Parkland School Shooter's Sister Testifies in Penalty Phase Trial
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2022
- On Monday, the Parkland school shooter's sister Danielle Woodard testified in her brother's penalty phase trial.
#ParklandShooting #Trial #LawAndCrime
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Развлечения
I personally was friends with Danielle Woodard before ever knowing about her brother. I did not know any of this about her life as she hid it from the world behind a wild persona. She was a very caring person and was my friend when no one else was. She was quick to step in and cater to my needs while I was a stranger and befriended me like she knew me forever. She was always the happiness in my dark days and seeing her talk about her past is a side I never saw. Never saw her this anxious and nervous and sad before. Breaks my heart that she lived like this but it does not surprise me because she was a very carefree wild person nonetheless. I knew she lived a chaotic life but while we were friends she was awesome and I love her!!!!!!!!
Marsha loves you Danielle!!!!
🥺💔
The world needs more people like you
Thank you for sharing this❤️
This is amazing to read! I’m sure she’d love to read your comment if she could 🥰
I always wonder if comments like this are actually fake
“…growing in her polluted womb…” This woman has a way with words.
I thought the same thing. Brutal.
She’s very angry and resentful, and rightly so
Such a true statement.
That says it all.
That was a very powerful statement. My heart aches for kids who have to endure that kind of life.
Living in jail currently, had a messed up childhood, have to testify about that childhood (extremely triggering, I’m sure), and seeing you’re baby brother that you wanted to keep 20+ years later on trial for murdering 17 people. I would have to be sedated.
You can tell that she is sedated
Jaz
Is she sedated I would want to have some thing. Kinda scary
How come you have access to the internet?
@@TallSilentGuy they sell it. I buy it.
That's you some people have new choice but to go through all this pain completely sober
This was very hard to watch. Danielle never had a shot at living a normal life, not with having a mother like Brenda. It is very clear, at least to me, that talking about childhood was very triggering - you can see waves of pain flash over her face as she recounts each memories. My heart really goes out to her. She did a great job testifying.
Get over yourself already. You can either be a victim all your life, or you can put your big girl pants on and rise above it. At this point Brenda has won, she's succeeded in keeping her down.
@@g-shack3655 have some compassion. Some people are able to turn that trauma completely around and use it as motivation. Others are not so strong, especially if they grew up surrounded by trauma. No one is excusing bad and/or criminal behavior.
Kids that have lived through the same situations and worse have made it through those situations and made better decisions
@@tbone541 /Many didn’t!
@@mariabarco7226 many didn't what and why? Nicole.... because of their parents or upbringing they had to commit crimes and sometimes murder?
I started tearing up when she started talking about running to the neighbors dog she always used to play with. As someone who grew up in an abusive home with addict parents, I used to turn to animals for comfort. They honestly saved me. You can tell she got emotional talking about that part.
@reformed meghead I am! It took a lot of therapy but I'm now a mom of 2 beautiful little babies and I have a career I love. If my parents taught me anything it's to be a kind and loving parent to my kids. ❤ thank you so much
@@13ritneyanne keep your head up and be a great example to those 2 little kids of yours :> always great to see or hear of a story of someone that was able to turn it around.
💚💜💚💜
It's clear that Nikola's brain was never able to develop properly due to his mother not getting an abortion.
I haven't gotten that far yet, but how brutal 😰. The way she sighed deeply before answering that she lives in the detention center... And the disdain with the deep breath before answering whom her mother is, when she sighed and said "Brenda", was so full of disgust. I know she's no angel, but this woman's whole life has been a cycle of negative chaos. I really feel for her.
Only for people who are interested: earlier in the trial day Cruz asked his lawyer about his sister and she told him "She's very nervous. She's your sister, she loves you. You can talk to her." And the sister mouthed "I love you" to Cruz and kept looking at him and smiling/sobbing.
I just can't deal with all of the misery surrounding both sides of this trial. And yes, I can have empathy for both the victims and the defendant, empathy isn't a limited resource.
I agree. I feel sorry for the victims and the suspect as well. No child should go through what they've went through. Children deserve loving parents. From the sounds of it, they never stood a chance. This case is quite upsetting.
@@OpalBLeigh , to a small, but important extent, it is nurture as well, since Cruz’s mother used, drank and smoke while pregnant, and probably rarely ate, backed up by the friend’s testimony. He would have been born addicted, and likely his brain and nervous system did not receive the nutrients for normal development. Also, adoption trauma is a thing for some adoptees, even when the baby goes to a loving home. Edit: *smoked.
I feel the same. However, I still believe he deserves the death penalty. His tragic upbringing is not an excuse for the evil he committed.
I think she desperately is searching for a family that she never got. I think thats where the love for Nikolas comes from. She seems very sad and broken. Loving him doesn't mean she agrees with what he did and most people are told that you love family members no matter what. I purposely avoided the comments because I was afraid it would be full of insults towards her because of the fact she said she loves Nikolas.
I feel sorry for her and it was especially sad when she was told that her new lawyers were profiting off this tragedy. I don't know if its true but I felt that they were trying to tell her that she is being used for their own gain and they don't really care about helping her.
If my sibling shot up a school I would literally kill him myself
This testimony, her way of speaking, the pain and exhaustion she expresses, provides such a sad story. Truly. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of such a tragic family.
This is nothing, you should meet my family
this is nothing, more common than you would care to believe.
This is nothing comparing to tom riddles family
the replies to your comment are pretty braindead. legit the kinda people who can't just have the conversation you're having. literally have to one-up what you've said despite it being completely valid and very true. highly annoying individuals.
Contrary to the comments you’re getting from others, I totally agree with you! This is one of the worst stories Ive heard. All of this tragedy at the altar of drugs and alcohol.
It's amazing that you can see the compassion in the eyes of the victims families. After all they've been through they still feel for the suffering of others.
I did notice that a few of the victims family members were emotional listing to his sisters story.
I noticed that too 😔
I noticed that too 😥😥😥
This whole trial is so heart breaking.
it’s an entire society that failed when something like this happens. this boy was passed through the system while everyone knew how troubled he was and left to go on in a normal school when he wasn’t normal. sad sad sad.
I honestly feel not in spite of it, but because of it. I wonder how anyone could not be touched deeply by this woman's testimony. How?
I love my mother so much. I am so lucky to be raised by her. I’m going to call her right now and tell her how much I appreciate everything she has done for me.
❤
😢
@@GMarieBehindTheMask Why crying?
@@milay6140I Didn't Have A Loving Mom Either.
😭
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a devastating condition. It's not a free pass, definitely not, but his mother made his brain a terrible place.
Oh please! Millions of children grow up in crappy addicts homes and don't kill children and teachers or carjack old ladies and assault cops. Stop making excuses! People overcome a lot worse than this garbage.
A lot of people have that issue and don’t murder
@@notcherbidness501 You're talking to yourself because I never said a lot of people with FASD do or don't kill people. I've worked with children with FASD. His mother did a terrible disservice to him.
@@PushaT_cells you’re absolutely right. FASD is awful and it sounds like he didn’t get the early childhood support as they didn’t “notice” issues until the delay in language development was glaring. The school system also made a TON of errors. Dismissing him from special education was grounds for a lawsuit!! I’m a school psychologist. They made so many mistakes. Not being critical but we’ve got to do better with the identification and support for students like this!!!
@@notcherbidness501 you’re right. But having such a merciless and blasé response to the fact is what’s wrong with society/schooling/government, and what fails many individuals who end up committing heinous and irreversible, devastating acts. 9/10x there’s a psychological link to these behaviors. But we continue to just say, good/bad, with no grey area. No want or need to understand the WHY of these acts. And we continue to vote for politicians who find health of all kinds to not be worthy of a substantial budget. No one is asking for a free pass, but asking for us as a whole to be vigilant, to be aware, and to have systems in place for these individuals BEFORE a mass shooting, a murder, a life long act of DV, etc is committed.
"Who lived in the apartment?"
"Just me, her and Nikolas" - meaning Nik in utero. The look of love she gave Nik at this moment speaks to the better side of human nature. He may be a despicable murderer but she still calls him "my little baby brother. . . I held him in my arms and looked at him and he looked back at me. He was full of life. I asked Brenda, 'Can we keep him?'". So heartbreaking.
The way she glances over at Nik with a mixture of pain and love it's just incomprehensible. She came across as extremely genuine in this testimony, yet at the same time extremely broken. When she has to pause and take a deep breath before she recounts her trauma just screams PTSD. I'm in no way excusing Parkland & he deserves the worst sentence possible but I struggle to believe this would of happened without the actions of Brenda.
Of course she has PTSD. So does her brother. I'm with you too when you say that this wouldn't have happened without the influence of the mother. It's a shame that stating the obvious has to be controversial or offensive. What other conclusion can you draw from this?
Nik? Seriously?
@@tubeklw4533 I'm glad to see there's at least two other people who feel the same way I do. My heart breaks for the little baby that he was coming out of that freaking monster. Yes he needs to pay for his crimes but that poor kid never had a freaking chance. This story is on repeat, our mental health system does nothing for these children🤯🤯
@@techtiger217 Three 🙋🏻♀️
I agree with you. It's very sad. They really didn't have a chance at a normal life.
This is the most visually attentive and engaged I’ve seen Nikolas this entire trial.
@Raven Balcom it's because he was to know the name of the trash bin he fell out of
Without a doubt. I feel for the sister. Even Cruz's 1st sign of emotion, makes me feel for his sister. Not him. I know sis is no angel, but it stems from a whole life cycle of negative chaos.
@Robert Sears Have you seen the videos of him boasting about being the next person to shoot innocent kids up?
@Robert Sears wild guess here but maybe it's because he killed 17 people.
@@samr9520 Sounds like your familiar with trash.
No excuse for the shooters actions but the pain in this young woman's eyes is so so heartbreaking. She has been through so much. She tried so hard at a very young age to escape this.
This is not about excusing what he did. It's explaining why and why he should not be put to death. He will die in prison either way. It's just a question of how.
Then carjacked and attempted to kill a 72 year old woman.
@@oldschoolprowrestling2653 how is that lady now, was she hurt?
@@oldschoolprowrestling2653 yea who do you think introduced her to that?
I had a mom like this. Went to foster care at the age of 12... I'm 38 now and doing fine but wow, this brings back sad memories of my childhood in the 1990s.
Thing like this must be difficult to listen to. I hope you're surrounded with love and care now 💜
Same here, we now do Foster care
I’m Sorry 😞♥️ You didn’t deserve that kind of Life♥️ God Bless you and Keep you safe
I’m so sorry that you and children like you are given such a terrible start in life. All best wishes to you and your life.
I'm glad you're doing well. That's so good to hear 💜
When she thought the lawyer said “ Brenda was a mother to you”. She looked like she was gonna pop off 🫠
She couldn’t find her cat… 🐱 it was probably the closest family to her that truly love her! 💔
That part of her testimony really bothered me so I’m glad that someone mentioned it. It may sound ridiculous to some people, but, animals clearly gave her a lot of comfort including her neighbors dog. You could tell how heartbroken she was when retelling that story. She became choked up a bit.
She formed close relationships to animals. She mentioned a dog too. My heart breaks for her.
I was a teacher for many years. So many children have childhoods like this... so sad and tragic...
The vast majority of those children grow up to be perfectly normal, productive members of society and become stronger people from their past experiences. They don't become cold blooded killers.
@@LordFirestaff
No the vast majority end up going in and out of jail for petty crimes and having drug dependent behaviour.
@@thesecondRUclips and then there's the ones like me. Can't trust anyone, paranoia, anxiety, depression, the urge to perfect everything and make everyone think I'm "normal". Which I was once told normal is just a setting on a dryer 😅
@@LordFirestaff You couldn't be more wrong. Your comment is extremely insulting to people who are constantly challenged to appear normal after growing up in hellish conditions.
@@willbatman5234 That's just not true. There's about 2 million people in prison/jail. There's about 500,000 homeless people in this country. So roughly 1% of our entire population have serious issues. There's nothing insulting about my comment. If anything, it's quite encouraging. Insulting would be assuming the vast majority of people are evil. Get off the gas.
As a social worker, I can SEE the trauma living in her, even with the sound off. She is often in the very moment of her childhood traumas. This is probably one of the first times she has told her story like this.
What she desperately needs is trauma-informed therapy, such as EMDR. When people are in pain, they become desperate to escape it. If our prison system would provide actual mental health treatment, we would pay far less to house people.
Without treatment, she has almost no chance to stop the trajectory her life is on. Our prison system is the largest provider of mental health care in our country. That should scare all of us. Even if we say "too bad, they don't deserve treatment," it still wastes money for our taxpayers when we do not provide it. I'm only hapf-way through, so I don't know why she's incarcerated. But most people DO get released at some point. But statistics show that she'll probably recitivate because she's probably more traumatized than before she went in. Throwing people away (in the richest country in history) hurts ALL of us.
EMDR could be incredibly healing for her. I agree, she shows us how we carry trauma in our bodies. But sadly, even I have trouble paying for EMDR & I make a pretty decent salary.
@@Artistjefferystpeter why not both?
@@Artistjefferystpeter why do you think that?
Does anyone know why she's incarcerated?
@@Artistjefferystpeter oh grow up.
You can feel just how broken she is from the very first word she utters. It only gets worse, it's so sad. So much détails.
She is quite the story teller. I was able to follow her timeline and picture everything she was saying. Such a sad childhood. 😔 I am so grateful for my childhood and this helped me understand the life some children have.
Edit to add: I didn't say the word story to imply she was making it up at all. I ment she was able to tell her story very well. Everyone has a story and she tells hers with such detail as she lived it and can still hear and feel those things she went through.
Great full for mt childhood as well. Unfortunately so Many people have these stories. the pathology is too much to break through. no one determine enough
To do so
@@winona349 Huh?
STORY TELLER??? Is the trauma she is having to re-live!!!!!
I thank the LORD that my mom was devoted to my sister and me, had my grandparents, aunt, and uncle in the same apt. building. Thanks Mom for teaching me values, respect,... Even though we lived in New York City, she had 3 jobs!!!
Storyteller is right I’m sure a lot of what she said it’s just that stories
Things like these remind me how fortunate I was growing up in the home I grew up in with such loving parents.
Then remind me how proud I am of my daughters and what amazing young ladies they turned out to be.
I'm constantly sending them messages reminding them how much I love them and whenever I can see them since they're both adults now, even if only for a couple of minutes
I celebrate it as if it was a holiday.
You don’t have to be a crack addict and drink alcohol while pregnant to qualify as a bad mother. Trust me. She can have a PhD....mine did.
@@HardLineElektron Thank you very much dear. Be safe and blessed always.🌹
This isn't about you.
@@billyb4790 i hear what you're saying. There are some pretty vile people packaged different. I left a "good home" in Canada at 15 and came down to this very area ths woman speaks of. I worked my way up ...from nothing. Had nothing, had something. back and forth, with no true family, life is not a life. Family is everything, thats why I see people like Hector above and glad they realize how good it is to have a loving family. No matter how much money you come from or don't. Educated violent psychopaths that are Narcissists, true ones.
@@judithrandall4690 Why do you feel such a need to be rude??
So sad how cycles seriously do repeat… her record looks as bad as her mom now.. But when she was telling her story I just saw that little girl who was scared, innocent, and angry..
Hurt people sometimes hurt people . How sad . Gun violence in America!
If my grandfather and my father are convinced killers does that mean I am destined to be a killer?
@@tbone541 maybe not “destined” but if your grandfather and father both murdered, the likelihood of you growing up in an unstable and potentially abusive/ violent home environment would most likely influence your mental state, maybe drive you towards drugs as an escape, and make it much more likely for you to become violent and potentially commit murder yourself
@@ruth8257 violence isnt the guns fault….it is the person weilding said weapon….my point is that it isnt teally about the gun.
@@kelcritcarroll
It’s a person WITH a gun who shouldn’t have had one
She really had me fooled. I went and read up on her background and crimes and her last offense was against a 72 year old woman during a carjacking.
Scary.
agreed. And I think she is lying about a lot of this story and the lawyer put her up to it. This was all about the things Brneda took while pregnant to sorta explain away the kids murderous temdancies. If she loved her Gma sooo much -she wouldnt have been carjacking old ladies. I think the urine is the pill bottle vag story and the glass rose pipe story both belong to the sister and who will ever since Brenda is Dead.
One of the most difficult & painful testimonies I have ever watched. I can feel this poor woman’s anguish.
She's just like her mother
Actually she seems to have a tender heart and even expressed that when she asked her mom if they could keep her little brother to which her mom’s reaction was anger towards her. Her mom on the other hand was a selfish person who only cared about her needs.
@@samr9520 No, I think she actually displays empathy and humanity - which her mom seemed to lack. Unfortunately, I think Nicholas is like his mom. He didn’t stand a chance.
@@samr9520 stop being evil and nasty. This woman is just telling her life story. There's no need to be nasty to her....
Right there with her. Brutal.
The way ms Woodward answered the question as to whom her mother is... When she took a deep breath/sigh, and said "Brenda", she seemed so full of pain and disgust. No matter what she has done... It is clear she didn't want her life to end up like this. She sighed deeply before answering that she lives in detention center. She is hurting. Gave me full metal jacket vibes "I AM in a world of Sh*t". I know she's performed her own chaos too, but I really do feel for her. Her life is a whole cycle of bad stuff.
Did you also notice the Defense lawyer doing the exact same thing …..coached perhaps ?
@@64relle It's common for witnesses to be prepared by the relevant attorneys.
Her name is WOODARD are u that slow
@@kellythecraftywitch she wrote Woodward can you not read
My heart broke when she was asked " how was Brenda as a mother to you" and her tear jerking, emotional response... " Horrible.... horrible."
What kind of ? is that? Dragging her through the memories of her traumatic life, seems cruel, gratuitous, and unnecessary.
My mother was like Brenda💔 I had a very difficult childhood and I was homeless when my mother was finally incarcerated. I always prayed for the family that I now have. I feel for this going woman.
I’m so sorry. I hope that your life is beautiful and healthy moving forward ❤️
Thank you, it is.
Laura, It breaks my heart to know you suffered like this young lady did. I want to tell you how proud I am of you that you created the life you always wanted. I bet you’re the most loving mom in the world to your kids! You broke the cycle 🙌🙌👍💕. You are a hero in my book.
@@beths999 thank you, you bet! My kids are my whole world.
Everything has to be about you, right?
Hearing her testimony, I can’t help but picture her as a little baby, a toddler, a school-aged child, who never did anything to deserve the life she was handed. She was once as innocent as can be but for the mother she was born to. The same could be said for Nicholas. Don’t get me wrong, I abhor the crimes he as committed against these innocent lives and I look at him with such disdain and he will no doubt pay with his life. The whole thing is just sad….
Cruz was adopted and raised by a wealthy family. He only met this person twice. They did not live the same life, at all.
Very nicely said
I agree with what you said about this woman. It’s so sad. But the m*rderer never knew this life. His adoptive mother was in the room when he was delivered and took him that day, into a good life with loving parents in a nice, large home.
Sounded like a whole lot of sympathizing with a killer
@@kravstema6287 it’s having sympathy for children who are born to horrendous and unloving and abusive parents. What he did, he will pay for. Doesn’t mean we can’t have sympathy for their childhood circumstances that are out of that child’s control.
This is why not everyone should have kids. These poor kids. No excuse for parkland but maybe they wouldn't be this damaged. So sad how people can do this to kids 😞. Prayers to all involved 🙏 ❤
Sad part in America most children raise by themselves that's why so much bad mental health illnesses
Prayers to a mass murderer who planned out everything he done hes pure evil and deserves much worse than he will get he deserves to ve tortured for the rest of his life
Yes legalise abortion.
@@fashunpuss6279 that's exactly what I meant
@@fashunpuss6279 How about women take care of themselves and take the right precautions to prevent getting pregnant? What is your obsession in wanting to kill innocent babies?
We raised many foster kids that were deeply troubled. I am proud to say that each one of them are living productive lives. It only takes one caring person to change a life. Get involved in foster care please.
I can’t imagine what it would have been like to find out that one of the sons your mom gave up for adoption was the parkland mass shooter. As though Danielle hasn’t had enough trauma/problems in her life. It would be such a heartbreaking situation to be in.
I really hope the system/world shows her some empathy & love if she ever gets out of prison and that she’s able to clean up her life.
I feel so much for her. Growing up with an addict, absentee mother and an abusive father, I can see how tired her soul is. I have the same, long, anxious, exhausted breathing pattern as she does when someone asks me a “simple” question about my childhood. She still has her childlike innocence, and you can read her like a book….same here. This brought me to tears. I just want to give her a hug and tell her people care about her, and we’re so sorry for what she’s been though.
Noone cares for her or all the other people like here.
She tried killing a 72 year old woman when she carjacked her while the lady was donating to goodwill. She’s garbage like her brother and mother.
That doesn't mean there isn't still an innocence in her she sadly went down the wrong path and is probably remorseful and I still feel incredibly sad for these children you know she was probably a drug or alcohol baby too! (Meant to say drug AND alcohol)
Was she an innocent child when she nearly killed an elderly woman?
@@tracilong681 so are plenty of people, and they aren’t violent.
This is the most human and present I've ever seen Nikolas appear in court. You can see he's feeling everything his sister's saying. This is the root to the problem right here (the things his sister is talking about).. his sister is so strong. She went through even worse with their mom from the way it sounds and she's still just trying to make it in the world....
Yes and no. She suffered growing up seeing it , he suffered while he was being created in the womb with Crack and beers. There's a difference.
Nikolas was adopted as a baby. He didnt know Brenda! How can he feel everything his sister is saying??
@@wendyfor806 because you will never ever forget your mother who gave you life! She is his only sister and it looks like empathy, maybe love in his face. He is a victim, too. Aks people who are adopted and have a great life with everything they need. They will always feel something is missing in their lifes. If it's a father or a mother, or both. You will always look for your roots.
@@ninakrzyzanskinaturfotografie Missing a biological parent isn’t grounds for mitigation and an excuse for his actions here.
Actually, his sister is not strong 😞 if she was, she would not have had 16 charges. I hope she will find someone in her life who will be there for her and stop her from going back to prison.
I feel for her. She’s been through so much. Already jilted and jaded, I can’t imagine how she felt getting jolted back into a wave of trauma and despair hearing the news of what the crime her brother did. She had no parents. Her mom was so far gone along time ago. And now she’s losing a brother. If that were me my mind would be a war zone. She’s so exhausted. I wish her peace. And I pray she comes back from this.
She was not his sister once he was adopted.
I really feel for this whole family. No excuse for what he did, but not terribly surprised they turned out this way.
Wow! You actually have empathy towards that coward? Lots of people have rough childhoods and don't do what he did. He's an self-absorbed, entitled, I'm unhappy so everyone else must pay, little *sshole
So many people grow up through horrible childhoods and don't do the things they saw as children... The majority, so why excuse the 1 percent who break the law and commit crimes like their parents or grandparents? If my parents are arsonists it makes sense that I will become an arsonist .
I hope it saves his life. He will suffer but maybe he could feel the pain he caused and what he lived through to get to the point he broke.
@@tbone541 Majority? Where’s your stats? Look at people in trailer parks and hoods where they grow up bad and they’re killing each other in droves.
actually drugs & chemicals do have effects un unborn kids. I know this because i have a best friend with this condition
I sure hope this woman gets therapy. Talk about real trauma. Crazy
I was thinking more or less the same thing. She clearly needs to be heard - at the VERY least - and outside help to heal. Even though she "technically" went off topic, I'm relieved that the prosecution refrained from objecting incessantly and inhumanely (like many others in such a position would've done)
@@ninachkah13 I agree certain lawyers would and could have been a lot worse. I mean you could probably argue hearsay for a lot of it. It's a weird case I started hating him and now it's a lot to hear someone go through. It's harder to hold him accountable when his mother was addicted to crack while he was in the womb for example.
@@libertysound8575 I respectfully disagree with the part about holding him accountable. I don't have any doubt his life was difficult and traumatic, and many people is his position also end up turning to a life of drugs and crime. THEN there are many others also with similar life stories that persevere and make something really impressive of themselves. People are different - totally understandable. HOWEVER there is no NO NO NO excuse for what he did.... and then go on to behave how he has in court, playing some pathetic victim... not to mention his ridiculous interrogation right after he was initially arrested. Ofcourse, these are just my opinions ... either way, I do enjoy a healthy conversation with varying opinions ☺️
@@ninachkah13 ill have to watch the interrogation I haven't seen it. I honestly don't know how I feel. It's like I feel either way would be suitable and the victims parents should decide.
@@libertysound8575 He wanted to be infamous and thought he could pull the "crazy card" to get off. I'm opposed to the death penalty because family members will await the exact time of killing of a family member. It just adds to the horror. I have zero sympathy for the NC's criminals of the world.
Although in this case I don't believe she had any contact with N C so no real bond.
So sad to see this young woman testify. She is still so traumatized by her experiences.
This is horrible someone help her. She can be a good citizen
what did you think about what the prosecution brought up about the Reality tv show, getting new lawyers to help her in her case just before her on the stand and money on his books, etc. It kind of seemed she might have been on the stand to help herself. Just a thought. It is sad that she had to live like that though i will give you that for sure.
@@denben8530 exactly!
Not all, but most dysfunctional families beget dysfunctional families unless they learn a healthier way.
@@mischaraine1645 really? Love and support can do wonders of things for people. Amazingly NON3 of ys are defined by our worst mistake. Praise the Lord. Who hurt you. Btw?
This is extremely EXTREMELY painful to watch!
I cannot begin to fathom what agony this poor woman/child has endured!
I can see the PTSD in her and she’s still
spelling her last name for the record. I hope that she can find loving peace for herself as she moves through this experience and throughout her life.
Nikolas is so interested in what she has to say because it’s a sibling he never knew, yet the only person that has the answers to his entire existence.
Stolen comment. Can't even come up with your own comment. Lmao you're so pathetic.
What does this have to do with NC personal experience concerning his birth mother? None he was adopted out at birth. He is the one on trial.
I know many people that have had a rough go from get. They didn't commit mass murder. NC had planned this for a long time. He knew he was having evil thoughts and also knew they weren't "normal" and should have sought help. Instead he went on a rmurdous rampage as he listened to music. 🤨
@@Curious-Irish-Angel So you fault him for having no empathy but you won't have any for him?
@@nicole-mq2dk he grew up privileged, his sister grew up rough. no excuse why he did what he did.
@@Curious-Irish-Angel And?? everyone is different and this is the perfect example of nature vs nurture.. I have a friend that had a drug baby, diagnosed adhd, anxiety, depression and autistic by the time he was five. His mother felt it her duty to only financially support him and nothing else. He is now 16 and pretty severely messed up due to not getting the help, support, guidance and love he needed and is now getting in trouble with the law himself.. Just because one kid may turn out "okay" and not kill ppl etc does in NO way mean another kid won't be and turn out "evil"! I'm sick of ppl not thinking nor looking outside the scope of things and being so narrow minded to see the ENTIRE picture! The way he grew up, what he went thru, his diagnoses, not getting help etc ALL matter!
Notice how Nikolas NEVER looks at other people testifying (usually drawing etc), but he did not take his eyes off his sister. Interesting. He was listening to her every word intently.
I doubt they ever saw much of each other before the shooting and Nikolas has been incarcerated for 4 years.
He's probably giving her the silent message of "you better make it look good or you won't get a dime of my inheritance" 😂
Yeah, because he knows she’s his best chance at saving his life.
@@yesitssarahbby17 you think that mongoloid has an inheritance
Well pretty sure this is the first time he sees her, the only other time they met he was just born
Even nervous and traumatized Danielle is so well spoken and probably could have really gone somewhere in life. I hope she still can. She is honest and so sad. The state attorney on cross hit on something that is news to me and Richard Moore sounds very questionable and opportunistic.
Exactly my thoughts on your whole statement here
She is facing charges for carjacking a 70 year old woman
She may get mandatory life. I really really hope she won't
@@alexmagney5326 I hope she does, otherwise she'll continue doing crime. I think her life and childhood were tragic and no child should endure what she did, but fact is she's already endangered the lives of many people. Better lock her up and save society from another career criminal.
@@Flup2 i disagree. Unlike her brother she definitely can be redeemed and rehabilitated. She will need some help and I agree she needs a third party for that because voluntarily she would probably choose an easier worse path again but she does not deserve to spend the rest of her life in prison. Absolutely not.
That female lawyer asking the questions is one of the most despicable humans on the face of earth
She's so strong. I really feel for her. I hope she's getting the help she needs now (or has gotten help) bc this is a lot to deal with.
She's not getting help, unless you consider a warm place to sleep and three meals a day inside a prison "help."
She’s been listen to now. I hope it helps
You're caring but naive. This woman will never get the help she needs because the health care system, especially for mental health issues, for the poor and incarcerated is either poor or nonexistent. So she'll be in and out of prison for the rest of her life.
@@judithrandall4690 exactly, she probably feels "at home" in prison, some will purposely reoffend just to go back because they can't function in the outside world. sixteen felonies is hard to come back from.
This young woman is well spoken, maybe self educated.
I was raised by a single mother, although she had to work extra hours to make ends meet, she loved me so much I never missed my father. Thank you Jesus for blessing me with an amazing mother. I’m forever grateful. 🙏🏽
Same Izzy I love my mom to death…we are lucky to have hard working and dedicated mothers ❤️ wish you and your family the best
I 3rd that statement and I feel I unfortunately ended up a divorced mother their father stayed in their lives a few years up until he remarried. I’m so proud of my children now 20 and 18 they both have a job and both are seniors the 20yr old from college to walk with her Bachelor Degree and my 18yr old a senior in High School..
So nice to hear you show so much appreciation for your mother. I am a single mother to a beautiful 6 year old girl. I'd do anything for this child and treat her like a princess. She is my world. Hope she feels about me one day the way you do about your mom❤❤
@@kellydavis6821 believe me my oldest was just entering public school when I divorced, she’s like I stated now 20 yes their father was there every other weekend until he remarried that doesn’t mean I didn’t have to call and remind him it was his weekend every other week.. I was criticized by many especially my family as to why I held him so high (which I really didn’t) they couldn’t understand that I wanted him to have a better relationship than I ever did with my dad, after my parents divorced at my age of 4 I really never saw that man again. I watched my mom have 3 jobs at one point hardly getting to see her but she always had food and a roof over our (I’m only 1 of 4 girls) heads..
Im not excusing the shooter AT ALL. But hearing the sister's testimony shows just how important parenting is especially in the early years of a childs life. Smh.
I swear when she got asked if she had ever been convicted of a felony I thought it might be one or two, wasn't prepared for 16 !!!
Yup. We’re trained to hear “felon” and conjure certain ideas. But a felony is just anything that is classified as a felony. It’s not an accident that we’re trained that way.
I feel sad for kids grow up with messed up parents..they basically have to grow up by themselves .. I feel the pain in her eyes
@Boston Gal and I too still feel incredibly sad for her upbringing!
@@tracilong681 I do, too. Their mom was not ready to be a mother.
@Boston Gal goes hand in hand with what Irene said: growing up by herself practically and had to use what she had learned from her environment...
I don´t think I have to explain what that was...
I did I grew up like them I didn't murder anyone
@@RN-lt3gd good for you.
This young woman breaks my heart. So beautiful and beautiful smile. Drugs. And terrible mother. So tragic.
Well, I'm pretty sure the 72-year old woman she carjacked, causing her injury, and then crashing her car does not think she is all that beautiful...
@@TheMaleficent1 until the day comes that you walk a mile in someone else's shoes, you have no right to judge them. Try growing up in an environment like that and see how you turn out. We are ALL a product of our environment.
@Piscesempress careful miss perfect, your ignorance is showing.
@Piscesempress trauma rewires the brain. Everyone is going to handle things differently. Of course it still doesn't make it right with what he did.
@@Prymelady I wasn't judging, just spitting pure facts.
I am a tough guy I play competitive hockey but this brought me to tears. I guess cause I have empathy. Plus Danielle had nothing to do with this, she was practically crying the whole time. It was too much for me to handle. I heard she has done a lot of bad stuff herself but making her re-live her childhood and the trauma I could feel it through the screen..
I'm with you on that. I have gone through distinction myself..it is horrible I have never healed. I'm 70 in January
Disfunction
You have a kind, sweet heart my dear~
22 arrests. 16 felony convictions. Currently serving a mandatory life sentence in prison after carjacking a 72 year old woman. She’s not as bad as her brother, but she’s a career criminal and just as violent.
She might get a chance at parole after 25 years but she won’t get out. Habitual violent offenders don’t get parole after they’re sentenced to life in prison. No parole board wants to be the ones to unleash her on the public again.
And if shes surrounded by no good since she doesnt have anyone left living. Maybe these people thst are with Zachary can help her. Maybe the new lawyer can help her out now knowing what a child hood she had and what she was surrounded with and what she learned at an early age. She started thus drinking and hopefully not drugs to sekve soothe not realizing shes going in Dane pattern as mom.
My heart goes out to Danielle. 😥You can see the trauma on her face re-living those memories. That Brenda woman damaged her more than we can ever know or understand. I pray she can get the help she needs to enable her to try and enjoy some of her life. This is so sad :(
What a devastating testimony! 💔
I really love how even in her pain, she tries to comport herself. The display of emotional maturity and strength does not come easy to everyone.
Considering what she been through, I say she has come out ok. Obviously the same thing cannot be said for her brother.
Fudge.... Her entire testimony has been gut wrenching But the moment when the defense attorney asked her if she loved her brother her brother and they panned to his face face… I lost it. There is no excuse for what he did… But gosh Dang it even through all the crap this little girl loved her baby brother & she was probably the only person he ever felt love from.
What was the timestamp for this?
There’s no excuse for it, but I imagine she doesn’t want him to receive the death penalty. That’s what this trial is about. She only met him once, at his birth.
@@Marauder131 33:20
@@janai5074 Thank you
@Robert Sears 20 years? That’d be crazy for the number of innocent people he murdered
Horrific. How do these poor kids who are raised like this have ANY chance of normal? This poor woman was broken and stood no chance. You can see and hear the anguish and sadness all over her. Heartbreaking way to grow up 💔
Two things can be true at the same time. You can still have empathy for Danielle’s childhood but also agree that she should be accountable for her actions. A lot of us could’ve ended up in the same situation as her if we had the same childhood. No one would ever admit that though, we always think we would be the exception.
I agree. There's A LOT of people who have gone through an abusive life like this, and even worse, and don't turn out to be criminals. But I also have sympathy for her.. it's so sad to have lived that way..
Why is she in jail?
@@mamachristinasstorytime1327 carjacking
She's not on trial here. She is in jail for carjacking not for murder
@@stephjovi yes but Carjacking means she confronted someone and stole it out from under them. She clearly has no isuue lashing out at other people or feeling entitled to their things
Thanks for allowing us an opportunity to feel the human side of these horrific tragedies and help us break through the limited exposure we get through the media. Great channel.
I appreciate that the attorney from the prosecution wasn’t nasty to her - that he apologized for having to talk about these things - she deserved that kindness as she seems like a sweet but hurting person. I hope she can be okay in the future - her story is really heartbreaking but she’s a beautiful woman and seems to have a loving heart. I don’t know why exactly - she just seems like she has a good heart.
Sweet? She atteto murder an elderly woman and a cop.
@@Ausgar-yc1yl I didnt say she didn’t do bad things. It’s clear she could’ve been a different person had she not been raised by a horrible person.
@@Ausgar-yc1yl I didnt say she didn’t do bad things. It’s clear she could’ve been a different person had she not been raised by a horrible person.
I've been watching these streams, and I've never seen nik so interested this whole case
I think this is his first time seeing her as he was adopted at birth
this case is a nightmare I had headaches first hearing about it
That was the first thing I noticed too. It’s as if he’s looking at a sibling he never knew but hey has the answers to his entire being.
Nik is flustered just from hearing her
@@jackiesmithsmetaldetecting they are prob going the route that the mother f'd these kids up
I know she's done wrong too, but I just want to hug her. She's beautiful inside and out. My heart literally hurts for her and I wish I could take her pain away. I hope she can heal from all of the pain and move forward. She's young and it's never too late. Danielle, keep your head up and God Bless you 🙏💯❤️
I’m wondering if anyone in Florida is seeing this and will try to help her. She could turn all that pain and anguish into something beautiful helping others. You can tell she loves her brothers and just was taught to live the wrong way. She never really had a chance
Yep I think she is a beautiful woman also but I wouldn’t let her babysit my children. Maybe my cat not sure yet.
But isn't she in prison also
I’m p
Apparently she has life in prison but that may just be a rumour from the other comments in the thread. I wish there was a way we could write her emails or letters.
In a parallel universe this young lady would be undamaged and happy. And Jaime Guttenberg would be turning 19.
they both would
Sending her so much love and wishing her strength. How painful to grow up like this...in all this dysfunction and chaos. I hope all your dreams come true, Danielle. You deserve all the happiness in the world!
This has absolutely nothing to do with him shooting all those kids in high-school
Neither did much of the victim impact statements, if we're being fair. Most of it was talking about the gap they left in people's lives, not the actual shooting.
Edit: cry more
@@-Monad- Wow! That's the most moronic thing I've read here today. Victim impact statement in a penalty phase are to show the jury what impact the murderers actions have had on the family and community. Be thankful you never have to give one on behalf of your loved one. This woman is a felon. She's a crappy person, like her brother, but did not murder 17 people "just for fun". Don't ever diminish the families tragic lives by demeaning their testimony. Absolutely ridiculous.
@@julesmisty oh boy
cope.
During the death penalty phase it is not solely about the crime. It is also about the person who committed it, and the family's impacted by it. It's called aggravating and mitigating factors.
you are so right!!!! I wished more people on this thread agreed. Everyone seems so sad for him and his sister
"Polluted womb" that's a new saying!
🥺
gonna keep that in the bag for a karen one day
"Her womb is so polluted". Tony Montana, the movie Scarface. Commonly circulated among street slang.
Just call it trailer trash womb🤣
@@davidwilliam9451 that’s where I heard that before, I knew it sounded familiar
Omg her testimony made me cry so much… she’s been through so much trauma and still appears very empathetic towards the world
It totally blows my mind that the government can take away your rights and force you to have a baby but can't seem to feel it important to end the ability to stop drug and alcohol pregnant women from a simple procedure as getting your tubes tied 🤯🤬
It’s because abortion is taking an innocent life, that it should be illegal. It would be dangerous in the long run for the government to be able to tie tubes and sterilize people.
Life is certainly hard, and obviously harder for a lot of poor souls like Danielle.
No one is preventing women from getting their tubes tied.
@@derodrickfontaine7675, oh yeah? Try being a responsible 22 year old, married with 2 kids and saying you want your tubes tied because 2 was enough. And doctors saying No, you're too young. 😵💫
@@derodrickfontaine7675 Actually they are preventing young females from getting tubes tied. I fought Dr's. tooth and nail to get mine tied after having 2 children by 20 yrs of age. Also had health issues yrs later needing a hysterectomy which I finally received after finding a FEMALE GYNO at about 40. I do not believe in abortion and did feel like taking pills etc. to prevent pregnancies the rest of my married life. Yet now 40 years later all we need to do is convince a Dr we want to be a man at 14 and voila done.
@@derodrickfontaine7675 you actually have to do quite a bit of research to find someone to tie your tubes. A lot of doctors won't do it.
gosh this is so gut-wrenching .. you can se the pain in her empty eyes
shes never known love ... heart breaking ...
This is heart breaking. She never had a chance, unlike Nicholas who was adopted by decent people. This has nothing to do with what he did. He never lived through any of this. He made his own choices. This girl is still a decent human being after all she’s been through. I hope she is able to get her life together one day.
Spot on
She’s got life in prison… 22 arrest and 16 felonies, I don’t think she will be getting her life together any day
nickolas life was worse he was born with problems from the mothers vices
@@sophie2859 oh really she got life.. :/? i was really hoping for her to good, she does not deserve all that.. the reason shes a 'bad' person is only because of branda
He was born to an addict which can cause brain damage. No, not all babies born to addicts have severe mental health issues but some really need a lot of help, lifelong.
Poor girl. You can see the amount of pain and trauma in her life. I'm in tears just in the beginning.
Allie Doss, did you watch the video all the way through? The middle part and the end were also sad.
She was amazing. You could really see the love for her brother in her face. Very expressive.
It's most likely one of her only good memories holding her baby brother
Your comments is really ignorant you must never been to school...she amazing 🤮 she a criminal just like her punk brother
This judge should be removed from the bench.
Bringing this woman onto the stand was very manipulative of the defense to try and gain sympathy from the jury. If anything it just shows that the sister had a way worse life than Nicolas.
See that's how I feel too.
And She managed to make it without murdering 17 people
Yes, Cruz wasn’t even raised by Brenda.
The key part of her testimony that the defense will use is the part about her mom using drugs and alcohol when she was pregnant with him. They will allege that this affected the development of his brain because he was basically a crack baby. I am still hoping he gets death. But it's not impossible to imagine that at least one juror will agree with this aspect of the defense and vote for life in prison.
@@aprilblair8080 yep, she just managed to accumulate 16 felonies and then go onto attempt to murder a police officer and a woman.
My heart truly breaks for her. She seems like a very compassionate person who has been through too much. I really hope she can get the help & support she needs to heal, get on her feet, get her life on a good path & live her best life.
You feel compassion for a criminal who tried to kill an elderly woman and a cop?
As a sister, your live is also ruined when your brother does such a heinous crime.
People shouldn't connect crimes of others to other people only because they're related.
Just the 16 felonies she has already been convicted of.
She’s waiting conviction currently for car jacking an old woman.
I agree.
Isn't that what your comment just do ?
Exactly each time she looks at him it's pain.
I feel so sorry for this girl. She has had a very rough life.
What a complete tragedy. No one should grow up like that.
You can see how attentive he is, hearing about his family and learning about where he comes from.. Such a sad story. I hurt for the families involved, and I pray for his healing as well as hers.
Watching this brought out memories locked and tucked away that I completely forgot of growing up in that same environment. I am empathetic of her stress and now understanding why she didn’t want to go up. You never heal from these wounds ever. Very eye opening to me and gave me a new perspective of how I handle my trauma. This is hard to watch. Horrible. I hope she can cope better and find happiness in herself.
Parents, please hug your children. Love them and tell them that you love them. What we do in their childhood matters so much ❤️
I feel so bad for her.
No wonder Nicolas Cruz turned out like this no sympathy for him but the circumstance of the way he was raised
God bless this girl. Give her the break in life she clearly deserves. Being a father to two beautiful young children. Knowing how my childhood was. This absolutely breaks my heart. She doesn’t deserve this. You wonder what kind of parents Brenda had.
This lady is Cleary very tough. She’s also so broken. I really hope someone helps her after this. At least with coming to terms with her demons.
If your god existed, rest comfortably knowing he gave her that life.
@@richgriffinalb Unesessary comment.
Lol what do you know? People have free will and poor outcomes are the result of sin.
@@richgriffinalb You see nobody does know if god exists. We’ve still discovering and getting more accurate scientifically. You see what most people don’t know. Is even on a scientific level. There could be intelligent design. As this universe has many properties of simulation. Question is if that’s the case who created this magical simulation. So never ever fully discount a universal deity. If he does exist he gave everything and all free will. Isn’t he nice. It also means our deity didn’t give anyone a bad life. That just happens.
she was arrested 22 times
how many chances u want to give her ??
She looks broken and hurt From life 😔
These attorneys are pos.
that's what doing drugs does, yes.
She is broken. If I could know how to help if by writing somehow
@Boston Gal I think that people can still feel empathy for this woman despite you stating the obvious.
The testimony of this young lady (I don't recall her age here) is so sad and heartbreaking.. where were the school ..counselors..neighbors..anyone who saw the deplorable upbringing this girl endured...why didn't SOMEONE..ANYONE question what was going on in her home life and why didn't anyone GET HER HELP and out of that situation??? Her testimony was so believable and I can't get over how well she used English words so eloquently...this is the first time I actually saw Nicholas Cruz pay attention and looked upset by hearing the stories of their terrible mother...good thing she had her Grandmother's love and support...what a tragedy but none of this gave Nicholas the right or reasons to kill and harm all those innocent people....the court system has to make examples out of these mass killers and condemn them to death...and after their sentencing carry it out ONE YEAR OR TWO depending how long the trial runs to the day and month and minute they started their slaughter rampage....maybe it will get thru to these killers that they're NOT going to get away with it!!
9:59 The defense attorney has an expression on her face that says “Oh… what a wonderful, wholesome, family memory… Thank you so much for sharing…”
Hahaha you’re right
I balled my eyes out so hard listening to her tell her life story I can’t imagine going through what she has gone through 💔💔 my heart goes out to her.
I think most of us are missing the point here... Brenda influenced Danielle's life because they lived together. Nikolas did not live with Brenda - he had a loving family that did everything for him, to keep him safe, to keep him happy. I am sure the way Brenda handled her pregnancy with Nikolas caused some damage to the boy, but I am not sure it has anything to do with his actions of hate towards strangers and innocent children. There is a different amount of drama in each of the 3 brothers lives, and they were clearly influenced by what happened in their childhood, but the one that was the most impacted has been Danielle. Out of the 3, I would have had more empathy if she would have been the shooter - yet the one that caused the tragedy was the boy who had the most love and care out of the 3 brothers. I am so sorry Danielle has to go through the pain of witnessing her brother's trial for such a crime.
you just aint heard nics story , it’s just as bad, he never got the help he needed. instead they pushed him
to the side to suffer.
@Joshua Sanchez listen to the victims parent statements for the real pain!
Wow, he's actually holding his head up. body language/analyses folk are gonna tear this apart.
Probably because this is the first time he's seen his sister since he was a baby.
I feel no type of positivity for Mr Cruz, but this one really hit him hard. His whole face, ears, are redeemed and eyes glassy. First emotion I've seen from the guy. I feel super bad for the sister. Even Cruz's emotion makes me feel for her. Not him.
I think a lot of adopted children grow up wondering about their biological family and I do feel that the shooting was a call for attention because he felt alone. As the proverb says "a child will burn the village to feel its warmth"
And in this moment, he sees this person who is blood related and I think that, makes him feel less alone.
Everyone longs for a family of their own and I think theres a visceral sort of feeling when it comes to people you are blood related to. Im not sure he ever had that feeling of belonging so I thought this is what he was experiencing when he was watching her.
@@theesweetscience2084 redeemed and glassy? Wtf?
@@dewilew2137 LMAOOOOOOOOO
Miss, I feel your pain. I can understand your pain and trauma. You are very strong for keeping it together as best as you can during this questioning. My sincere sympathy to you and your siblings.
Agreed! She was very strong. I can’t imagine having to tell this life story in public of the trauma I experienced as a child.
Omg how one woman and her wrongs destroyed many lives directly and indirectly
This was so sad to listen to. To believe this is still is reality of so so many children out there
Sad story. She is so beautiful but so unfortunate. I prayvGod bless her life and help her turn it around.
Danielle is so poetic. In another circumstance, in another life, she would be able to write a book or make a film on her life.
It doesn't excuse what her brother became but what a moving and upsetting life to learn about.
I’ve thought the same thing. She has a beautiful soul, there is so much compassion and sorrow in her eyes. I hope she finds peace.
@@476233 You're easily fooled. She's a career criminal and according to other prisoners, she's a hellion to be with.
@@daha3074 maybe if she was judged less and raised by a different family, things would be different. Who are we to judge?
@@476233 Everybody judges so don't try pulling that crap.
As far her upbringing goes I agree there'd be a difference. Likewise they may have inherited the criminality from their mother.
It must be so incredible painful to go back in time with all her horrible memories in front of all in the courtroom... 💔💔💔
🙏❤️
how her mother stole her light ugh, when she smiles she is beautiful. so sad to see that smiles are so rare
Omg. This poor girl. I would give her a hug if I could.
This broke my heart.
The pain on her face is so sad. My heart goes out to her..
I honestly felt that she is a good example of how you can have a terrible life and not shoot up a school. I feel sorry he had horrible mother. However he had adoptative parents who gave him a decent life. No sympathy for him. No excuses. Bless the victims.