The Truth And Nothing But…

Part V

When I look back through all the emails and the reactions of the loyal members, I feel great sadness. They were caught in the middle of some kind of shakedown and I did not know what to do about it. I received so many emails wanting to know what went on.

It was awhile before I could even put into words the betrayal that I felt but it was not only for me but for the people that had worked so hard and showed their dedication in so many ways.

I asked some of the members if they were ever told “thank you” when they sent their research to whomever and they said no.

I tried to explain that false accusations were made and I felt that their work had been taken for granted and was being used to put a feather in someone else’s cap. All the discoveries so far had pointed in that direction.

But more was to follow. My moderator “H” was exchanging emails with some of the members who copied me on them. I had not spoken to her because I felt at the time that she was part of something that was injurious to everything that had been accomplished by the site so far.

Also, methodically being taken out of the picture and besmirched was another blogger that had written many fine articles for Howard’s cause and the man that supplied the video. I know no other reason other than because they were my friends and believed in me. They knew the time and dedication it took and they also knew that the site was unique and valuable for Stern’s cause.

The only thing that I knew to do was to share the email exchange of April 19th with members that emailed me and wait and see what else transpired.

The next day “R” wrote to me “You win, you just blew any protection I might have had under the “Attorney Work Product”. I provided one small piece in this puzzle, nothing more, but because of your inflaming emails, I am now leaving the project all together. It saddens me not to be able to help Howard, and especially Dannielynn. But in the end with all of the emails you have sent out and me taking stock in how I might out maneuver what you are saying, sadly I can’t. So “QV” you won, but was it worth the price?”

I have received numerous emails this morning with a LOT of insults from you directed to me which is fine I have a tough skin.

But now you are saying what you are in multiple emails to people, you have crossed the line. You have said over and over agin “R” has a direct line to Krista Barth and because of some of the work “R” is doing, she thinks she is…… I would not even type some of the words you have said about me.”

I don’t know what those words were. That was because up until that point, I shared the emails without much commentary as I did not know how to describe what went on and I did not understand why. At one point, I went into the chat room and told those present that their research was not being credited to them and it was being used by people that seemed to relish in rubbing shoulders with the attorneys and the Stern family. At any cost.

Also, I think “R” was mistaken concerning who was writing about having a “direct line to Krista Barth”. It was her buddy “H”.

I received emails from many members that stated that from what they saw in the emails and some that they received from “H” later that they felt that “R” and “H” were trying to glorify themselves.

One from “H” said “the ones that have offered information are in the know that I have a direct line to the lawyers”. I have emails from the researching members saying that they knew no such thing.

“H” also sent a mass email to members who she had email addresses for stating:

“QV is well aware that ALL the information that has been passed on to me goes to Krista Barths assistant. There is a beautiful open door policy between us and if it weren’t for the workings of many members on this site much of the information would never have seen the top of her desk.” And another:
“and have nurtured a beautiful friendship with Bonnie Stern”

No, I was not “aware” of that at all. I thought what “H” collected from members went to “R” who then passed it on. I did know that she was in contact with Bonnie Stern but I did not know they had a “beautiful friendship”.

Other email from “H” contained more comments and accusations:

“IN MY OPINION, I think QV made a poor choice to reveal something she KNEW was sensitive, and that her motives on the outside could be viewed as “limelight” seeking, or maybe she just wanted to be the first to air it… but sadly all the work that has been involved in protecting dannielynn can not be jeopardized by another who is not on the same page.”

As stated before, I did not previously know anything about this “sensitive” information. That is what started the controversy. And it was my opinion that as my moderator, “H” should have told me these things which would have prevented the ensuing misunderstandings and hurt that also involved the members.

In a subsequent communication, she told me that she was under the assumption that the video man was to keep me up to speed. I really can not agree with the logic of that assumption since “H” was the moderator of my site and was expected to report all goings on.

“H” also passed the following email from “R” to her list culled from my site with a subject line that should have been sent to all, long before. I guess “R” decided not to resign after all.

Subject: “Please say thank you”.

Dear “H”,

For security reasons I need you to not show my email addy, but for the ppl sending you things… please thank them, in fact copy and paste this email to them minus my email addy.

They all seem to understand the Attorney work product, and they all seem to be doing a great job with you as the hub for for (sic?).

Thanks is just not enough, however the money they are saving Howard on legal fees is amazing, and because of their work and what was provided it is my understanding that is what got Howard, Lin Wood to represent him. No one person can do this..

Sadly the things you have forwarded to me today never made it to the in-box prior to today…. I wished they had…

Please tell your researchers it is because of the work they do that all of our faith in man kind and the goodness that can be there by people that care enough to give of their own time here.

The Stern family is more grateful then any of them know…

Have a great evening and again minus my email addy, please extend my sincere thank to all of them…”R”.

The part about things not reaching “R’s” mailbox could indicate that she was expecting everything to go through her I suppose. I also took it as a dig on the “video man”. He had received a phone message from “R” making childish accusations and accusing him of “leaking”. He was furious too. Later on he was accused by Bonnie of claiming to be an attorney. Wonder who started that rumor?

Accusations by “R” that work done by my members was not getting to her email box may have been correct but they were certainly getting to the attorneys and that dig by “R” was shown to be a ploy to shove “VM” out of the picture as well. It eventually worked.

In the meantime, “VM” continued to send things to Krista Barth’s office and eventually developed his own contact at Lin Wood’s office with attorney Ben Erwin. His video was stored on my web server and it was password protected, with the password given to the attorneys and the Stern family but after the fallout, I did not want “R” having access to my site anymore.

However it is my belief from subsequent comments made to “VM” by “R” and the number of logins by untraceable IP addresses that Bonnie was giving her the password anyway. Even though only video was there.

On April 21st, I sent an email to Bonnie Stern with an explanation of what was going on. On April 22nd, I discovered that “R” and “H” had opened their own website.

At that time, I had not heard back from Bonnie. The members of the site that I was not in email contact with wanted answers. So I wrote a short version of what I have written here. This thing had caused so much turmoil and I still did not understand why it happened. I remember it was 6AM in the morning on April 24th and I had been up all night and still could not find the words to tell the members what had happened. I finally had to ask for help from a friend.

In reply to my posting to the members, I received an email from “R”. She told me to be very careful and not to forget that I had tried to sell something to People Magazine.

That was news to me. I guess that was another reason why I was being called a “media whore” and “seeking the limelight and media attention”. “Untrustworthy” and “unwholesome” were thrown in for good measure. And don’t forget. All of these accusations and turmoil came from the publication of one article about Virgie Arthur’s family tree.

“R” also cited a 2006 federal law about using your real name on blogs. The rest of the email said, “And yes I have a ton of very defaming emails about what you are spreading to ppl and on your blog they just keep tumbling in my email box about ALL you want is hits on your site, fame and you do not care about Howard…. QV, you took a wrong somewhere and lost site of what your blog was “suppose to do”…

It is your right to be the next TMZ or ET, but not at my expense or at “H” expense and especially NOT at the Stern family expense.

And while you are doing some article reading, read what Bonnie has to say on the blog and especially about ppl like you who are trying to turn this into some way to sell your story..”

“R” invented the “sell your story” angle from another blogger who had suggested a letter writing campaign and that is all it was.

So I wanted to see what Bonnie had posted on “R”s blog about “ppl like” me. I surfed to the new blog and found a thank you note from the Stern family on “R’s” brand new two day old blog.

Here it is in its entirety as it was a posting on a public blog. See screen shot here

A special thank you from the Stern family Posted in Uncategorized | | April 24th, 2007 Tuesday, April 24, 2007 10:53 AM To Havana, all of her volunteer helpers, and Rose and her husband, I want to tell you how much I appreciate all of the help and valuable information you have provided for my brother, Howard. Contrary to what you may hear my parents are the people paying for all of Howard’s legal bills so the information you are providing is invaluable. I would like you to be assured that your information will never be divulged by me or my family in any way. It has been such a pleasure having all of your help since this tragedy started. My whole family has been greatly affected by the witch hunt my brother is going through. Unfortunately, with the O’Quinn machine, it’s taken a huge toll on everyone involved, including all of you. I am so sorry that so much greed has turned into all of this. All of you have been so amazing! I’m proud that Howard has people like you to support him. Thank you always for all that you do. It does make a difference! Thanks, Bonnie Stern foot note: If you do not have Bonnie’s email addy, email Havana and she will get that to you. Bonnie is a very warm and gracious person, as is her entire family.

I then received the following email from Bonnie Stern….Subject: Howard

Hello Everyone,

I got a call from Howard and he is concerned about all the negativity that is going on and the emails back and forth. Something that started as very positive and a huge help has now become a lot of stress and unhappiness for many. This is very sad. He appreciates ALL the work that EVERYONE has done on his behalf. He is extremely grateful and is disappointed to see that it has become something people are upset and fighting over.

If the work that any of you do independently is sold to the media, that is fine with him as long as whatever is put out there is accurate and there is no reference or affiliation to the information coming from him (which he wouldn’t be).

Please try to understand that what he has gone through and is still going through is very stressful and this bantering back and forth is only making matters worse for everyone including each of you.

Thanks for all of your help and Howard hopes that all of this can be resolved and each of you may not have any further stress or anger regarding this

Thanks, Bonnie.

So, now I saw where the Stern family stood in all of this. Especially after, on the same day, I had received the email from Bonnie Stern from Howard.

The one email that I had sent to Bonnie Stern in my defense was a synopsis of what I have written in this series of articles. As you can see, the email that I eventually received from “Howard” addressed none of it. The letter is cordial but actions speak louder than words and the post on “R’s” new site screamed the new agenda. And I was correct. Although I know that the other blogger and “VM” received one, I don’t know who else did.

The post on “R’s” site from Bonnie Stern hurt and shocked a lot of the members of the site. They could not understand a thank you note posted on a site that they had no part of. Neither could I. I started this whole thing and I had suddenly become persona non grata.

But they persevered and rationalized that the letter was for them too. Well, some of them did. Some disappeared never to be heard from again and about three of them showed up on “R’s” site immediately. And that was ok with me. What was not ok was the bashing that was to begin on “R’s” public blog.

I had appointed not one but four new moderators for the chat room because it was a full time job keeping an eye on it. I decided to run the blog part alone save for rare times that I had to be away. One of which was to happen about a week later when my mother unexpectedly passed away.

To be continued…..

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