In Reply to: Re: Capturing the Friedmans posted by Carol (reposted) on June 24, 2004 at 16:44:22:
As I understand it from the documentary: This happened in 1988. Mr. Friedman didn't exactly admit to the pedophelia until he pled guilty and was in jail, at least not to the judge. He claimed he pled guilty to save his 18 yr old son who worked with him in the classroom and the children were saying he participated. I have no idea how that was supposed to save the son. Supposedly, if he was out of the picture, it would give his son a better chance.
Mr. Friedman died in jail of an anti-depressant overdose. He had taken out an insurance policy that allowed payment for suicide once the policy had been in effect for 2 yrs., I think. The money, $250,000, went to his son who had to spend 13 years in prison. The son pled guilty and claimed that his lawyer told him there would be more sympathy for him if he claimed his father sexually abused him and coerced him into doing the acts. Remember, he was only 18 when he was arrested. The lawyer, however, claimed that the son confided in him one day, crying his eyes out about it. Who is telling the truth? No lawyer in his right mind would admit to advising his client to lie and make up a story to get sympathy from the judge, but I'm sure they do. It is a fascinating study in human nature, that is for sure. One can't help but think that if a man is prone to pedophelia that once he had a classroom of students, he would act it out. It would just be too tempting. But the charges were so outlandish and you wonder how so many kids (91??) for four years wouldn't have said a peep to their parents or anyone. And the charges had them committing these acts about 20 an hour or something ridiculous. It just seems a little far fetched.