twist of fait accomplis

How do you know neither appeal will go through?

I agree, the appeals will not go through.

A&E is to air a special about the gruesome murders called "Thrill Killers", on American Justice June 23 @ 9:00.

Heard it was supposed to take a different spin, but the summary looks a lot like what the court tv special aired.

I too feel the appeals won't go through for either Ben or Erika. Doug, the way you stated your comment you left the impression that you think they should get appeals. I don't understand your thinking but, to each his own. I'll be anxious to see the American Justice program.Awhile back I read a post someone had written (I think it was on this site) about Mitch and Cookie Grace running low on money for Erika's defense. From what I see in our area (Altoona, Hollidaysburg) the Grace's are still doing fine financially. I drove by Erika and Ben's Scrapbook Store this past weekend and it's still open for business. The Grace's are still living in their same rather expensive house and I frequently see Mitch Grace construction vehicles in our area. I don't think they're hurting too badly.

No, I don't think they should get appeals. I'm not on their side. I was just wondering how anybody could know what would happen. I mean, all I have heard about is how they reneged on the deal about Erika testifying. Personally I think they got what they deserved and I don't think either of them should be walking out on the street. I don't want my statement to be misunderstood. I am on the side of the Fords and the Crutchleys.

Doug, I am hoping eriak's attorneys are grasping at straws. Her attorneys tried to have her case thrown out before her case was even heard and the judge ruled in favor of the prosecution. I hope the appewals court concludes the same.

Some clips of weds show on American Justice

http://www.aetv.com/tv/shows/amerjustice/episode.jsp?aid=10935182

It seemed wrong to me to even offer a chance to have convictions thrown out in the first place. Why would they even consider letting her off?

I just saw the "Thrill Killers" episode of American Justice. I think you're right; they're not going to win their appeal.

Benjamin Sifrit was born in my hometown in Iowa, people here are curious for information about this story...his parents are good people and people find it unbelievable that these two kids could do this. I felt that American Justice did a very good job at presenting this story and presented it with a different, more personal twist than The System.

Does anyone know what date Montel Williams featured Erika as a seriel killer on his show?

Al, a lot of people had a lot to say about this case in the Federicksburg paper...it is called Fredtalk...you should search and read....

Does anyone know when that will be airing again? I checked the site out and couldn't find anything. Thank you.

we have other unsolved murders here in altoona pa and thosetwo played dartes with 3 other of unsloved????? and its around the time of the two in md you be the judge

C.,

And anyone else that is interested, tune into A&E on Weds Aug. 25th @ 9:00 pm (eastern), American Justice will feature "Thrill Killers" again.

ls

I saw the case profiled on A&E. Shocking. I have a freind that served them in the Green Turtle after the murders. She witnessed no remorse in either the husband or the wife.

In new jersey, there was a Jersey City cop who during an arrest and struggle had a prisoner die after he hit him with a nightstick. A month later, the people of Jersey City burned down the bakery owned by the parents of the JC cop. That was wrong, but even before that happened, no one would dare go in and make a purchase. How the heck are people in maryland continuing to shop there? They have no problem supporting the parents of killers? SHAMELESS. I am glad I dont live there. So much for justice.

I'm sure that by the time my comment is filed the appeals from both of the Sifrits have been decided and both are securely locked away. I watched the Thrill Killers episode on American Justice last night and there was mention that Benjamin Sifrit killed Joshua Ford by firing through the bathroom door. Regardless of their efforts to dispose of the bodies, the physical evidence of a bullet-ridden door would be difficult if not impossible to disguise. I suspect that's why he wasn't found guilty of 1st degree murder and got instead convicted of 2nd degree, either because he killed Martha Critchley or as being an accessory after the fact and disposing of the bodies. He should consider himself very lucky because he got 38 years. Let's see at time of conviction he'd be about 27 so he'll get out when he's 65 if he doesn't incur any offenses while doing his time. She got life plus 20 years so the only way she'll be coming out of prison is in a box. She may have been the mastermind in the "game" but only his training in the navy seals would have given him the "skills" in cutting up the bodies and performing the distribution of body parts in the aftermath. The friends of each Sifrit interviewed on the programme are each fooling themselves as their friends certainly were able to bolster the other's ego in concocting their barbaric game. Each are equally culpable and the juries in each trial reached the right conclusion. The Sifrits' photo catalog of them vacationing after commiting the crimes is the concrete evidence of just how cold-blooded both were regarding any emotional regret one would expect of a human who commited a brutal murder and desecration of a human body after death. Erika and Ben are exactly where they should be and Ben should be counting his lucky stars that someday he will be released. His bride will not be as fortunate.

i think she is hot

just a quick comment to Ira,

don't insult the people of MD . . . first of all, the parents' store is in PA according to the previous post; second, don't ever lump people together by their state or any other common factor

quick line to Ira -
Her parent's are the sweetest people in the world. They never asked for this to happen. Why are you judging them for a mistake they did not make

these two monsters have destroyed two families lives. Her "sweet" parents should pray for her just like they did at the trial. She got life....she took life. He got away with murder!

iam writeing in reguards it erika not ben i have experinced the privelige of being best friends with her in prison in where we met and i have to say she has changed my life in such a postiive way you can say shes a monster you can say she is heartless but you would change your mind if you met her and saw the light that she has in her eyes she is the most loving careing girl i have ever met its sad when you have so much love inside you try so hard to give it to someone like ben and he only destroys and plays with your emotons she in not cold hearted she has more heart then anyone i have ever known in my life she deserves another chance to be with her family to experince love in the right way i know with out a doubt she would never had any invlovlement if it wasnt for her passion to love and be loved by a monster i know bcuz it happened to me she is truly my best friend in the world and i will DEFEND her until how ever long it takes SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING BAD TO SAY DONTTTTTTTTTT CUZ SHE IS THE most amazing person i have ever crossed .

I too met Erika in prison- I was there when she first arrived, and was the first to reach out to her. I was in prison for a couple of years before she got there and had met countless women serving life for murder. There is a deadness in their eyes that you can't understand until you've seen it. Even now on the streets of Baltimore when I'm in bad areas and I walk past drug dealers and such- I can tell who the killers are because that deadness is so apparent. Erika didn't have that black vacancy in her eyes that truly evil people do. I knew it before I even met her face to face. Her husband is a monster. Can any of you who've written such harsh words imagine what it would be like to be trapped in a situation with a psychopathic man who you just saw kill two people? Did it ever occur to ANY of you that maybe she was scared out of her mind and went along with him because she feared he'd kill her too if she didn't? You can't judge a person you don't know, and you can't know why she did what she did when you've never walked in her shoes. Heaven help ALL of you if you ever find yourselves in a situation like hers, because NONE of you would last ten minutes in prison. A bunch of punks.

I just saw this story on A & E I believe it was.
Sorry....this woman went along with him, and is as guilty as he is. She is where she should be...in prison.
She may look innocent (in the eyes), but I wouldn't trust her for a minute.

yeah josh was my cousin and those two assholes took him and gene(his girfriend who was the nicest perosn ever)away from everyone...i stil cant believe that hes going to be back out into the world. i hate them both so much i cant believe some one actually called her ''hot'' that makes me honestly want to puke how disgusting can you be? saying you think a SERIAL KILLER is hot.... you need help your really sick.

Guilty as charged, both of them.
The punishment should fit the crime.
If you take a life you should have your life taken in the same fashion, they should be shot to death.
They should be given the same amount of time to know their going to be killed that hey gave their victims.
They should go through the same thing that they put that innocent couple through.
They should feel the same death that they gave the victims.

i love how people can be so jungemental when they arent put in someone elses shoes. well i know erika and she is the most amazine wonderful girl. so many people are misunderstood and , of course the papers exploit people to there worst. i spent much time with erika and at first i felt the same way i did pass judgement because i was simplemined as you people are, until i got the privelge to have her in my life and now my life is forever changed, she is the one who brought light to my life ,without her i dont think i would have known what a true friend really is, you know people do alot of stuff for love iam not saying its right but she only loved someone to much and it happens to the best of us , and as far as her appels i know and have faith that she will be able to have a real life again becuz she deserves it and i cant wait to have her in society becaus eiam confident she will succeed so talk what you will of her but there are to many people who love her, u people who dont are very few, so go pass judgement on your selves not her

I saw the story this morning on a program named Snapped. I hate it for the victims and feel sorry for their families. It is hard to imagine that there are people in this world that will do things like they did to those people and walk around among us. Who knows who you pass on the streets daily.
As for Erika, I think she is a beautiful woman and if I were to see her in a club, laundry matt or the grocery store I would surely do my best to pick her up. She is a babe, a deadly one at that. It is a shame she is like she is. What went wrong? There are millions of beautiful women in this world and to me she is right up there with the best of them.

I'm a true crime author (check my website for my creds: www.mwilliamphelps.com) and I'm working on a book about the Sifrit case. Anyone interested in communicating with me in regards to this case, please write to me: mwilliamphelps@comcast.net

hey mr phelps. if you are wrting a book about erika it better be to support her, and not to lie like everyone else does. i hate how you true crime righters lie to see your book. so WRITE THIS IN YOUR BOOK. AS MY QUOTE. ERIKA IS A WONDERFUL PERSON WHO WAS A VICTIM IN HER SELF, BEN IS THE KILLER AND ERIKA LOVED HIM SO MUCH SHE ONLY WANTED LOVE. SHE IS NOT A KILLER OR A OBESSIVE PERSON SHE IS JUST A WOMEN WHO WANTS TO BE LOVED AND CARED FOR. I KNOW HER PERSONALLY AND SHE IS THE BEST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET. SHES NOT SICK OR A THRILL KILLER SHE IS AMAZING. SO WRITE THAT IN YOUR FAKE BOOK/

My comment on this is I know Erika personally. When I first met her I judged her by what the media had put out there about her. I was her cellmate at Maryland Correctional institution for Women. Erika could not have committed those murders, because a cold hearted killer would not cry out in their sleep saying " BJ" stop!" Common sense would tell these so called smart prosecutors that Erika's weight alone makes her physically uncapable of committing this crime. Plus they had no proof that she shot the gun. It's messed up because this case was highly profiled and she neve stood a chance. Loving snakes and having promiscous sex does not make you a killer. Erika is kind,loving and for the most part a good indiviual. The only thing she is guilty of is loving a man that did not give a care about her. I think he was so possessive that he lied on Erika just to have her confined with him. So for all these people trying to tear Erika down,especially you authors, know that you are contributing to the bullshit. An when the truth comes to light, what will you write then. Erika Elaine Sifrit , if you ever read this know Kha'trice Bolden loves you and God will carry you through this.