Sarah - Paula denied drug use all the way up to detox....

Paula Abdul isn't on drugs, and Billy Mays never touched the stuff....and Roger Clemens never took steriods. If is looks like a duck, walks like a duck, smells like a duck, it is a duck.

He sounds like a textbook enabler.

Well I can see that this is a hot topic with everyone. I also had a mother who had the same problem with the alcohol smell from her diabetics, and was pulled over once or twice in her life.
But on to this mother, I think the husband knew she was a drinker and partier or he was the one that got her drunk and then put the empty bottle back in the van. The only thing that would'nt make sense then is how did she actually drive away from the camp ground???? I would think she would have been in a heap of trouble way before she got to the interstate.

wannabe30 - you siad that it caused a SMELL. You cant have a BAC without drinking! Your point didnt really have anything to do with this.
So the family is only allowed 1 bottle at a time or what? She cant have them hidden? Im sorry but from personal experience with a person with a drinking problem if they are keepign it from family and friends they tend not to drink out of teh "party bottle" They hide their own.

If you have an absessed tooth, you should probably go to the dentist. Absessed teeth can cause very serious infections and even death. I'm a big babby when it comes to pain, so at the onset of tooth pain, I would be at the dentist. But that's just me. Can you imagine how stupid it would be this day in age to die of an absessed tooth (especially if the absess wasn't acute, and had been a problem for a long time).

averagegal be careful many people do not agree with you, I was told that my point was not relevant and I was wrong. I agree with the abbess however, they did find alcohol in her system. I was trying to make a point that other medical conditions can mimic being drunk, and I was more less told I this was not a valid point.

My Husband had an abseesed tooth once that indeed went into his head. He was in horrible pain and almost died. I think that woman was in terrible pain and did not know what else to do. Her husband stated that the vodka was a bottle they took camping, cookouts, ect... Anyone who knows a true addict knows that bottle would not have been around long or would have been watered down by now. It is very sad.

I know several "functioning alcoholics" who, had nobody told me they were alcoholics, I never would've known. And, to agree with a couple others' points, vodka is colorless and almost completely odorless, so it's definitely possible she could've been conceling it. I've also known a few people who've blacked out due to some neurological condition. But, the blood tests sound pretty conclusive. For whatever reason, this woman was hammered. This is such a sad story, and hopefully a more definite answer can come out as to what happened.

It's sad no one in this country has any shame or decency or dignity anymore. This guy should be at home mourning and not saying anything at all...instead he's out there trying to pin this on anything but who and what is at fault.

ihavealife - I forgot. That was the other test they mentioned last night.

Drunk. Drugged. Driving. Denial. Finally all caught up in the most horrific way.

wannabe30 - HELLO?? Of course, I didn't do the autopsy. Yeesh. I got the information from the interviews seen on TV with the professionals who did.
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You are comparing apples and oranges.
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I also heard the professionals say that besides blood, stomach contants, they test other body parts, - liver, etc., etc.
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Diabetes DOES not come into play here. That disease does NOT give you a BAC of .19 out of the blue.

Hey Mikki maybe you should read first, I did not say she was not drinking I did not say she was innocent. The husband brought up other conditions I was stating that sometimes this can happen I did not say she was innocent.

We may not have conducted the autopsy, but professionals have.

The autopsy results are pretty clear.

You and the husband can share that pair of blinders.

I have no problem with people making statements about stories, but wannabe30 maybe everyone is on your case because you are trying to relate two stories that have nothing to do with the other. If you don't like critisium, don't post things that make NO SENSE!!

See was drunk and on drugs and kill several people including young kids. What more can you say.

And you conducted the autopsy, you’re a medical professional? I agree she was drinking so relax people make statements and if you do not like them then do not post. I was just stating a fact that some conditions can be construed as another. I did not state it applied to this case now her husband thinks otherwise.

If it was just the BAC, then it’s possible that the blood samples got mixed with another person’s. But, you have BAC, plus alcohol in the stomach, plus the bottle, plus a long period of erratic behaviour consistent with a heavy drinking or drug use. I don’t believe this lady is entitled to any benefit of doubt here.
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It’s clear that the husband is thinking about the massive lawsuit that’s about to land on him. If he can sow some doubt now, maybe he can influence people’s thinking before a jury gets picked. I suspect – I hope – the strategy backfires badly on him. Picking a high profile defense attorney only adds to the stink level. I’ll bet we start getting witnesses who report seeing this lady drinking on other occasions, and that it wasn’t any surprise to the husband whatever.

What I'm getting at is: your mom = .00 BAC. This Mom - .19 BAC.
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Diabetes had ultimately nothing to do with this.

I am saying when she was pulled over for her tail light she was asked if she had been drinking she said no and was give then breathalyzer it should zero BAC not sure what you are getting at, I do not know what happened to this woman and I hope her husband and all involved find peace. I am saying she may have been drinking and I was stating that sometimes other symptoms could be that other symptoms. In her case, I am afraid she was drinking.

wannabe - Did your mom actually get arrested for BAC over .08???? Smell and BAC are totally different.
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"and had no alcohol in her system" - to quote you. THAT there is the difference.

Well if they found a vodka bottle, that kind of explains it. Vodka is the choice of sneaky drinkers around the world. Easy to conceal the smell and it's clear. She probably had it every morning in her orange juice and he didn't even know it. And if she was an alcoholic and he didn't know it, he could mistake her actions as normal sober actions, because that is all he may have ever known. Not all alcoholics are easily detected. Not all alcoholics are stumbling mumbling fools. It's a sad sad situation, but denial won’t help anything. For his sake, I hope his convictions are proven correct, but if I were him I wouldn’t rule out the obvious.

A 1.75 liter bottle is not the choice of a casual drinker.

My mother does not drink yet she has been pulled over and has been asked if she had been drinking as she smelled of alcohol, has been given a breathalyzer and had no alcohol in her system. Why she is a diabetic and diabetics sometimes smell as if they had been drinking. In addition, I have had an abbessed tooth and yes mine made me dizzy and a little off. Did she drink that day I do not know but do not jump to quickly as we were not there and as sad, as it is people died.

I didn't know that a stroke (or an untreated abcessed tooth) could result in .19 BAC and presence of marijuana. Boy the things you learn everyday.
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I believe that both of you are right . . she was a closet drinker, and he surmised, but the big rock denial rolled in.
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Plus on the news last night, the NY State Troopers said that it took her 4 hours to go 90 miles. (On a six-lane throroughfare). Hm.

I am thinking she was a closet drinker that snapped that day

Denial is a hell of a thing.