Will The Last H&J Supporter Please Turn Out The Lights...

Well, I think the obvious thing to do today would be to write a brief post summarizing the whirlwind events of the past two days. That way, any latecomers to the news can find out exactly what went down, without having to wade through 100s of comments on my and PC's blogs.

What happened in a nutshell is this: It was revealed two days ago that blogger "Gluttony," author of the anti-H/J Sons of Sam Blog, is actually James Martin. He's the husband of Renee Martin, who for a time was the lead figure in the Harlow and Joe fundraising efforts.

But a far bigger bombshell was the revelation that Renee was no longer even remotely connected with Harlow and Joe; quite the contrary, she had become a VERY enthusiastic pro-prosecution witness, who "basically sang like a bird" on what she overheard during 3-way prison phone calls with Harlow and Joe. As Renee pithily put it: "Harlow and Joe are guilty have known this for quiet a while, might have been the confessions on the phone that were the give away."

Renee's status as a Harlowite apostate came as a complete shock to most everyone. Myself included...although I must say, it was a most pleasant shock!

The DA seems to have been surprised by this development as well; the material witness papers drawn up before she came to Luzerne County last weekend seems to imply she'd be uncooperative; and according to Renee, authorities made very half-hearted initial attempts to contact her. Looks like everyone was taken aback on this (except perhaps PC).

The Martins' story was revealed in various comments yesterday, and is quite interesting. I'll try to outline it here; Renee and James, if I make any errors let me know, and I'll correct them ASAP.

The Martins (and the rest of the neighborhood) did not know Harlow and Joe that well prior to the SWAT raid. There was a general knowledge out there that the house was used for male prostitution, but as long as they weren't doing it out in the streets, a live and let live attitude seems to have prevailed. Traffic to and from the house was not out of the ordinary. The Martins' contacts with H&J during this time seemed limited to typical yard work issues, and occasional glimpses of them walking their dog around the cul-de-sac in daisy duke shorts.

Then came the SWAT raid, which woke up the neighborhood in the middle of the night with flash-bang grenades. The Martins (like everyone else in the cul-de-sac, apparently) assumed it was in regards prostitution activities.

Later, a mutual friend of Renee and H&J informed her of the true nature of the raid, and her belief in the innocence of H&J. Renee becomes convinced, and for a time became the point person for H&J legal defense fundraising efforts.

This state of affairs lasted until her participation in an illicit 3-way prison phone conversation with Harlow and Joe. During that conversation, while we do not know exactly what was said (and wont know until the next hearing on July 8-9), we do know she finds out that H&J were far from innocent. And that was her moment of epiphany; according to Renee, she ceased then and there to be a "Harlowite." In effect, she became of like-mind with her husband James, who never did believe in their innocence. According to James, the visitation of "Harlowites" to their home made him physically ill.

I assume she just drifted away from the cause at this point (and both moving away to Fort Worth?).

And after that, they just waited for the PA DA to show up. Both were secretly eager to cooperate, and perhaps would have done so sooner but for disputes over travel expenses.

And that about wraps it up. Not too much more to add, as a lot of details about H&J apparently cannot be revealed until the next hearing on July 8-9. They did, however, weigh in on the competing conspiracy theories out there. And thoroughly debunked both.

Again, as Renee pithily puts it: "Sean and Grant and Robert, who the hells cares about them, they didn't do the murder. Ok Clue, Joe and Halrow in jail for murder, robert sean and grant, FREE." And she does not stop there. According to Renee, what happened at the Vegas dinner with Sean and Grant was irrelevant to this case; and as for Robert Wagner, in what could possibly be the all-time greatest Kocisphere quote ever:

"As for Robert dont know where he was and dont care were he was. I am sure if he was at the murder scene he would be dead and not speaking at all at this point. Look at it this way if there was someone else in the house do you think they would be alive to tell it we are talking about Joe and Harlow here ok."

And that's pretty much a wrap on the conspiracy theories. Harlow and Joe murdered Bryan, and NO ONE put them up to it. EEISM&B.

Among H&J few remaining online supporters, a general pall of silence reigns, showing they are in a state of shock too. Elm has said nothing. Jakester has said nothing; indeed, has apparently decided to take on other murder cases (and have a friend fix your credit too!). Preacher George, as is his nature, immediately panicked and deleted every comment he could get his hands on (no word on whether this was the result of Divine Providence or not).

Oh and last and certainly least, Kent Barclay promised us an interview with Renee (and her husband "Joe," LOL!), which seems rather unlikely at this point as Renee publicly told him on this very blog yesterday to "piss off." LOL!

And...I think that covers it! Have I missed anything important? If so, let me know!

Update: Oh yeah, just like yesterday, I am more than happy to have my blog serve as a Q&A forum for the Martins, if they so desire!

Update 2: Just a reminder on a long-standing policy of mine. Which I am going to stick to, as a matter of principle...it has served me well, I think.

Update 3: Yet another enterprise touched by the hand of Kent Barclay ends in ignominious failure. Funny thing about this death-by-association is that it happened three days ago, and no one really noticed or cared about it until now.

Update 4: Wow. Read the comments too...

Update 5: Blake aka "The Jakester" engages in censorship! For those who missed it...you wanna see the comment he deleted? Stay tuned for my next post (tentative title: "Truth, Lies and Blakester"), where it will be re-posted and revealed! In addition to a few other observations of mine, appropriate to the occasion...LOL! Oh, this is gonna be FUN... :-D