Pt. 4 - A Cipher in the Sun
Jun 1st, 2007 by Jane Devin
In 1973, I watched an afterschool special called “Cipher in the Snow“. It was based on the true story of Cliff Evans, a shy and outcast teenager whose lonely heart gave out. After politely tapping on the school bus driver’s shoulder to be let off at the next stop, Cliff collapsed on a snowy sidewalk. He was so unknown by his classmates and teachers, that the school had to gather ten volunteers to attend his funeral.
The story of Cliff Evans moved me then as much as the story of Daniel Wayne Smith now.
It is certain that more than ten people would have wanted to attend Daniel’s funeral, but who would those people be? The estranged Texas family that had not seen him for over a decade? The people he knew only through his mother’s life and career? The fans of Anna Nicole Smith and all things approaching celebrity?
In the eight months since Daniel Smith passed, there has not been a single person outside of his mother’s cadre that has stepped forward to say “ I knew him. I loved him. He was my friend.
No teachers have stepped forward with fond memories to share of their past student. Anna once told Larry King that Daniel was a straight-A student, on the honor roll. A sterling achievement, but seemingly without the praise or even the proud memories of those who taught him so well.
There have been no best friends, or even general acquaintances from the community college he attended, who have come forth to claim Daniel as a loss among their peer group. No young person who has stepped forward to talk about the reported parties and drugs with a pang of regret, or a dawning recognition of their own mortality. It appears there was no best friend in whom Daniel confided his deepest thoughts about his future, his longings, or his feelings about being the beloved son of the publicly embattled Anna Nicole Smith.
According to reports, there was a girlfriend who broke up with Daniel, causing him to sink into a deep depression. Yet, no young woman has come forth to share her story, or even to offer a public condolence. Whether she existed or whether Daniel ever really dated at all remains a mystery.
Those who came forth after Daniel’s death told similarly spare stories of the young man they knew only through their association with Anna Nicole Smith. Oddly, Ray Martino, one of Anna’s ex-boyfriends and the man Daniel was said to be living with living with, was not one of them.
Who was Daniel Wayne Smith, other than his mother’s son? Did he enjoy sports? What kind of music did he like best? What were his passions, his hobbies? What did he dream about when he laid his head down at night? What kind of man did he want to grow up to be? There are only the smallest hints in the public record of any of these things.
Daniel remains an enigma. A shy and polite young man who was apparently devoted to his mother, but who tread so quietly on this earth as to leave virtually no footprints of his own. A cipher in the sun — first of California, and then of the Bahamas.
(Photo of Anna and Daniel, 1993, by Ron Galella)
Dear Jane
Your stories always move me but this one made me cry. You made me think about this poor boy who always looked kinda sad and I wonder what his life was really like.
This is the hardest, yet easiest, story to be told.
There must be a few, at least two, that are still alive, that knew him.
Maybe they are afraid, and it is a shame.
This is the worst tragedy of Anna’s life.
Someone very strong should step forward, not Howard K. Stern because he has enough to deal with.
Superb, as usual, Jane!
Of all the tragic elements in this saga, for me, Daniel’s isolated, lonely, and invisible existence is the most heartwrenching.
I believe so, too, AP. - Jane
You write beautifully. Sadly. Perhaps scarier than death to most people is the idea that no one really witnessed your life. You know, noticed you. I hope there are a few people who come forward. Not for Daniel’s sake since he has passed, but to comfort the rest of us. If a person so bright and gentle and young isn’t missed, it seems the world is a bit off its axis, don’t you think?
Laurel, your question is moving, and reflects the way I felt while writing this article. - Jane
It’s a sad story, isn’t it Jane, and as usual, beautifully written. Thank you.
what a tragic story jane. Daniel was so quiet and reserved.. he seemed very old to me. I often wondered why he spent so much of his time alone and isolated. I believe he was very devoted and loyal to his mother. The last year of her life could not have been easy for him. So many changes and turmoil. I am sure he must have felt helpless. No matter the circumstances… I am happy they are together now. Their presence will not be forgotton… It has made an impact on me and others.Thank you friend, J
Great article Jane, as usual. I wondered the same things about Daniel. I kept waiting for the girl to come forward, or friends. No one ever did, and you would think the media would have turned someone up. From seeing him on the ANS, he seemed shy, and quiet. Maybe he was like that, because he didn’t want to be on the show. This is a real mystery.
Linda
PA
Enjoyed the article, Jane. Does anyone know if QV’s site and chat are in fact shut down? Thanks..
ALTHOUGH ONE TIME ON THE ANNA NICOLE SHOW HES WAS COMMING IN FROM SCHOOL. THEN LEFT TO GO DO SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE TO REWATCH IT. PLAY BASKET BALL OR SOMETHING.
Good morning, Jane and Friends.
Came to the computer at 8.30 AM, and yours’ is the second place I visited this morning. I am so glad you are posing those questions about Daniel. Indeed who was he other than his mother’s son? And yes, no one has come forward to talk about him… no friend, no lover.
Kinda reminds me of Howard K Stern. No headlines by a “I was his lover!” or “I was his friend!” Even considering how public and concentrated his revilification has gone on for such a long time.
These two men who had loved Anna Nicole Smith the most, were so devoted to her and so consumed by her, that they truly had no life and personalities beyond existing in her shadow.
Will reread your article again, and look forward to the next installment.
Kristina, you wrote, “These two men who had loved Anna Nicole Smith the most, were so devoted to her and so consumed by her, that they truly had no life and personalities beyond existing in her shadow”.
It is a very sad statement, but telling.
Jane, I have cried for Anna and Howard but this story is the saddest.
Conclusion are not always what you think in the beginning of the story.
It is so sad that not one person has said anything about Daniel. I agree completely. He was so shy on the show, so reserved. Yet we really don’t know anything about him at all.
As always Jane, you have brought tears to my eyes with your writing.
Vanessa
Vanessa, Daniel did not want to do the show
IMO, the men closet to ANS remain an enigma. Jane, you ask questions about Daniel. The same questions can be asked about HKS. Does he like sports? What kind of music does he like. Does he have any hobbies. I once heard Ron Rale say that HKS was a great highschool football player. But I have yet to find anyone or any place that can tell me what position he played.
It seems once you got close to Anna, she swallowed you. You were no longer an individual but an appendage of Anna’s.
IMO, someday only HKS can unravel the mystery if and when he decides to tell all.
Jane,
What a sweet, emotional story of a young man none of us got to relate too.
IMO, Daniel appeared very shy but goal oriented. That would somewhat explain Daniel being an above average student. In the famous movie “Barefoot in the Park”, Jane Fonda is frustrated with her “goal oriented” husband, a character portrayed by Robert Redford, being too stuffy. The famous line was “there are Doer’s and Watcher’s”. To me, Anna was the Doer and Daniel was the Watcher, somewhat like Howard. Watchers do not get talked about in public, its the Doer’s that are more portrayed in the public eye.
Barbara
Kristina wrote:
“These two men who had loved Anna Nicole Smith the most, were so devoted to her and so consumed by her, that they truly had no life and personalities beyond existing in her shadow”.
Very telling
This is one of the saddest stories I have read about the entire saga
Interesting Daniel did not want to participate in the reality show
jane , that has to be the saddest story in this not so comedy of errors. anna loved daniel, howard loved daniel,but in what capacity ? anna was so wrapped up in her own life, and howard with her. when did the time come when daniel came first? i haven’nt heard of any. and bonnie stern, i haven’nt heard her mention. anything about daniel the man ,or,daniel the boy. why why , did’nt people give him any value except as annanicole smiths son? should we be relieved that dannielynn will not have this in her life. i am sooo sad for him
Again Jane you have out done yourself.
So little was known about precious Daniel, the shy, innocent looking young man. He seemed to be a child lost in the shadows. He was surely the twight in his mother’s eye, always scene standing just behind her. How traget it is that he had only 20 short years on this earth.
I can identify with Daniel in a way. I always felt like I lived in everyone’s shadow. I was always someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s wife and someone’s mother. It seemed like nobody ever knew me for just me or identified me as my own person.
I have three older sisters and when we get together at family gatherings, (which I mostly try to avoid when I can) they all talk over each other and louder than the other so they can be heard the best. They constantly vie for everyone’s attention. I tend to just sit and listen to them only stating something when there is a second’s pause, which doesn’t happen that often. Mostly what they have to say isn’t really that important to me, nor probably to anyone else lol. I think what they say is really only important to them.
I think Daniel may have been shy also and maybe he didn’t feel comfortable with all the people surrounding his mother ( with the exception of Howard), and everything that went on in her life and therefore kept more to himself and would also explain why he didn’t seem to have many friends.
It’s just so sad that he and his mother’s lives were cut so short. Very sad.
The minute that I saw the pic that you posted of Anna and Daniel…I thought of the pic that you had posted earlier of you and your daughter. It’s practically the same pose, the same standard for the era. Interesting. I understand more and more why you relate to this story (apart from the change of name factor).
Micha, I edited the rest of your note because it seemed to be more of note to me than a comment about the series. I announced my wrap-up of covering ANS/HKS and the rest of saga before I started this series. You’re new to the board, so maybe you missed it, but this series is meant to conclude my writing about or further researching the subject — these articles are my final, and often personal, thoughts on the tragedy. For up to date (and often breaking) news, I suggest Art Harris, http://artharris.com. Thanks, Jane.
I have never posted here before but your article moved me to tears. I offened wondered why none of his friends have come forward. Daniel was a special young man who will never be forgotton and somehow loved by all of us who never knew him personally.
I am wondering where the videos are, or pics of bithday parties , Christmas gatherings, easter egg hunts, sleep overs. Anna had Daniel live with her and Marshall , and he was still young, what happened to his childhood?
me too Vivian, considering Anna always had the camera’s on. She told ET Howard had to go get the video for the birth and said she always has her camera on.
IMHO the reason we haven’t seen any of Daniels’s Videos
( which I’m sure there are plenty) Is Ford Shelly didn’t turn any of those over to the Media ,because that would have put Anna in a good light…Again MOO. and that wasn’t his purpose to make her look good…
could be Pollyne, maybe she could have felt different about the baby, I don’t know, I was just wondering too. I mean though out the years, not just what Shelly could have taken. I know the mom had some of him but would not give then to her. Such a troubled family.
Once again Jane you out did yourself.
My only thought is maybe that the one or few good close friends Daniel had were just that “good”.
Not the 15 minute fame grabbers, not the money grubbing that most of these out of the woodwork people have been. Maybe they are grieving for their friend in a very private way.
I can only hope.
I heard he had some friends in Ca., I read some where about a neighbor who knew him, I wish I could give more detail…it is sad, even I forgot about Daniel, but this article has given him all my compassion, all of it.
Thank you so much again Jane, you have helped us remember Daniel, the most innocent in this entire saga.
Danny is what drew me to this case. I did not care for his mother, but I did see a few minutes of her show a time or two. I just came away with an overwhelming feeling of sadness for the shy, quiet boy in the background.
Next thing I hear is a “baby daddy” drama brewing and I wondered how the boy was doing. Since he wasn’t in the news, partying and driving drunk, I figured he must have turned out all right, in spite of his upbringing.
When the news hit about his sudden tragic death, I actually cried for a boy I never met. And I’m not one to cry easily. I am so glad DL is out of that selfish den of iniquity. I hope the doubts I have about LB are unfounded and just due to my cynical nature.
BJ, your have touched my heart, I wish I could have seen him on the show. I turned the show off after only a second, simply could not watch it. I know he did not want to be on the show, could you tell when you saw him? Can you give me any insight into what he was like?
Maryst
I can tell you daniel seemed like a very quiet and shy boy. He sometimes (like all boys that age) was embarrased of his mothers attention towards him. The lil’ pet names she has for him. I know I can get away with calling my son(16) names like pookie face and what not when we are alone at home BUT I wouldnt dare in front of his friends(A big NO NO).
Daniel(which my second sons name) Loved his mother and there is NO DOUBT that Anna loved him with everything she had. I think if the cameras were not rolling he would bask in the the names,love and attention.
It is very sad.
Mish,
I hope you are right about the “good” friends. I had contemplated the opposite. Kim Walther, Anna’ former assistant , mentioned Anna being concerned about Daniel hanging out with a bad crowd. I had considered the possibility that he had acquired the methadone through one of them and that they were in hiding to avoid being implicated in his death. I prefer your scenario to mine.
I consider myself a very good friend. And if one of my friends died, I would not hesitate to express my regret, sadness, and condolences, and I am far from a public person. I would think, especially, that since no one else is out there truly celebrating Daniel as a unique and independent human being, a good friend would feel compelled to speak about him.
My take.
AP
You could be right.
Jane
I understand that also, I too would want to memorilize a friend. It is a very sad story. Im surprised the Media has not really taken off with a Daniel story but I think he (sadly) is back burner to the sensationlism they get from the drama of Anna’s life.
The “bad crowd” comment always gets me. What could be any worse than his mother and her drug abuse and sexual shenanagins and the “klingon” cast of shady and bizarre characters that she surrounded herself with?
I have really overlooked Daniel and feel terrible about it. I just read QV site and her comments, I did not realize all of these facts. It is alarming to say the least. I know when my mom died all of us family and friends talked about her, told stories about her, it was way to stay connected to her. This went on some time so your questions about his friends is a good one.
BJ really never thought about that either, I am so embarrassed, how could I be so blind? I have to keep giving myself a break and say it was my compassion but really it was my stupidity or to put it more nicely my naiveness and wanting to believe in the love story.
I too would like to hear from a friend of Daniel. Yes, he does seem to have had a quiet existance, but then again maybe no one feels compelled to speak publicly about him. Especially if they knew he wasn’t keen on the limelight. Not speaking out could be the sign of a true friend. Someone who is grieving privately.
With the exception of a few. the only speaking out about Anna are/were people who had their own agendas. They didn’t speak out on Annas behalf. They didn’t even have nice thigns to say! (her mom, Donna, that woman who claimed to be her best friend)
I would like to think Daniel did have close friends. If I had a famous friend die I wouldn’t feel the need to tell all.
I don’t know Clare a lot of people spoke out in Anna’s behalf after she past even ppl who had bad dealings with her. They tried to find some good. Larry King honored her showing all his old interviews, there were nice ppl who did speak out. I remember her old manager saying Howard isolated ppl but he did talk about Daniel he felt sorry for him and said he was alone a lot in the apt. while Anna slept. It seems this poor child had a lonely life.
Well Jane,
It is another good writing. Couple weeks ago, I was looking for some pictures of Daniel. I find some, but not much. In “the Anna Nicole Show” I saw a nice, shy boy, quiet and looking sometimes embarrassed, but normal for a boy at this age. One time he arrived from school and went to see his mom in her room, and other period he was in a contest for food with Howard, Kim,and Anna. Another episode they were at a playground like Disney. You know she was bigger than life, so Howard and Daniel were in a shadow of her. I do believe he had some friends cause when he passed, Anna was asking for friends to mail pictures and testemony of love for him. All this was in Daniel’s casket at his funeral. What is bothering me more is why a young man was taking anti-depressants? I do not really believe it was a girlfriend. But who knows?
This is the saddest part of the Anna’s story! You have to remember Anna was young when Daniel arrived, so they grew up together and Howard came after. He had a big influence on him I am sure. His father just showed up for him after he passed (ironic and sad!!!)
http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/does_fame_bring_happiness_
I thought this was an interesting article.
Dear Jane,
Rather Daniel liked it or not, he was famous, and probably about to become even more famous with the birth of his new, baby sister.
Anxiety and depression are easily explained, with all that his mother was going through and going to college, too!
Freida,
That was a great article, thank you.
This is a transcript of a Larry King Show where Daniel’s contributions, hobbies,and personality were discussed:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0609/12/lkl.01.html
B.J., I agree with your viewpoint.
I do believe that Anna was sexually abused as a child and that grieves me. However, that does not excuse her from her responsibilities as a mother.
It is a reprehensible act for a woman to have sex with another female in an elevator with her young son present. It is also condemnable to walk down a public street and show your breasts to people and have them come up and feel them while your son is with you. I do believe the stories in “Great Big Beautiful Doll” are true. From what I have read, neither Anna nor Howard (or anyone else) has ever come forward to refute the incidents detailed in that book.
I don’t wonder at all that Daniel had no friends. If your mother had done the things his mother did, would you not have been embarrassed by her? I know I would have been. I would not have been anxious at all to become close to someone because I would figure sooner or later I would have to discuss my mother with them. I’m sure I would have shied away from people also.
Dear Stella.
Anna Nicole Smith is dead. May she rest in peace along with her beloved son.
Kristina,
Thank you. I think that poster has no respect herself for anything. I wonder what is the name of the glass that her house is made of.
I will go away and leave you all to your reverie but first allow me to post one last little dose of reality.
When the abused becomes the abuser, the abused becomes WRONG at that point, in my opinion. It seems to me that Anna abused Daniel as surely as if she had physically beaten him. She loved him tremendously, no doubt, but it was a selfish love. She wanted to be loved above reason. She wanted Daniel to put his own rationale on the back burner. She wanted him not to have any judgement concerning the way she lived her life. He did love her and it seems that he put her desires above his own to please her. But istead of reciprocating, she did unreasonable things in front of him and neglected his well being.
Anna’s abuse was tragic as is ALL child abuse, which both angers and grieves me. It is gut-wrencing to me when I think of what must have happened to Anna as a child. But I believe in the saying that it is not what happens to you in life that matters; it is what you do about it that matters. At some point you must bear the responsibility of your own self.
Anna put herself over every one else including Daniel. I totally agree with Stella (#45). Her love for Daniel was a selfish love. As a mother, she put her above her son. She lived wild and a out of control life. Howard just did the damage-control for her everytime when thing got out of control.
It is my deepest hope that Daniel found what Anna always searched for. Friends and loved ones who would keep his private life private and not sell him out for their 15 minutes of fame.
I have no doubt that Daniel had friends, surely he didn’t exist in a vacuum.
And I must add that I do agree with some of Stella’s points. Although I have no doubt that Anna loved Daniel, theirs was a dysfunctional love. Anna parentified Daniel which wasn’t fair to him.
Stella, this is not my site, it is Jane’s having said that I would like to say I read your post and appreciate your honesty. I myself was overlooking and excusing a lot of behaviors I normally would not have. I think a reality check is in order and IMO Anna and her son are in peace, it is those left behind that are needing to talk it over and I think we gave the griefvng time a respectable amount of time. Please do not let other people push your away.
Yes but Stella said Anna loved Daniel, she did not deny that point
Howard and his damage control I agree but there could be more to his story.
I am questioning, the only people I knew that nice had an agenda. I might some day tell you more about this person but will leave it at that for now
Jane, do you know why “annanicolesmith&howardkstern.com site was
closed down”. I would appreciate any information. Thank you.
Mary Ann
Re QV’s site. I was on it Saturday and when I refreshed it said Forbidden and then something about the server. I haven’t been able to access since.
Hi, again.
Look, if Anna Nicole led the kind of life some of us do not approve of, that was her business and not ours. She lost her son, and then she died. Make no mistake, Anna Nicole died because Daniel died.
It is a tragedy. It doesn’t serve any purpose to put her down now, it’s kinda monday-morning-quarterbacking.
She took her clothes off, went batty about her breast augmentation, kissed someone in the elevator. In a world where mass-murderers reign, those Hitlers and Stalins and Saddams and Pol-Pots … and grin, and stuff their faces with delicacies while they order millions to starve or burn alive, and go to the toilet and come out to torment and slaughter some more innocents, and do not pay the piper… Hey, Anna Nicole was only guilty of trying to live her life as best she could. We, the general public, we who have not walked in her shoes not for a single moment, have no right to judge her.
Let her and her son rest in peace. Amen.
Kristina, I respect your opinion but did not want to offend some one because they think different, it is about respect for one another. Yes, there are far worse ppl out there that is a give in. I enjoyed much of Anna’s public life too. She made me laugh and she made me cry. I cried for her but maybe some of us would like to express her life was tragic and learn something from it. Wouldn’t that make Anna and Daniel death not to be in vain? Maybe, us among the living need a reality check of what is good morals, maybe some of us feel we were defending behavior which is not good example and would like to express it.
http://annanicoleandhowardkstern.com/
Dear Maryst.
Yes, you are right, and herewith … I too am expressing my opinion
In the greater scheme of things, this one woman’s life was among the more innocent lives lead on this planet.
Look, in my youth, I too was a model, cover girl, even actress. I dropped out even though I had a future, dropped out because I figured it was not worth it — not for me. Too much of a price to pay … a whole chunk of my soul. But that was me. I had a different, more emotionally secure upbringing than Anna Nicole. Also, I had a more important goal, for me, that is, not by anyone else’s yardstick, and that was my writing. So, I had solid goals, solid anchors in my life. And decided, even though temptation beckoned, to drop out of that road.
Anna Nicole had nothing and no one, for a long time. Until her son Daniel was born. When the magic ride came, she took him along — to the bitter end.
Yes, her moral values were different, nonetheless, she was a warm, funny, nutty, generous, person, innocent in her own way.
I feel sad about her passing, for she lit up the screen with true, effervescent, even explosive, joi de vivre.
Also, I feel sad watching her torn apart, every private corner of her life dredged out and lambasted.
We did not walk in her shoes. We should not judge.
That’s all. Just my opinion, and a humble opinion at that
Sincerely yours,
Kristina.
Okay got you and agree judgement is not ours but reflection and learning is good. Yes it is very sad Anna did not have coping skills, very sad.
As far as the private life, she choose to make it public, made a living at it, her choice, and consequences that follow belong to her. For me to sit here and feel sorry for her choices I can but believe she brought them on herself. Anna stated every one sued her, why do you think that is? All these ppl are wrong and she is right? Look at her mothers behavior it will tell you a lot about the daughter. Having said that yes I wish she had a better foundation to draw from, understand she did not but neither did a lot of ppl but they seeked the Lord.
And how do we know that Anna didn’t seek the Lord right there in that Motel room before she died…
Bible also Judge ye …that ye might not be judged…..
Jane, I think in Anna’s desperate need to shelter and protect Daniel, she erased all leads to him until he just ceased to exist. How sad.
I meant her life style reflects such not that she is without him
Kristina,
Very well said. Amen!
Jane, I agree with what you wrote in the comment’s section about good friends.
For most of us, our good friends become more like extended family. Ever since Daniel died, I have been wondering about his friendships. At first, I thought the reason no one came forward was due to their age. Much of today’s youth seems so disconnected from everything and that includes friendship. Having grown up in a disposable society, it is as if they have nothing in their lives that they deem to be of lasting value.
I was reminded, however, about two very different young men, who lived in my area, over the last few years When Petey died, there were hundreds of friends who came to the wake and the funeral. Testimony after testimony was given about him and often it was in the “Letters to the Editor” section of the local newspaper. His friends had T Shirts made with his picture on it, with “Rest in Peace ” written under it. I still see those T shirts today when standing in line at the grocery store, the pharmacy or the Library. Petey was in a gang. It is, for the youth of today, the closest thing to having family.
When Jimmy died the same thing, happened. This time the local high school closed its doors for half a day. Everyone from school went to both the wake and the funeral. Testimony after testimony was given about him and often it was written up by reporters in the local newspaper. The students also bought T shirts with Jimmy’s picture on them and “Rest in Peace” was written beneath the picture. Jimmy was the high school’s “All Star” football player. I still see those T shirts today when standing in line at the grocery store, the pharmacy or the Library. Both of these young men were involved in activities that in and of themselves turned friends into family.
In Daniel’s case there has been no outpouring of sentiment. Even though his mother was a celebrity, Daniel managed ( or Anna managed for him ) an ability to avoid the spotlight. Perhaps, due to Anna’s obvious and often rightful distrust of everyone, Daniel picked up on that and decided that the cost of friendship was too high a price to pay. Perhaps it was chosen for him, or by him, to remain on the periphery when it came to developing solid friendships.
Dani, the juxtaposition of gang member and football star — both with friends who openly mourned them — stands in such sharp contrast to those who die, like Daniel did, without an outpouring from friends or those who knew him as an individual. I will always find this sad. We do not commemorate the dead so they can rest in peace . . . they are already in peace. We commemorate them because we want their value in life to be acknowledged. We want to share our love, express our sorrow, and to give their name a future legacy that includes all of this. We want them to be remembered. Thank you so much for your post. - Jane
Jane, superbly stated. Your writing inspires me, delights me and often
opens my consciousness up to a whole new way of thinking and seeing. I am grateful that you share it all with us on this blog.
Why is that you only post positive things about Howard ? Why not answer how Daniel got the methadone in his system ? I am sure you will not post this because of your pro -stern attitude . I would like your answers on why Anna was not taken to the hospital where she would have survived ? Why is that you think it is ok for Howard to have all the perscriptions in his name four of them were valium which is illegal ? Now don’t you think he has some explaining to do ? I do ! I want like for the inquest to be heard would you ? I have no idea if this was an accident or terrible tragedy or not nor do you or Art Harris but Howard is making it hard for us to know . So why not print this and answer these questions? If you would like answer them to yourself. Remember he refused the DNA so you can see why people refuse to believe him .
Kerry, I’ll give your questions a shot, although I doubt my answers will sway you.
1. Nobody knows at this point where Daniel got the methadone.
2. Anna refused to go to the hospital. She was an adult and could not be forced.
3. SOP of celebrity culture is to have scrips under other names. Valium is not illegal when prescribed. Do I agree with the SOP? No. Does my disagreement matter? No. Is it unlawful? Looks like a matter for the FDA and medical board.
4. No, I believe the inquest is a waste of time and money. There is simply no evidence, and no new evidence on the horizon. Unless someone confesses that they gave DS methadone, and that’s highly improbable.
Jane:
I am a 23 year old male. I’ve just finished reading your beautiful tribute to Daniel Wayne Smith, and I was moved to tears. I remember when I first learned that Daniel had died, what a shock it was to my system. I remembered him from the Reality Show, and from the bit parts that he’d played in his mother’s films. I often feel lost and alone in this world, and so I felt a sort of kinship with him. So when I initially learned of his death, (I was at work at the time) I remember leaving my desk, finding a secluded place to be alone, and for about 15 or 20 minutes, I cried like a baby. I didn’t know Daniel, but I guess you could say that I loved him. I wish that I could have known him, because he seemed like a really wonderful, and cool guy to hang out and be friends with. It’s really a shame that it takes a person leaving us to bring out the feelings that really matter. It’s too late when a person is already gone, but what matters is how we treat them while they are yet alive and here with us. We really are out brother’s keeper. Rest in Peace Daniel and Anna, may God reunite you both in Heaven.
Tyler — what a beautiful post you wrote. A tribute to Daniel and man’s humanity both. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell your story. I hope you’ll share more in the future. - Jane
Kerry:
I wish I could shake people and make them understand that you cannot force an adult to seek medical help.
My 35 year-old son suffers from mental illness. He first became ill at the age of 18 and this roller-coaster life is here to stay. When he goes off his medication, he can frighten me but if I take him to the hospital against his will, the hospital can discharge him right then and there.
No hospital would force an adult to accept treatment without the adult’s consent whether it be for a physical or emotional problem.
Dear “savesomething”:
I know your post was addressed to Jane, but that subject is right up my alley.
On your post addressed to Jane, dated January 3, you asked: “What is bothering me more is why a young man was taking anti-depressants?”
Anti-depressants are for depression and depression can affect people of all ages and sizes. Please visit the NAMI.com site.
Oops!
savesomething:
I meant June, not January.