Jackson Jambalaya

Wow... so why did Holloman let/advise her to plead guilty? Sounds like he would have been able to do well in court.

DA caught the speed error and found the other test. DA had to present it in court first for Holloman to attack it.

Or maybe the jury would take one look at the accident photos and figure she should be guilty of something.

excellent reporting.,,, 1000 X better than Clarion Ledger.

That's a big "if" there. Personally, I'd like solid evidence Mac was doing all he could to throw the investigation. What we have is really circumstantial. It's definitely enough to call into question his judgment next time elections roll around if he runs again. My money is on him not running.

Who was the woman operating the radio at HQ when the call came in about speeding Mercedes down Old Canton Road on the night this all happened? I'd be interested in her opine.

Kingfish,

I find it interesting that you feel that the DA's office "caught" the mistake in the accident reconstruction. Don't you think the timing of the "caught" error is at least questionable? When was the discovery deadline? Looks to me like they realized Team Irby had outworked them and started playing a big game of cover their own back sides.

Keep digging KF! You've done a great job following this one and keeping us informed.

Jackson PD is a complete embarrassment. I worked for a much smaller department that was much more professional on a school crossing that has been revealed in this reconstruction.

I have been through the state's reconstruction school. It is a politically motivated animal to say the least. No one should be doing reconstruction that has not been to IPTM or Northwestern.

Thank God for those evil defense attorneys. If the state is allowed to prevail by breaking the law and being so negligent, how can anyone be expected to follow the law?

Oh, and check the state-certified thing about accident reconstructionists. There is essentially no such animal. There is a national certification known as ACTAR, which blows out of the water anything Mississippi, or more accurately MHP, can certify.
But with all its pretty total stations, reflectors and paint, it is far from an exact science. Yet people are going to prison from its "experts" opinions.

Don't forget, Mac REFUSED to release Karen's BAC results.

Even when Mac was struck by a drunk driver several weeks before the Irby accident, the BAC results of the impaired driver were released to the media.

The point is, he still flunked it.

Great work again KF. Fill me in on what happened w/ Barnhardt during Michelle Obama's visit!

At best, we know that Mac is incompetent so PEOPLE ...GET HIM OUT OF OFFICE.

At some point its not a comedy of errors but instead is intentional.

As a behind the scenes former political marketing strategist, I'm have a 100% success rate.
I quit because I actually care about my soul.
BUT, if anyone who is the least bit qualified wants to run against the Sheriff, just POST this..."need free expertise and give me a number to call". I'll meet with you and , for FREE, give you my best campaign strategy to defeat this jerk.
You must file first. I don't want to give the ass any edge...NONE. I will design your entire campaign,but I urge any potential candidates to start now.
We need to get name recognition going.

The unthinkable just happened. At least now the folks at CCJ will not be exposed.

I'm saying a prayer for Dr. Daniel Mark Pogue and his fiancée Dr. Lisa Dedousis.

Take a moment folks.

OK!

Question KF. If Mr. McMillin has in any way obstructed an investigation as an employee of the state, who has jurisdiction over the investigation of him?

Regardless of the mistakes; there were many; certainly, there are real people that were engaged as a part of the investigation that occurred. Did anyone think to interview them? Lets make a list.

1. Dispatcher the night of the wreck.
2. Every officer on duty that night.
3. Every phone call in and out of Mr. McMillin.
4. Every phone call in and out of Mr. Stuart Irby/Mrs. Karen Irby.
5. Dispatch records for JPD between the hour before and hour after of the official time of the wreck.
6. Every officer that radioed in during the hour before and hour after the official....

This is just the start of investigation, and Stu and Ka-Ka got what? A lame investigation.

I am CYNICAL.

Let me say this. Stui and Kay are nothing more than spoiled brats. If they were in a real city; lets say Buckhead, Newport Beach, Manhattan, Bloomfield Hills, Cherry Hill, or any "privileged society" outside MS, they would be cooked - WELL DONE.

I'd be willing to bet Mac/JPD was aware of Karen's DUI/BAC refusal arrest in 1997. Obviously, in addition to the other BAC report indicating .13-.14. Wonder if he's fishing with Peters in South Louisiana right now...

The direct handling of this specific case as Chief of Police will have a major impact on the rumored LT GOV 2011 campaign. Obviously 7:10 agrees.

Yeah, there's a hell of a lot more to this tragic story. This case has already (almost) received exposure on a national level.

Except other large networks pounding the pavement in Jackson soon. BTW - This ain't a rumor.

I cannot image what the family of the 2 doctors that were murdered are going through. Especially considering how all 3 local networks are reporting the pure incompetence of this investigation since day 1 (or 5) began. Not to mention evidence missing... extremely suspicious for a case of this magnitude.

8:40 - I know Cherry Hill well, and these two would be a bus boy and a maid up there - that's REAL money up there ;-)

I agree with KF that there are just too many egregious, boneheaded errors to say this is merely incompetence.

Anyone care to speculate that this is why Harvey's first act in office was to cancel the contract to let that reality show about police investigators follow the JPD around?

I am appalled this incompetent, possibly crooked pol (Mac, not Harvey) is still thinking of running for Lt. Gov. - any decent pol should disown him immediately and stand up for victims' rights.

How true 8:40!Yes-these two would be shunned socially anywhere but here. Apparently money CAN buy class(at least people treat them that way to their face)in Jackson. What amazes me is how their "friends" slam them worse than anyone. Just won't do it publicly. They love to tell it in private. Wild stories, but who knows what to believe.

I don't believe for a minute that Sheriff McMillin would obstruct justice in any way in this case. Yes, the Irby's were campaign supporters...as were alot of us...but so what? McMillin is a former beat cop for JPD and knows how to work a case. Those who have given $$ to McMillin may be like me....just an average citizen who wants a strong "law and order" enforcement officer. I just wish he were still over JPD. There's nothing he can do to help the Irby's no matter how much he personally likes Stuart.

I hope we're -all- taking a second to say a prayer for the Pogue and Dedousis families. AND the Irbys. regardless of how you feel,

just pray.

He's in control..

Marshand Crisler was shot in the leg.

Exactly how did McMillin help Karen Irby by assigning a rookie re-construction expert. His very
incompetence led to the erroneous finding of 114 mph. That error
is what opened the door for the depraved heart murder that she was charged with. Possibility of life in prison.

So, how did that help her? seems like it subjected her to tremendous
jeopardy. Had the rookie made his calculations on the low side, it wouyld have actually helped her. The 114 mph finding painted her as a depraved murderer.

The logic of declaring McMillin showing favoritism or outright evidence manipulation just doesnt scan.

So what happens when the DA comes to court with a reconstruction that is waaaaaaaaaaaay off? The other side blows it out of the water and knocks out most of the D.A.'s case for depraved heart murder.

Which I stated in my article and the fact you ignored it means

1. You just skimmed it and didn't see it or
2. Read it and are just plain stupid or
3. Are a Mac defender.

Barnhardt was not even the officer on call that night.

If McMillin conspired to help Karen Irby, he sure picked an odd way to do it. allowing an error of 114 mph which , by your own judgement, is about the only basis for depraved heart murder.

Why are you so aggressive and insulting to me for making a simple comment?

A couple of things:

1) I think this is a great post, which gives a much more complete picture of what happened than any other reporting I've seen.

2) I'm completely unconvinced by the theory that McMillan threw the investigation. I've seen too much police incompetence-- including math errors in accident reconstruction almost just like this (by a highway patrolman)!. I'm also somewhat suspicious that the whole account of this is from Robert Smith's office, dumping on JPD. I'd like more information.

3) One thing that's gone unquestioned is the "2 glass of wine" thing. That's physically impossible.

The Chief of Police probably knew about the wreck within minutes of it happening. He definitely knew when he heard "Old Canton Road", "two people killed", "Mercedes", and "Irby" that the wreck would be very high-profile, and finally, he had to immediately know without a doubt, an accurate reconstruction of the wreck would be essential to the case. So what did Mac do? He assigned a rookie, very inexperienced Officer to do the reconstruction and didn't even tell him to do it ASAP. What does this tell me and others? Mac was trying to help the Irbys from the get go. An inaccurate reconstruction would hurt the DA's case, and he knew it.

The two glass of wine thing, well, I've not mentioned it much because that is pretty obvious.

As for errors, there were simply too many here in my judgement for it to be a mistake.

It is highly unlikely that karen Irby made the statement regarding the two glasses of wine without
instruction from her lawyer.

11:12. Just thinking......I agree that her lawyer told her to say two glasses of wine, but remember the defense at one time was planning to fight the BAC taken by the JPD. Maybe she didn't know the judge was going to ask her what happened, and maybe Karen went with her earlier instruction to say she only drank two glasses.

Probably. I'm not going to fault someone for telling the judge what her lawyer told her to say. The defense was going to probably knock the original BAC results out of the park.

From what I've read and heard in the last few days, Karen was going at least 70 mph. Even if it was only 70, that's still incredibly fast for that street, and especially at that curve. (Even someone who is cold sober would have a hard time navigating that curve at that speed.) However much Karen had to drink (whether two glasses of wine or more), the question is, why was she driving so outrageously fast? Not everyone who has been drinking will drive in excess of the speed limit. Some people who've been drinking will actually drive slower than the speed limit to try to compensate for the effect of the alcohol on their reaction times. Also, it seems to me that Karen's mentioning (at the hearing on Friday) that she'd had "two glasses of wine" was specifically designed to try to minimize the seriousness of what she did. (If she truly had only two glasses of wine to drink that night, I'd like to know what size glasses they were.) Also, that just makes me wonder even more why she was driving so fast.

I'm not at all convinced that either Stuart or Karen have become truly sorry before God for any of the many seriously selfish and wrong things they have done. Stuart didn't even show up at the hearing on Friday, which I think may show the kind of person he really is. Also, at the hearing, Karen seemed to say only the bare minimum she had to say to satisfy the judge. (What does all this say about what kind of parents Stuart and Karen have been to their children?) I hope both Stuart and Karen will become truly sorry for their wrongdoings, but, frankly, I haven't seen any convincing evidence of that so far.

It seems to me that Karen and Stuart are covering for one another, and that they now have a lot of other people covering for them as well, either directly or indirectly. I don't doubt that there may be various kinds of favors being promised and given, including things like money and material goods. But I also suspect that, with many of the people involved, it's also a case of, "I'll keep your secrets if you'll keep mine." If that's true, that would mean there have probably been various kinds of threats--some verbalized, other insinuated--that have been going on. Obviously, threats of exposing secrets can be extremely powerful, but I can't help but wonder if there could be other kinds of threats going on as well.

The way I see it about the "two glasses" is this...

1. She was not prepared to make a statement. Her attorney spoke up and said we stipulated it in our filing.
2. Two glasses is what she has obviously been telling herself, it was not rehearsed, it was what she has convinced herself of.
3. Insult to injury is Green's reply, "you do not challenge the BAC" do you?" Karen replied, "no."
4. I thought the entire scenario a bit contrived, however, Green saying she was going to sentence her right there was "not on the script."
5. "Two glasses of wine," is an excuse, and Green appears to have looked past it. My hopes are that the deal that was already in place is now a bit in the air, given her plea in open court. She did that to herself.

From what I've read and heard in the last few days, Karen was going at least 70 mph. Even if it was only 70, that's still incredibly fast for that street, and especially at that curve. (Even someone who is cold sober would have a hard time navigating that curve at that speed.)

I disagree with this notion. I own an E500. I haven't but I could easily take that specific turn at 70 and never stray from my lane. Easy.

It has not been debunked that Karen was going ~110. All we know is that JPD botched the investigation to prove so in court versus a formidable defense counselor.

70 is fast for the street and the curve but not, if sober, fast enough to lose control.

Is that the "Economy" class Mercedes? ;)

If I drink 5 glasses of wine and state under oath that I had 2 glasses of wine, I'm not lying, am I? Before you get to 5, you get to 2. I didn't hear Karen say the word "only" before the word "two." This seems disingenuous, doesn't it? That's why lawyers pay attention to words. I hope judges do, too.

Great job Kingfish! I can't help but feel that the best lines of all of these are your own...

While justice was served, there was no victory here, no reason to celebrate, just a numbing sense of tragedy about something that should never have happened. Two doctors who should be enjoying their marriage vows and helping others, a mother at home with two kids, a family legacy once well respected in Jackson, all destroyed.

I'm truly sad for all these people...but mostly Karen. Stuart will continue to live his privileged albeit tarnished life. The two doctors are well...gone. And Karen stands alone in the end, leaving her children and unlike the opinion of Anonymous 2:17...I believe more regretful and painfully sorry than any of us will ever be able to imagine. It's tragic beyond comprehension. God Bless them all.

I believe Karen is very sorry she caused the deaths of two people. I really do. She would have to be the devil himself not to have remorse. Stuart on the other hand is just cowart in my book. He is hiding behind supposed sickness to protect himself. If the truth was really known he probably played a large part in Karen losing complete control of the car. I just hope someone, anyone finds a way to remove the children from his home before he seriously hurts them.

It amazes me that so many people feel sorry for Karen. Karen chose to have a baby with Stuart. Karen chose to marry Stuart. Karen chose to stay married to Stuart. Karen chose to go out with Stuart the night the wreck happened. Karen chose to drink the night of the wreck. Karen chose to get behind the wheel that night and drive at a high rate of speed.
Look where all these choices have led Karen.....I don't feel sorry for Karen that she may be going to jail. I feel sorry that Karen didn't love herself enough to have made better choices....
I feel very sorry for the loved ones of the deceased who will carry this pain with them for the rest of their lives. There will be a hole in their hearts forever, no matter what.

8:05- I couldn't agree more! Karen indeed made all those choices! No one forced her- she is an adult. Free to decide how to live her life. She "trapped" Stuart into marriage- known fact- wanted the wealth and status. Her first marriage shows she has a history of "poor choices." The 2 glasses of wine thing shouts- I am in Denial- Accept very little responsiblity!!! Has no remorse!

You are right 8:05. Karen chose to get involved with a serial adulterer who banged his friends' still married wives when the opportunities allowed. She knew damn well the character of Stuart Irby before she leaped.

The 2 glasses of wine thing. I know a server at the country club. Actually I know the server that served them that night. He said the next day she had only had 2 glasses of wine at the country club. There is a charge ticket to back that up. Is the CC named in the civil suit? If not that is probably the reason why. Of course, no one has anyway of knowing what she had before she left the house. But I bet the ticket from the CC will back up what she said.

Does anyone know what her TRUE BAC result was?

Two glasses or ten glasses... it doesn't matter. Karen was legally drunk. The DA said her BAC about an hour after the wreck taken at UMC was between .13 and .14. The judge asked did the defense did they concur with this finding or something to that affect, and the answer was yes. She was drunk, and by saying she only drank two glasses only made her in the eyes of everyone that much worse.

And finally, yes indeed did Karen make bad choices. No doubt, but Stuart has, too. Frankly, I think they deserve each other. Neither has one ounce of morals, character, or class. Stuart may drive around town and think he's something, but if he thinks people respect him anymore he's living in dream world

I think too much is being made about the fact that two doctors were killed. What if it were two crackheads? Wouldn't the crime be the same?

Prediction of Sentence: 7-10 yrs concurrent, serves about 2 (maybe) and then MDOC Commissioner Epps sends her home with an ankle bracelet.

I think you are close to accurate with 7-10 yrs concurrent but I believe there is a minimum amount of sucha sentence before eligibility of parole. I think its 85% ,,,, but fortunately I have no experience in this matter. except, I know someone who recently was sentenced to the same crime (negligent culpable manslaughter ) who received 7 yrs that involved one fatality. (in Rankin Co)

9:56 Taxpayers paid a fortune to train those two doctors, and expected to get about 40 years worth of medical care out of them; that's why society supports medical schools. The crime is the same, but if you think the value of two crackheads to society is worth the same as two doctors you are too dense to educate.

If Karen has become truly sorry for her speeding and abuse of alcohol, then why did she allow her attorneys--as recently as within the last month or so--to have the car (the Irby Mercedes) examined to see if there was any problem with the car that could have led to the accident? If Karen already knew that her speeding and drinking were the cause of the accident, then why was she still willing to let her attorneys try to blame it, at least in part, on the car?

How much did it cost the taxpayers of Hinds County to have the district attorney's office prepare for the trial? In other words, how much money could Karen Irby have saved the taxpayers if she had admitted to her wrongdoing a year ago?

Also, is Stuart still driving? Has he ever been truly sorry for his own abuse of alcohol? (If he hadn't been drinking so much himself that night, Karen probably would never have been behind the wheel.) Also, if the accident truly caused Stuart serious brain damage, then why has he been driving since the accident? Can we be assured that he will never drive again? Or is he going to have some "miraculous" recovery sometime after Karen has gone to jail?

My gut tells me Judge Green will split the difference between 10 and 20 years, that is, 15 to serve. But my gut says a lot of things.

9:56 a.m.

I think you are spot on. It doesn't matter whether the 2 deceased were crackheads or doctors, they are both deceased regardless.

It's curious that nothing has ever been mentioned about their bloodwork. It's very plausible to think that 2 love birds may have had dinner and drinks on their first time together in a few weeks.

A tragedy all the way around!

9:56 Their blood work would have been relevant if 1) they had left their lane and careened into oncoming traffic or 2) exceeded the speed limit; neither happened.

Next time you're sick - call a crackhead.

Even if it were relevant, which it's not, can you even get a valid BAC from two people who were burned to death?

Regardless of the time Karen Irby is sentenced too, which in my opinion will be less than 5 years, I have a sick feeling that she will need to be in the infirmary every time she gets a hangnail. Within six months she will have some kind of "complication" from her extensive injuries she suffered during the wreck and there will be filings to reduce her sentence. Of course, judging from the way she sprinted out of the courthouse on Friday, I'd say she recovered remarkably well.