Raymond is a 47-year-old unemployed communications-company manager who disappeared on July 28 off Long Island. On August 2, an officer pulled over Raymond in South Carolina for speeding after he’d spent time in a resort in Orlando, Fla.
It was Raymond’s son Jonathan who told his mother that Raymond disappeared and Evana says that she found messages on Jonathan’s computer discussing the planned disappearance. The computers of both men have been seized by police. Jonathan however says that his father has now threatened his life.
Evana says that her husband was spotted driving in the neighborhood and sent her an email that said “[t]he place looks a little crowded. I just drove by. Call me later.” She says that her husband called her from a bar in North Carolina and she allowed police to listen in on calls when Raymond said things like “It didn’t work out as I thought it would. I did it for you.”
He then reportedly got angry after she went public with such messages as “I just heard u have a press conference. Be nice. Almost 15 years together.” The problem is that they were married for 12 years not 15 years. It is always a good idea to get the length of your marriage right if you are trying to get her into a conspiracy and, if you are going to get it wrong, you might not want to say it felt longer than it is. It is also not a good idea to send your son an email saying “DO NOT allow that a–hole to give the house away.”
Evana says that Raymond drained their account of all but $7. However, the articles do not include any reference to an attempt to defraud or file insurance claims. Absent some fraudulent benefit, it is hard to see the crime. He can argue that he was entitled to access and use joint accounts. This certainly makes for the world’s worst Thanksgiving dinner but not necessarily a crime.
We recently discussed the attempt of Congress to criminalize lies without such conventional benefits or fraud in the controversy over the Stolen Valor Act. The Court struck down the law. I have been a critic of attempts to criminalize such lies as a threat to free speech. (here and here) Absent some fraud such as death benefits, this may be a case of simple lying.
What do you think?
Source: NY Postt