A Tale of Two Mothers

Angenette Levy contemplates two mothers in opposite corners of a legal battle but in otherwise very similar situations.

First on Karen Halbach in particular and the rest of the Halbach's:

I’ve heard over and over again that the Halbachs have a deep faith that has guided them through the last 18 months. Mike Halbach has often said that he gets his strength from his mother. I don’t know whether it’s faith or life experience or a combination of both, but I know that I don’t understand how this family has kept it together.

Imagine for months, turning on the news and listening to the man you believe to be the murderer of your daughter, granting interviews and suggesting that your daughter might still be alive. Imagine Karen Halbach, listening to Steven Avery talk about how cops might have planted his blood to frame them for her daughter’s murder. To listen to him say, “she was here for 5 minutes, and left” even after his nephew gives a three-hour recorded confession.

Source: WFRV Courtroom Journal – Two Mothers – Polar Opposites (Angenette Levy) Faith is a strong force and can move people to greatness or get them through great trials:

The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Source: Job 1 – BibleGateway.com New International Version We do not know the reasons we just believe there are good reasons to be revealed sooner or later.

Barbara Tadych the mother of Brendan Dassey presents a more conflicting image. She too has lost a child, though her child lives and breathes yet who can say he is not lost? I feel for Ms. Tadych. However, the conflict comes in her reversal of course. I have touched on this before. Angenette picks up on the first half of it as well:

I’ll [Angenette] never forget what it was like to look into her eyes as she realized what her brother had dragged her son into that Halloween day. She said that she was “numb.” She looked into the camera and spoke to her brother and said, “Steven, I know you’re going to be watching this and I hate you for what you did to my son, so you can rot in hell, alright. And I’m gonna get you for it.”

Source: WFRV Courtroom Journal – Two Mothers – Polar Opposites (Angenette Levy)

Angenette goes onto wonder:

As I’ve said before, only Brendan Dassey can answer the “why” question. And, if he did do it, and if it was simply because he “wanted to see what if felt like”as far as sex goes, then why did Steven Avery bring his young, impressionable nephew into this?

Source: WFRV Courtroom Journal – Two Mothers – Polar Opposites (Angenette Levy) why did Steven Avery drag Brandon into it? In the movie The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Howard, Curtin, and Dobbs were confronted by another man trying to get a piece of the action. Howard, Curtin,and Dobbs refuse and decide to approach the man and shoot him together. Why together? So they would all be in on the murder together and would be equally likely to hang. IIRC, Brandon confessed he stumbled upon the horror and was invited by Steven to partake. Steven did it to try to make Brandon part & parcel of the action so as to give Brandon a good reason to be quiet. It worked for a time, but the same pliancy that led Brandon into the horror and kept him quiet for a time also lead to the confession.

It’s also terribly sad that most of the time Barb comes to court by herself. Brendan’s dad Peter has been here in the mornings, but he has to work in the afternoon. When Steve was on trial, many of the Avery family members showed up for court everyday. It’s sad to see that Brendan’s grandparents, Dolores and Allan, and his uncles choose to stay home for his court appearances. Why all the support for Steve and none for Brendan?

It must be awful to feel like no one’s behind you, or your son. She also trusted her brother with her son, and now look what’s happened, if what Brendan said is true.

Source: WFRV Courtroom Journal – Two Mothers – Polar Opposites (Angenette Levy) Now, as Wizard points out earlier in a comment the prosecutors attempted to cut a deal with Brandon. Now, with the the confession, the phone call, and Ms. Tadych's statement above why oh why did you not advise your son to take the deal? I guess they all felt Brandon was a snitch.

In the end Steven Avery bears the most of hte guilt:

And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

Source: Mark 9:42 - Biblegateway.com New International Version