell forever.
I also hope that these women can get the help that they need to overcome their fears.
#4 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 10:24 PM EDTAmen to that!
The Lawyer is a real POS, google him Fletcher W Long and his group of lawyer friends Gregory D Clayton...... John E Herbison, the fellow in the back Grin F'n the judge and prosecution. FLetcher Long was publicly sencurd by the Barr and so was Clayton and soe was Herbison. They are all bottom feeders, They probably dont care if they win or not, just out taking the clients money. Fletcher Marries his clients, takes fathers children, and abuses the law to keep the childs entire family away. Purposely and maliciously Files Fictitious and blatantly false warrants for his own gain. P.O.S. TOAD! Have some pride in your appearance when on Television! Did they really think they were going to gain something with that stupid DNA scheme, and then laugh about it during the interview. Rookie! Him nor Herbison have any business in the BIG TIME look at the big case loses. Go back to springing prostitues, strippers and adult entertainment businesses.
#5 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 10:31 PM EDToops !...apologize for the spelling
#6 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 10:42 PM EDTMary , Sorry to hear about your friend.
It is also shameful that the law isn't doing a better job with DNA.
It's the folks with no Moral Compass who defend these creeps, some of them go to christian church regularly and think they are good,synonymous with GOD. This is disturbing and despicable. Allot would argue that the Lawyer is just doing thier JOB, BS, they know when its wrong and bad. This is just all kinds of wrong. The rule to live by is simple, The Golden Rule. If lawyers put tthemselves in the victims shoes, everytime, allot of the creeps would not get sprung back onto the streets. Perhaps the lawyer should ask themselves this question; what if it was my wife, child, grandmother, that was the victim? Certainly they would want true Justice. It would be real interesting to see the outcome.... Does anyone remember Jessica Lunsford?
#7 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 11:00 PM EDTI could never defend a rapist or anyone despicable like this, but karma will get the SOB attorney. Maybe a rapist will rape a female relative of the defense attorney, and maybe then he will decide to turn his life around and stop defending the rapists. How do these people sleep at night knowing thanks to them murderers and rapists are back on the street??
I can't believe this story was on Dateline! My husband and I are HUGE fans of the show, but we never expected to personally know someone on it! Especially not "the bad guy."
We played volleyball with Jason, aka the Wooded Rapist, for 3 years. Ever since we moved to Nashville until when he got caught.
My husband never thought much of him. I can't help but think of the first day I introduced them. (Because I played more volleyball than my husband and knew Jason first.) As we walked away I asked my husband, "Isn't he so nice?" My husband was like, "I don't know, I guess. There's just something about him I don't really like though. But I never like those types." (Jason was nice enough but came across arrogant too.)
Anyway, what creeped me out was the summer before he was caught, my husband and I had planned to move to FL. I stayed behind to sell the house, but my husband went on to start his job. Jason knew I was alone. I'd often see him at volleyball and he'd ask how the selling was going.
Well, one day a neighbor stopped me and told me about this guy she'd seen behind her house one night...which backed up to the woods. She has a 100 lb. dog which apparently scared the man off, but my neighbor got a good enough look to know the man was wearing a mask.
We'll never know if it was Jason (or if he was in our neighborhood because he'd followed me home after volleyball one night), but I immediately thought of that incident when 8 months later someone who operated with a similar MO was arrested for being the Wooded Rapist...and I knew him!
I'm glad they caught him, shocked I knew him, and pray his victims will find peace now that he's behind bars.
Oh, and as usual Keith Morrison did a GREAT job.
http://hauntjaunts.net/blog/2009/10/01/getting-in-touch-with-my-giving-side/
#8 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 11:09 PM EDTWow, scary...glad he didn't target you though.
While I'm hearing some good things about moving on with life I find it sad when I hear people say that a part of them is dead, or in some ways that your soul is dead. It does take time to process this but there should be no death of any part of you, no "life is ruined" as we hear frequently. I have gone through this more than once & though it was not my fault in any way I try to learn something from the experience to pull something positive from it. I will not give these sickos the satisfaction of ruining my life or killing any part of me while I still draw a breath. We have only one shot in this world & the fact that we were smart &/or lucky enough to survive to see another day is in itself something to celebrate. Although I know this is not about sex, I minimize it as such to focus on better & brighter tomorrows. Many won't understand that but if you have been subjected to a large amount of violence & crime to the point where you have several choices of incidents to be depressed or obsess over it actually helps prevent giving any one incident too much power to destroy anything in my life. Try to remember all of the great rainy evenings you enjoyed rather than that one that was a nightmare, memory replacement is a valuable tool.
I wish all of you the best, try to carry little & as briefly as possible - we are the ones that suffer not our perpetrators.
#9 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 11:33 PM EDTI'm sorry to say that I think that your response is a little arrogant. I was so grateful to hear these women talk about the reality of what such a painful experience does to your life. I went through the same thing when I was 13 years old and it seemed that no one, including my own family could understand what it did to me, which served only to add to my pain. To hear these strong survivors discuss the death that occurred in them was exactly how I have felt. The death of your innocence and sense of safety in the world. Whatever you have been through and however you have delt with it is your experience, please do not begrudge myself or them what it has done to us. Rape is not something that, in my opinion, you walk away from untouched. How it leaves us is exactly why it must stop. If it was no big deal then why try to put an end to it. It is a violent crime that leaves most of it's victims forever changed. There is nothing positive to pull from it in my opinion, except perhaps to make sure that they are put away for life, and in doing so preventing anyone else from having to go through the same. I think that if you don't deal with it you give it much more power. Personally I prefer to face it, shine a light on it, and take it's power over me away.
It does change people. Some people will never again trust a man or feel comfortable getting sexually intimate with anyone, or even undressing. I had a hard time, and I had a hard time believing that not every man wanted to hurt me. Some people can block out these memories very well, but there's always something that can bring them back. Some people are better emotionally equipped than others to deal with this and can try and put it behind them, but for someone who suffers depression or bipolar disorder, this can trigger a further depression and anxieties, as well as constant nightmares that can take years to erase, if ever, even with the aid of medication and psychotherapy. Glad to hear you're both doing better.
While I'm hearing some good things about moving on with life I find it sad when I hear people say that a part of them is dead, or in some ways that your soul is dead. It does take time to process this but there should be no death of any part of you, no "life is ruined" as we hear frequently. I have gone through this more than once & though it was not my fault in any way I try to learn something from the experience to pull something positive from it. I will not give these sickos the satisfaction of ruining my life or killing any part of me while I still draw a breath. We have only one shot in this world & the fact that we were smart &/or lucky enough to survive to see another day is in itself something to celebrate. Although I know this is not about sex, I minimize it as such to focus on better & brighter tomorrows. Many won't understand that but if you have been subjected to a large amount of violence & crime to the point where you have several choices of incidents to be depressed or obsess over it actually helps prevent giving any one incident too much power to destroy anything in my life. Try to remember all of the great rainy evenings you enjoyed rather than that one that was a nightmare, memory replacement is a good tool.
I wish all of you the best, try to carry little & as briefly as possible - we are the ones that suffer not our perpetrators.
#10 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 11:43 PM EDTThe dad seems violent too. Probably where he learned his hatred for women. He will find out what the word rape means in jail. Maybe if his parents had done something after he assaulted a girl many years ago and got sent away. A man who hits a woman is a coward. And this coward is going to jail.
#11 - Fri Oct 9, 2009 11:59 PM EDTDon't jump to conclusions from a 10 second vidoe shot. What actually happened that day was Mr. Burdick was walking out of the courtroom and was blocked by all the news camera's. He then was shoved against a wall and he was trying to push his way through. He just watched his only son get convicted of rape and was being prevented from leaving the courthouse!
Jason was a dear friend of mine and I know the Burdicks. Mr & Mrs Burdick are amazing people and parents, who anyone would be lucky to have as parents. As for the HS girlfriend, there are 3 sides to every story (hers, Jason's & reality) and she was the ONLY one that ANY news organization could find to say something bad about him. I repeat...no one else came forward with ANYTHING negative! JASON did this, not his family or any of his former friends....don't judge unless you want us to judge you based on everything bad any of YOUR friends or family members have done!!
Since this nightmare started last May many of us have prayed daily for his victims and their family's.....you should channel your energy into doing the same!!!
she was the ONLY one that ANY news organization could find to say something bad about him. I repeat...no one else came forward with ANYTHING negative!
Seems to me that the other girls/women who cried "rape", the prosecutor, the police are just a few coming forward and saying something negative.
shanny1-
He punched her in the face at a shopping mall. Of course she had negative things to say.
It's nice that you are all praying for Jason's victims and you are correct that his crime is his and not his family's.
However, please understand that Jason's crimes did destroy 13 lives and those 13 women will never get their lives back the way they were. Jason deserves every day of any sentence he draws if he is guilty, which seems incredibly likely.
While I'm hearing some good things about moving on with life I find it sad when I hear people say that a part of them is dead, or in some ways that your soul is dead. It does take time to process this but there should be no death of any part of you, no "life is ruined" as we hear frequently. I have gone through this more than once & though it was not my fault in any way I try to learn something from the experience to pull something positive from it. I will not give these sickos the satisfaction of ruining my life or killing any part of me while I still draw a breath. We have only one shot in this world & the fact that we were smart &/or lucky enough to survive to see another day is in itself something to celebrate. Although I know this is not about sex, I minimize it as such to focus on better & brighter tomorrows. Many won't understand that but if you have been subjected to a large amount of violence & crime to the point where you have several choices of incidents to be depressed or obsess over it actually helps prevent giving any one incident too much power to destroy anything in my life. Try to remember all of the great rainy evenings you enjoyed rather than that one that was a nightmare, memory replacement is a good tool.
I wish all of you the best, try to carry little & as briefly as possible - we are the ones that suffer not our perpetrators.
#12 - Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:00 AM EDTWhile I'm hearing some good things about moving on with life I find it sad when I hear people say that a part of them is dead, or in some ways that your soul is dead. It does take time to process this but there should be no death of any part of you, no "life is ruined" as we hear frequently. I have gone through this more than once & though it was not my fault in any way I try to learn something from the experience to pull something positive from it. I will not give these sickos the satisfaction of ruining my life or killing any part of me while I still draw a breath. We have only one shot in this world & the fact that we were smart &/or lucky enough to survive to see another day is in itself something to celebrate. Although I know this is not about sex, I minimize it as such to focus on better & brighter tomorrows. Many won't understand that but if you have been subjected to a large amount of violence & crime to the point where you have several choices of incidents to be depressed or obsess over it actually helps prevent giving any one incident too much power to destroy anything in my life. Try to remember all of the great rainy evenings you enjoyed rather than that one that was a nightmare, memory replacement is a good tool.
I wish all of you the best, try to carry little & as briefly as possible - we are the ones that suffer not our perpetrators.
#13 - Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:04 AM EDTSorry about the reprints, I had some technical issues.
#14 - Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:46 AM EDTI was bothered by the look on his face throughout the trial. Smug...almost a sense of entitlement. He will try to manipulate the system. And, that is why it is necessary for the Nashville authorities to prosecute him on every case.
Maybe I missed it, how did he get into the homes of his victims? Did he work for a home security company?
I hope the women, the victims, find peace.
#15 - Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:37 PM EDTMy question too... How did he get into these homes? I saw the program and did not hear this answered. I feel like I'm super locked in.. no alarm system other than my dog.. and if he used an anti-bark device on the dogs... I want to know how any idiot like this can get into the house. I would like this answered.
I too felt that this question was never answered. Also, why only when it rained? I know at one point an owner of a security firm said Jason had worked there. Did he then get access codes?
I can not imagine how these women got through their respective nightmares and I am haunted by this show. Rotting in prison is too good a punishment for him.
Maybe an unlocked door or window. You'd be surprised how many people still feel that the world is not as bad a place as it seems, certainly not in an upscale community, and feel safe enough to not bother locking everything, or leave the windows open in the summer or fall, for circulation of air. I know many people who leave their windows, doors or cars unlocked. I don't recommend it, even if you live in Middleofnowhere, USA.
When will we put rapists, and pedophiles away for good? I realize that the prisons are over-crowded but any type of sexual assault on anyone is just like murder only the victims are left alive. Just because we can put on the appropriate face and do our best to move on does not mean that some piece of us has not died. It is not a rehabilitative problem, these people for whatever reason have this urge/desire/need to perpetrate these crimes, it is not fair to law abiding citizens to allow people who commit these crimes to remain among society, they have given up that right. It is detrimental to our future. I do not expect to be able to disrespect others rights and be treated better than I treat others. It just makes no sense. These are very disturbed individuals who need to be respectfully kept away from those that they would harm. Everyone needs to be respected, I'm not saying toss them into a cage like an animal, which they probably deserve, they should simply not be given any oportunity to ruin any more lives.
#16 - Sun Oct 11, 2009 3:44 PM EDTI agree, they should never be let out again and I have been saying this for years. Too bad not many people seem to agree, or our laws would have changed by now. If there's anything that the justice system should have learned from the Jaycee Dugard story it's that rapists should never again be let into society after committing their first rape, as they WILL continue raping other innocent victims. Several women had been raped by this Garrido monster, yet they let him go, and then he abducted and raped Jaycee. Had they been more strict about ever letting rapists go, people like Jaycee would never have had to live such a tragedy and would have led a happy, peaceful life. I hope Burdick's not let back into society; he raped 13 women! It wouldn't surprise me if he not only continued on his raping spree if they decided to release him, but if he also decided to escalate the violence of his crimes and actually KILL his victims so he can never again be recognized, tried, and locked away.
I need to tell you something, I was raped also and even though you think how can somone defend him,the defense lawyer has to do the job and he better do a damm good job. If he does't the defendant (bastard)can claim that he did not do a good job in defending him. I felt the same ay and both attorneys explained it to me . So don't be so down on the defense attorney.
#17 - Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:50 PM EDTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
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