“What More Could a Family Want?!!!”
“What More Could a Family Want” Sheriff Manning?
The question ”What more could a family want from a death investigation” was actually posed by Sheriff Mac Manning to Stacey’s family during a recent interview on Talk of the Town. Mac even went so far as to compare the Pollard families’ continued search for justice to be comparable to that seen when a family loses a loved one to suicide. Isn’t it amazing how people can use a public forum to not only defend a monumental wrong but quickly follow with an attempt to portray a grief-stricken family who lost a completely innocent son or brother at the hands of a convicted felon and Pitt County Deputy as the perpetrators of evil? Frankly, we’re amazed lightning didn’t strike the studio during the interview.
But, first things first. Mac posed the question so how about this. The family would have liked Mac or the SBI to listen to Michelle’s 911 call and then question Michelle about the call and why her version of events surrounding Stacey’s death changed after taking the SBI administered polygraph. Michelle stated in her 911 call, through tears and sobbing not seen or heard since Scarlet O’Hara played Rhett Butler like a fiddle, that Stacey must have fallen in the pool while having a seizure. Remember Michelle placed this call IMMEDIATELY after finding Stacey in the pool. Since this story would later change after her failed polygraph examination, it would lead most people to believe the 911 call was REHEARSED and the events PREMEDITATED. The family would have liked for you, Sheriff Manning, to at least have looked at this!
The family would also have liked Sheriff Manning to immediately remove the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office from Stacey’s death investigation and contact the SBI for the investigation when Mac gained knowledge of the late November drowning death of the spouse of a Pitt County Sheriff’s Office Deputy. Even the president of the State Sheriff’s Association commented in the News and Observer that this should have been a call made instantly. To make matters worse, the SBI Agent called to investigate Stacey’s death months after the tragedy, admitted finding crime scene evidence months after the death was like finding “Easter Eggs in August.” Maybe, if Mac called the SBI the night of Stacey’s death, Lt. Pollard would not have been allowed to burn what was quite possibly damning evidence the day after Stacey’s funeral or she would have thought twice about participating in three-way sex the night of Stacey’s funeral.
Sheriff Manning, you might also want to consider retracting your statement that the person you assigned to be the head of the major crimes unit, Lee Moore, had never to you knowledge had a romantic relationship with Lt. Pollard. Lee Moore’s ADMISSION to Stacey’s family in front of Pitt County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Kilpatrick and Dance that he had indeed had a romantic relationship with Michelle during her marriage to Stacey was the SOLE reason Lee Moore took the families’ issues with the investigation to you. After all Mac, you refused to meet with the family and sent Lee Moore in your stead. Bet you wish you hadn’t sent him now. At worst, your refusal to acknowledge this relationship is dishonest. At best, it paints you as an INCOMPETENT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. Stacey’s family would like you to tell us which reason you choose.
Sheriff Manning, if NOTHING ELSE, you could at the very least admit to Stacey’s family and the citizens of Pitt County that YOU, AND ONLY YOU, MADE A MONUMENTAL MISTAKE BY NOT CALLING THE SBI IMMEDIATELY AFTER STACEY’S DEATH AND QUIT BLAMING OTHERS FOR THE FAILURE YOU AND ONLY YOU HAVE MADE! After that, you can give us an HONEST reason for not placing the call.
THAT WOULD BE A START SHERIFF MANNING. WE’RE WAITING.
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