Sister Sues NBC After Brother Kills Himself

[RitcheyRch]

http://www.knbc.com/news/13742554/detail.html
In the "Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator" show, men accused of having explicit online chats with people they think are underage children go to a house to meet them, where TV cameras, host Chris Hansen and police await.
Louis William Conradt Jr., of Terrell, Texas, a Dallas suburb, was suspected of being one of those men, except he didn't show up at the house.
That didn't stop the TV producers and police from showing up at his, though, and as officers knocked on his door and a camera crew waited in the street, Conradt shot and killed himself.
His sister, Patricia Conradt, sued NBC Universal Inc. in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Monday for $105 million, accusing it of taking over police duties and then failing to protect her brother.
In the lawsuit, Patricia Conradt accused NBC Universal of engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity by bribing police across the country to let it film encounters with suspects it lures to a home where it has set up cameras.
She said in the lawsuit NBC "steam-rolled" police to arrest her brother after telling police he failed to show up at the rigged house 35 miles away.
She said her brother was unable to defend himself when police, NBC employees and associates swarmed his yard, creating a relationship between NBC and her brother similar to the relationship a prison guard has with an inmate.
"The suicide was reasonably foreseeable," her lawsuit said. "At this time, the defendant wore the robe of a state official and Bill wore the shackles of a detainee. Having trespassed and invaded upon Bill's property to broadcast a spectacle to millions, the defendant took no more steps toward protecting him than are received by a gladiator or bull."
A spokeswoman for NBC Universal, Jenny Tartikoff, said: "We have not yet received the lawsuit, but we plan to defend ourselves vigorously as we believe the claims in the suit to be completely without merit."
NBC and Perverted Justice have filmed similar operations in other cities, and the network has said the show did not have the same problems elsewhere.
The lawsuit said Conradt Jr., 57, an assistant county prosecutor, shot himself after he was accused of engaging in a sexually explicit online chat with an adult posing as a 13-year-old boy.
It said a police officer at the scene of the shooting told a "Dateline" producer: "That'll make good TV."
In the lawsuit, Patricia Conradt said NBC was "concerned more with its own profits than with pedophilia."
Conradt Jr. became a target in a program in which NBC and the activist group Perverted Justice set up shop for four days last November in a two-story home in Murphy, Texas.
Perverted Justice staff posed as boys and girls online and arranged to meet men there.
Two dozen men were arrested, but the district attorney refused to prosecute any of them, saying many of the cases were tainted by the involvement of amateurs and that he lacked jurisdiction in most cases because neither the suspects nor decoys were in the county during the online chats.
The city manager was fired for approving the arrangement without telling the mayor or the city council.

[ratso]

Every one of those sexual predators should shoot theirselves in the head...

[ratso]

...and that smartass attorney she hired needs to be popped in his fat fukkin' mouth! Watched that jerkoff last night! http://www.***boat.com/ubb/graemlins/yuk.gif
Polly Klass was one of many abducted and murdered... Her dad was on last night with that prick attorney saying how it's entrapment the way they are getting these thugs off the street.

[Jyruiz]

Saw that on one of the news channels, the attorney is a shitbag and the sister is trying to make it look like her borther the child predator is the victim.

[Big Warlock]

unfortunately she'll get a settlement.

[adjones419]

The lawsuit said Conradt Jr., 57, an assistant county prosecutor, shot himself after he was accused of engaging in a sexually explicit online chat with an adult posing as a 13-year-old boy.
Good. Way to take the easy way out, shitbag.

[Biglue]

That POS offed himself because he wasn't man enough to face the consequences of his actions. Just like he wasn't man enough to try and have a normal relationship with AN ADULT. PERIOD.
I say good riddence. One less pedophile the world had to worry about and fairly cheap for the justice system. It's a win win all around. Just my .02.
Two dozen men were arrested, but the district attorney refused to prosecute any of them, saying many of the cases were tainted by the involvement of amateurs and that he lacked jurisdiction in most cases because neither the suspects nor decoys were in the county during the online chats.
Wouldn't you think that the court would use the work on this as "free police work". Is it just me or am I wrong in thinking that catching these assholes on film would be a slam dunk case? WTF?!?!?!

[dunaholic]

I know I am going to catch crap for this, I don't condone the behavior of the man that killed himself nor do I condone the act of child porn, endagerment or pedophelia in any way, but this guy has a right to a fair trial awarded him by the costitution of the United States. When a news crew shows up on your doorstep and does not allow the court system to do their (our) duty I kind of feel that the rights of citizens are kind of violated to a degree. I agree that this guy is a scumbag and that he deserves the maximum punishment for his crime, but the media is way to quick in releasing information and wayning public opinion. Whether or not the plantiff should be awarded damages is again up to the court system. Who's to say that things would have gone different if the media were not there. Just my 2 cents.

[Jyruiz]

I know I am going to catch crap for this, I don't condone the behavior of the man that killed himself nor do I condone the act of child porn, endagerment or pedophelia in any way, but this guy has a right to a fair trial awarded him by the costitution of the United States. When a news crew shows up on your doorstep and does not allow the court system to do their (our) duty I kind of feel that the rights of citizens are kind of violated to a degree. I agree that this guy is a scumbag and that he deserves the maximum punishment for his crime, but the media is way to quick in releasing information and wayning public opinion. Whether or not the plantiff should be awarded damages is again up to the court system. Who's to say that things would have gone different if the media were not there. Just my 2 cents.
I hear what you are saying, but they had the transcripts from his chat room conversations and probably even pictures like they have with everybody else who they have caught. If it wasn't him and he was inocent, then I don't think he would have killed himself.

[Slacker]

Something he was proably thinking about doing long before the cops show up. I am not an expert in this field but imho he was just looking for an excuse. IF he wasnt guilty it should have come out in a court of law, he even had more pull than the regular JOe. How many times have you seen some one kill themselves just because the cops showed up? No i think he was guilty and pretty much new his lifestlye was over...I have no pity or sympathy on pedafiles or anyone who abuses children.

[2Driver]

The way I see it children are one pukefock safer today and tax payers are ahead of the game.

[Racey]

I think Chris Hanson is a pedophile, he comes off creepy to me, even in comparision to the dirtbags he catches:D

[TexasChopper]

I know I am going to catch crap for this, I don't condone the behavior of the man that killed himself nor do I condone the act of child porn, endagerment or pedophelia in any way, but this guy has a right to a fair trial awarded him by the costitution of the United States. When a news crew shows up on your doorstep and does not allow the court system to do their (our) duty I kind of feel that the rights of citizens are kind of violated to a degree. I agree that this guy is a scumbag and that he deserves the maximum punishment for his crime, but the media is way to quick in releasing information and wayning public opinion. Whether or not the plantiff should be awarded damages is again up to the court system. Who's to say that things would have gone different if the media were not there. Just my 2 cents.
I agree...and if had they transcripts, and photo's of this guy then we all kow he was guilty and the world is better without him, however I think the media is out of control in regard to what they are willing to do for the all mighty dollar, viewer, and/or advertiser. And the police department needs to be policeman, not tv stars.

[RitcheyRch]

My thoughts exactly. Think of the money saved on court costs.
The way I see it children are one pukefock safer today and tax payers are ahead of the game.

[RT21]

This is an interesting case. What is the actual crime? I can see if he made moves to meet the "child". That would show intent. But to talk dirty to an adult that is posing as a child? Definitly guilty in the court of public opinion, but I cant see that being against the law. Especially since the 12 guys that actually showed up didnt even get prosocuted.
Personally, I cant stand the way the cops team up with a network to show the misfortunes of people. This type of work should be done without the "made for TV" extravaganza. If it is that important, set up stings and nail these people because it is the right thing to do, not to get the po po on TV.

[YeLLowBoaT]

He was an asstant prosecutor, he knew fooking better. I'm just sorry he killed himself... i would much rather see him in prison getting his ass kicked/raped all the time since hes a pervert.

[Mardonzi]

I have no problem with the guy offing himself and saving the taxpayers a grundle of money
However..
I do have to agree that the course that sensationalistic journalism is taking is bullsh*t. Anything for ratings and if they screw up, all they have to do is retract a little bit and its all fine. I think that the cops have a tendency to get a bit overjealous when there is a camera rolling also. Prime example of this is the attitudes that SBSO has since Court TV started riding with them
(this was relayed to me, I didn't see it first hand)
We had a friend this past weekend that got pulled over for having one buckle out of 4 undone on his PFD while on his wave runner. The Cop actually has the nerve to say to the cameraman (under the assumption that my friend was busy with the ticketing officer) that the only reason they pulled him over was to get a better look at his wife. (yes she is worth a 2nd look)
Would they have had the same attitude without a camera in the boat? I doubt it.

[Biglue]

This is an interesting case. What is the actual crime? I can see if he made moves to meet the "child". That would show intent. But to talk dirty to an adult that is posing as a child? Definitly guilty in the court of public opinion, but I cant see that being against the law. Especially since the 12 guys that actually showed up didnt even get prosocuted.
Personally, I cant stand the way the cops team up with a network to show the misfortunes of people. This type of work should be done without the "made for TV" extravaganza. If it is that important, set up stings and nail these people because it is the right thing to do, not to get the po po on TV.
The cops are typically there when the media shows up and busts them....I guess you can somewhat call it a sting.
In my eyes, his intent was there to take advantage of a kid, what if he had abused other kids? I view it as justified.
The media does have tendencies to blow shit way out of proportion. But in cases like this I think they serve their purpose. For example, when there is a rapist on the loose. I think it's a smart idea to advise the public. I see this as much the same as it involves a sexual predator of kids. Just my .02.

[ratso]

Did anybody see the one where they busted one guy, and then they caught him online again the next day setting up a meeting with another underage kid at McDonalds... sick sick people and they need to be put away...

[vmjtc3]

In a perfect world they would issue pedophile hunting license's. ;)