Karen Read Dilbeck, the girlfriend of Seth Winder’s father, has published a book about Winder, who’s accused of murdering gay Dallas man Richard Hernandez in September 2008. Hernandez was brutally dismembered in his far North Dallas apartment, and the ensuing manhunt for Winder by Dallas police has already been the subject of an episode of A&E’s “The First 48.” Winder was initially found mentally incompetent to stand trial, but his competency reportedly been restored, and a trial is now set for early May, according to Denton County court records (although Dilbeck predicts the trial will again be delayed). Here’s what she told me in an e-mail about the book, “Slipping into Madness: The Seth Winder Story”:
“My part was written like I would have done as a reporter basically with lots of commentary form Rodney [Seth Winder’s father] and then lots of information about schizophrenia. My desire was to point out our flawed system here. I write to Seth in jail and I believe he really is truly schizophrenic. What triggered him to kill Richard, we’ll never know, but I truly think it was a cry of insanity. Of course I feel so much sorrow for it all. My desire in writing this book was to possibly help prevent such tragedies in the future. Richard tried to befriend the wrong person and probably just did not realize the depth of sickness in Seth. … Everyone likes to speculate on things without knowing the background of someone, but I know what I saw long before he killed Richard and he was definitely mentally ill.”
Sounds like she is preparing the road, all planned probably, for an insanity defense.
To Carl Smith,
Seth’s attorney doesn’t even know about this book, nor does Seth. He is schizophrenic and was sent to a mental hospital and judged to be so. As I said, I saw his behavior long before the murder and he is schizophrenic. I don’t believe Seth should ever be released. He is unable to live in society. The charge is murder one, so its not like he was facing the death penalty anyway. Neither I nor his father want him released. He must be under supervision at all times whether its in the prison system or elsewhere, but no, no release. He is on antipsychotic medication and has been since he was sent to the mental hospital. That was the only reason they judged him to be able to stand trial. He was judged to be mentally incompetent before he was put on meds.
Ok Karen. I guess I shouldn’t be so judgemental. Sorry, it’s kind of my nature. I also hope he never gets out.
Carl,
I didn’t mean to sound harsh at all, but truly we know that there is not a place in society for him. Whether I believe someone is mentally ill or not doesn’t mean I think they should ever be released. I think that is forfeited forever in a case like this. Society must be protected and that is my belief.
I’ve been catching up on this. Reading almost every website with info, finally watched “The First 48” episode featuring this story. And it bother’s me; yes, there are many things we will never know, and many things that are still speculation because as many people have stated – the police, District Attorney, etc. can / will only release so much information prior to a trial. I have seen many people people defend the police’s decision on not checking the landfill – but those opinions were based on the notion that it was the Dallas County landfill in question – when in reality – it was the Denton Co. landfill – based on the location of the crime scene, and the footage on A&E (and I go by / work less than a mile from the Denton Co. landfill – so I know it on sight)
But regardless of all this, the things that haunt me the most are the questions everyone else has – what exactly caused Mr. Winder to snap; what exactly was their relationship; and probably the biggest thing I’m wondering is, no one has ever mentioned Mr. Hernandez’s car (if he had one)? I would “assume” that Mr. Winder used it to get to Plano, and back, because as many have stated – that in the time frame, it would be hard to hike / hitchhike that distance and back – unless of course he used public transportation.
Personally, yes, I believe that Mr. Winder is probably guilty of this crime – there are just too many coincidences. And after seeing the episode on A&E, I have to lean towards the notion, that he knew what they were asking him, BUT…I have a cousin with the same disease as Mr. Winder, and he was also a drug user – and in his case, that made his illness worse, and he too, was also in and out of a lot of trouble. He is currently in a state hospital, and will never be a part of society again, and his crimes were far less than this. My point – he didn’t always remember what he had done – but after an episode, and reality came back to him, he always tried to hide it, or cover it up. My cousin also has an above average IQ, and being in and out of the system so many times, he learned how to manipulate it – in watching Mr. Winder on A&E…all I could see was my cousin, and the way he answers questions when being pushed. I’m not a expert on the illness, so I won’t say thats the case with everyone.
I hope that both families can finally get some closure from this, they have both lost a son. It’s just that these details we will probably never know, completly baffle me.
BDUB,
Seth’s father speculates much like you in the book. I guess we won’t find out until trial about the car and other things. Its quite difficult to communicate with a schizophrenic as you learned from yoru experience with your cousin. Their perceptions are so skewed.
Karen,
I may need to correct myself, but I will have to watch that A&E episode again – I said it was “Denton” county landfill – and I’m pretty sure it was – but the whole logistics side of it is weird to me too…like why Dallas Homicide worked this case – when to me (and I may be wrong) the location of the scene is in Carrollton – based on the only address info I have read anywhere – and I used to live not far from there – it’s so confusing, because you would think that Carrollton would have handled it, unless they don’t have a homicide division – I don’t know the schematics of these suburbs police departments.
Again, it just me thinking about it, I seem to wonder about different things daily, and it gets my mind to wondering about different aspects.
But thank you for all your replys, and “humoring” me when I have silly questions.
B~
BDUB:
The crime occurred in the portion of Far North Dallas that’s in Denton County. The Dallas Police Department investigated the crime, and the Denton County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting it.
Richard was my friend. I miss him so much. I look at his picture everyday. Everyone is talking about poor Seth. Seth is not stupid. He happens to be very smart from what I hear. He is just playing everybody!!!! Hasnt anybody ever watched Primal Fear. He is just like that guy. He knows what he did and he knew what he was doing at the time he killed Richard. If he was in some kind of mental state then why did he dispose of the body?? He knows exactly what he did but this is his way of getting out of it. Richard didnt have a car. Richard was descreet about his private life, but he was open about being gay. I had heard that Richard and Seth had known each other for a while. Richard would help him out by giving him money and letting him stay at his place since Seth’s own flesh and blood family didnt want him. Richard didnt deserve this. Richard was the sweetest person anybody could know. He would have done anything for his firends. Im sorry, but I pray that Seth will burn in hell, and I know he will because he will never admit to the crime and apologize for what he did and ask for forgiveness. I will be there at his trial (which I believe they have already reset for August) and I will be looking forward for this part of Richards murder to be behind all his friends and family.
MJC,
Your feelings are completely understandable. I’d certainly feel the same way as you if I was in your situation. I saw the mental illness in him long before this murder occurred and always felt one day that something bad would happen. I watched his father try over and over and over again to try to get help for him beforehand and I tried on numerous occassions to try to get help from state and local officials to no avail. The book was writtten basically as a plea to change the laws that govern the possible evaluation and committment of mentally ill adults in our society. I see this as a preventable tragedy. Had his father been allowed to at least get him evaluated, he coudl have been committed. He had already demonstrated violence in an attck on his mother and he should have been commmitted back ithen and kept back in 2005. Had that been done properly at the time, none of this would have occurred. I guess for some reason the prosecutors in that county dropped the ball. I don’t know. That is wrong, that so many attempts were made, pleading for help and NO ONE would listen to us, no one. I don’t know what goes on in Seth’s head, I can’t understnd that, but I can say that his family is very sorry about all of this and I can tell you that his father tried and tried and tried to get help. With great frustration, I witnessed ths and I spent time, even going in person to the police, begging for help, doing anyting I could think of. Unfortunately, even when I asked mental health professionals, they told me nothing would ever be done until after a tragedy happened and apparently in this state asn in many others, that is the sad truth.
My question is has seth had his trail yet and if so what happened or when was it reset for?
Richard was my friend and co-worker and i miss him very much. All i have to say is that seth will get what he deserves
@na Says: The trial has been reset for August.
Does anyone know when the trial is set for? It’s now May 2011 and I haven’t been able to find any dates for when the trial starts. If someone can email me at dhogen2717@gmail.com that would be greatly appreciated.
Karen,
I was a close friend of Seths back in 2002 and I want to know where you got your facts for the book? I just got a copy of it in the mail and have yet to read it through but I have already found several mistakes. Also, did you get permission from any parties mentioned and/or pictured before you published?