Hi there: unlike most of your videos, this one seems to be unavailable - though it certainly looks like it's supposed to be. Is it possible there's a coding error?

This was very intresting, Fifth Estate investigations are amazing because we can see everybody's side of things. It's unbiased as media can get. I really hope Melissa gets the sentence she deserves, it seems like she has some psychological disorders and may have had a skewed version of her past. The video talks a little about her abusive childhood but doesn't go much into that. I'd like to know more, and about how she came to be so screwed up. In the black widow video, it's pretty clear who's at fault but Sandy Munroe's case is not so obvious. I love how the Fifth Estate ends the case with a subtle strong impact on viewers.

Cathartic: unfortunately not but i have been witness to unjust and false allegations against 2 men pertaining to abuse of woman. One specifically where the woman was asked and then forced to leave a house of the accused male where the woman was stealing from and living temporarily free of rent. The woman then went to a 'police' friend to say that she was in fear for her life from this person, where upon the officer in question, despite her circumnstances, helped her or tried to. Despite threats from the officer and the woman the man maintained his position. The woman then suddenly left the country. Research has proven this to be a common state of affairs for her.

It is highly unfortunate and suspect that background checks are not regularly performed in these situations. From there the woman may have gotten the correct help that she so desperately needs. The pendulum swings heavily. Before someone else takes advantage of your widowed or single parent in old age, though it may be difficult, it only makes sense to discuss will / testament and power of attorney and put in place legal safeguards for protection from those that prey on the ignorant, vulnerable and lonely.

I am currently going through a similar situation. My father passed away some time ago. He had lived with a woman who isolated his family from him and slowly took all his money. Most of his money was taken through apparently "normal" means but I am positive she used coercive force and know she was abusive to him - in many ways. Every time there were money or property transfers there was something happening with his health or else my father said something to the Dr. about "an object falling on his arm", etc. I also have suspicions surrounding the circumstances of his death (not how he died) but cannot get the police to do anything - they say there is no evidence even though I gave my reasons and only wanted them to at least ask. She was phoning lawyers before he died and within days had contacted a lawyer to try and get what little remains in his estate.
My father was the kindest and most gentle and generous person. I ache for what he must have gone through.
Any suggestions on how to get help or what to do other than lawyers?

In response to the February 20th post by Patricia - I feel it is unfair to place any responsibility for Mr. Friedrich's unfortunate death on his sons. As the children of aging parents we do our best to fill the void left by the loss of a spouse but for some the need to have another partner is too powerful. I have seen friends go through this with their parents and despite best efforts to rationally discuss the issue, they are forced to stand idly by while a goldigger orchestrates the auctioning of family heirlooms and the rewriting of wills. Attorneys and physicians are powerless to intervene unless the parent is declared medically incapable of seeing to their own affairs.

Education is the best defense - thanks Fifth Estate for your investigative journalism - this is TV worth watching.

It's bitches like these (rhys - edmonton incl.) that make me so bloody grateful Im gay and am so spiteful of women like this. Women....females!!! always seem to say how men only think with their penises, well, all they think with is with their wallets and always pull the "I been raped, abused or Im pregnant" card when they can't get out of a man what they want, which normally comes down to money. No wonder I am finding som many married men runing off with other men, hehehe. With females like these, why the hell wold you want to continue trying to be tolerant of them.

I think its a question of vigilance. With all these headlines about financial frauds being perpetrated on the unwary who lose all sense of reason when they see attractive but unrealistic returns on their proposed investments, I wonder if we are not dealing with the same situation with these Black Widows who perpetrate the same schemes but simply use a different lure.

Whatever happened to hiring private detectives to check out an acquaintance before things get any where near the marriage or "living together" stage?

I lost my wife to cancer in 2000. Early this year I was charged with assault against my common law partner. She fabricated a story. Despite police statments, no hitting, kicking, hair pulling, choking nothing I was thrown in jail, issued recognizance conditions. Since then I've been trying to prove my innocence. She is totally in control, living in my house, sleeping in my bed and I pay all the bills.
I have never had a criminal record nor a brush with the law. Recently checking into her past I find that she has been through this before with a record as long as her arm. She has taken a page right out of Mellisa's documentary.
It seems lately every time we turn on the news a desperate husband has harmed or killed himself, his wife or family. With counselling to help me cope,and the support of family and friends I will peacefully get through this very stressful time of my life.

We are gratified to see the Fifth Estate air this show again, just weeks before her release from a Florida prison. As she is currently scheduled to be set free on April 5, 2009, she also has a detainer on her from Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the U.S. Accordingly, she should be apprehended immediately by that agency, and held for deportation to Canada where we have been informed she will be facing charges for pension fraud.

We are saddened to note how this story has many variations in different families, as demonstrated by the comments posted in this forum. The most important reason why we stepped forward to tell this story was so others would be warned by the ubiquity of this type of situation with elderly widows and widowers, and the ease with which sociopaths can prey upon them. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and perhaps the journalistic efforts of this team can be instrumental in helping others identify the early signs of abuse before they find a similar tragic end.

To those who question the involvement of the family in this case, be assured, there were many interventions that occurred that are not documented, including several trips to Florida (none of the three sons lived in Florida, but were scattered in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Massachusetts,) attempts to have the family physician order drug testing (he declined), requests to the church and neighbors to intervene, court intervention which initiated temporary guardianship, the retention of a private investigator (who stated she had NO RECORD!), as well as the reports to elder abuse in Florida.

To those who wonder how she was able to procure so many prescriptions for benzodiazepine and opiate medications, she was “doctor shopping” which is now a felony in Florida. The police presented sufficient evidence to pursue charges against her, however the state attorney declined to go forward, despite our presentation of her history and demonstrated level of dangerousness. Had the state attorney pressed those charges as well, her incarceration would have likely continued much longer.

Throw away the key!

What a dispicable women! Gordie Stewart served with the Cdn Army in Germany and my husband and I knew him to be a kind, gentle and funny guy. He would never hurt a fly and to think this horrible woman killed him is beyond all reason. I am so sorry for all the other people she hurt. Why cant she be locked up for life.

What will happen if/when this woman is released into Canadian custody? How will the Canadian authorities ensure that other elderly men will be safe? That she shows no remorse is beyond chilling. Has anyone looked into through whom, and or how she was able to procure such large amounts of a debilitating drug? For the families who have been victimized and robbed of a loved one, we should all hope for justice to the fullest possible extent. I think that Linden McIntyre's interview with her in jail showed how this spider has finally caught herself in her own web of lies.

After watching this episode it touched a nerve for the fact that woman today (with the law on their side in Ontario) can cry wolf with domestic assault and get away with it. This woman was actually a spokesperson for domestic violence in a film by the government and she is a MURDERER!. What kind of investigative practices do we practice in this country? I strongly believe in equal rights for women and that true abusers should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, but what about the rights of men in these cases. Men are guilty until proven innocent and i believe this is a step backward for our country and puts innocent men at risk. Domestic abuse cases are not properly investigated (as noted by the lack of investigation into the Black Widow charge of domestic abuse and from my own experiences of a daughter in law falsely accusing my son). This is what upset me the most, that these women get away with it with help of law enforcement. Their word is accepted and not challenged enough. Men in our society today are not safe from this kind of crime. My husband works mostly with women, and i have insisted that he never be alone with a woman in his office for any reason, to always have a witness with him. I know of so many cases where men's lives have been totally ruined at the hands of a jealous, revengeful woman. It would be interesting to kow how many cases of domestic abuse that are false are out there. I have no tolerance for men who truly abuse women, but men ought to have their rights protected by the legal system and should be innocent until proven guilty.

I sat in disbelief as I watched the program. How could this predator calmly sit and protest her innocence in front of the camera with this huge body of evidence before her. This is a person with no conscience that takes and kills without feeling or mercy just so she can satisfy her own perverted wants. She then protests that she is misunderstood and wants to be portrayed as the victim. I hope she never sees the outside of a jail cell again.

Wow! All I can say is that I believe Melissa (I won't bother with a last name as she doesn't deserve any of the names she has stolen) couldn't have been any more transparent in her "fifth" testimony. I certainly believe that she needs much more time in a solitary environment as she has no remorse for what she has done. She is lucky enough that she wasn't charged with murder to begin with(as inconceivable as it is that that was the ruling) To me there is no question of her guilt; that was more than obvious with her mightily inconsistant "rape" account as well as her profound inability to justify any of her suspicious actions(i.e. throwing out her I.D.), not to mention her admittance to behaveing in ways that she shouldn't and that she won't necessarily change. Does it really take a qualified lawyer, judge or appointed jury to see through this.(I guess that's partly your point in airing this story) I consider myself to be a subjective person who does not typically rush to judgement; however, it didn't take long for me to see through this foggy window. I am ashamed that such a being could come from my native NB, so I will personally put her on my "Notorious NB'ers" list: Alan Leger, Noel Winters, and Melissa( enter new victim here) May she only get what she deserves!! By the way, I would love to see a follow-up on this when it's time she answers to the charges waiting for her here. Thanks for the venue, keep up the great reporting! I feel sooooo satisfied that there can be responsible reporting delivered without exageration or any ploys to keep your attention until the oh so important last 5 minutes when the hook usually turns into a sinker! Why can't all news programs offer this kind of integrity? Real issues, no BS!! Thank you!!!

My family is currently experiencing a similar scenario.
It's a very frightening thing and trying to cope with it is further compounded by the fact that you just can't believe it's happening.

My husbands father had the same thing happen to him.He met this woman and time passed and he married without telling my hubby.whithin two weeks he was in a home.He ended up in an asylum where he died.We were told he injested enough sleeping pills to kill more than one person.The Dr. Told us he should have never married her.The police said if we could prove it ,she would be in jail.When he died she got the bulk of his estate.The four kids got only the estate of there real mother.It was put in trust for the kids.The amount was $8000.00 each.She told my hubby and his brothers and sister if they didn't sign a paper she needed ,she would take the trust money to.
She got the house and any other things he owned.We found out that was about her fourth husband.We all think she over dosed my hubbys father.BUT can't prove it.So her kids are now living the good life complements of any property and monies he had owned
We have thought she was a money grubber all along.He had a friend ex R C M P who took the effort to find us.He wanted to tell us what was going on.
Shirley
P. S.,she is dead now.

I viewed your documentary on the "BLACK WIDOW", I can relate to this type of person as I was married to a similar person for 7 months. The woman in question (loosely stated as a woman) lived or married her men for a period in order to be intitled to half of her victims estate.The courts passed the buck on several occassions. This so called woman was good at what she did as she was married at least 7 times and was living common law up to at least the same amount.
The trust and loyality to her proposed suitors was done in such a professional way that many good men were taken for the almighty dollar.At one point she was trying to obtain dollars from three (3) men (husband, ex fiancie and her new boyfriend) at the same time.
These acts of be-trial were going on since 1995. In the latest divorce the falsehoods in the court system was unreal.... that it boogeled the mind that the judge ignored the facts and let her continue with NO consequences.

If a real story was done on to expose this type of women it would be a great relieve to vulnerable men and NOT ruin the name of good women.

I think the Friedrich sons should have kept a closer watch on their father. It is one thing to report a suspected abuse to the authorities, but they should have kept following up on their suspicions. Melissa couldn't sue them for looking after their father's best interests. This case smacks of some neglect on the part of the family, it did appear (perhaps I'm incorrect on this) that one of the sons lived in Florida as well.

Grownup children owe it to their parents to be involved in their lives, thus helping to stave off these so-called predators, or at the very least alleviate the loneliness that makes them vulnernable.

I do hope that this Melissa is now receiving therapy before she is released to stake out yet another unsuspecting victim.

A few more things I would like to know about Melissa ..
Did she have any kind of medical background ? How did she get the drugs , and how did she know what amount was needed to do the job ? Also .. what was she convicted of in Florida , and how much time did she serve there ? What ever happened to the fellow who was sent to the nursing home ??? Did his family succeed in getting him out ??
I shake my head over the ineptness of our justice system ... over 30 convictions on her rap sheet and she was still free !!!!!
I'll bet if she was a smoker , or a driver with booze on her breath , they'd have thrown away the key . It's ok to be sober and murder someone ... but don't smoke in a bar , or drive after you've had a beer . AGH !

Having just viewed your program on the "Black Widow", the story sounds hauntingly familiar from my own personal experience with my father and his untimely death. My father also "married" a woman out of loneliness who managed to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. I use the term "married" in quotations because I have never seen a marriage certificate and it has now been over 2 years since his death. Based on my own experience, I am willing to put everything I have on the line to say that this woman, the Black Widow is indeed GUILTY of her crimes. The crimes go far beyond the men she harmed. They extend to the families, those who really loved them, their children, their grandchildren, etc. May the judicial system find the correct punishment to fit her crime.

Theres only been a few times in my life that I had felt anger as I did when I was sitting ready to watch your program on the 20 Feb, when I say the picture of a service man with the RCR uniform on I waited to hear his name. When I heard it was my old friend MCpl Gorden Steward whom I proudly served with a number of times in our military carrier. I can tell you with out a doubt that Gorden never took any illegal drugs ever, yes we had many drinks but he was a soldier that beleaved in protecting this country to the best of his abitty to do so. Gorden was a veteran of a number of conflicts, I have talked about him over the years and was proud to have had him as my freind. when we where in the middle east on a UN mission he was a person to look up to, never over the years did I ever see Gorden raise a hand in anger against a fellow soldier or Canadian. His military recorded and even his criminal record proves that. I will hold my head hight when I pass on to all his freind he knew in the military about this sad sad event. I hope this so called person that did this deed to him rots in hell. Gorden was a paratrooper and knew how to protect himself but to be druged by a coward there was no defence. i will be laying a poppy next Nov 11th as I always do for my fallen comrades. Gorden, smooth sailing and blue skies jumper
EX COELIS

I just wanted to say I really enjoyed the show about the Black Widow. I am currently in Pinellas Park for the winter, live summers in PEI and was from Halifax. I love your program every week and would sadly miss it if ever it was not on the air. I think you at CBC do wondering investigation and pick very interesting subjects to air. Keep up the wonderful job.