ID v. Aragon coming up on In Session

Sounds like an interesting case but there is no where near enough information to have any opinion whatsoever. Since I'm retired and living on social insecurity, I have nothing to else to do. Looking forward to watching it.
Selah!

This was a tragic situation in my part of the country. The man's horrible judgment was thinking that his children could walk the TEN miles in freezing weather to their mother's home. Think about how long it takes you to drive ten miles in blizzard weather, and then put itty bitty snow boots on kids and tell them to walk it. Utterly tragic.

If he new idaho and his location then there would be no way he would those kids go I just cant believe this happened.

Off hand sounds like a tragic wrong choice and bad luck with a little dumb – dumber in the mix... but not criminal.

Definitely guilty of negligence, involuntary manslaughter and felony injury to a child, based on his actions. After seeing the opening arguments, he might have a case upon appeal due to negligent representation by his attorney's actions. Chewing gum during his opening statements? Really?!?

ID v. Aragon My husband and I raised two wonderful boys. Neither one of us, nor any parents I know, would ever have put them out on the road to walk 9 miles, especially to do this alone. Not at any age and not even in comfortable weather. Hypothermia is NO excuse. The reason is "I was upset!." So he took it out on his kids. I would say Negligent Manslaughter.

I cannot believe this defense lawyer questioning the mother. This man made a very poor decision. It is not this mother's fault that he got angry about getting stuck and then made his children walk in sub zero weather.

The Defenses questioning of the Mother sounds like he is
blaming the her for not preventing the father from bringing the children out to see their mother or why she didn't call for help sooner.

Wasn't that the responsibility of Dad, wasn't he able to say, " Hey the weather looks bad, I don't think its a good idea".

It's just amazing to me that he would the weather wasn't ok for him to drive, but it was ok for them to walk if they wanted to. Where does the parenting come in. Is he on any type of drugs, or did he really just not care about his children

I think they should let it all go...the poor man made an awful decision to let them go. he has to live with this the rest of his life.what would it do any good to put him away?

Is Mr Aragon in jail now, and if not, how much bail was set & paid?

This father definitely suffered from a lack in judgment, HOWEVER how can a court sentence a man to 20 years for this offense when Roeder's PREmediated murder sentence may only be 25 years? Just doesn't make sense.

This is so sad. This man was doing his best with the situation they had. The children could have frozen to death sitting in the car!!! Walking could have helped to keep them warm!!! I feel so sorry for this whole family. I think it would be a terrible thing for "Bear" to lose his Dad for 25yrs. plus his sister "Sage". Leilani in Tulsa

I believe Mr. Aragon was beyond negligent letting his kids walk in such bitter cold temperatures, in not notifing the people that came by to help him that his kids were out there walking to their mothers house, he was to worried about his truck being stuck in the snow and getting home himself, he did not bother to look for them after his truck started instead he took his brother home first, never called the mother of his kids. Yes he needs to go to prison.

The Aragon case is one of those amazing courtroom dramas that makes me wonder whether the prosecutors have too much time on their hands. What is to be served by sentencing this guy to 20 years? Is the country jail happy? Aragon is obviously not the brightest star in the heavens; but if you start sentencing people to long jail terms for being dumb, you're going to wind up with half the country behind bars.

This man obviously made a mistake letting his children leave the truck. Period. Why didnt he use his cell phone to call for help? He did say the mother kept calling him, so I assume he had a cell phone. I do not think he let the children out knowingly thinking they would be hurt. I think,,,he just didnt think-. 9 miles is quite a walk. Question, what about the other counties neglect for not plowing. I understand this is farm country, however, neglect is neglect and the law is the law. Its sad, it's a shame, people just don't think beyond.. Whats the charge for not being smart?

Once again I find myself saying " why do scum bags like this even have children". obviously he cares only about himself. I hope he gets life. He should get death but unfortunately thats not an option. i think he should be left in the cold to freeze to death and feel the pain and terror of such! god forgive me.

My sympathy lies not with the father,but with those two children. The father said he wasn't thinking well that is a luxury parents are not allowed to have.

vinnie r u kidding me,the kids walked,ur the reporter not the jugde or jury,he lost his kid,20 yrs for a TRAGDEY....is that all ppl want to do is make EVERYTHING CRIMNAL.ITS A TRAGDEY.and the interview is a joke fishing for a crime it makes me sick how that r interviewing him.and u need to liten up vinnie.show this.

in the aragon case, i can't believe the attorney on your show is saying you are being to hard on the dad. it doesn't matter if it was spring out..you DON"T let your 11 yr old children walk 9 MILES.. are you kidding me!!!

How could a parent let young children walk that far in the cold? That is murder to me! He needs to spend his life in prison. I have a 23year old daughter,22 yr old son, 19 year old son, and a 10 year old son. There is NO WAY I would let any of them walk even 1 mile in the winter!!! My 9 year old is still not allowed to walk across our busy road alone. He must use the buddy system even in summer to cross to the park. He was only allowed to go to the park without me last summer,he now owns a cell phone just to go to the park!!!!!!! I can see him from all times from my window and I do watch!
How dare him let those kids out like that. I still have not seen the mother on your show, what does she think? Why isn't this man 6 ft under and her the one on trial?

When did In Session become Nancy Grace? Have any of you ever been in a snow storm? I live in Wisconsin and believe me that is not uncommon for children to go out and walk in the snow if a car breaks down. How can you be judge and jury when you are just listening to a police interview? I do not like the format that this station has taken since it was moved to Atlanta! You do not get all the information just what the hosts want you to hear. It was much better before and the hosts were much better from the original station.

I think the commentators cannot judge the actions of this father based on how they live and would react. They check to see if their children have their Nike shoes on etc – this family is poor and survives with what they have. No way can he be guilty.of manslaughter or murder.

Robert Aragon mad a horrible mistake. We all make mistakes. This should not even be in court.

This case was a terrible tragedy that could easily have been prevented if Mr. Aragon and his children had stayed HOME instead of going on the road in such extreme cold weather. My son's dad and I agreed long ago on a simple policy for extreme weather: stay HOME, stay SAFE. Even if it is a holiday, I think it is always better to be safe at home in such weather than in possible danger on the roads.

Susan, VA

This guy is getting off easy!! He caused the death of a little girl because he was angry with them and acted like a child himself and "let them walk". NINE MILES!! And then he doen't go after them when he gets the car running? Then the Mother basically does nothing when she learns they're missing also? Bet she could get a ride to get booze if she needed it! Jen, MI
PS: the witness testifying today (I think it was the tow truck driver) was grinning the while timme he was testifying about a little girls horrendous death! These people are monsters.

His children are going to their mom's obviously the father feels safe to allow them to go ahead. It is apparent that their father had no worries with the walk or the way they were dressed. Kids can stand frigid weather while before the parents can. I have no idea why the father is being charged at all. To him this is normal. Interrogation period you know the unsub is going to fumble his words miss important facts. Robert allowing the children to go ahead could be the best for them due to the fact of the truck being stuck and who knows how long that was going to take. The mother if the call was made should have followed the direction the children usually take. Is the mom going to lie to protect herself. I cannot believe he being charged. Children can walk the 9miles. My husband walked 5miles to school everyday and home again his family survived. The 12 year old did the right thing getting shelter, the daughter scared wanting her dad left that is what happened that's all nothing more. Charging the father is very heartless.

We must remember that it was the holidays... the children wanted to be with their Mother and the Father was aware that this was very important for them to be with her. The Father was doing his best to get them there... As he was shoveling, the son offered a suggestion... and he might not thought it was the best idea but, definitely had no idea it would turn out the way it did. This man has suffered enough. I am surprised the state charged him with this...

I can understand that a parent may be distracted while digging out a car from a snowbank and give an okay without thinking. I think the defendent is criminally negligent because once his car was running he went home without bothering to see if his kids were safe. He delayed a search by several hours which may have made the difference between life and death.

I've watched the trial thus and far and know the outcome from seeing it in the online news. In my mind, this man is guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt. I have raised two children and have grandchildren too. I wouldn't let one of my dogs out to walk 9 miles in an Idaho winter muchless a child. He also knew of the harshness of the weather and road conditions. This man had no regard for the safety of his children and may of been under the infulence too. I would have thrown the book at him, or better yet, let me walk 9 miles in 20 inches of snow in the freezing cold. If he had been from somewhere else and had no experience that might be a defense but as far as I' m concerned the jury failed miserably and they should be ashamed.

In todays times I dont understand why anybody would send their 11 and 12 year old off to walk 9 miles by themselfs I don't care if it was 70 deg. outside, you just don't let kids walk around alone on a country road where they can be exposed to all kinds of danger.

After living in Colorado for a few years i was dumb founded at the way the people act in weather they are so used to it it's almost like if the sun is out everything is fine out there. I almost have to think it's the same way in Idaho. He sounds like he grew up in the country out there and the city folks do not understand how much one can do because they want to.I would bet his son had his dads way of thinking he just knew him and his sister could make it their moms house with no problem and his dad thought they could to.I would never think he would have let his kids go anywhere if he didn't think his son could take care of his sister and himself .I think the State or Idaho should be a shamed of it'sself for changing this man he suffered enough when he lost his daughter.Think to yourself if you let one of your kids go to the store and something happened and you never thought it would and you lost a kid what that would do to you well he's living that right now and then the state steps in and is trying to put him in jail for that.What a shame...

If the prosecutor is willing to admit that perhaps the defendent was experiencing hypothermia also then how can he say that this defendent is still in a position to make correct decisions. I think the procecutor himself gave the jury the answer as to how this father made such a horrible decision.

i cannot but wonder why with his kids out in that weather and the son said the weather got worse after they left the truck and the father got unstuck. the weather had to be getting badder there to. why he did not go looking for them to make sure the kids made it to where they were going. in that kind of weather they should not have started in the first place 9 miles that is a bit far in good weather no way he should have let them go off by themselves.stupid yes

We do not all live in the same circumstances. Some of us that live in the boonies feel that parents who allow their children to walk in high crime areas should be prosecuted if harm comes to them. That is just as negligent as Mr. Aragon

This defense attorney is a joke. I feel sorry for the defendent only that he deserved a better defense.

I think this father was angry with his ex and upset that he was having to take the kids to see their mom. He became really upset when his truck got stuck. He also admitted to smoking weed. I think after digging snow for hours, he agreed to let the kids walk to their mom's since they volunteered to walk and it would relieve him from having to drive them. I'm upset with him for never following up and making sure they made it there or at least make finding them a priority! At the very least he was negligent. However though I don't find a lengthy prison term appropriate, finding him not guilty on either charge falls short of justice. I'm hopeful that he has learned from his poor choices and "stoned" thinking. He has to live with this tragedy that he could have prevented...perhaps that is punishment enough?!

It was a stupid thing that he did to let his children go walking in those conditions but I don't think this is criminal. I think he should have told them that it was not a good idea in those conditions, He should have told them to stay in the truck and he should have been the one to go and look for help, His daughter is dead and sending him to jail is not gonna bring her back. Why he made the decision that he did is beyond me. I think that when he got his truck out he should have went looking for them then but he didn't. Having him sit in jail what is that gonna do? I am sure he is aware of what he did was wrong and he is gonna have to live with that. Me as a mother I would never have let my children leave without me going with them.

I'm sorry, but I think he should have to do some hard time based on stupidity alone!

The jury absolutely got this one wrong. The idea of sending two children walking 9 miles, snow or no snow, is unthinkable. The weather conditions were dangerous and the result was tragic. That man was negligent beyond belief, to the point of criminally responsible.

I think this was tragic accident . I grew up in colorado and there were many times i walked at least 5 miles to school in snow/cold conditions . Much colder than that . The father has suffered enough .

Only someone who grew up in the country could understand how walking such a distance is not unusual. I walked over 5 miles each way to the school bus when I was in the second grade in all kinds of weather and no one ever thought anything about it. This man clearly has limited intelligence and from his boss's comments I believe he has a learning disability – he is clearly not an analytical person. I have a sister like that and can understand how his mind was working that day. However, I do not believe that he at any time intended to harm his children, nor did he see any reason to think they were in danger. The mother, on the other hand, failed miserably when she notified 911 that the children had arrived and didn't call them back for two hours to say that they had indeed not arrived. I agree with the verdict.

I haven't heard anything about this man being drunk or otherwise intxicated where he would have passed out and not know the children had left. Anyone?

When those kids left the wheather was just cold and sunny, and they were playing, He was trying to get his car out. How was he to know that 3-4 miles ahead that the wheather was going to be bad. They (jury) got it right. He did not intend for his baby girl to die out there, COME ON

Do I think Mr. Aragon made a bad decision in allowing his children to start walking 9 miles in a blizzard? Absolutely. But, as a parent of 4 children I know how hard it is to always make the right decision regarding our children. The man has to live with the snap decision he made that cost his daughter her life....that in itself is the worst punishment he could ever get.

I think your panel talk too much of what they never have experienced. Wait till they are really standing in his shoes. They think they are smart but they are more dimwit than the dimwit.

Robert Aragon was just read as not guilty. What I am wondering about is the responsibilty of the Police, as it as said the Police was called twice by the Mother... The one officer had stated that he went out to look for the kids, but turned around because the weather was to cold. what the hell is that? isn't he being held responisibe for his actions as well? is it because the children were half native that it didn't seem as important?
Why is it that the father had sated that the mother had said that she called an ambulance yet he 'the father' was there before the ambulance got there? the actions of the police and ambulance just don't measure up to me!

Clearly a lot of bad judgement shown on the part of both parents. I live through some pretty cold winters in NY and I can't imagine one instance when I would allow my kids to walk in that kind of weather. On that note I would'nt allow them to walk 9 miles in nice weather either. I believe he deserves to do some time, but it will not bring his daughter back.

I am not sure if the parents were impaired(drinking – maybe daily) but this is definately a case of neglect. Mr. Aragon and family are probably use to the weather conditions and use to not watching their children closely. No one is asking them to conform to society but after Mr. Aragon became safe himself he should have looked for his children or at least called and question the children's whereabouts. He was neglectful.

What Aragon did was very stupid and the price was the costliest. However, I do not think it was criminal. Vinnie commented that the jurors sympathised and therefore did not make the correct decision.This is why I am glad that there are twelve jurors and not just one opinion. Had I been a juror, I would have aquitted him, because I think his judgement way off, but not intentionally criminal. Just as in a DUI, sometimes the offender is very remorseful (Carroll County, KY) but still what they did was criminal and needs to be accountable.

This was such a hard show to watch. I would have to vote as the jury, I do not think he intended to hurt his children and he will pay the rest of his life of what happened. I have heard of people leaving children in cars in the summer time just forgetting they were there. I am sure time just got away from him and his location.

The fact that he is poor should have no bearing on this...9 miles is a long way to walk. Just try to walk that as a adult and then add in the snow. He should not have let his kids go and he should be held accountable for doing that. Yes he will have to live with what he did but that fact isnt enough to make him innocent of what he did. And for the father to try and blame the son...shows even more what kind of man he really is.

This is crazy. I'm not saying he should got to jail .I'm not saying the lost of his daughter is not punishment enough . I can't see why he was not aleast charged with felony injury to a child. Or child in dangerment . 9 miles is alot on a warm day. I think that him not looking for them or makeing sure they got there right after he got his car fix make him gulty.

I grew up in Cleveland Ohio my school was a seven mile walk if it took the time to walk a mile that your panel keeps ranting about I would have had to leave for school at four in the morning.
I never seen evidence the the father knew it was nine miles to the Moms house.This was just a tragic accedent.

I feel that the verdict was wrong. I am a mother and would never let my children walk in the snow. We had a halloween snow storm when my children where younger and they did not walk they where driven to the homes. Any one knows you don't leave a vehicle in the winter especially a child. The father wasn't a good parent and not letting the mother in with beer yet he can smoke mariguana is really wrong as well. The father didn't make a lot of sense when he was telling his story either. He made some contradictory information and he should have gone and looked for the two children when he got out of the ditch.

Thank goodness this poor man has been found not guilty. He already has a life sentence of guilt and remorse to live now, without his precious daughter. All of us as parents have made mistakes with our children and how horric the consequences of this particular mistake cannot be fixed. If Sage was able to be asked "should we put your father in jail for letting you go:" what would her answer be?

As I observed the procedings,And hearing the son stating that the snow was only to his ankles when he left,and only started to get worse much later. Although I would find him guilty of child negligence, I do not find he should have been found guilty of any involuntary manslaughter charges or such. his car did not seem to be running and keeping him warm as one your commentators stated,or why would he have needed a "jump" for his car. However it was a prime example of very poor decision making letting his children hike that distance in any weather,because of other safety issues that could apply.

I am so glad justice prevailed in this case. What a waste of taxpayer's money to bring a manslaughter charge in this case. Maybe if the prosecuter would have went for some type of negligence charge he would have some sort of victory.

I think he and his cousin were smoking a celebratory joint on the way to mama's house to say nothing of the effects that he displayed of long-term pot use. To me, that was the obvious explanation for his complete lapse of judgment. I've never seen anyone dopier or more confused and he was making up details as he went along. The jury obviously ignored the half dozen times this guy dropped the parental ball that day!

What kind of parent would let their kids start walking in cold weather?
Why didn't he say it's two cold no you are not walking, it was his place to protect them not send them on a nine mile walk in winter. No matter how mad you get for your truck getting stuck in snow you still have a responsibility to protect your children and I feel like he failed to do his duty as a parent, he should have been found guilty injury to both his children at least not just walk away free.

When I was a child we walked everywhere. The weather did not matter, if you woted to go somewhere you went. My brother walked from Bythwood toColunbia everyday. My mother walked to and from work every night. If you are use to it walkinglong distances is just another thing to do.

When I was 11 years old, in the 50's, I ventured out on a snowy day w/my sled in search of some good hills to sled on.....The snow turned into a blizzard and I became disoriented as to where I was because nothing looked the same being covered in a white blanket. Lucky for me, there was a farm house where I could ask directions. The tears were freezing on my cheeks. (I thought I'd freeze to death). Most people didn't even have phones so I feel fortunate to have found my way home. My parents were ?; I don't remember. Were they to blame? Probably.

Yes, the jury got it right.

As a father of 4 , at first i was mad that he would let the children leave.Personally', i dont know what i would have done unless in that situation.IF you really listen to the case he couldnt drive the otherway.the road still wasnt plowed.And to your idiot to critac's on tv, the jury made their decision. let it go the man was proven inocent. he has to live with this on his mind the rest of his life. There is also another victom. His son. You want to take the childs father away from him too?you have no heart.the child in my book has had enough trama also.Let them alone and work together to try to put there life back together.I dont believe no way no how shape or form, he knew this would happen.

I live in Colorado but I would not let my son walk that far. I don't think the dad should go to prison but if someone replies to this I would appreciate it. What if the kids cut across a field or something and the dad didn't know which road to take to get to them or that road hadn't been plowed yet so he couldn't drive that way. He said his son showed him how to get to the house on xmas eve so how would he know which way to go? As for the commentators, I understand they are mad but even the guy who jumped the battery said his house may not have been visible. Last comment but did the dad know it was 9 miles to moms house or just assumed since his son wanted to walk that it may have been closer than thought? This is a tragedy but 20 years?

Does this father deserve jail time? No, as someone said, why imprison a man for being dumb? He will suffer the rest of his life. I hope he does not take it out on Bear, the little girl's brother, because he didn't go back with her...If he had not found that wayside toilet, he'd probably be dead, too....How tragic.

I think it would have been a reasonable compromise for him to have walked the children to his ex-wife's home himself. He could have called for help for his truck from there if he needed it. If he didn't need the help he could have gotten a lift back to it. He should never have left the kids to walk off by themselves.

I disagree with the not guilty verdict.

This was a accident. We as parents have all at one time or another, let our minds drift away from our children, to concintrate on things we were doing. The man will suffer all his life from that one mistake and should not be punished any more. Jim T Smith, Sr

I was relieved when I heard the jury's verdict. This man is not criminally negligent. He made a bad judgment call...something parents do every day of the week. Fortunately, not every such call ends in tragedy, and parents are not second-guessed when no tragedy results; and that is what this is, a tragic accident. It was really a guessing game...they could just have easily froze to death in the car if no one came along. It is a shame to see the amount of money spent trying to pin blame; he is no threat to society, he is a grieving parent.

I live in Idaho and I can not see letting my grandkids walk in that type of weather for 2 or 3 blocks to school. How could he let those kids walk in those conditions is beyond me. I believe the jury was absolutely wrong in their verdict. He should have been found guilty because he is guilty. Sage would still be with us today if he said " no we need to stay together." He should have known that area if he has taken his kids to their mothers before so he should have known there was a house near by him. He had a cell phone and could not call some one for help and what about the plows that way by. GUILTY!

he may have seemed not guilty but he was guilty of the injuries and death maybe not deliberately but. So he should have gotton something. As his boss had said he was no rocket scientist but it doesnt take one to realize the conditions around u and what your CHILDREN ARE WEARING!.

I'm glad Mr. Aragon was aquited of all charges. This is merely a tragic accident. It may not have been a wise decision to let his kids walk miles to the mother's house, but I'm sure he did it to get his children killed.

I'm glad Mr. Aragon was aquited of all charges. This is merely a tragic accident. It may not have been a wise decision to let his kids walk miles to the mother's house, but I'm sure he didn't do it to get his children killed.

its pretty bad to see you can get away with letting your 11 year old daughter walk 9 miles in a freezing cold blizzard to die. good dad or not if you were a good dad you would have not let your daughter get out of that truck, you would all have sat in the truck to keep warm and wait for help nice call dad! and for the jury how can you let him get by on this?

This was a very sad case for everyone. We all felt bad for the family but at the same time questioning the reason for the decisions made by Robert Aragon. There is no way that I could ever imagine letting my children walk in the snow for more then a few blocks. There was absolutely no reason for this to happen. I am a resident in Idaho, not too far away from where this happened, and I know how bad the weather is in the winter, it is not something that you want to get caught out in.The wind alone would be too much. Idaho winds, especially in an open area, is overpowering. He should have been found guilty of one of the charges. Not because I think he should have to do any jail time but simply so that he knows that he did wrong. We are sending the wrong message to parents by letting his bad judgement go without any punishment......

I think he is guility of being a horrible parent. The towns people say he was a good parent, well just the fact of the weather will not allow a good parent to let there children even go out side. He didn't seek help for the saftey of his kids, and he allowed them to walk in frigid /blizzard temperatures . What is wrong with the jury?

That had also crossed my mind when the fact that she was found 14 hours later that the rescuing officer was going to stop on account of weather but that was why it made it even more of a desperate fact to find her. but nothing exscuses the fact that the father still was neglegence and the fact that when he got going again he should have went to make sure they got there. or maybe the children were putting up a fuss and he doesnt like the mother the whole thing was a bother for him so he said go ahead walk to yout moms but then again so much points to him oterwise being a good father.

I could not agree more with Lee and Danny. It was a stupid decision and consequently, ended in a terrible tragedy. Mr. Aragon made his decision in that spur of the moment, not knowing what was lying ahead. At that moment, a good father made a stupid decision and will have to live with the result, a near death of his son, and death of his daughter for the rest of his life. Why does the law need to blame him criminally? Yes, a dumb decision. A terrible tragedy happened, but the state does not need to blame Mr. Aragaon with a criminal charge. This should never have been in court in the first place.

I believe Aragon got what he deserves, life with a guilty consions. There was never any intent on his part to hurt his children. Idaho people spoke and realized his son still needs his father, even though he was stupid beyond words, and hopefully they will stay close and work on their relation.

Robert Aragon made a terrible mistake,What upsets me is that he didn't look for his kids when he got his car going again.and the mother on the first 911 call said her kids just showed up then 2 hours later called back saying they were still missing. Why did it take her 2 hours to find out the kids weren't there. She also held up the search for the kids. She should have some kind of guilt to, I can put some blam on her to.

STUPID yes... As a divorced parent, that shares custody of children; you develop a “switch” that has to turn off when the kids are with the X. Christmas Day 30? degrees out can seem like the Bahamas’ when you are used to near zero. When you are shoveling, you warm-up your core and the sunny day feels non-threatening. The kids leave and his “switch” is flipped. That’s how I see it….. sad day for all.

also a very good point that they lived out there and they new that there was nothing out there so it would not be the same as a suburban areas citys streets. The fact the mother had called police then she hung stating its ok the 2 HOURS LATER!!! called then calmy said they still were not there were. WHAT WAS THESE PARENTS THINKING!!!!!?

Murder straight up and down. One of the worst ways to die and really i don't think too many people understand just how long 9 miles is and in bad weather. I think the jury should try walking 9 miles in the cold maybe they'd have a different decision if they felt what those kids felt.

I have a couple of points I wuld like to make. 1. Guilty people have an opportunity to appeal. Aragon was found not guilty and now you are questioning the jury's decision. The jury did their job. Let's not put Aragon through a second trail in the court of public opinion. Or are we that sadistic? 2. I have personally walked and did my children in such conditions dressed however we were dressed in Alaska, Germany, and several places in the lower 48. You really have to be there at that moment. 3. Although I feel badly for Bear. I would have asked one sibling a question like that about another, not to shift guilt, but to ascertain and resolve in my own mind what happened. 4. I might have missed this part, but I would like to know what or who it was that interrupted the original 911 call that made the mother think the kids and arrived, and seemed to occupy her to the point that she did not call back immediately. Maybe something more important than her children????? If she hadn't told 911 that the children had arrived, they may have taken it upon themselves to search sooner. Maybe there should have been more than one defendent or a different defendent charged with being neglible? She stopped all emergency of the event when she said they arrived. Hmmmmm

City people don't understand how it is in the country. My daughter has walked 10 miles on her own several times. When you live in the country this is a regular occurrence. As a child and a teen I also walked several miles at a stint just to hangout with friends. If you don't have a car, you don't have a choice. I agree that the father didn't make the best choice considering the weather, but it was probably a regular thing for these kids to walk long distances. He probably thought he was closer to the mother's house and believed the children would be able to get there. It is a tragedy, but the father will have to live with his bad choice for the rest of his life. There is no need to send him to jail. He already is in the jail of his guilt at the loss of his child.

Thank-you for your in-depth coverage on your program. As it relates to this case I feel justice was served. Case and point, I recall a case in the Mt Hood national forest in Oregon a while back Where the prosecutions case was that the father had prevented the 14 year old son from taking a nearly 19 mile hike to find or get help. There was 2 deaths in that family, the father was on trial for neglegence amd wrong-full death. The difference was if the father had letthe son go for help these deaths may not have occured. What one of us has not made a major blunder in a situation like this, or traffic accident etc etc.?? My condolences to the family.

i live in upstate ny.. weather gets pretty bad up here too. i dont for see me letting my children walk but again ,dont know till actually in a situation. obviously the father was doing this drive for the children not himself. he wanted to make their x-mas happy so let them see their mom. when driving in bad weather or snow covered roads you go slow. yes he knew it was 9 miles but how far did he drive. driving slow and stopping to dig did you ever think he felt they were further than he was maybe he coulda thought they were half way.was staying there any safer. and if he could see the house why couldnt they see him.give the man a rest he was tried and aqquitted for somthing they should of left alone he will suffer knowing what he did.spend your time on missing children and people mistreating them real abuse.its all around and you choose to pick on this tradegy .you people need to get a life.

Its such a tragic story How could he not have realized his other options He is responsible for her death. How could a father be more concerned about a truck than his children. The truck could have waited his children couldnt .instead of abandoning his truck he abandoned his children. sad I would hate to be him for the rest of his life.

I had a reactionof horror thought that this father is a idiot at 1st many thoughts went trough my mind. 1. why would he allow it? 2. He has to have negative respect for human life. 3. Is it possible that he has a i.q of 0 or less. Then after I had watched the story alittle other more realistic thoughts came clearer. As many parents are aware kids can be bossy when they have a mind set to do something,which it is every parents obligation to do the decision making which is best for the kid. however,as I had more time to listen to this,think about it and to see it. I had more thoughts during those hours than I have had some complete days which led me to a couple conclusions. 1st those that are parents has to have some empathy with this story it is not as easy as some of the lawyers who gave opinionns after the verdict must think it is. Those lawyers either do not have kids or do not spend enough time with them. 2nd What is with the comments here that are asking why some blame the mother. I do not at the same reasons but do for the crazy ignorant 911 call what is with that she calls as a person should all upset or worried then stated they are here then 2 hours later calls 911 again to have the nerve to say oh duh they still not here duh duh duh it took me 2hs to see it was not them. 3rd Is a saying which mentions something like you do not understand others unless you walk in their shoes how real is that some people have never had a old broken down car,some have never had a kid that is going to do it whether you do not let them and some unfortunately never can see it all those types see is what the want to see with not caring that there is many other ways that can not be controlled it does not matter to this type it is simply ridiculas at the end not anybody out there that has not wished oh how they prayed if I could only do it again with what I do realize now how I do it different not 1 of us that has not been there that is what my conclusion came to.

Wow! What a tragic case. How do you measure and then punish stupidity? It’s a good thing for the defense attorney he was found not guilty. Sorry but he sucked. It never even occurred to him to reason with the jury that by punishing the father you also punish the son even further. The old, hasn’t he suffered enough theory, should have been offered to the jury. Even many of the preceding bloggers have offered that up.
I must take offense with Politan and his hard line cop friend. Referring, more than once, to the clothes the girl was wearing as pajamas was just plain wrong; she was wearing sweats. I realize that sweats are little or no better than pajamas, but that is beside the point. Referring to the clothes as pajamas is slanted at best and sounds like someone trying to sway opinion and trying to make it sound even worse than it already is. It was already bad enough, Vinnie. Although it wasn’t the case here, it’s that kind of inflaming rhetoric that is used to incite the herd. Why he had to exaggerate, more than once, for the worse reminds me of Steve Thomas and the Boulder police, which ended up in the early death of the innocent mother. As if that case wasn’t tragic enough either.

Clearly, Mr. Aragon should never have been acquitted of the charges against him. In my opinion, he definitely should have been convicted of neglegent homicide because that is what this case was about. Unless he was found to be mentally challenged (below average intelligence), I feel that this jury used sympathy for him rather than logic to arrive at their decision of acquittal.

On a more personal level I think this father always assumed his kids would be alright bec ause things like this happened in the past and it always worked out for him and the kids. the psychology of that is almost blatently obvious . I think that explains the fact that he never cosidered the fact that maybe he should stayt with them and leave the truck . the truth is that those kids probably took care of themselves all the time anyway.

Thank God Mr. Aragon had a jury of his peers. No one could have a more effective defense lawyer. High praise from me. Hope the Aragons keep hope, faith and love going. The times my older brother and I had when I was eleven and he thirteen in rural Wisconsin. . .the city folks just wouldn't understand. Now I'm pushing older years, and my brother was killed in Viet Nam in 1969. Bear and family, remember the good times. I'm sure there are many wonderful memories. . .remember. . Mr. Aragon was near froze himself. This Never should've gone to court. Sage is a little Angel watching over you all. Bless you, lawyer Patrick. You wove us a heartwarming closing.

Just sounds like a very lenient father, the kids would say he's a good father because he's lenient.. the 22 year old agreed he was a good father.. she too probley liked her 'freedom' to do what she wanted. Kids choose the lenient parents over the more over-protected parents or more strict parents. Still I beileve he was a better choice of parent compared to the drinking Mother though. My 5 kids now 35-23 and now raising my 12 year old grand daughter told me many times "Mom/Grandma you are to overprotected, give us some breathing space", but you see to me I just used common sense, as a Mother it is was my natural instict to know that things can happen, and was always thinking of something that could possibley occur if I had said yes to the many things my kids wanted to do without thinking first. I myself would never let a male figure make the decisions of a childs safety, they just do not seem to have that natural instinct thinking to them... but that's me. My Grand-child now wants to walk to school in wind chill of -40c conditons over riding the bus for a 2 mile walk... the answer is just plain out and out NO! She don't think of the things that can happen, as a over-protective Grandma I know ...He made the wrong choice.. he was lenient ...now he's paying for it. I really don't think he will be 'to lenient' anymore after what has happened to his little girl, I do believe that he will now be more aware of the things that 'can in fact' go wrong.

I live in north Washington state about 20 miles from Idaho...I know in the past I have walked several miles in the snow to get home from certain places and no one thinks twice about it..People have to know in actuality there is a some difference between city folk and people like us...When you are in the city you can take the bus to places or only have to walk a block to the store, but in more rural conditions like you have up here it is not out of the ordinary to walk miles in the snow to get from place to place..If this man is charged with a crime It would be just outlandish. Of course there may have been some negligence in some part and there are more or less true or false questions that people can raise in millions of different circumstances but manslaughter I DO NOT THINK SO>>

After reading all the comments I to have sympathy for this father everyone makes tragic mistakes they have to live with the rest of there lives yet there are consequences to those bad choices and we have to remember he was the adult and that is wh y Idaho wanted him to take responsibility for his childs death. Maybe being a father shouldnt be an option for him anymore but that is not for the courts its a thing nobody can control maybe this will make him a better father than he was before this and some good can come out of something bad. bear when he is a father will be exceptional because of this tragedy. maybe the caring and love they need will now be present for all of them when it was probably taken for granted before.

The man will pay for what happened everyday he is alive. I think ignorance has some play and he was the better parent. He is simple minded doing manual work and was under stress when the truck broke down. I also believe his wife was partially to blame. Ignorance is not criminal and neither is he.

John

With any evidence of prior neglect a different choice may have been made.

For the most part I agree with most of Vinnie's post verdict comments not this time. But I guess that is what makes this country sooo great. All of us need to look at the whole program. for the most part it's the best out there. Living in Alaska this case reminds me that there but for the grace of god is I. In rural Alaska what will happen to me if I make a wrong dicission Go to jail ? The difference in living here and in Atlanta is life and death decissions EVERYDAY. Once again my condolences to the family

Mr. Aragon recieved a fair trial. Sad about his children, I am sure he is and even though they were children,how many times had they walked that road into town with their mother? There had to be something said at the trial to convince the jury that he was not guilty. Why didn't the mother immediately call 911 or the neighbor that lived so close? Why didn't she drive down to get them? So blame the mother too as she is just as guilty of allowing to leave those children in the cold as the father was.

Anybody else hear Politan say that he never agrees with a not guilty verdict. To many people believe that if your accused you must be guilty.
Nothing is ever an accident any more someone has to be punished for every tragedy or accident that happens.They even charged parents with neglect when thier child fell off a swing and broke her arm.The system is out of control!

Politan was a prosecutor for many years. He also is a practicing catholic with many children, and I felt he did a fair job with the Roeder case. I'm not sure I've heard him never agree with a not guilty.