Dead Reckoning

Only Michael Furlong knows how his wife fell to her death. But the authorities know this isn't the first time he's lost a mate.

A A A Comments (2) By Juliet Wittman Thursday, Jul 15 1999

...continued from page 8

Instead, the DA cut a deal with Furlong, a man with no official prior record. In exchange for pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide, Furlong is expected to get probation when he's sentenced July 30.

Prosecutor DeMuth finds the projected plea bargain satisfactory. Probation can be open-ended and fairly restrictive, he points out. Besides, he adds, if Furlong did go to trial and was convicted of criminally negligent homicide, he would draw no more than a three-year sentence and become eligible for parole in a year and a half. Under the plea bargain, he will remain under supervision longer.

Deanna's friends worry about the danger that Furlong may pose to other women. "It's not my role to control my clients' futures," says attorney Schild. "It's my role to ensure that they aren't punished for past crimes they never committed.

"There was a genuine question as to whether this was a domestic tragedy or a more serious crime."

Michael Furlong, who has full custody of four-year-old Jessica, has been staying with his family in Colorado Springs. He did not return calls made by Westword to his father's house.

The thing that was going through my head over and over and over when she was laying in the hospital was, 'What were her last thoughts?'" says Terry Roberts of her friend, Deanna. "Was she afraid for her life? I don't want that picture in my head. That she was laying there just petrified. And was he kicking her and beating her? You don't know. And I didn't want that to be her last memories."

Visit www.westword.com to read related Westword stories.

Get the Weekly Newsletter

Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Email
to Friend

Write to
Editor

Print
Article

Kelli 11/10/2010 4:20:00 AM

I feel he got away with alot more. His 16 year old daughter Jessica doesnt even know that her father has done this. And he also made jackie and andrew sign papers that they couldnt relase anything to jessica untill she was 18. I think if it was a women who had done this she would of got life without parole. There was no justice for my aunt. Not only did i lose an aunt but i lost a friend. The parent to my cousins. She will probably never get to rest in peace because that man walks around scott free like nothing had ever happend. I think its horrible. To this day i dont want him walking free as a murderer but i guess he can kill and kill and kill and the united states of american doesnt care about justice. Only how they can make money. I hope my aunt, beloved friend and the great mother she was rest in peace with her father. Since This monster will get to roam free! Its discusting.

Tori 06/15/2007 6:27:00 AM

I am so outraged by the lack of punishment and investigation by the Police and DA. I was married to MIchael and he was evil, abusive and that is putting it mildly. When I first heard about Deanna, I was horrified and relieved at the same time. I called the police to tell them what I knew about Michael, they never went further. What about his other wife, that supposedly died from myocardial infraction, bull crap. Michael killed her too. Her father was a DJ or something like that. Boy, I guess he is getting away with multiple murders.