Dateline NBC tonight is about my colleague killed by his wife

[Becky2005]

It is definitely freaky when something like this happens to someone you know.

We had it happen in the family and it's still surreal as NO ONE had an inkling that the situation would take place. In our case, we still aren't 100% sure what exactly happened other than the outcome. On the flip side, I did learn to not trust too much of anything. I would be the one getting an attorney first, answering questions later (and perceived guilty by the entire nation for doing so) after seeing/reading/hearing what I did for anything major. Although what makes it even more bizarre is though ours was a family member we got most our news via the newspaper as it made front line headlines here (including the trial), etc...

 

[vettechick99]

Interesting! I may have to watch tonight.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Well, I watched the last half of the show (I get to watch it @ 7:30 p.m. because I am on the west coast). I am not convinced of her guilt. Sounds like the judge did the right thing. The doctor's rage did sound menacing to me. It was a tragic situation.

 

[disney4us2002]

I watched it too but I don't know what I think. It sounds like she flipped out when the other woman's car was found to be at his apartment and she was throwing her shoe at the window. Yet, it's hard to believe the daughters would be less than honest about their dad and his temper just to help their mom's defense. Wouldn't want to be a juror on that type of a case.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I wish I would have known this was on. I very rarely watch shows like this, but since I used to live in Iowa City and knew Phyllis Nelson I would be interested to see how it was covered. I was not close to her and had moved away a few years before this happened, so have no first hand knowledge of the situation. Still, she was someone I liked and admired.

I just wonder why this is "news" now, and what the point of bringing it up again is, it happened almost 7 years ago. It made the local news when she was released from prison, but nothing since then.

 

[tngramma]

I watched the show tonight and felt sorry for the woman. She is about my age and we have been married about the same amount of time. I cannot imagine how it would feel to learn you DH of that long is unfaithful.

Not sure whether I think she is guilty or not.

 

[TeresaBelle]

If she'd have had a jury trial and I was on it I'd vote not guilty. On the other hand, I guess I can see why the judge found her guilty of voluntary manslaughter. It would have been a hard decision. I think she should have plead not guilty by reason of insanity...sounds like he drove her crazy pretty much...crime of passion type thing. OP, no offense to your relationship with him as a colleague. I have no doubt he was an excellent pediatrician/dean all around professional. But a good husband, he was not.

 

[Robinrs]

Robin, I think this case was originally broadcast on Court TV, but since I don't have cable, I didn't see it.

I'm interested in seeing how Dateline will present this.


But what is more interesting to me is that there has been ZERO local publicity for this program. Especially since it was really big news when it happened here.

I DVR'ed it! It came on the same time as Top Chef! I'll watch it and come back!

 

[mtblujeans]

I only got to watch the first 20 minutes or so. I couldn't help but wonder what "the other woman" thought would happen while she was manipulating this guy into leaving his wife. I heard the phone messages the wife left all through the night and she was in need of closure of her marriage. What a mess!

 

[JunieJay]

I'm sorry I missed this. How shocking for you, Deb. Did this couple have children, and if so, what became of them?

I had a close friend from high school murder not only his wife but his infant son. I felt that same sense of devastated. He was found to be scizophrenic (sp?) which of course none of us had any inkling of in high school.

 

[Deb in IA]

The Nelsons had 2 grown daughters. One was a Lutheran minister living in Egypt at the time of the murder, and the other was Director of Educational Programs at Hancher Auditorium, the major performing arts venue for the University of Iowa.

Both daughters testified for the defense, saying that their dad's personality had changed and that he had a violent, explosive temper. But I think there were an equal number of people who could have testified that Dick Nelson never lost his temper, never got mad, and never even raised his voice while dealing with the stresses and problems at work. At least, I never saw that.

I have mixed feelings about the whole case. Yes, his behavior was really disgusting - blatantly having an affair with his secretary, not wanting to divorce his wife and not really wanting to marry the secretary either. Really, really slimy, unethical, distasteful. Especially for someone who prided himself on his strong religious roots - both his father and his daughter were Lutheran clergy.

But I felt Phyllis' behavior was very unsettling. Her repeated messages on his cell phone the night of the murder were very strange, and police officer's account of her affect as they were trying to save her husband's life was unusual.

I don't know why Dateline decided to show this story now. I do think the ending was rather abrupt, for as much as they built it up.

 

[Deb in IA]

And it was very creepy to see Dr. Nelson on the floor of the kitchen, bloodied and dying, with the paramedics working on him. To see someone you know professionally, from work like that is just unsettling.

 

[java]

Well the show last night certainly painted her as the poor woman scorned. I don't know what to think about it all. It was a crime. But just what kind I am not sure. I don't think she went over there to kill him. But I do believe she went nuts when she got there. What a mess.

 

[juligrl]

Okay I watched this thing last night. The guy was a piece of work and hey karma can bite ya in the butt sometimes. I believe she didn't mean to kill him - stuff happens. Was it truly an accident? Can't prove it was, can't prove it wasn't. Everything will even out in the end.

 

[Deb in IA]

OP, no offense to your relationship with him as a colleague. I have no doubt he was an excellent pediatrician/dean all around professional. But a good husband, he was not.

And I totally agree with you on that.

I think it is interesting how little we really know about the people we work with sometimes.

 

[TeresaBelle]

There is a show on Oxygen called Snapped. They covered this same story...they repeat alot so you can probably see it again.

 

[lillygator]

I read the story today on Dateline and I have to say I probably would have sided with her. I guess we'll never truley know what happened.

 

[Deb in IA]

Someone else here at work was talking about seeing it on "Snapped".

I guess it is a pretty sensational story.

But it all boils down to who you believe. No eyewitnesses, other than the defendant, and the victim is dead. And all of the major players, the doctor, the wife, and the mistress all led less than stellar lives.

 

[bananiem]

I saw part of it last night. It was wierd to see their house because I think I know where it is. The part that got me was the secretary and her obvious lack of her responsibility in the whole thing. She's the nut case.

 

[bananiem]

I have a couple questions that I thought they'd ask the medical examiner and then I'd have my answer. But no medical examiner was interviewed or shown to have been on the stand.
If she was holding it out in front of her in defense, isn't his heart a little higher than she would have had it? I mean, wouldn't it have been in his stomach?
Also, what direction was the stab wound. She seemed to show how she was holding the knife when he "walked into it". Did the wound reflect that angle?