I am sick and tired of mothers (and fathers, but today I focus on Mom) who murder an ex or current spouse, or someone else who they deem detrimental to their child custody plans, then spout off about being a good mother and how they deserve a continued relationship with their children.
Gag, gag, gag!
But I’m especially tired of Judges who agree.
Like Judge Nancy Whittenburg of Iowa, for example.
Tracey Richter-Roberts was convicted of murdering a young neighbor boy in a plan to frame her ex-husband, Dr. John Pitman III, with whom she was in heated custody battle over their son Bert – and which Tracey would have lost $1,000 per month in child support.
On December 2001, Bert Pitman frantically called 911 to report a home invasion and that his mother had killed one of the intruders. When police arrived, they found 20 year-old Dustin Brett Wehde in a puddle of blood in Tracey and her current husband’s bedroom.
In her statements to police, Tracey claimed two intruders had actually broke into her home and strangled her with a pair of pantyhose before she was able to break free, unlock a gun safe, and pump nine bullets, from two guns, into Wehde’s body – three of which were to the back of his head. The other intruder fled the scene after Tracey began firing.
All the while, her children were in the home, just feet away from the shooting site; the youngest two were 3 and 1, at the time.
Tracey claimed she acted in self-defense and was hailed a hero by some gun rights advocates and TV personality Montel Williams, who applauded her story on national television. Tracey bravely told her story to anyone who would listen.
After an investigation by the local sheriff’s department could find no possible identity for the second intruder, the case lay dormant for years. In the meantime, Dustin’s parents divorced under the stress of his death and his father, so distraught over the loss, committed suicide at his son’s gravesite.
But in 2011, Sac County, Iowa got a new prosecutor who took a second look at the case. To make a long story short, Tracey Richter-Roberts was charged with premeditated murder and, in December 2011, sentenced to life in prison.
One piece of key evidence used by prosecutors during Richter-Robert’s trial was a pink notebook in which Dustin Wehde allegedly wrote of his being hired by Dr. Pitman to kill his ex-wife. However, Dr. Pitman denied such allegations and prosecutors believe Tracey Richter actually wrote the entries.
Not unconvincing, since Tracey has twice been convicted of forging documents to her benefit. And likely, because Tracey scrambled to explain the journal entries by claiming her husband at the time of the shooting, now ex-husband, had frequently talked in his sleep about a “journal” that would cover him in case they “got caught.” (My, how convenient!)
This woman is absolutely amazing, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. When she and Dr. Pitman divorced, she accused him of sexually abusing their son to gain custodial favor. Then when the war rages on, she is willing to resort to murder to win again. And would have gotten away with it if not for dogged detectives and a brave, new prosecutor.
And then, to beat all, last week Judge Whittenburg rules that Michael Roberts, who had moved with his two children to California following the conviction of his ex-wife, in part because he feared for their safety after it was learned Tracey had provided social security numbers and other information to help in locating her Roberts and her children to an incarcerated sex offender, must pay to transport the children three times to the prison in Mitchellville during their mother’s appeal and he was also forbidden from relocating to his native Australia during this time – despite his VISA being expired. Tracey was also granted a 30 minute phone call with each of their children on their respective birthdays. (Anyone want to guess what those phone calls will consist of? I’m placing my money on her spending the duration of the call berating their father.)
In her ruling, Whittenburg referred to Tracey as an “excellent parent” who had a “long, positive history” with her children by Roberts, now ages 14 and 12.
You do understand Lady Justice is blind but not stupid, right?
Here we have a mother who accused her first husband of sexually abusing their son, used aliases to fraudulently collect welfare, been convicted of passport fraud, started a blog to falsely accuse Michael Roberts of being a deadbeat dad, and passed her children’s names to a convicted sex offender?
Where in the hell are you seeing a “long, positive history”?
What does Tracey Richter-Roberts have to do to make you realize she is anything but a positive influence on her children? Kill someone?
Oh wait, she did that too. Has even been convicted of it.
You’re ruling, Judge Whittenburg, is nothing but a reinforcement of this type of behavior. You’ve essentially told every crazy ex-wife in Iowa they can lie, manipulate, and murder and still be deemed an “excellent” mother.
I can’t help but to wonder, Judge, how would you feel if she had murdered your son? Especially when it was for nothing more than to trump an ex-husband? Would you still feel the children’s well-being is best served by forcing them to visit that heartless bitch of a mother in prison? The one who seemed to care none that they were in a room across the hall when she murdered a young, special-education boy?
Somehow, I suspect you wouldn’t. The viewpoint is a lot different down here – just ask Mona Wehde.
UPDATE: After writing this story, I began to notice odd phrases used in searches that ultimately brought visitors to my post on Tracey Richter. Curiosity got the best of me and I decided to Google some of these same phrases and see what information was out there. Wow, oh wow, oh wow!
Seems Tracey Richter is able to spin insanity even while behind bars – and her “groupies” (for lack of a better word, thought quite appropriate, don’t you agree?) seem to be having a blast working an online smear campaign against Michael Roberts.
Now, folks, you know, when it comes to divorce situations, I’ll kick the duffs of any parent who can’t suck it up and be grown-up enough to co-parent – Mom or Dad. Looking at everything I could find online about this case, I’m going to outright say Tracey Richter is an evil witch who should have her parental rights terminated.
The very fact that Tracey’s cronies are working so hard to ruin Michael Roberts speaks volumes. Any reports of abuse by Roberts was made by Tracey; in other words, unreliable. And that’s all they have. Oh, wait – there is also claims of a failed lie detector test. But, hold up, there is a reason lie detector tests are not admissible as evidence – they are (like Tracey) unreliable! Being too nervous, i.e. fear of being wrongfully accused, can result in negative results; pathological liars can pass them without difficulty because they have no conscience. So there goes that!
Tracey groupies, if you want me to feel differently about Michael Roberts and Tracey altogether, you’re going to have to give me more than just utter crap. AND you’re going to have to present it in a respectable, well thought-out manner. Hmmm, much like this rebuttal from Roberts himself which I found. (That’s right, some of us are smart enough to look below the surface.)
Get a life, people. Your girl is crazy. She’s always been crazy. She’ll always be crazy. Give her children a chance at a normal life free of their mother’s damaging legacy.
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have you watched the same trial as i did? Were was any evidence against her. It was all hearsay. Rember Michael failed the lie detector test on whether he knew the 2nd intruder and if he had anything to do with the breakin. Her fingerprints were no where on the notebook and her ex Michael admitted on Dateline he hated John Pitman and wanted to kill him because of all the things Tracey told him about him. Which proved he knew everything that was in the notebook. Why did Smith have him in hiding during the trial. He could not afford to have him questioned since he was helping Michael get loans and there is a connection between them.
Look up Michael Roberts up on the internet and you would have to be an idiot to not see he is a con artist. All facts, not hearsay. He would profit from Tracey’s death. Look up Dr. John Pitman III and you will see what a scum bag he is and he also would have profited from Tracey’s death. Mona was trying to have her son removed from the home because she feared for her life. What does this tell you. Her lover fit the description of the 2nd intruder and he disappeared right after the incident. He lied about were he was that night. He joined the army in order to get out of the USA. I would love to see just one reporter report the facts and not hearsay. The whole trial was hearsay. Maybe you need get off your butt and investigate instead of listening to people who have an agenda.
Or how about you get off your duff and look at the RECORDED CRIMINAL HISTORY of your pal Tracey and realize she’s as much of a scumbag as the two men at which you point the finger. AND, in addition, she MARRIED those two, of her own free will, so I’d say that makes her appear to be quite the horrific one of the bunch.
And even by your own admission, Wehde was a dangerous man so how does this point back to the ex-husbands of a CONVICTED con artist?
I agree with Kim and I think this Ann is not just a friend but Tracey’s Mom. Who can blame a mother for taking their child’s side as the last thing we want to admit to ourselves is someone we gave birth to could be this person the evidence clearly supports. A good mother should eventually come to the realization that yes based on all the evidence and supported by many many people she effected that the truth is her child is responsible. A good mother should also realize her child is not really evil but has severe mental problems. I have also listened to Ann the mother and I think anyone who listens to her will realize that Tracey and her mom are exactly alike in the mental problems…they both need therapy for the rest of their lives. I think one feeds the other. I feel if the judge wanted to do the right thing, she should positively end any and all parental rights Tracey or her mother have to the children. They deserve to leave that part of their tragic lives in the past and move on with their lives. They should be given sole custody to Michael and he should be allowed to take them back to Australia. After all isn’t it about the best interest of the children…and how can a convicted murdering mom be considered a “good mom and role model” if that is the case.
Ann should also learn to keep her mouth shut and move on.
Michael I hope you get justice someday!
That’s all I have to say
I agree with you. I also hope Michael gets justice for beating his wife(oh I’m sorry she made that up even though her children witnesses it). He broke his stepson’s nose(that was an accident when he was putting his seatbelt on). He left welts on his son’s behind when he beat him with a switch(he must of been allergic to the sap). He remarried while still married(sorry again I forgot he said “I divorce thee” three times so he was no longer married to Tracey). So yes I do want to see him get justice.
And yet he never murdered anyone for his own selfish gain. Hmmm.
Physical violence is bad but I’m pretty sure cold-blooded murder trumps it, however.
I find it odd that you have so much to say but do not know the facts. Who was murdered?? Surely not Dunstin. He has been violent from early childhood. His father put him in a foster home and they sent him back saying he was more disturbed then they were told.(I heard he tortureed some of their animals) His mother, at the time of the breakin, was trying to have him removed from the home because she feared for not only her safety but the safety of her daughters. There is evidence he had harmed them in the past. Tell me one fact of why you think Tracey is quilty. I mean fact and not what her ex has put all over the internet. Remember he is one of two people to benefit from her arrest and failed the lie detector test on if he knew who the second intruder was and basically if he had anything to do with it. Where is his new wife. Has she left him yet after, no doubt, he drained her dry of all of her finances like he did Tracey. He had claimed of making millions of dollars yet in court he cried poverty.
Also from what I have found out her ex John Pitman was only paying $500 in child support when he is a well known plastic surgeon. It was raised to $1000 but not sure if he ever paid that amount. If he were taken to court he would be paying between $5000 and $6000 a month. So explain why she would want him in jail rather then take him to court? There is no way she would not have won. Have you looked up John Pitman on Google? He is a slime ball. How long before his new wife divorces him. I heard she had moved out years ago and has lived separately. Why? Let’s see. John Pitman needed to get rid of Tracey before she took him back to court. He needed to get rid of his son, so he wouldn’t have to pay for his college(which he hasn’t even though court ordered to do). He needed to get rid of his wife so he wouldn’t have to keep paying her $5000 a month(and their not even divorced, that’s just hush money). He wouldn’t have to pay child support for his other 2 children and if his parents should die he would get an inheritance to spend on his mistresses(strippers half his age). Hmmm.Now tell me who the victim is.
Remember give me facts not hearsay. That is what she was convicted on and that is what will get her out.
Ann, I understand you’re a mother and can’t see the forest for the trees when it comes to your daughter. BUT Tracey has a long history of lying and manipulating people to get what she wants. Her history, not hearsay which is not permissible in Court, of forgery and the pink diary in which experts are certain Tracey wrote “the” entry. Additionally, she shot Wehde in the back head three times. To have shot him in the back of the head which means he was fleeing.
As for the child support, I feel rather certain Tracey would have pursued the $5/6k per year if it was obtainable. Whether it wasn’t because she had already angered the Court with her fraudulent activity or maybe Pitman wasn’t making as much money as she (and others) believe, I don’t know. But considering the history, if she could have gotten it, she would have already been going for it.
So John Pitman is a scuzbucket. A married man who cheats with women half his age. Quite frankly, Tracey chose him to father her children. He was good enough then, get what I’m saying? Really, viewing it as a third party, Tracey and John Pitman was like bringing two sticks of dynamite together. I’ve seen these relationships before and they never end well, and always with fingers pointing.
A jury took ALL of the facts, put them together, and found her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. She may not get her parental rights terminated but I doubt she’ll be getting out of prison short of a parole.
were is the forgery?????
Let’s start with the aliases used to commit welfare fraud.
There were no aliases. She has a legal name change and it was proven to be legal. The only welfare she was on was food stamps which she needed since her ex was not paying child support and she was working by cleaning other peoples toilets and washing floors for money to help support her children. Now her ex while living in Aurelia was on food stamps and when DSS found out how much he was making they just discontinued his food stamps. No felony brought against him. Again why? Double standard? If you have other names that you say she was using, print them for me. Remember she was arrested in Omaha for buying a used car and making all of the payments. Sound crazy? Well it was. She spent 10 days in jail for that and when the title was published showing it was in her name and payments were never late, and that the dealership did not bring any charges against her, it was just law enforcement and the charges of criminal impersonation were dropped. The salesman who sold her the vehicle said detectives came into his store and had him for hours in a back room yelling at him trying to get him to committ perjury and bring false allegations against her but thank God he was not letting them intimidate him and kept to the truth. What next?
If all charges were dropped and there was no fraud then explain this.
STATE OF NEBRASKA VS. RICHTER, TRACEY A
1 CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION: $1500/MORE (11324);2 THEFT
BY DECEPTION OVER $1500 (11231);3 WELFARE
ASSISTANCE FRAUD OVER $500 (21272)
INFORMATION
Defendant appeared with counsel, Glenn Shapiro. State appeared by
James Masteller. Defendant requested and was given leave to
withdraw previous plea of “Not Guilty”. Defendant arraigned.
Defendant voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently entered a plea of
No Contest to Count III Welfare Fraud, a Class IV FELONY and
thereupon was adjudged by the court to be guilty as charged.
Presentence investigation ordered. Counts I and II of the information
dismissed.
Carmen, thank you for posting that information. It’s very much appreciated!
I’ve personally decided I’m not going to engage with Ann anymore because she’s obviously in denial about her daughter. While not unusual (take Diane Down’s father for example), there just comes a point where arguing with them takes more energy than I’m willing to spare.
Remember the name Det. John Pankonin. His father is retired from some position in the FBI and his wife is a judge. He appears to have a vandetta against Tracey and he is the one who arrested her for buying a car in her name and paying for it. When he got caught falsifing that and it was dismissed he brought numerous false claims against her. she was told by her attorney to pick one, doesn’t matter which one, because this Det. John Pankonin was not going to stop. The judge said he did not feel she did anything wrong but being that Det. John Pankonin wife is a judge no one would go against him. So she picked the wefare fraud. Now to show what a snake this Det. John Pankonin is, I had Nebraska Furniture Mart bring a civil suit agains me for buying items on their charge and not paying and trying to smuggle them out of Douglas County. It came from a man Brad Ivener, who works for NFM and he said he had PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE of this. The few things I bought from them I paid for. If you look up Brad Ivener you will see that he does worik with the sheriff’s dept. Hmmmmm. I wrote to the judge, Brad Ivener, their attorney and the CEO of NMF. I told them the items they mention were taken from my daughters home while she was in jail and the sheriff’s dept, where Det. John Pankonin works out of, had them all. Civil charges were dropped. . I still want to know why Michael Roberts was not charged for welfare fraud being he was a CEO of a company at the time and supposedly making between $5000 and $8000 a month. Is it because he is doing work for the law enforcement? I don’t know about you but I find this very disturbing. What did they do to him when he stole her ID. Again nothing. I haven’t even scratched the surface of his deeds yet he hasn’t spent one day in jail for them. Look who is BFF is. My only hope is that every person who went to jail due to Det. John Pankonin’s testimony or evidence he found gets reopened. This is my goal. They tried intimidating me and it didn’t work.
Tracey Richter shot Dustin Wehde 9 times – including three times in the back of the head. That fact alone should raise concerns for most people. An intruder coming at you, attacking you, ends up with three bullets in the back of the head. That’s execution style shooting. Tracey was standing over Dustin when she shot him 3 times in the back of the head…That’s called murder, folks.
I guess no one knows what they would do if they were in her position. Hopefully some crazy person will come into your house with your children and try killing you and then we’ll see what you would do. When your scared out of your wits after being choked unconsious and your adrenaline is running wild when you come to, it’s hard to say what you would do when you are put int the same position. People, like you, who know absolutely none of the facts but just what they read in the paper(and all articles written were from Michael Roberts) should not judge. Remember Michael was Dustin’s friend and taught him how to shoot.He practiced with him on how to do home envasions. He made sure he was out of town at the last minute. He hated John Pitman with a passion. He was trying to take away John’s rights over his son.He would block JP’s visitation with his son and was not shy about letting people know how much he hated him.Everything in the notebook were things Michael knew, He had all that information in his office. He admitted telling Dustin bad things about Jp. He failed the lie detector test on if he knew who the other intruder was and if he had anything to do with the breakin. Hmmmm. There is no doubt the truth will come out of who was behind this and who was trying to frame JP. Who came into a lot of money after Tracey was arrested? So until you know ALL of the facts be careful of judging others. When Michael could not get full custody of his children(there was no reason why he could not jointly raise his children) he told someone that he would see Tracey dead or in jail. So who had a motive? He did not want to pay child support. Where are the children now? From what I heard they are in a living hell. Even though he was the force behind Tracey getting arrested he is still terrorizing her and her family. He got what he wanted but still wants to be a celebrity and victim. If anyone is a victim it is Tracey and her children. There is so much documentation of people changing their testimony after talking to Ben Smith and his buddy Michael Roberts. So if you believe that everyone in law enforcement is honest then you need to get a life.There is no doubt this case will bring people down and the only person they can blame for it will be Michael Roberts and their own stupidity for being his puppet. I’ve seen first hand how dangerous Michael can be. How he terrorized his wife and children when they were living together. How everyone in Early thought he was crazy. He was known as Crazy Mike.We always knew that the only way Tracey would get out of that marriage would be in a body bag. Keep tuned there will be a hell of a lot more coming out.