Did anyone watch the HBO documentary 'There's something wrong with Aunt Diane'?

[sbtrfly74]

I just watched this yesterday and one thing that stuck with me was the THC (pot) levels were indicative with smoking between 15mins and 1 hour before she died. I think she had already drank the vodka previously and it didnt help whatever pain she was having. I think that is why she got out of the car before the bridge and where she left her cell phone. Would def make sense that she got out of the car to smoke pot while leaving the kids in the car and it was not long before the accident. They also stated that alcohol would increase the effects of THC.

Another thing, I cant think of any reason her abscess would cause a stroke what so ever. Meningitis yes, but not a stroke. If that was the case it would have been bacterial meningitis which is fatal.

 

[msjprincess]

I saw this the other day. One thing I want to mention, is when they show her at the convenience store/gas station, and her sister in law is watching it saying how she was perfectly fine. They stopped the footage as she started to pull away. I actually had seen this clip prior, somewhere on the internet, and it showed her getting into traffic and it appeared that she was driving extremely aggressively even then, like pulling out into traffic in what appeared to be an aggressive and dangerous manner. Has anyone else seen this whole clip of her actually pulling away and getting into traffic? I was surprised when they didnt show the whole clip in the documentary, I felt like they left something important out.

I've seen it. I think it's just the speed of the video. It's very jerky.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I've followed this case from the beginning, and I have more questions than ever after watching the documentary.

Was she a closet alcoholic? Or was the drinking relatively new? Remember, she had a healthy two year-old at the time of the accident so it's doubtful she drank while pregnant.

Was there something that happened over the weekend that had her fuming deep down? Something that made her snap when she started thinking about it after getting drunk? Was it something her husband or brother said? Some past issue with her brother?

At some point, I remember the family of the victims in the SUV wanted Daniel Schuler to take a drug test himself. They wanted to know if Danny and Diane were frequent partiers and what really went down that weekend. I'm not sure how that shook out, but IIRC, he and his lawyer refused the test, saying that Danny's drug use (or lack of) was irrelevant to what happened.

I doubt he'll ever tell the truth anyhow. Between the lawsuits flying around and all that denial in him and his family, we will never know what really happened.

Did Diane get so intoxicated that she had no clue what she was doing? Or did she work herself into such a drunken fury that she committed a murder/suicide?

 

[Hellothemouse]

I've seen it. I think it's just the speed of the video. It's very jerky.

I have seen it too. In fact I can not believe how many clips of this subject are all over youtube. I guess I must live in a box or something.

 

[momrek06]

I only watched a portion of this last night. I am going to finish it later on today. Remember, the ME said her blood alcohol level was as if she had had 10 drinks. Wow, 10 drinks by like 1pm, which I think was around the time of the accident. And vodka, does that even smell, I don't think so. She could have poured the vodka into a water bottle and left the empty vodka bottle in the van somewhere where LE found it.

At the gas station, she seemed a bit lost, just a bit as she pulled in and walked into the store and turned around, scratched her head and left. Now I did think that was odd. Oh and I did not notice her even buy gas at all. She pulled close enough to the pumps, so I thought that was what she was going to do. If I am at a gas station and just want something from the store.....I would pull up in front of the store not at the pumps. Maybe the "doc" did not show us Diane getting gas.

There was incident a few years ago, 2008 maybe when I was still living in Boston when a woman from like Bellingham drove her car to NH, picked up her niece and nephew (very young like 4&5) to bring them back to her home for the weekend. She had done this many many many times before for her sister as she loved those kids so much she loved spending time with them. Well around 9pm as she is driving down (I believe) 495 towards Bellingham, she pulled over around Lowell/Lawerence ON THE HIGHWAY. Opened the door of the car, took all her clothes off, having a child in each arm proceeded to walk out in front of all the speeding 495 highway traffic and the three were killed instantly.

OMG, why why why. It was never determined why this happened other than
hearing the woman was suffering from depression.

I think at this point with Diane, all the law suits are so sad. And that we will never know what really happened.

 

[Tink888]

I saw this the other day. One thing I want to mention, is when they show her at the convenience store/gas station, and her sister in law is watching it saying how she was perfectly fine. They stopped the footage as she started to pull away. I actually had seen this clip prior, somewhere on the internet, and it showed her getting into traffic and it appeared that she was driving extremely aggressively even then, like pulling out into traffic in what appeared to be an aggressive and dangerous manner. Has anyone else seen this whole clip of her actually pulling away and getting into traffic? I was surprised when they didnt show the whole clip in the documentary, I felt like they left something important out.

I thought that too when I saw the internet footage. I did read that she was an aggressive driver anyway, so maybe that was normal for her.

Watched the movie last night.....still don't know what to think. I don't think so much that she was a horrible person, just that she caused a horrible, horrible thing to happen. I tend to think that maybe she got really drunk the night before. If she only slept a few hours, she could have still been intoxicated and hung over when she woke up. It would explain her being sick on the side of the road. Maybe she drank more vodka or smoked the pot thinking it would take the edge off of the hangover.

Maybe she was a closet alcoholic.......

I did find it interesting that in interviews in the movie with everyone, no one asked what she was like before she had the kids. She had her act together, she was a model mom, fun to be around, etc but was she a heavy drinker/party girl before? Danny said they were together for 13 years, the oldest child was 5 so what was she like before that?

I'm just so sad for all of the families, Danny included (though the filing of all of the suits disgusts me) and especially her son. They both need professional help. I can almost understand his denial. If I can't wrap my head around it as a spectator, I can't imagine how difficult it would be to face the truth of what Diane did, and those who died along with the personal loss of a child and spouse. Her actions killed so many and left everyone who survived broken in some way.

 

[klmall]

I have seen this twice and each time I heard more details; maybe listened and observed better. Danny's behavior is odd and I question why he didn't wonder where his wife and kids were when they were so many hours overdue. Why didn't he call her when they were one hour then two hours late? Why did it take hearing from someone else before he got in a car to go look for her?

I also thought it was interesting that Danny didn't follow her home in the first place. Someone mentioned he was going fishing but there seemed to be no truth to that and with his lack of followup on her lateness that there was something going on. Maybe an argument? Maybe an acknowledgement that she ruled the roost and did what she wanted when it came to drinking or whatever.

Being a person who suffers from migraines that meds sometimes cannot touch, a part of me wonders if she was having some pain; some excruciating pain; pain that makes you want to bang your head on a wall. None of this is any excuse for what Diane did. There is no RATIONAL excuse for that but she did it.

And with all the other questions in the whole situation I do wish the autopsy had shed some light on her teeth problems and more of her health history. It doesn't sound like they looked much beyond the alcohol and pot.

Hopefully, some will benefit from the horror here.

 

[msjprincess]

I only watched a portion of this last night. I am going to finish it later on today. Remember, the ME said her blood alcohol level was as if she had had 10 drinks. Wow, 10 drinks by like 1pm, which I think was around the time of the accident. And vodka, does that even smell, I don't think so. She could have poured the vodka into a water bottle and left the empty vodka bottle in the van somewhere where LE found it.

At the gas station, she seemed a bit lost, just a bit as she pulled in and walked into the store and turned around, scratched her head and left. Now I did think that was odd. Oh and I did not notice her even buy gas at all. She pulled close enough to the pumps, so I thought that was what she was going to do. If I am at a gas station and just want something from the store.....I would pull up in front of the store not at the pumps. Maybe the "doc" did not show us Diane getting gas.

There was incident a few years ago, 2008 maybe when I was still living in Boston when a woman from like Bellingham drove her car to NH, picked up her niece and nephew (very young like 4&5) to bring them back to her home for the weekend. She had done this many many many times before for her sister as she loved those kids so much she loved spending time with them. Well around 9pm as she is driving down (I believe) 495 towards Bellingham, she pulled over around Lowell/Lawerence ON THE HIGHWAY. Opened the door of the car, took all her clothes off, having a child in each arm proceeded to walk out in front of all the speeding 495 highway traffic and the three were killed instantly.

OMG, why why why. It was never determined why this happened other than
hearing the woman was suffering from depression.

I think at this point with Diane, all the law suits are so sad. And that we will never know what really happened.

She didn't buy gas she stopped at the gas station to see if they had tylenol or other OTC painkiller

ETA

Actually after rewatching it they cut out part of the video between her pulling in and then walking into the store so she may have bought gas before going inside.

 

[momrek06]

She didn't buy gas she stopped at the gas station to see if they had tylenol or other OTC painkiller

Oh ok, I must have missed them/narrator saying that. I still wonder why she stopped at the pumps to shop. And those stores always have something in the line of aspirin or Tylenol even if it's a very small package with like 8 in it. But it do not appear that she asked anyone at all, just in the door, turn around and leave. if she had such a bad headache/toothache, I would have thought for sure she would have asked/inquired about OTC meds.

 

[msjprincess]

Oh ok, I must have missed them/narrator saying that. I still wonder why she stopped at the pumps to shop. And those stores always have something in the line of aspirin or Tylenol even if it's a very small package with like 8 in it. But it do not appear that she asked anyone at all, just in the door, turn around and leave. if she had such a bad headache/toothache, I would have thought for sure she would have asked/inquired about OTC meds.

I'm guessing she did ask someone. Since from the beginning they have said that's why she stopped there. There would be no way of knowing that unless she asked.

 

[momrek06]

I'm guessing she did ask someone. Since from the beginning they have said that's why she stopped there. There would be no way of knowing that unless she asked.

Wait, really? Do you think she asked someone? I did not see that at all and her SIL even watching the video on her laptop says nothing in the line of her looking to purchase OTC meds. SIL just watches the video and looks at the HBO camera and says "see, she is absolutely fine.". If SIL heard she was looking for aspirin, I think she would have said it as it would have helped Diane's case in the fact that she indeed was suffering with something be it a headache or toothache. If I knew nothing at all about the accident and simply watched that video I would have said "I saw a woman walk in the store and then leave" .... period.

 

[msjprincess]

Wait, really? Do you think she asked someone? I did not see that at all and her SIL even watching the video on her laptop says nothing in the line of her looking to purchase OTC meds. SIL just watches the video and looks at the HBO camera and says "see, she is absolutely fine.". If SIL heard she was looking for aspirin, I think she would have said it as it would have helped Diane's case in the fact that she indeed was suffering with something be it a headache or toothache. If I knew nothing at all about the accident and simply watched that video I would have said "I saw a woman walk in the store and then leave" .... period.

As soon as the video was released it was said that she had stopped for painkillers. It's not new information. I'm 99% sure that it was said that the clerk said she asked about tylenol or advil.

 

[msjprincess]

From an AP story from 2 years ago


http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20090819/news/908190327/-1/rss01




2. Next: Diane Schuler stops at a McDonald's in Liberty for breakfast with the children. She also visits a convenience store at a Sunoco gas station and asks for a painkiller, which it doesn't sell. Employees there and at the restaurant say she appeared sober.

 

[gregokdisney]

I was also sure that she asked for painkillers, based on the investigation, but it also appears as if, in the video, she pauses at the counter to speak to someone off camera.

I read a lot about this this weekend and I am now coming around to the idea that it may have been a suicide. First, she left her cell phone on the side of the road. That seems very deliberate. First, no one can track her without the phone. Second, the kids in the car can't call for help. And third, no one can call to talk her out of it.

Also, there are other reports that I've read that show that she drove on the Taconic in the right direction for awhile and then circle back and got on going the wrong direction, almost as if she scouted out her route.

There's a lot of rumors that she was having an affair with someone, and that there were several phone calls that she made and received between the others to "wrong numbers." People wonder if her affair ended over the phone and she became distraught.

Or, it was also reported that she was terrified of doctors and getting bad news. If she was experiencing horrible headaches and couldn't get rid of them, she might have feared she had incurable cancer or an aneurysm or something and decided to kill herself instead of confronting that.

Or, there may be some other deep dark secret that hasn't come out yet, or that may be nothing. It is truly a mystery. I wish her brother who spoke to her on the phone would come out and speak to the media and say exactly what their conversation was and why he set out to look for her instead of calling the police immediately. I wonder if he was trying to protect her reputation.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Wait, really? Do you think she asked someone? I did not see that at all and her SIL even watching the video on her laptop says nothing in the line of her looking to purchase OTC meds. SIL just watches the video and looks at the HBO camera and says "see, she is absolutely fine.". If SIL heard she was looking for aspirin, I think she would have said it as it would have helped Diane's case in the fact that she indeed was suffering with something be it a headache or toothache. If I knew nothing at all about the accident and simply watched that video I would have said "I saw a woman walk in the store and then leave" .... period.

In the documentary, they state that there is no audio from the video, but the clerk remembered her, so I take that's how they knew she was looking for pain medicine.

The timeline shown in the movie does not account for a lot of her time that morning. The crash happened nearly four hours after she left the campground. There were the stops at the gas station and McDonald's, but that still leaves a lot of time unexplained. My guess is she stopped a few times along the way and let the kids out to play while she smoked pot.

I can't remember if I got this from the film or from reading her autopsy report, but there was another 6 oz. of alcohol that was undigested in her stomache. The 0.16 reading came from her blood, but I imagine that if she weren't killed, it would have been even higher after those 6 oz. were processed into her bloodstream. It's incredibly crazy to drink that much booze with young children in your care. She definitely snapped.

 

[msjprincess]

I was also sure that she asked for painkillers, based on the investigation, but it also appears as if, in the video, she pauses at the counter to speak to someone off camera.

I read a lot about this this weekend and I am now coming around to the idea that it may have been a suicide. First, she left her cell phone on the side of the road. That seems very deliberate. First, no one can track her without the phone. Second, the kids in the car can't call for help. And third, no one can call to talk her out of it.

Also, there are other reports that I've read that show that she drove on the Taconic in the right direction for awhile and then circle back and got on going the wrong direction, almost as if she scouted out her route.

There's a lot of rumors that she was having an affair with someone, and that there were several phone calls that she made and received between the others to "wrong numbers." People wonder if her affair ended over the phone and she became distraught.

Or, it was also reported that she was terrified of doctors and getting bad news. If she was experiencing horrible headaches and couldn't get rid of them, she might have feared she had incurable cancer or an aneurysm or something and decided to kill herself instead of confronting that.

Or, there may be some other deep dark secret that hasn't come out yet, or that may be nothing. It is truly a mystery. I wish her brother who spoke to her on the phone would come out and speak to the media and say exactly what their conversation was and why he set out to look for her instead of calling the police immediately. I wonder if he was trying to protect her reputation.

Yes at the 37 second mark it looks like she is talking to someone behind the counter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Busc4RFtcgg


I suspected that from the beginning but it's so hard to understand why she would do it with all of the kids in the car. Especially with kids that weren't hers.

 

[7165red]

I can't watch it.

 

[momrek06]

So I finally finished watching the doc. In one scene, Danny is taking Diane's clothes out of her closet as he said "they" want to test them again for DNA … I did not see any results from the testing of her clothes mentioned … ? Did I miss something. I am aware that between the ME and Tom Rushkin, the autopsy results are identical. What about results from the clothes in her closet.

Danny, I think is depressed and who would not be. His actions as Jay stated are that of someone that is depressed. He is in denial. He needs emtional help for all this. To try and figure it all out on your own w/o some kind of counseling is almost impossible. 8 people were killed and Diane was found to have been driving drunk and having smoked weed. Very disturbing. How do you go on? Its great that Bryan is getting help. Danny is abit abrupt with him from what Jay has stated.

I read that Diane's brother/family is disgusted with HBO in the fact that HBO used their daughter's last words as the title of the doc.

 

[shaylyn]

I agree with you too, SLK1. I had read this thread before I even watched it, so I was aware that there would be pictures of Schuler's dead body, and yet I still squirmed. And I still cannot figure out why they would show them. Especially because it was her husband and family and friends in the movie, you would think they could have said No way, and let her retain the tiniest shred of dignity in death. Could it have been to try and gain sympathy from people? I just don't get why.... All I could think of is, I hope her son never ever sees this.

I also kept thinking I hope the Hance family never sees this either. So many moments I sat there wanting to yell at the tv, "Stop! Help!" so ridiculous but it was difficult seeing the car, knowing it was the last time all those kids were alive. And the guy who said he would have confronted her at the rest stop... I feel bad for him too. It must haunt him.

I am in touch with a close family member of Jackie's. (mom of Emma, Alyson and Kate). Though the pregnancy is quite a blessing, she still really really needs prayers so please include her if you can.

She and her husband are in my prayers. Though I'm sure the baby will be a blessing, I got the feeling they were not quite ready to take that step in their lives after reading that article (was it Ladies Home Journal?)

 

[mefordis]

Can toxicology results really be incorrect? I thought they were supposed to be reliable. The blood alcohol level definitely explains why it happened! Why would anyone other than the family and close friends be in denial of that?

The toothache/pain theory is ridiculous. It would take a lot of pain to make one drive for 2 mins on the wrong side of a busy freeway, without realizing (she didn't swerve or anything). My mom once had half of her face swollen from an absess and she drove herself to the dentist, no problem.

She must have been swigging that vodka bottle in the front seat with the kids in the back. She must have been a closet alcoholic. I don't know how she got to the point she was at without blacking out first.

One thing that surprised me was that they showed her dead body in the documentary. Wow. I am so glad they didn't show the kids, though.

So heartbreaking. It really makes me even more skeptical to allow my girls to ride in a car with anyone. I am glad we don't have that third row of seats (we have an SUV not a minivan) so we have a good excuse not to carpool with anyone! I'll drive my own kids around, thank you. You never know who may be popping pain meds or whatever and while driving kids around.