NBC ‘Predator’ suicide case goes ahead
p2pnet news | TV:- Louis ‘Bill’ Conradt, a 56-year-old assistant district attorney, killed himself in November, 2006, after being braced at his Texas home by police officers and an NBC news crew there to film his arrest following what the Dallas Morning News at the time described as a child-predator sting.
Now, a $105 million lawsuit alleging Dateline NBC caused Conradt’s suicide can go to trial, a federal judge has ruled.
“A jury might conclude the network ‘crossed the line from responsible journalism to irresponsible and reckless intrusion into law enforcement,’ U.S. District Judge Denny Chin ruled in New York,” says the Dallas Morning News, continuing:
On Nov. 5, 2006, Terrell and Murphy police officers, armed with warrants authorizing Mr. Conradt’s arrest and a search of his Terrell home, forced their way in, after he didn’t answer their knocks or his telephone.
“I’m not going to hurt anyone,” Mr. Conradt told police before shooting himself with a handgun.
Patricia Conradt, sister of the dead prosecutor, filed the suit, which alleged the show’s host and producers are more interested in “sensationalizing and dramatizing the Predator series for profit than in news reporting.”
“Rather than merely report on law enforcement’s efforts to combat crime, NBC purportedly instigated and then placed itself squarely in the middle of a police operation,” Chin’s opinion read, “pushing the police to engage in tactics that were unnecessary and unwise, solely to generate more dramatic footage for a television show,” according to Reuters, which adds:
“A spokeswoman for NBC, which is majority-owned by General Electric Co, said the company will continue to defend itself vigorously.”
Among numerous stings To Catch a Predator and Perverted-Justice conducted, “Conradt’s was unique in that the show’s producers and police decided to go to Conradt’s home,” says the Wikipedia, adding:
“In other cases, To Catch a Predator lured suspected sexual offenders with an actor or actress pretending to be a child, into a home that was wired with cameras and surrounded by police.
“Conradt had apparently declined the actor’s offers and subsequent phone calls.”
Also See:
Dallas Morning News – Sex sting leads to suicide for former Kaufman D.A., November 6, 2006
Dallas Morning News – Judge rules suit related to NBC sex-sting can move forward, February 26, 2008
Reuters – Judge approves “Predator” lawsuit against NBC, February 26, 2008
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February 27th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I don’t see how the show should be blamed for his suicide. I am glad Dateline took this show where it did. Child predators might think twice before trying to lure a child on the internet. And maybe parents will be more vigilant in watching what their children do on the internet. This guy killed himself because he was exposed as a child predator and he was in law enforcement. He had sworn an oath to protect people from things like this. He more than likely knew jail time would be worse than death, and the humiliation he would face. He made the choice to contact a minor and try to engage in sexual acts, just because Dateline was there to record it does not make it their fault. I am not one to defend the media but in this case I as a parent amk glad they have brought awareness to the public. I don’t care if it is for ratings, it saves innocent children and in allot of ways their lives.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
The fear of child predators has reached a level that can only be described as hysteria. Chris Hansen and NBC made the embarrassment orders of magnitude greater by wanting to film his arrest for a national TV show, and are culpable, or should be, for the suicide. It’s no secret that being suspected of being a child predator is enough to ruin ones life, whether ultimately found guilty or not. Some of the laws to “protect children” boarder on violations of human rights, such as a certain state forcing sex offenders to live a under a bridge because children are everywhere else, this regardless of whether they were convicted of sexual offenses against children or not. Peeing on a bush can get you sex offender status. NBC is just another fear monger.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I totally agree with the above statement, and all other allegations against the network. It’s pretty fucked up that this sort of thing is constantly being televised on public display, along with “Cops”, “Accidents Caught on Tape” and the like. How can people find this kind of shit entertaining?
However, it raises an interesting question: This man was clearly not mentally stable. How screwed up does someone have to be to take their own life just to escape the embarassment and consequences of his actions? At least wait until the trial. Shooting yourself just so you don’t get arrested for a charge that contains very little evidence is pretty irrational, don’t you think?
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Yo, Mother, get over your hystrionics! Get a life! Get UNbrainwashed!
Google the term “Sex Offender Hysteria”. LEARN about it and STOP it!
Patrick, you are so extremely correct!
Reader’s Write Says:
February 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm,
Your first paragraph makes complete sense. However, this dude was an attorney. He knew what would happen to him if he didn’t get the job done when he did. He would have been put on “Suicide Watch” and then ‘you know the REST of the Story!’
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
@ Mother:
http://www.rit.org/essays/think/independent.html
I feel like this is the message the above post is trying to convey.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Just a mother, you said the right thing…
Bottom line: Louis Conradt was in a chat room chatting with what he thoght was a minor..He also was soliciting sex from this minor in which he had no business doing so..Just like the others that got caught…
Patrick says that there is a level of hysteria..From what I read on those chat logs on the Perverted Justice Archives, those guys are some sick individuals..These people go one line, look for underaged teens like sharks in the ocean, groom them with sex chats, and try to meet with them…Lord knows what might have happened if those were actual minors..How brainedwashed is that…If it wasnt for Dateline, I would have never had a clue about how these predators use the web to lure minors….I had teenagers at that time, so I feel I need to know so I can protect my children from people like Mr. Conradt who is supposed protect the public….
I will not only defend what Dateline was doing, but I encourage them to do these stings again..I like it when these predators are exposed…Because they are some sick individuals that need to be off the websites, away from our children, and off the streets..
As a parent, I do not see anything wrong with that..