I am watching this episode now, never heard of this case, and all I can say is what the heck?? I'm going to have to obsessively look this up and read everything I can about it now. Whatever happened to Mack? Did he just live out the rest of his life with no consequences??
Editing this because I found this article:
http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/a-kiss-before-dying/
Actually I looked him up. Although he went to college and married twice, he basically ended up a sad, lonely old man. It certainly wasn't the life anyone would have expected of a handsome football star. He had a number of jobs, even though he went to college. He also seems to have lost touch with his former friends.
I do have to say that, although she shouldn't have died, her life was basically over. She had become the town slut. Her father refused to allow her to go to college. She would probably have ended up with a menial job--a waitress, perhaps. She might have married, or she might have become a prostitute. Her best chance would have been to move away and start over in a new town.
I also grew up in that time, although not in the football-mad culture of Texas. And the rule was that good girls don't. She not only didn't play by the rules, she reveled in it. She did some really stupid things, especially writing it all down in her diary. I really can't foresee that she'd have had a lot of happiness in her life.
An article I read said that he had ruined two lives; I disagree. She ruined her own life by her own choices. I played by the rules and I haven't regretted it for a minute.
My husband (of 50+ years) disagrees with me about what her father did. He thinks that her father should have allowed her to go to Indiana University. I think he was right to punish her for betraying all the values that he & her mother tried to instill in her. Why should he reward her with an expensive education when he felt like she had become a stranger?
Boo Hoo! Let me wipe away the tears with my PLASTIC hand!--Lindsey McDonald (Angel)
My husband (of 50+ years) disagrees with me about what her father did. He thinks that her father should have allowed her to go to Indiana University. I think he was right to punish her for betraying all the values that he & her mother tried to instill in her. Why should he reward her with an expensive education when he felt like she had become a stranger?
An education isn't a reward, it's a necessity. A new car would be a reward. She was planning on going to the college nearby while living at home. Probably not an, "expensive education." You don't deny your child a chance to improve herself just because she was a rebellious teenager. If my child wanted to gain some marketable skills that will help her be financially independent if need be, hell yeah I'd support her in whatever way I could. She could help pay for her education by getting summer jobs, and part time jobs during the school year.
shareShe lived in Odessa, TX, and planned to go to the University of Indiana. That's not nearby and living at home would be impossible. And an education is a necessity, but she could work and pay for it herself. Many people do.
Boo Hoo! Let me wipe away the tears with my PLASTIC hand!--Lindsey McDonald (Angel)
From that article:
The oldest of four children, she knew that her parents could not afford to send her away to college, and her part-time job at Woolworth’s barely paid enough to finance any kind of getaway. While she aspired to one day appear on the Broadway stage, in the meantime she planned to live at home after graduation and attend Odessa College, just up the street.
She lived in Odessa, TX, and planned to go to the University of Indiana. That's not nearby and living at home would be impossible. And an education is a necessity, but she could work and pay for it herself. Many people do.
Boo Hoo! Let me wipe away the tears with my PLASTIC hand!--Lindsey McDonald (Angel)
An education isn't a reward, it's a necessity. A new car would be a reward. She was planning on going to the college nearby while living at home. Probably not an, "expensive education." You don't deny your child a chance to improve herself just because she was a rebellious teenager. If my child wanted to gain some marketable skills that will help her be financially independent if need be, hell yeah I'd support her in whatever way I could.But you're looking at it from today's perspective. Back in 1960, things were VERY, very different. Girls were basically expected to become housewives; it would be up to their future husbands to provide financially. And job opportunities for females were very limited and very low paying: servers, secretaries, sales clerks, etc. A girl in a small, southern town, like Betty, wouldn't have had the opportunities we take for granted for our children today, regardless of their gender.
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.comshare
But you're looking at it from today's perspective. Back in 1960, things were VERY, very different. Girls were basically expected to become housewives; it would be up to their future husbands to provide financially. And job opportunities for females were very limited and very low paying: servers, secretaries, sales clerks, etc. A girl in a small, southern town, like Betty, wouldn't have had the opportunities we take for granted for our children today, regardless of their gender.
I just started reading a book about the case written by Betty's cousin called "Washed in the Blood" Its pretty good
Editing this because I found this article:Thanks for the link. Interesting article.
http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/a-kiss-before-dying
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.comshare
Other people told her no, why was he willing to kill her? I'm not buying the temporary insanity defense. And it's sickening how so many people rallied to his side while and how her life was devalued because of her sexual history. I wonder if t he same thing would happen today.
shareI think she did want to die but was afraid to kill herself. It was almost a form of "suicide by cop." She had nothing to look forward to any more. Her only hope was to get away, and I don't think she had the money to do that.
Boo Hoo! Let me wipe away the tears with my PLASTIC hand!--Lindsey McDonald (Angel)
I think she did want to die but was afraid to kill herself. It was almost a form of "suicide by cop."That's a very good point.
She had nothing to look forward to any more. Her only hope was to get away, and I don't think she had the money to do that.I want to disagree about that, but then I have to remind myself that we're talking about a teenage girl in the very early '60s, when pay was tiny and job opportunities very limited compared to men. Even with that in mind, I think it's POSSIBLE that she could've gone somewhere else, found a job, and gone to college, even part-time or with student loans, etc. But I don't actually KNOW what it would've been like back then for a young woman on her own.
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.comshare
I think she did want to die but was afraid to kill herself. It was almost a form of "suicide by cop." She had nothing to look forward to any more. Her only hope was to get away, and I don't think she had the money to do that.
Other people told her no, why was he willing to kill her? I'm not buying the temporary insanity defense.Me either. I think he wanted her dead, although I'm not really sure WHY. Just a feeling, I guess. Of course, I only know what I saw in the episode and, now, what I've read online, so I'm hardly an expert on Mack or his life.
And it's sickening how so many people rallied to his side while and how her life was devalued because of her sexual history. I wonder if t he same thing would happen today.Or if the genders were switched.
http://www.CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.comshare
Or if the genders were switched.
True, males aren't devalued because of their sexual history. He could have been a Casanova and it wouldn't have made a difference.
Well, I have heard of cases in the past where women got away with killing men who had "taken advantage of them." Especially if the man supposedly had a history of seducing and abandoning women.
I can't recall ever seeing a bedroom, like Betty's, with a door that leads outside. That seemed really odd to me.
This like many of the cases shown tend to spark different opinions on what was going through the persons mind, but for myself personally- I didn't see her wanting to die. I understand she was going through rough times & maybe it was the way they chose to tell the story, but I saw a girl who was still in love w/ a guy & this was her way of getting him back. I honestly feel like she was expecting him to say no at the last minute, then sweep her off her feet & tell her he loved her. I believe she asked him to kill her, but as a ploy, I don't think she felt he would go through w/ it. I think this was her way of crying out for him to love her again & that he'd save her at the last minute =(
shareThis like many of the cases shown tend to spark different opinions on what was going through the persons mind, but for myself personally- I didn't see her wanting to die. I understand she was going through rough times & maybe it was the way they chose to tell the story, but I saw a girl who was still in love w/ a guy & this was her way of getting him back. I honestly feel like she was expecting him to say no at the last minute, then sweep her off her feet & tell her he loved her. I believe she asked him to kill her, but as a ploy, I don't think she felt he would go through w/ it. I think this was her way of crying out for him to love her again & that he'd save her at the last minute =(
This like many of the cases shown tend to spark different opinions on what was going through the persons mind, but for myself personally- I didn't see her wanting to die. I understand she was going through rough times & maybe it was the way they chose to tell the story, but I saw a girl who was still in love w/ a guy & this was her way of getting him back. I honestly feel like she was expecting him to say no at the last minute, then sweep her off her feet & tell her he loved her. I believe she asked him to kill her, but as a ploy, I don't think she felt he would go through w/ it. I think this was her way of crying out for him to love her again & that he'd save her at the last minute =(
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I respectfully disagree with you. Perhaps I'm putting myself in her place, and I did grow up back in those days (although in a steel town of western PA rather than football-crazy Odessa). I think she honestly felt her life was over and that she had nothing to live for. I truly believe she wanted to die.
Boo Hoo! Let me wipe away the tears with my PLASTIC hand!--Lindsey McDonald (Angel)
I respectfully disagree with you. Perhaps I'm putting myself in her place, and I did grow up back in those days (although in a steel town of western PA rather than football-crazy Odessa). I think she honestly felt her life was over and that she had nothing to live for. I truly believe she wanted to die.
Someone who was not mentally fit. Either he didn't care or he wanted to know the "thrill" of killing someone. ANyway, this guy clearly is not normal.
shareI think she honestly felt her life was over and that she had nothing to live for. I truly believe she wanted to die.
There are plenty of people like that but they commit suicide. She was obviously trying to reach out for help.Not one person tried to reassure her or help her which is ridiculous.What a *beep* generation. Everyone else turned her down until she ended up finding a sociopath.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.
Thanks for sharing the link - what a sad story.
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