Dowdy acquitted of murder

Thomas Dowdy Jr. was acquitted of second-degree murder in the Christmas Eve shooting death of David Steed on Thursday, but the court declared a mistrial on the lesser manslaughter charge due to a hung jury.

[Anonymous]

This is close to jury nulification. Since when can people go outside with a gun and shoot someone to death including one shot in the back? Why didn't they call the police?

[Revenge]

LOL Humboldt

[Rey]

"Have you seen that vigilante man, I've been hearing this name all over this town" quote from Ry Cooder... If your going to kill a man it's always best to deliever the final shot to the back or back of the head, it saves time and money at the trial.

[Family]

To Anonymous, Curious, Patty Steed, and all others. Thank god Tom was aquitted of murder, 25 to life was was a revenge sentance, not a realistic one, given the previous situations. PS, I am sorry for your loss.(D.S.)

[Dr Greenthumb]

I tole you mang....I knew he would beat this case! tweekers suck.

[LOCAL]

Dr Greenthumb wrote:

I tole you mang....I knew he would beat this case! tweekers suck.

What do you mean he shot a tweeker. tweekers killing tweekers

[Joe Blow]

Rob Wade would not have lost this case. Worth Dikeman would not have lost this case. Allison Jackson would not have lost this case. Andrew Isaac would not have lost this case. Heather Gimle would not have lost this case.

There you go Humboldt County. A nice steaming pile of justice. Just what you voted for.

The Real Joe Blow

[Eureka Born]

I agree with Joe and Oakland.
He should have called 911.

[Jon Reed]

I don't know if anyone knows but cold medacine has methamphetamine in it,and amphetamine.Yes it does read the back of the bottles or boxes,but not all have it in them

[Family]

If you don't know idiot! I went to school with Dowdy and he was a tweeker too!so shut your mouth.Ive known alot of tweekers(I am Not one Myself)in my past jobs deeling with them,most of them are the nicest people you'll ever meet.Its the sobber ones that are asses

[Rick Steed]

My family and I have been in court for the last three weeks on this murder trial for my brother David Steed the outcome was not even close to what we expected but we have to except this decision from twelve of our community peers. But what we did not expect is the treatment we received the last day of court during the verdict hearing. The court bailiffs were concerned with safety if the verdict did not come favorable to us, I can understand that but what I cannot except is how disrespectful and rude we were treated by some of the bailiffs especially Allen Mendes he was over the top disrespectful and rude he has no people skills what so ever he treated my mother so rudely at one point it was all I could do not to say something but if I would have he would have made it a big deal and that would have escalated the situation. No matter how our family has been labeled because of what came out in court we are hard working, tax paying, business owners and community donaters. Sherriff Philip needs to seriously look into conduct by some of his officers it is not necassary your uniform and gun are in plan sight. The sherriffs department needs to make it mandatory for all officers to take classes on how to treat people.

[Oliver Holmes]

An outcome as predicted.

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.

It seems to me that at this time we need education in the obvious more than the investigation of the obscure.

[Oliver Holmes]

I must give my condolences to the bereaved.

[Rey]

It's always easier to kill someone, clean up the durgs and then call the athorities to site of the murder ...What part of "Shot in the back" don't you understand...

[DowdyHater]

I guess the mostly-female jury was charmed by this 23-year old "little kid" who is a "Father and husband" (how long do you think THAT will last?) and didn't want to punish the murderer because the victim was "just a tweaker".

Funny how the reports never state what shit-for-brains Dowdy was on.

Regardless of what happens in the case, I doubt very seriously Dowdy can go very long before he ends up with bullets in his own back or, if he's lucky, head.

Worthless leeches who steal from others and threaten women usually end up where they belong. A shallow grave.

[Anonyomus]

Hello everyone. Please be careful of what you say and do. I know that emotions are running very high right now and the system just didn't work this time. NOBODY... ESPECIALLY Dowdy is worth getting your butt in a sling. The DA's ofice worked very hard. Unfortunately 11 out of 12 jurors believed Angus' and Dowdy's lies. The Steed family has already been accused of making threats by Ms. Angus, Dowdy's attorney, so we don't need anymore. She informed the DA that her assistant apparently was walking aross the street and a man pulled up close to her and yelled out something to the effect of "Hey public defender bitch I'm gonna F'n kill you" I don't know about you, but that for SURE and without a doubt must have from a Steed. I guess the other, God knows how many files piled on her desk, probably may not be connected to that threat. BUT... on the flip side she is good at making lies work. She should go into private. Anyway, we have been dealt a very hard blow. No one in the Steed family will be participating in any kind of vengeance, we are not that kind of people. We would only be lowering ourselves to Dowdy's level. As far as Rick Steed's comment about the bailiff's behavior in the court house...there is only one way to command respect for yourself and the uniform you wear and that is to conduct yourself in a respectful, kind, compassionate and PROFESSIONAL manner.They couldn't even bring themselves to do this for the sake of David's mother or widow. This of course is directed to Mendes and the female bailiff that was there, I'm not sure what her name is. You CAN maintain an orderly safe enviroment without being the way you were. I'm pretty sure that being a rude, insensitve, sarcastic smartass is NOT a prerequisite in your job description. We must all get on with our lives now, we have to dutifully pay for the enormous debt that Dowdy has encumbered our society with. We all appreciate your support and prayers now, get back to work and pay your taxes!

[Patty Steed]

sorry I forgot to include my name on the previous posting. I'm not ashamed to speak my mind.

[Chester Reid]

I can't believe that the Jury found Dowdy inocent of murder.  When a person shoots someone that is unarmed and then he is on his knees dying, Dowdy comes up almost point blank and shoots him in the back.  That is murder. Why would he have his rifle ready and loaded? If he was so worried about his child, why would he leave a loaded gun aroung her? The first shot was not a warning shot, Dowdy just missed.  I would not want to wish the tragedy that happened to David Steed and his family, but I wonder if any of the jurors would convict someone that shot their wife, husband, or child in the back.  As far as the drug in David Steed"s body, people will say things they don't mean, and I know David's family would never have let him go to injure someone.  Mr. Dowdy should be in jail for the rest of his life or received the death penalty.  It is not right for someone to take a man's life, the most presious thing on earth.  Just think how his family fills with no husband or father.  The law should punish persons that kill, not slap him on the back and let him do it again.

[Rick Steed]

Number 16 thank you, I will assure you no Steed family member would ever yell something like that at the PD assistant we are not trailer trash. We were told about the incident it was an insult to us that someone would think we did it. Yes Ms. Angus lied in her closing statements but what recourse do we have? We have made no threats and will not ever it hits hard with the verdict but Dowdy or Angus are not worth the trouble I have zero respect for her.

[Moel Bettason]

If Dowdy is going to walk on this, I propose the Humboldt Court should at least make him pay the Steed family fair market value for a cord of firewood.