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Friends, Experts Skeptical of Huckaby Guilt

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 19, 2009 1:33 PM CDT

(Newser) – Family and friends of Melissa Huckaby can’t believe the Sunday school teacher might have killed and raped 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "She was actually really mellow and a good friend, and she loved her daughter so much,” a college friend says. And with police still working the case, some observers suspect that another arrest is on the way—and that Huckaby is just covering up for a man.

One former FBI agent says it’s almost unheard of for women to perform the kind of violent sexual act Huckaby is accused of, and only 5% of US pedophiles are women. Although Huckaby has fought with depression and has a petty criminal record, “what isn't here is a lot of red flags about a hardened criminal or a sociopath,” a psychologist says. Sandra's family are somewhat less unsure and sympathetic: "Death penalty," said one uncle last week.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

Brian Lawless, left, father of Melissa Huckaby, and Huckaby's aunt Joni Hughes, right, leave a Stockton, Calif., courtroom after the arraignment, Tuesday, April 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Melissa Huckaby, 28, is shown in a Stockton, Calif., courtroom during her arraignment, Tuesday, April 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, Pool)

Melissa Huckaby's grandmother, Connie Lawless, left, and unidentified man, right, leave a Stockton, Calif., courtroom after the arraignment, Tuesday, April 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Huckaby was charged with murdering her daughter's friend, 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, in a gruesome crime that has shocked and terrified residents in Tracy. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, pool)

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A lot of times women are used to lure children to the man. There are such things as absolutely degenerate females, but...what's really rare is the sexual murder. - Candice DeLong, ex-FBI profiler and prison psychiatric nurse

Either something terribly big happened to her in the past few years, or something else is going on here and she's not the one who did all this. It just doesn't make sense. - Emily Glyer Fontes, friend

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

Jeebus

Apr 20, 2009 4:27 AM CDT

Actually, the burden of proof is on the prosecutor. Although I must admit it doesn't look too good for her since the dead child was found inside the woman's luggage.

Shannonals

Apr 19, 2009 9:31 AM CDT

Ever notice how friends and families automatically come out of the woodwork commenting the individuals can;t have committed the crime, and when it's revealed their stories switch?

Mad

Apr 19, 2009 7:50 AM CDT

Yeah, and Lizzy Borden was deemed so unapproachable in the investigation of the death of her parents, the pigs didn't even search her nor check her clothing for blood splatters. Look at Huckaby: She doesn't look wildly innocent, can't believe she has been charged with such madness; rather, she looks profoundly guilty, hanging her head in shame for what she is accused. Yet, I agree, there's far more to this story

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San Francisco Chronicle (Source Grid »)

Huckaby says she was raped
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Many doubt Huckaby's guilt
Examiner

Photos of the arraignment
Tracy Press

Crime & Courts • US

California • crime • women • murder • pedophile • child rape • Sandra Cantu • Melissa Huckaby

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