Probably the biggest local news story in these parts just now is the appeal by the husband for information on his missing wife, or should I say lack of appeal, seeing as he left that responsibility to his brother in law while he stood in front of the television cameras saying nothing. What makes it a bigger story than the more usual missing persons reports is that fact that on the night that his wife disappeared it is his story that he took his children, aged 2 and 4, sledding and then camping overnight in freezing temperatures.

As an alibi it sucks, any numpty can come up with something more plausible.

What amazes me though is the amount of time her brother spent defending the husband in front of the cameras. If my wife had gone missing when she was supposed to be under my care I would probably be hung, drawn and quartered by her family before any questions were asked. I would expect nothing less.

I don't understand it when families defend someone so vocally when they themselves must be asking the same questions as everyone else. Is it desperation, hope, trust or naivety that will have families believing that it can only be a stranger that would harm a loved one?

If he does indeed turn out to be guilty of killing his wife (and it looks like it, since the latest news is he just got himself a nice expensive defense lawyer before any charges could be brought) and depriving two young boys of their mother I personally wouldn't bother sending him to jail. I'd strip him naked, tattoo a great big American flag on his back and parachute him into Iraq or a Taliban controlled area of Arghanistan or somewhere where he will be equally welcomed.